Downtown Closure

Downtown Dallas Mexican restaurant closes due to lease issues

For a short time, you could not have these quesadillas.

Website/Sol Irlandes

UPDATE: According to a message from Sol Irlandes' Facebook page, "The restaurant in McKinney is NOT related to Sol Irlandes, after all. Please change the article or remove. I was given false information about a future location, turns out it is not us."

That was followed by a message from owner Tom McGill, as follows: "I wanted to let you know [the article] has incorrect information about me headed north to Bien Salsa. Me, I’m retiring from restaurant ownership business and will decide over next few weeks my plans. Had folks asking me if they could have my concept to use at there location but I liquidated my assets. Please remove this article as it has misleading information. Sincerely, Tom McGill."

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A downtown Dallas restaurant with a rocky recent history has closed ~~but has already found a new home in downtown McKinney~~.

The restaurant is Sol Irlandes, the Mexican place at Stone Place Mall, across from the Joule Dallas hotel. After a rough patch in March, it finally closed on April 29.

But the restaurant has found a new home in McKinney Square, at 119 W. Virginia St., in the space formerly occupied by Bien Salsa. According to a spokesman, they'll be re-opening quickly, possibly within a week.

Sol Irlandes endured temporary closure on March 15, when it got locked out by Stone Place Mall Investors, the landlord, who posted a closure sign on the door. On March 16, furniture was being cleaned out of the restaurant and a sheriff was on site.

Owner Tom McGill was unavailable for comment, but a spokeperson for the restaurant said that they would not be open until futher notice, citing "issues with the landlord."

The closure seemed unanticipated, since the restaurant's Facebook page posted an update on March 16 at 12 noon, advertising a St. Patrick's Day-themed event happening the same evening. McGill is from Ireland.

Oddly, another hand-written sign posted on the door made recommendations for other places to eat. "Closed: Please go to Campisi's or the Iron Cactus or Woolworth," the sign said. "Or try the Buffalo BBQ wrap at The Stand."

They re-opened on March 16, in time for the March 17 weekend.

Sol Irlandes endured a similar closure in early February for nonpayment of taxes to the state of Texas. But the restaurant managed to pull it out and re-open two days later.

It was a popular hangout for the downtown residential crew, with pretty good food at a pretty good price — even despite the occasional stench of its trash on trash day. The menu was a combination of Tex-Mex staples like queso and nachos with Southern dishes like fried shrimp. Lunch included sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and burritos, all priced at around $10.

closings downtown

Wine News

New Vinifera Wine Lounge and Bistro debuts on Flower Mound’s Riverwalk

Vinifera

Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro

A new wine bar and bistro has opened in Flower Mound. Called Vinifera Wine Lounge & Bistro, it's at 4120 River Walk Dr., in a space formerly occupied by a short-lived pizzeria, joining a string of bars overlooking the Riverwalk.

Vinifera is from Jamie Creevy, a British native who moved to Dallas in 2007, and who has worked at concepts such as Henderson Tap House and Peppersmash Concepts. At Vinifera, he's partnered with Chris Kummer, a former US Marine with experience in nightclubs and restaurants, including Chill in Grapevine.

Running the kitchen is executive chef Justin Samsill, who has worked at a wide range of high-end places including Knife, Town Hearth, The Mitchell, Smoke, and Hide. The menu has a big selection of seafood such as mussels, shrimp cocktail, squid pasta, and scallops, as well as steak au poivre, pasta bolognese, and trendy items such as steak frites and a smash burger, with entrees ranging from $19 to $35.

Vegetarian options include an unusual rendition of ratatouille, in which vegetables such as eggplant and tomato are cut into slices and arranged like a pinwheel. There are also salads and harissa carrots with Greek yogurt.

They describe the wine list as being "from all over the world", with 38 offerings by the glass. There are also cocktails.

Between the indoor dining room and outdoor space, the restaurant seats about 130 people. It shares a private event room with next door neighbor Whiskey & Smoke.

Riverwalk is the 158-acre mixed used development developed in 2017 and designed as a destination resembling the Riverwalk in San Antonio, with live music, events, and a range of eatery options including Whiskey & Smoke, Pennywise Pub, and Underdogs Burgers & Brews.

“We are looking to be creative and pivot to keep the area fresh," Creevy says. “People are looking for live music, value, free events, we want to entertain the residents and the community at an inexpensive rate."

wine openings