Glitzy News

Glitzy Houston restaurant-club shimmies into old Circo space in Uptown Dallas

Some more glitz is coming to a glitz-laden address in Uptown Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Bisou

A high-energy restaurant and bar from Houston is coming to Dallas, fearlessly taking over an infamous Uptown Dallas address: Bisou, a concept from Houston nightclub kingpins the Clé Group, will open at 2619 McKinney Ave., in the One Uptown building.

This is the spot that was previously home to Circo, the glitzy-but-doomed Dallas offshoot of New York restaurant Le Cirque, which closed in 2019 after less than a year.

According to a spokesperson, Bisou Dallas is slated to open in spring, by late April or early May.

French for "kiss" and pronounced "bee-sue," Bisou is a French-inspired restaurant whose goal is to bring "an unparalleled combination of Continental cuisine and curated entertainment, with classic cocktails, an extensive wine list, and champagne magnums served up in a sleek contemporary interior."

Dubbed a "clubstaurant" by Houston CultureMap writer Eric Sandler, the restaurant has a lively scene that includes not only magnums of champagne but also the requisite Female Employees Walking Through The Club With Lit Sparklers.

The Clé Group opened the original location in Houston's River Oaks District in 2018 — their third concept in a portfolio that also includes popular Houston nightclubs Clé and Spire.

Clé Group partner Zach Truesdell says their goal is to be considered a restaurant, but also a place for birthdays and celebrations, with a club vibe on weekend nights and a festive Sunday brunch that Truesdell describes as "La Strada with bottle service."

But they also have a credentialed chef: Frédéric Perrier, a native of Lyon, France, and veteran on Houston's restaurant scene who holds the prestigious title of Maîtres des Cuisiniers de France (Master Chef of France).

His French-influenced menu includes

truffle mushroom risotto
roast chicken for two
flounder with lobster risotto
escargot with bone marrow
pork belly with pork dumplings

Entrees range from $18 for a burger to $39 for Korean short ribs with house-made kimchi and baby bok choi.

In 2019, they also added sushi, blending French and Japanese techniques in a selection of creative maki and nigiri.

The spokesperson said that the Dallas menu, atmosphere, and mission would be similar to the original in Houston.

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Eric Sandler contributed to this story.

nightlife uptown cocktails

Coffee News

White Rhino Coffee buzzes into cool Dallas suburb with newest shop

Photo courtesy of White Rhino

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An expanding coffee chain is adding a cool new Dallas-area location to its pack: White Rhino Coffee will open in Garland on Friday, December 1, according to a release.

The new shop, at 5325 N. President George Bush Hwy., Ste. 200, will be the first in Garland and the 11th location for the concept, which was founded in 2007 in Cedar Hill.

White Rhino is known for craft coffee, pastries, and Southern bistro food such as maple-glazed chicken biscuits. Their drink menu includes drip coffee, espresso shots, cold brew, lattes, Americanos, cappuccinos, matcha lattes, chai, and more.

A December debut means a chance to introduce seasonal sips, too. A full holiday-time menu will feature Peppermint Mochas, Holiday Cookie Lattes, and Caramel Apple Ciders, plus snacks like Sticky Toffee Cake and German Chocolate Whoopie Pie, the release says.

Sampling of these treats and more will be offered during a special grand opening at the Garland store on December 1. It'll be a festive event: Santa will even be on hand to take photos and greet guests, from 11 am-3 pm.

The festive cheer won't stop there. To celebrate the new store opening, free holiday cookies will be offered at all White Rhino locations on December 1, while supplies last.

In addition to being known for high-quality coffee (from its own roastery), White Rhino touts its friendly service and welcoming atmosphere; each location is tailored to the neighborhood it serves.

The company also champions its charitable initiatives, which include donating more than $1 million annually to causes supporting children, the homeless, and the hungry in the communities in which it operates, they say.

“When we launched the first White Rhino 16 years ago, we never imagined we’d be welcoming our 11th location, but here we are and we couldn’t be more pleased to share our concept with Garland,” said company founder Chris Parvin in a statement. “Our goal is always to be good neighbors in each community we operate in, and we’re looking forward to providing a hospitable spot for people to eat, drink and gather.”

It's the latest opening in the suddenly cool Dallas suburb, which is attracting buzzy new restaurants, coffee shops, and more to its newly revitalized downtown area and beyond.

The new Garland White Rhino will be open daily, 6 am-7 pm.

garland coffee