Austin -> DFW

Southern restaurant from Austin bakes upscale biscuits for Dallas-Fort Worth

Fixe specializes in Southern dishes and is known for its biscuits.

Photo courtesy of Fixe

An acclaimed Austin restaurant is expanding, and for its second location, it is choosing none other than Dallas-Fort Worth. Fixe will open in Fort Worth in the fall, in the Shops at Clear Fork, the bustling luxury shopping center that's already home to trendy Press Cafe and a newly opened Neiman Marcus store, with more concepts such as Pinstripes in the works.

Recently named one of OpenTable's top 100 restaurants in the country, Fixe is a progressive Southern restaurant from Keith House and James Robert, who opened the Austin branch in 2014. Fans love its innovative takes on nostalgic dishes such as shrimp and grits, pork shoulder with pinto beans in a jalapeño kale emulsion, and smoked beef neck with barbecued okra.

Robert, who is executive chef, says that his menu showcases familiar tastes and dishes that he grew up with, with a section dedicated to heirloom varieties of grits, biscuits, boudin, and more. He'll move to Fort Worth to build the culinary team.

Adam Puskorius will become executive chef at the flagship location in Austin. His résumé includes Asti Trattoria in Austin; Mark's American Cuisine in Houston; and Eddie V’s, where he oversaw the opening of four Eddie V's locations across the U.S.

Puskorius says in a release that signing on as executive chef is a no-brainer.

"Having worked alongside Keith and James in the past, I know that their commitment to quality and hospitality mirrors my own," he says. "As they set their sights on opening the new location, I look forward to serving up the experience that guests have come to know and love from Fixe, while also expanding the core menu with new dishes and bar collaborations that reflect my passion for progressive Southern cuisine."

The Fort Worth location is being designed by Nelsen Partners and will evoke the feeling of entering a home in rural Louisiana. Like its Austin location, the space will feature an open kitchen, stunning patio, wine room, bar, and two private dining spaces.

No word if it will reprise the signature collection of delicate plates mounted on the wall in the Austin original.

openings

Steamy shop

New romance bookstore-cafe brews up lattes and love stories in Arlington

Photo courtesy of Daydream

It is love at first sip in this quaint coffee shop and bookstore.

Like the setting of a Hallmark Channel rom-com, a new bookstore in downtown Arlington invites customers to sip, swoon, and stay awhile. Called Daydream, the shop specializes in romance books and features a cozy coffee shop nestled right inside the bookstore, located at 380 E. Front St., Suite 110, in the heart of downtown Arlington.

The charming concept is from Alma Sardas, graduate from University of Texas at Arlington who, after a couple of years working in public relations agencies, decided to pursue her dream of owning a romance bookstore.

As a longtime bookstore and coffee shop lover, Sardas explains, her idea for the shop came from wanting a space that felt like stepping into one of those stories.

“I’ve always loved bookstores and coffee shops individually, but I didn’t see many spaces that fully leaned into a specific genre and created an immersive experience around it," she says. "That’s where the dream started - building something that felt intentional, cozy, and unique.”

The book collection is entirely curated by Sardas and features a wide variety of subcategories within the romance genre, including cowboy, dark, fantasy and LGBTQ+ romance and romantic suspense. “There’s a little bit for everybody,” Sardas says.

The young entrepreneur cites It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, and Daydream by Hannah Grace (which inspired the name of her shop) as the romance novels that have shaped her love for the genre.

“They all show different sides of romance: emotional, escapist, and fun,” she says.

Daydream brings people together over their love of coffee and literature. Photo courtesy of Daydream.

The inviting shop pairs the quiet charm of a library with the aroma of a coffee house, in a brightly lit space featuring a palette of cream, blush pink, and light wood tones. There are circular marble-top bistro tables and rounded swivel chairs for customers to enjoy their books and coffee. They also have a dog-friendly outdoor space with a few pink chairs and tables.

Her offering aligns with the growing trend of younger generations that are craving real-life spaces, and opportunities to unplug, slow down and connect. “I think naturally younger people are going to start gravitating towards books again and the fun escapism that comes with it, rather than the never-ending vicious cycle of comparing themselves to their digital life”, Sardas says.

Sardas, who is half Cuban and half Mexican, draws on her cultural heritage for both her deep-rooted love of coffee and the inspiration behind the menu she created.

The menu includes classic drinks such as espresso, latte, and Americano, all served hot or iced, as well as tea - chai and matcha. They serve Cuban coffee, or Cafecito, a homage to her Cuban father.

The shop has a couple of signature coffees, including a honey vanilla oat latte, and The Havanna, a dulce de leche latte, and they are working on a Mexican-inspired latte in honor of her mother’s traditions.

The shop features a pink La Marzocco espresso machine.Photo courtesy of Daydream

For pastries, they have partnered with Richardson-based La Casita Bakeshop, a thriving women-owned business, to serve an assortment of croissants, cinnamon rolls, cookies and muffins.

They use beans from Alma Coffee (same name as hers though purely coincidental), a veteran and women-owned company that works closely with farmers in Honduras and roasts in Georgia.

Daydream's hours are 9 am-7 pm Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm Sunday; closed Monday.

Sardas says that starting in May, she plans to host regular events such as themed book clubs that tie into popular tropes and books, like contemporary, dark romance, and queer romance. There are also book discussions, meet-and-greets, author signings, midnight release parties, and themed café nights in the works.

They are also collaborating with local creatives on activities like candle-making workshops and cake decorating workshops to make the space feel more interactive.

“It truly is a dream,” Sardas says. “We are excited to be open and ready to be a stop for the Arlington community and beyond.”

coffee shop arlington openings bookstores