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

Deep Ellum News

Ex-Deep Ellum speakeasy paves way for spiffy new Dallas restaurant-bar

Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen

In sad news, a Dallas speakeasy has closed. In happy news, there's a swanky new restaurant and bar in its place: Called Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen, it recently opened at 2618 Elm St., in the Deep Ellum space that was home for more than a decade to Truth & Alibi, which closed in August after 11 years.

Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen is from Victor García, who is very familiar with the location: He built a career at Truth & Alibi, starting as a dishwasher 10 years ago, and climbing the ranks to become bartender at the pioneering bar that helped usher in Dallas' great speakeasy era of 2021-2022.

Garcia had already been looking for a location to open his own restaurant and lounge, when he learned that Truth & Alibi owners Chris and Mark Beardon were going to close their Deep Ellum concept.

“I took care of the place as if it were mine," Garcia says. "It is home to me, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to bring my dream to life. Every time I come here, it reminds me of the first day I stepped into this place. It changed my life."

A native of Michoacán, Mexico, who moved to Dallas when he nine years old, Garcia also previously worked at the now-closed Avenu Lounge.

At Scarlet Lounge & Kitchen, he's kept some of the key elements of the former space, such as the layout and chandeliers. But he's also added brighter elements that help transition the space from sophisticated and welcoming restaurant into a lounge and nightclub after 10 pm, with thematic events, DJs on weekends, burlesque on Wednesdays, and Sunday socials.

For food, he partnered with chef Mike Church to build a menu that provides a highly creative fusion of Spanish and American cuisine with Latin elements. There are "diablo" deviled eggs, Spanish risotto, ceviche, and an elote "dip" with all the good parts of the Mexican corn dish fashioned into a dip.

Entrees include flank steak with chimichurri sauce and Latin-braised chicken with olives, peppers, onions, and tomatoes with penne pasta. There are tapas-style dishes such as papas fritas, and intriguing vegetarian items such as a portobello steak, or beet tostadas layered with goat cheese, apple, and pistachio. Dessert includes a clever tres leches carrot cake.

Prices are reasonable, ranging from $8-$16 for appetizers and $18-$24 for entrees.

Scarlet Garden cocktail Spanish Garden cocktail served in a "bird cage".Scarlet Lounge

The creativity also shows in the cocktails, where bartender Hector Santana (Tipsy Alchemist, Snowbird) serves innovative drinks with theatrical Instagram-friendly presentations. These include a tequila Reposado and pineapple Piña para la Niña cocktail and a drink called Spanish Garden, containing rum, passion fruit, and strawberry, served with frozen fruits in a lighted bird cage, with nitrogen that creates a wall of smoke.

They've also kept some Truth & Alibi favorites such as the 12am Alibi, Fushia Fusion, Lies and Secrets and Black Bourbon Smash.

They've kept the late-night hours on weekends, open Friday-Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am, and Tuesday-Thursday 5 pm-10 pm. They host a generous happy hour from 5-7 pm with 20% off food and drink specials, and unlike most places in the area, they offer complimentary valet during restaurant hours.

Beyond the creative food, drink, and atmosphere, Garcia is laser-focused on customer service — on good hospitality.

"People walk by and come check us out," Garcia says. "Once there are here, we do our best as an entire team to offer the best service. We are very happy that customers that try us all leave with a positive experience. That is our main focus."

deep-ellum trends openings