Oak Cliff News

Indian restaurant with champagne bar opens in Dallas' Bishop Arts

That is some game-changing chicken with pomegranate seeds.

Photo courtesy of Ame

There's an opening date for a hotly anticipated restaurant coming to the Bishop Arts District that's bound to change the game for Indian restaurants in Dallas. Called Âme (and pronounced Ah-mmh), it's a French Indian concept from mother-daughter duo Afifa and Sabrina Nayeb that'll open in the former Hattie's space at 418 N. Bishop Ave. According to a release, it'll open on April 9.

The Nayeb Hospitality Group also owns Laili, 8 Cloves, and JuiceBabe in the Dallas Farmers Market.

Named for the French word for soul, Âme will serve upscale Indian food but with French techniques. It'll be open for dinner and brunch. It'll also feature a companion cocktail lounge called Elephant Bar with a big selection of champagne.

Chef/owner Afifa Nayeb says in a statement that they wanted to bring a truly unique experience to Dallas.

"We realized there was a need for upscale French Indian cuisine in the Dallas dining scene and saw an opportunity to create something special," she says. "My passion is cooking, and I love being in the kitchen and sharing my creations for others to enjoy."

Nayeb trained at Le Cordon Bleu and uses French techniques in her creation of sauces to replace traditional curries, and coconut to replace tomato.

The menu features sharables, grains, lentils, vegetables and vegan items, seafood, meat, breads made in-house, and dessert, including:

Aloo Tikki with purple potato, goat cheese, and pepita seeds
Beet Samosa with walnuts, ginger, serrano, potato, yellow beet and peas
Saag Paneer consisting of a spinach cilantro cake and house-made seared paneer
Masala Baked Eggplant with pine nuts and turmeric bechamel
Shrimp Curry in spicy coconut sauce, Thai chili, ginger, grape and tomato
Anari Chicken with pomegranate seeds, yogurt, ginger and chili
Lamb Vindaloo with French potato and tangy, spicy sauce.

House-made breads include Roti, Paratha Croissants, and Naan Puffs; desserts include Lavendar Malai with a ricotta sponge base and Pistachio Kulfi.

They'll do brunch on both Saturday and Sunday with a separate menu featuring dishes such as a French omelet with paneer, spinach, and mushrooms; Biryani Fried Chicken + Waffle with a Liege Belgian waffle and pearl sugar; and Tikka Benedict, a twist on a classic brunch staple.

Sabrina Nayeb oversaw the restaurant's design, which features a Parisian-style atmosphere plus three areas to drink, dine, and lounge.

Sabrina spent time abroad in Paris and knows what it's like first-hand.

The entrance features a U-shaped bar with soft blues, white walls decorated with greenery, and local art on the walls. They saved the mosaic floor tile and host stand from the previous occupant, Hattie's.

The dining room seats 62. Along the left wall is an alcove with a long gold velvet banquet and black tables and chairs, lined with Maison de Jeu wallpaper from Christian LaCroix as well as montage of antique playing cards with butterflies, flowers, and Indian motifs. A wall of antique mirrors allows diners who are facing inward to spy the action of the restaurant behind them.

Elephant Bar
A separate champagne bar and lounge will be tucked in the back of the restaurant. It's also grandly outfitted, with floor-to-ceiling emerald drapes, floral wallpaper, velvet couches, gold accents, mirrors, chandelier, and elephant door handles.

A matte black bar surrounded by mirrors will serve a variety of sparkling wines as well as cocktails with a French Indian twist on the Old Fashioned, Gin & Tonic, and other traditional drinks.

Âme will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10 pm, and Sunday until 9 pm. Weekend brunch will be 11 am-3 pm.

oak-cliff openings

Bar News

Rodeo Cold bar moseys into East Dallas with '70s Texas twang

Photo courtesy of TheQueso.com

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There's a yee-haw dive bar coming to old east Dallas from a team of seasoned players: Called Rodeo Cold, it's at 3826 Ross Ave., in the former Eastbound & Down space, where it's anticipated to open in late December.

Rodeo Cold is a sibling of Green Light Social, the Austin-born nightlife venue which opened off Good Latimer Freeway in 2021 from owners Robert Dummond and Ian Fletcher, who've partnered with Ian’s brother Eric Fletcher.

While Green Light Social is a lively destination, Rodeo Cold will be smaller in scale, Ian says -- a place that can serve as a local hangout for residents who occupy the many new apartment buildings that have cropped up along Ross Avenue.

"We're in walking distance for a lot of people and we want to be a neighborhood bar that's respectful to the area and embraces the neighborhood," Ian says.

“We love the area," Eric says, "We are in between Good Latimer, Knox Henderson, Greenville, and Deep Ellum — this is a sweet spot for us."

Their vision is a bar with a late '70s/early '80s vibe plus a little Texas Western color thrown in — inspired by Eric and Ian’s dad, Stan, who worked at the first Chili’s on Greenville Avenue in the 1970s. The name comes from an expression Stan used often, referring to temperate of a beer sitting in an ice chest all day while the rodeo is ongoing. (Although they are busy on Instagram creating a myth by posting various definitions of "rodeo cold" such as "A street smart sharp dressed cowboy, tough, or roustabout that knows how to handle himself when things go south.")

They'll have a basic menu designed by Green Light Social Chef Luis Ayala, with American classics such as steak fingers with gravy, Texas chili, burgers, hot dogs, and Frito pies.

"Our focus is the comforting aspect of food, but with Wagyu meat and fresh ingredients," Drummond says. "We are also having a little State Fair-style fun with dishes like corn nuggets, corn dogs, and deep-fried oatmeal cream pie."

They'll round out the menu with healthier options like salads and veggie plates.

The bar menu will include carbonated frozen drinks such as a prickly pear margarita and The Porchlight, a boozy sweet tea-based drink served in a frosted jug and lit from the bottom for an Instagrammable effect. They'll also feature one of the staples at Green Light Social: ready-to-drink cocktails such as a Paloma in a Jarritos grapefruit bottle, and Ranch Water in a Topo Chico bottle, as well as RTD specials such as spiked Doctor Pepper and Big Red.

Their goal is to be an inclusive bar that offers a range of options for the very diverse neighborhood, says manager JR Teamah, who relocated from Austin to open the new place.

"Bringing awesome customer service is what we are looking to do, we value ourselves in throwing a daytime party, in a fun atmosphere," Teamah says.

They'll open in phases, sarating with the 2,000-square-feet interior and large backyard, followed by an additional turfed-out outdoor area, with a stage and mini amphitheater for entertainment. Diversions will include sports on TV and a game area with ping pong and bean bags, plus chili cookoffs and other events down the road.

deep ellum cocktails openings

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Rodeo Cold bar moseys into East Dallas with '70s Texas twang