Tex-Mex News

Owners of The Rustic open new Tex-Mex concept in East Dallas

Guajillos San Antonio Mexican Food chips and salsa

Time for Tex-Mex.

Courtesy photo

FreeRange Concepts, home to The Rustic, Bowl & Barrel, and Mutts Canine Cantina, are dipping their toe into Tex-Mex with Joe Leo, a new concept they're opening in East Dallas, in the space at 2722 N. Fitzhugh Ave., formerly occupied by El Bolero.

It'll open on May 5.

According to a release, the concept is inspired by and named after Joe Leo Romero, grandfather of Kyle Noonan, co-owner of FreeRange Concepts who says that, for Texans, Tex-Mex food is "a way of life."

"It’s a style of food that’s deeply woven into our cultural fabric," Noonan says. "Here, family and friends enjoy some form of the cuisine frequently, both out at the neighborhood Tex-Mex joint or cooked up at home."

The menu will feature fajitas and other Tex-Mex classics, plus margaritas. The release says that Joe Leo will hew to a legend that bars along the Texas-Mexico border spiked their margaritas with Everclear, and do the same.

"I love Tex-Mex," Noonan says. "Not just because it was a regular part of my life growing up – I love it for its rich simplicity. It doesn’t require skill as much as it demands soul. Just like my grandfather, Joe Leo will be a warm and welcoming classic that will stand the test of time! We look forward to opening and serving the best damn fajitas and margaritas around."

Beginning April 19, the restaurant will serve fajitas and margaritas from 4-8 pm through joeleotexmex.com or DoorDash. Anyone who orders from the to-go menu will have a chance to win prizes ranging from a free year of queso to a reserved table at Joe Leo’s grand opening celebration on May 5.

Decor
Joe Leo will feature clean, modern lines with wooden accents and old-school pieces throughout.

Features include:

Tequila bottles and vintage sombreros lining the walls
live greenery and vintage lights hanging from the ceiling
Large garage doors separating indoor and outdoor dining spaces
open-air patio
fountain and fire pit

A grand opening on May 5 will be open to the public, with margaritas, fajitas, golden tacos, mini donkeys, a pop-up bar, DJ, and mariachi band.

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Fried Chicken News

Ambitious fried chicken restaurant from Denver lands in McKinney

Birdcall

Fried chicken from Birdcall.

A fast-casual chicken restaurant chain is flying into town: Birdcall, a Denver-based chain that specializes in fried chicken sandwiches and salads, will open in McKinney at 4702 W. University Dr., in a new center west of US-75.

According to a release, the restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on Monday, February 17.

Birdcall's main item is fried chicken sandwiches in nine varieties such as:

Southern with pimento cheese and southern coleslaw
Rancher with bacon onion jam, white cheddar, and Bird-B-Q Sauce
The Nashville hot deluxe with bacon, pepper-jack, tomato, lettuce, and herb mayo

They also do sliders, tenders, nuggets, and salads plus nine sides including fries, tater tots, loaded tots, and coleslaw. In addition, there's a vegan alternative using Meati, a faux chicken made from mushrooms.

Birdcall was created in 2016 by Peter Newlin and Jean-Philippe Failyau, two industry veterans who previously founded Denver-based concepts such as Park Burger and Homegrown Tap & Dough. With Birdcall, their goal was to not only offer a "better" chicken sandwich, but also improve the way fast-food restaurants operate.

There are now 12 locations in Colorado, Arizona, and Texas, with one other location in Richardson which opened in February 2024. (There were previously locations in Carrollton and Frisco, but both are now closed and no longer listed on their website.)

The McKinney restaurant will feature outdoor patio seating, a drive-thru, free arcade games, a bar, and self-serve ordering kiosks. Adding a creative and local touch to the vibrant atmosphere, the restaurant will also display murals by Dallas-based muralist Mari Pohlman.

The new location is part of the company’s goal to open 8-10 locations in the area, but leases have not been signed. All they need are leases and franchisees willing to open locations. Baby steps.

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