News You Can Eat

This Dallas restaurant news roundup is brimming with tasty bites

Tupelo Honey chicken & waffles.

Photo courtesy of Tupelo Honey

There's loads of tidbits in this roundup of Dallas restaurant news, in all flavors and varieties: from new openings to spring menus to spirits news to charitable and environmental initiatives, which are the best kind of all.

Here's the latest Dallas dining news:

Twisted Chic Dallas is a new bar concept at 2714 McKinney Ave. in the former Trophy Room. It's an open-concept restaurant that has undergone renovation including the installation of turf on the patio, the addition of a food truck, and a mural by local tattoo artist Josh Green. The food truck is a collaboration with Taco Cielo, offering street tacos and Tex-Mex. Games such as Cornhole and Jenga will be available along with a mechanical bull on the patio. It's a sports-driven space with 13 big-screen TVs and an outdoor capacity for 115.

The Biscuit Bar, the local biscuit-centric chain, is opening a location in Coppell at 104 S. Denton Tap Rd., at the intersection of Sandy Lake on April 26. They'll also be opening another in Addison at Prestonwood Place off Belt Line Road later in 2021. The chain currently has locations in Plano, Deep Ellum, Arlington, and Stockyards. They've also joined Cloud Kitchens, the ghost kitchen facility in Oak Cliff, for takeout and delivery. During April, they're featuring The Ballpark biscuit, with a beef patty, cheddar cheese, smoked sausage, sautéed peppers & onions, and Dijon aioli.

The Human Bean, a drive-thru coffee chain founded in Oregon, is opening a new location at 1001 FM 3040 in Lewisville, This will be the chain's second DFW location and the 5th in Texas.

7-Eleven just opened its newest Evolution Store in Prosper. This is the fourth Evolution Store in Dallas-Fort Worth and seventh in the U.S., following a recent opening in Dallas at Park Lane and Abrams Road. Evolution Stores sell the latest innovations and products tailored to each market in a pioneering store format, including self-serve, bean-to-cup and espresso coffee, baked goods, better-for-you items, and an extensive wine selection. This location also features a Laredo Taco Company.

Bellagreen has launched its spring menu, available through the end of June, with new dishes that include Green Goddess Salad with spring mix, Romaine, strawberries, carrots, and garbanzo beans in green goddess dressing; mango habanero chicken wings, Wagyu bacon burger with caramelized onions, raspberries, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli on a brioche bun, with French fries or sweet potato fries; tacos with rainbow slaw paleo salmon or Korean ribeye; lemon poppyseed cheesecake; and white sangria. They're also featuring two dinner-only chef entrées: paleo Prime ribeye with avocado chimichurri sauce and crispy Brussels sprout leaves, and almond-crusted snapper with lemon-cilantro mashed potatoes and French garlic green beans.

Cowboy Chicken is bringing back its Trail Boss sandwich with a breaded and fried rotisserie chicken breast, lettuce, mayo, pickles, and ranch, available through July 4. They've also added two new seasonal salads: the Southwestern corn and bean salad with pinto beans, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeños; and tomato-cucumber salad with cilantro and red onion. Beginning May 3, they'll be sering watermelon tea and fresh watermelon slices. The salads and watermelon items are available through October 3.

Tupelo Honey has three new chicken & waffle dishes, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at all 17 Tupelo Honey locations across the country: sriracha honey fried chicken & waffles; Mac-N-Cheese waffle topped with fried chicken, garlic buttermilk ranch, pickles, and chives; and country-style fried chicken & waffles, topped with milk gravy, plus two fried eggs on the side.

Rodeo Goat has a limited-edition burger, available until April 26, called the Evan Grant, named for the DMN sports writer. It has a 44 Farms beef patty stuffed with gouda and bacon, Zavala's Barbecue brisket, microgreens, French fried potato salad, and aioli on a black sesame seed bun for $12.

Zalat Pizza has a new Nashville Hot Chicken & Pickle Pizza with Nashville hot sauce base, mozzarella cheese, chicken, red onion, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and bread and butter pickle chips. Place an order for pickup on www.zalatpizza.com or delivery is available through most third-party delivery apps such as UberEats and Doordash.

Motor City Pizza, the Detroit-style pizza pop-up, is now being served at five bars across DFW: Lakeview Growler, Bluffview Growler, and three locations of What’s On Tap.

Tiff's Treats has debuted a Double Chocolate Chip cookie, the first new cookie flavor to join the permanent menu in five years, and the first ever chocolate-based cookie on the permanent menu.

Dairy Queen has a new Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard Treat combining frosted animal sugar cookies, pink confetti frosting, and DQ soft serve, available through April.

Son of a Butcher has two specials for April at its Legacy Food Hall and Lower Greenville locations: Lemon Meringue Shake with vanilla ice cream, lemon curd, whipped cream, lemon zest, and cookie crumbles; and a Smashburger Slider with Wagyu, caramelized onion, mustard, cheddar, lettuce, pickle, ketchup, and mayo.

Original ChopShop has added new items and updated its breakfast menu to make it a more enduring destination for breakfast. They've also introduced a new limited-time menu category that will rotate every few months. Current offerings include a power bowl with scrambled egg, bacon, goat cheese, broccoli, mushroom, arugula, Brussels sprout, and avocado; an Avo Shake wih avocado, banana, spinach, dates, peanut butter, chia pudding, almond milk, vanilla whey protein powder, and agave; beet juice with carrot, green apple, ginger and turmeric; and Nanner Crunch Chia Pudding with chia seed, coconut milk, banana, chocolate sauce, almond and granola.

Bonchon has a new limited-time-only Sweet Red Chili sauce, with chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. It'll join Bonchon's soy garlic and spicy fried chicken flavors and will be available through June 13. The Dallas-based Korean fried chicken chain has also launched a "Stop Asian Violence" with a line of T-shirts where the proceeds go to the AAPI Community Fund. Each shirt has "Stop Asian Violence" inscribed over the heart, below the Korean symbol for love. T-shirts are $20 on stopasianviolence.orderpromos.com.

Sixty Vines is asking guests to be a partner in protecting wine country and the Earth by recycling their corks. In return, they get a taste from Sixty Vines' taps. Corks will be recycled and shared with local artists who will create items to be sold at SixtyVines.com in October. Proceeds will benefit a fund that will support wine country around the world in times of need.

High Fives, the bar on Henderson Avenue, is celebrating National High Fives Day on April 17 starting at 5 pm with a crawfish boil, $5 shots, DJ Fishr Pryce - "and of course free High Fives all night."

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille is serving a limited-time cocktail called Rita Rose Ole featuring George Strait's Código 1530 Rosa Tequila with Casa Madero Rose Wine and lemon juice. It's $15.

Oak & Eden In-Bottle Finished Whiskey, based in Dallas, has a new line called The Anthro Series crafted in collaboration with celebrities. Forrie J Smith, who plays Lloyd Pierce on the TV show Yellowstone, collaborated on a 116-proof bourbon whiskey finished with a cold brew coffee-soaked American Oak spiral. Professional skier Kina Pickett collaborated on a 90-proof bourbon whiskey finished with a maple syrup soaked American Oak spiral.

Smokey John's Bar-B-Que and Home Cooking will be featured on the Discovery Plus series Restaurant Recovery, hosted by Raising Canes' owner Todd Graves, who travels around the country helping family-owned restaurants that are suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Reaves brothers delve into their family history and walk away with solutions with the assistance of Graves and his team. It's streaming on discovery+ starting Thursday, April 15.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery will hold their third anniversary party at their Alehouse near White Rock Lake on April 17. There will be live music and more than 25 of their releases available, including some in 12- and 16-ounce cans, as well as a special release in a wax-dipped bottle. It'll run 11 am-9 pm and is open to all.

Refined Hospitality Concepts, the company behind restaurants including Primo’s MX Kitchen & Lounge, Sfereco and Overeasy, has hired Chef Jason Tilmann as its new Research & Development Corporate Chef. Tilmann comes with a great pedigree, having worked at Triomphe at the Iroquois, David Burke&Donatella, Hide Yamamoto, Restaurant Daniel, and Le Cirque.

Starbucks is scaling up single-store tests of their reusable cup rental service, Borrow a Cup, at five stores in Seattle from March 30 through May 31. Customers can spend an extra dollar for a reusable cup and then return it by scanning the cup at a kiosk or through a pickup service and get their dollar back as credit plus bonus stars on their rewards account. The cup is cleaned and sanitized. Starbucks has had its own reusable cup discount program for decades, although the majority of customers are lazy and still won't bring in their own cups.

news-you-can-eat

Restaurant News Roundup Time

Exclusive Prime rib and fancy lunches lead this Dallas restaurant news

Mirador

Time for another roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, and there's plenty to chew on: From new lunch and dinner menus to holiday-flavored beers. Even bigger news— the McRib is back, for those who have been anxiously awaiting its return.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and night, has opened its first store in Grand Prairie, at 2810 S. SH-161, with in-store, pickup, and delivery. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, Cookies & Ice Cream flavors, brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth. This is their 26th store in Texas and 308th location nationwide.

HoneyBaked Ham has a new Prime Rib item exclusive to Dallas. The Prime Rib averages $26 per pound, with sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. It serves 6-16 people, depending on the size. There are limited quantities available at each store. It's available at all 10 Dallas locations.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is introducing the zesty chicken bacon ranch pizza, the latest from their seasonal pizza lineup. The pizza features a creamy ranch base, grilled chicken, bacon, tender artichokes, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and topped with a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The pizza is available for $8.50 a slice, $21-$23 for a 12-inch pizza, and $26 for a 16-inch pizza. It’s available through February 2 at both Greenville Avenue and Peavy Road locations.

Mirador has launched a weekday three-course prix-fixe lunch menu for $30. It starts with a choice of two deviled eggs with caviar and chives, whipped ricotta toast, cup of tomato soup, or salad; second course includes choice of dishes like chicken paillard with Swiss chard, preserved orange sofrito, and aged parmesan; and a farro bowl with cauliflower green goddess, cherries, Marcona almonds. For the third course, there’s a to-go cookie. Available Tuesday through Friday from 11 am - 3 pm.

Broken Yolk Cafe in McKinney has two limited-time items: carrot cake waffle, a cinnamon spice cake batter waffle with shredded carrots and raisins, finished with candied pecans, powdered sugar and cream cheese icing starting at $9; and snickerdoodle latte, combining espresso, cinnamon bun and cookie butter syrup, vanilla cream, milk, and cinnamon sugar, available hot or iced for $6. Available through January 6.

Truluck’s has three new holiday items featuring cake and cocktails. For dessert, there’s chocolate peppermint cake made with layers of chocolate cake, frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing, topped with crushed candy and Godiva chocolate sauce; $14 per slice, $10 per petite slice, and $70 whole cake. Cocktails are $17.50 and feature Holiday Nog, a spiced cocktail with Bourbon and Bourbon cream; and Nutcracker Rum Punch, a rum ball balanced with honey and fruit. Available at Dallas, Plano, and Southlake locations until the end of December.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Plano has launched new holiday items, including a Japanese A5 Wagyu experience served rare with a sizzling hot stone tableside accompanied by miso glaze, grated horseradish and black lava salt. There’s a new $140 Season of Opulence filet and lobster four-course menu; and holiday weekend lunch starting at $28, featuring choice of steak frites, cabernet filet, or barbecue salmon fillet. Also, there's a new $94 caviar service featuring Hackleback caviar served with blinis, capers, chives, sour cream, egg, and shallots. Available through January 6.

Jinya Ramen Bar has brought back The Red Garnet and curry rice croquettes for a limited time. The Red Garnet is a red vegetable broth featuring pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage, white onion and topped with chili garlic sauce, served with thick noodles for $18. The croquettes are lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar cheese that start at $8. Available until February 28 at all Dallas locations.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are both offering three chalkboard specials throughout the month. Dishes feature $15 FishWich, with beer-battered haddock fish; $17 chimichurri shrimp tacos; and$24 horseradish Arctic char, served with a Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. The specials are available at all 12 DFW locations and run through December 31.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is bringing back its Fire & Spice seasonal menu. New winter dishes include the pepperoni diavolo pizza; the bridge board, an assortment of Italian meats and cheeses, with walnuts, dried cranberries, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with hot honey, served with sliced bread; and white chocolate cheesecake. Cocktails feature the desert pear margarita and Vino’rita, a classic margarita topped with a festive pour of Mille Gradi Sangiovese. Prices range from $7 for the white chocolate cheesecake to $32 for an 18-inch pepperoni diavolo. Available through March 3.

Carrabba's Italian Grill has launched two new full-sized cakes: cannoli cream cake, a vanilla cake with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios, and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust for $64; and strawberry cheesecake, a New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51. Place orders 48 hours prior to pick up or delivery. Available through January 13.

Moxies, the Canadian pub in Uptown, is rolling out limited-time festive cocktails. There are three new drinks, including the Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail with High West Bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and orange bitters; Peppermint Mocha Martini with a combination of Cafe Borghetti, Ketel One vodka, and peppermint syrup; and Winter Aperol Spritz, with Aperol, Ruffino Prosecco, and Moxies' cranberry syrup. Cocktails are available through January 1.

Dairy Queen has brought back their chicken and dumplings, featuring chicken, gravy, and fluffy dumplings. It comes in three sizes: 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce, available for dine-in, drive thru, and takeout. Chicken and dumplings are available at locations across Dallas-Fort Worth through the end of February.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Peppermint Cold Brew Frozen Coffee with vanilla Italian Ice, frozen custard, cold brew coffee, and a hint of peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping; and Peppermint Milkshake with a blend of Vanilla Frozen Custard and crushed peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping.

McDonald's brought back its famous McRib on December 3. To celebrate the return, they even launched half-gallon jugs of McRib sauce for those who can't get enough, which is already sold out. The McRib is available through the McDonald's app, in-restaurant and through the drive-thru.

Red Lobster has launched a new menu featuring seven new dishes including Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Lemon Basil Mahi, bacon Wrapped Scallops, lobster bisque, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus, plus the return of fan favorites Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies.

Cinnaholic has launched two holiday rolls flavors and menu items. Holiday rolls feature Nutcracker Sweet, topped with crème brulee frosting, a trio of Bavarian candied almonds, walnuts, and pecans, and dusted with powdered sugar for $6;and Oh Fudge, topped with chocolate frosting, fudgy cookie dough, chocolate bark, homemade chocolate sauce, and holiday sprinkles for $7. Other items include $5 CinnaBites, $4 hot cocoa, and $33 wreath cake, with cinnamon rolls shaped into a wreath. Available through January 6.

Shiner, the Texas-based beer, has a festive brew called Shiner Holiday Cheer with flavor from Texas peaches and pecans for $11 for a six-bottle pack and $19 for a 12-bottle pack. Plus, the 12-pack Home for the Holidays collection goes for $15 and features two new flavors: FM 966, a sweet and spicy ale; and s’more, a dark ale brewed with chocolate & marshmallow with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. Both are available through the end of December.

Yelp featured two Dallas restaurants on this year's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024 list. Wicked Butcher, the downtown steakhouse, and Casa Pollastro, the Brazilian restaurant in Far North Dallas, both made the cut at no. 6 and 20 respectively. They were two of only four Texas restaurants on the list.