Victory Park Chow

Dallas' Victory Park gets its sushi back with new Kent Rathbun spot

Victory Park is set to get an Asian restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Victory Park

There are details and an opening date on the new Asian restaurant opening in Victory Park from Kent and Tracy Rathbun.

Called Imōto, it represents "the Pan-Asian fruit" of their lifetime of culinary and cultural pursuits. "Pan-Asian fruit," now that is some press release writing.

Imōto, the Japanese word for "little sister," will open at 2400 Victory Park Ln. on June 7, filling a gap on the "Asian Restaurant Options in Victory Park" category that was left when Kenichi, the sushi restaurant, closed in 2017.

Imōto will be upscale, and will serve favorites from various Asian cultures in a contemporary style. There'll be sharable plates and a traditional sushi bar. Those are all the details on the menu for now.

The restaurant will also have a "flare" for the nightlife with a lounge, weekend DJ, and extensive cocktail menu. "Flare," now that is some press release spelling. We kid, we kid.

Imōto will reflect Kent's extensive travels to Thailand and Tracy's dedication to hospitality. Kent says that "everything about Imōto is geared to taking you to an exotic, cool locale."

Chef is Jennifer Newbold, previously of Rathbun's Blue Plate Kitchen. General Manager is Cinthia Mullenix, previously of Shinsei Restaurant. Sushi master is Jimmy Duke, previously of Nobu.

In Imōto, the Rathbuns are partnered with John Kinzer, founder of the Barley House; and John D. Harkey, Jr., who is CEO of Consolidated Restaurants.

Consolidated operates and franchises more than 100 full-service restaurants including III Forks, Prime Steakhouse, Cool River Café, Cantina Laredo, and Lucky’s Café.

Kinzer had a leadership and formative role in the creation and direction of the Del Frisco's Grille concept and was director of Del Frisco's Restaurant Group from 2009-13. He has also had oversight responsibilities for Texas Land & Cattle and Lone Star Steakhouse.

Everyone knows Kent Rathbun as founder of Abacus, Jasper's, and more, and as one of Dallas' best-known chefs. Imōto is his first solo venture since leaving the company he founded and developed, Kent Rathbun Concepts.

Tracy Rathbun co-founded the popular Shinsei near Inwood Village and has 20 years of restaurant and managerial experience.

downtown

Coming Soon

Cafe Olivia to debut in downtown Dallas with weekday breakfast and lunch

Hidden Friends for Cafe Olivia

Brie and fig sandwich at Cafe Olivia

Cafe Olivia, the sleek Addison coffee shop and eatery known for its sophisticated lattes and daytime menu of healthy fare, will soon debut its second Dallas-area location, this time in the heart of the city.

The restaurant is set to open its doors at 2200 Ross Ave., inside the recently renovated Dallas Arts Tower, on Tuesday, February 17. It follows quickly on the heels of the first Dallas-area outpost of Cafe Olivia, which opened in an Addison office tower on the Dallas North Tollway in October 2025.

In a press release, founder Adrian Verdin seemed to obliquely address recent fears over the future of downtown Dallas, following the news that AT&T would relocate its headquarters to Plano, noting that he has a “deep belief” in the future of downtown.

“Our eyes have always been on downtown Dallas,” Verdin says. “After being part of major downtown developments and working closely with properties like The Statler and The Joule, we have a deep belief in where this neighborhood is headed, not just now, but five, 10, and 20 years from now.”

In addition to a full menu of coffee drinks, Cafe Olivia boasts a menu of healthy dishes for breakfast and lunch.

Diners can look forward to Olivia’s grain bowl, which pairs quinoa and farro with baby kale, mushrooms, herbed tomatoes, and tahini-lemon dressing, along with classic proteins like miso-grilled salmon and a sumac-rubbed half chicken. There’s also a rotating pasta option, a butcher’s cut steak, and lots of veggie sides, along with a tight menu of cocktails and wine. Grab-and-go options will also be on offer for downtown workers in need of a quick lunch.

And when ordering the signature Olivia Latte, made with lavender oat milk and vanilla bean foam, or a classic cortado, patrons might notice that it’s served in a pretty pink mug made especially for the cafe by Dallas ceramicist Marcello Andres, who’s responsible for some of the city’s most interesting tableware right now.

In addition to breakfast and lunch service, Cafe Olivia will open its doors during the evenings and weekends for private events and meetings.

Cafe Olivia will debut in downtown Dallas on February 17. The restaurant will be open from 7 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. More outposts of Cafe Olivia are also in the works, including a Plano location that’s “coming soon,” according to the release.

breakfast lunch coffee shop downtown dallas openings