Coronavirus News
New Greenville Ave outdoor cantina plus more Dallas restaurant openings
In this chapter of coronavirus-themed Dallas restaurant updates, the news is all good. It's all about openings, and absolutely no closings. Praise be.
Here are the latest restaurant opening tidbits:
Vantina is a new outdoor pop-up from chef Nick Badovinus that will be set up in the parking lot of Desert Racer, his Baja-style cantina on Greenville Avenue. Desert Racer is still closed, so this will serve as a tide-you-over that's outdoor only. The menu includes ceviche, poke, burgers, tacos with seafood and smoked meats, soft-serve ice cream in three yummy flavors: cold brew cajeta, Mexican chocolate syrup, and hibiscus-strawberry.
Badovinus has quietly reopened his entire restaurant empire:
- Town Hearth, his glitzy steakhouse, reopened on May 27.
- Neighborhood Services, his flagship chain, reopened on May 27.
- Montlake Cut, his seafood restaurant, will reopen on June 2.
Bistro 31, the Highland Park favorite from Alberto Lombardi, has re-opened for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. They're observing the 50 percent capacity rule and managing their reservation and walk-ins accordingly.
Crossroads Diner, the award-winning breakfast and lunch North Dallas diner from chef Tom Fleming, is re-opening on June 2, bright and early at 7 am. They'll be open with signature cinnamon rolls and the whole breakfast shebang Tuesdays-Sundays from 7 am-2 pm.
Dugg Burger in Preston Hollow Village has reopened. This is the burger chain where they dig out some of the bun to make more room for toppings. At Preston Hollow, they're doing takeout and delivery, and also allowing customers to eat on the patio. Their other location at Casa Linda Plaza never closed; they've been open the entire time doing takout - what owner Greg Watson dubs "carside."
The Henry, the hip Fox Restaurants concept in Uptown Dallas, has reopened its dine-in program but with limited hours: Monday-Thursday 4-9 pm, and Friday-Sunday 4-10 pm. You can also order online and on Sundays-Thursdays, they'll give a 35 percent off deal on all to-go orders when you create an account and use code FRC35 at checkout.
Hutchins BBQ, with locations in Frisco and McKinney, will reopen their dining rooms on Monday, June 1. Regular hours will continue for dining in; Hutchins will also extend curbside pickup with no order minimum for those who prefer to take their meals to-go. They're working on online ordering coming soon as well.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill has reopened its location at the Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas and is using enhanced sanitation with the help of Enviro-Master, a cleaning company that uses a tool called “virus vaporizer” equipped with a EPA-registered, hospital grade disinfectant and kills a total of 47 bacteria and viruses. Sounds disinfecting! Both Thirsty Lion locations — in Las Colinas and its other location at Glade Park in Euless, which reopened May 21 — are allowing outdoor dining on the patio. They're also offering curbside pickup and third-party delivery.
The menu features cocktails by acclaimed mixologist Gabe Sanchez.Photo courtesy of PILF