On the restaurant front, Uptown is hap-hap-happening. Seattle's Best has arrived, and that makes us special. And, saving the best for last, we're not too snobby to report on new menu items at Cheddar's.

Opening time
After months of chatter and planning, Pozo Mercado, a Tex-Mex-ish joint serving late-night tacos and four tequilas on tap, opens on McKinney Avenue, next-door to its sibling, The Standard Pour. The menu is an unusual fusion of Tex-Mex and comfort food, with mac and cheese, enchilada casserole, and "Mexican lasagna" with chicken and mango. The photos on its Facebook page show a crowd that looks a lot like the folks who fill the seats at its other Uptown sibling, Sfuzzi.

Boxwood Tap + Grill will open in the old Thomas Avenue Beverage Co. space this summer. Its Facebook page lists the owner as Tommy DeAlano of Candleroom and Oak fame. Decor includes exposed brick, tin ceiling and hardwood floors. It'll have craft beer on tap and cocktails by Jason Kosmas, with "hearty bar fare" such as sandwiches, salads and rotating seasonal items.

Speaking of Oak, chef Jason Maddy has departed due to medical reasons, according to a release from the restaurant. He will be replaced by chef de cuisine Thomas Gray.

Mexican fast casual concept Chiladas opens its second location at 4448 Lovers Ln. on June 5. Owned by Williamson Family Investments, which also operates regional chain TaMolly’s, Chiladas' menu includes — and we're quoting the press release here — "hand-rolled enchiladas, green chile rice with hand-sliced roasted poblano peppers, and onions pickled in house," while the tomatoes in the salsa are "steam-peeled." Sounds artisanal! Chiladas plans to open five more locations in DFW by 2014.

Jeng Chi, the Richardson restaurant known for its top-notch dumplings, changed addresses. They moved to what they call a "larger, more modern space" in the same Greenville Avenue shopping center, but now #11 — "near the large Confucious statue," they say.

Urban Vines Wine Bistro is now open in the old Cafe Lago space, from lawyer Jennifer Rodriguez. The menu includes panini, salads, an unfortunately named category called "nibbles," and a small section of cured meats. And wine, of course.

Seattle’s Best Coffee opened its 10 drive-thrus in Dallas-Fort Worth on May 20, serving hot and cold coffee drinks and "dashboard-friendly" foods such as egg sandwiches. In addition to previously announced branches in Burleson, Lancaster, Fort Worth, McKinney and Rockwall, there will be four more branches opening in Lewisville, Arlington, Westworth and Wylie. Seattle's Best chose DFW as the first market for its drive-thru blowout, so let us celebrate our specialness and drive thru today.

On the menu
Private Social has scrapped its fancy gastronomy orientation for "Texas specialties with a twist" from chef Najat Kaanache. Menu items include brisket, fried green tomatoes, fried duck, steaks, cornbread, and a mac and cheese with five cheeses — so take that, four-, three- and paltry two-cheese mac and cheeses. Desserts include pecan bars, chocolate-peanut butter sundaes, and a lemon and peach tart.

Meso Maya has some new summer menu items jacked up with tequila, including queso flameado, salmon glazed with Herradura reposado, and a tres leches cake in which the cake is soaked with milk and añejo tequila. Arriba.

Cheddar's has new menu items that include an Asian salad and a BBQ chicken salad, plus healthy sides such as edamame and black beans. Once you've gotten that healthy out of your way, you can light into the warm chocolate croissant bread pudding with vanilla ice cream.