Ice Cream News

New Deep Ellum ice cream shop hits on all of Dallas' dessert trends

Twisted Treats owner Jonathan Urick with one of his twisted treats.

Photo courtesy of Twisted Treats

A new dessert shop has opened in Deep Ellum with nearly all of 2018's trendy favorites. Called Twisted Treats, it opened on May 29 at 2820 Elm St., in the space between Oni Ramen and Hide Bar that was once home to the Viper Lounge.

You name the trendy dessert item, and Twisted Treats is on it: cookie dough, soft-serve ice cream, popsicles, and milkshakes.

"We're doing cookie dough and soft serve ice cream with a few signatures and you can also build your own," says manager Trent Nabors. "Our most popular ice cream is strawberry fields, with graham crackers, cake chunks, and strawberries. The most popular popsicle so far has been watermelon, and the best-selling cookie dough is snickerdoodle. We started out with the idea of just doing ice cream, but the cookie dough is doing well."

Other popsicle flavors include cherry limeade, avocado, hibiscus, and coffee.

Their cookie dough recipe does not include eggs, so it's shelf-stable. Nabors says the recipes were developed by him, owner Jonathan Urick, and their commissary manager, Marc burros, a pastry culinary grad who worked at the Mansion on Turtle Creek for a little while, and who previously was doing gelato popsicles.

"We make all the popsicles and cookie dough off-site and ship it to Deep Ellum, with the idea that, as we grow, we can ship it to all the stores," he says.

Growing is part of their game plan. In fact, they already have another location nailed down in The Colony, by TopGolf off SH121, which they anticipate will open in about five weeks.

Popsicles are hot. Cookie dough as a trend is seriously on the rise. As for soft-serve, so far it has been the exclusive turf of Cow Tipping Creamery, the Austin-born ice cream concept that's a sibling to the Cane Rosso pizza chain.

The only thing missing: rolled ice cream, which ironically was their original theme.

"We still have the machines and we have the recipes," Nabors says. "As a matter of fact, we're using a recipe to make our vanilla bean popsicle. But in the end, our theme is just twists on desserts - just all kinds of twists on what the original dessert is."

Southlake Sizzle

Dallas' Hudson House totes its oysters and martinis to new DFW city

Photo courtesy of\u00a0Hudson House

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Southlake diners have been eager to get their hands on the Hudson House burgers and an icy martinis that Dallasites know and love - and the wait is almost over. The highly anticipated East Coast-inspired restaurant will debut on Friday, September 11.

First announced in fall 2025, the Southlake location will open at 1131 E. Southlake Blvd., taking over the former RA Sushi space next to Gloria’s.

The 5,000(ish)-square-foot restaurant will be the 12th Hudson House location from Dallas-based Vandelay Companies, according to a release. It's the second Tarrant County outpost, after a location that opened in west Fort Worth in 2023.

Founded in 2017 by restaurateur Hunter Pond, Hudson House is known for its neighborhood-restaurant vibe, seafood-driven menu, raw bar, sushi, burgers, and signature cocktails — particularly its claim of serving the “World’s Coldest Martini.”

“Southlake has the combination of energy, growth and appreciation for hospitality that we look for when entering a new neighborhood," says Pond, chairman of Vandelay Companies, in the release. "Our goal is never simply to add another location. We want every Hudson House to feel rooted in its community from the moment it opens and to become the kind of restaurant guests return to week after week.”

The large wraparound bar at Hudson House Southlake.Photo courtesy of Hudson House

The Southlake restaurant will feature warm leather booths, a large wraparound bar, a full sit-down raw bar, and an outdoor patio. The design is intended to evoke a traditional New England dining institution while incorporating Hudson House's polished, energetic style.

The menu will include Hudson House staples such as the Hudson’s Avocado Dip with ranch chips; The Cheeseburger with thin patties, American cheese, pickles, and house sauce; Chicken Parm with creamy tomato pasta and Reggiano; and the Hudson Salad with popcorn chicken, avocado, cherry tomato, bacon, sharp cheddar, and green goddess dressing.

Seafood remains a major focus, with East Coast oysters flown in daily, a dedicated raw bar, and sushi options including the Sunset Roll, Signature Roll, Pressed Ahi Tuna Roll, and Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice.

East Coast oysters and shrimp cocktail at Hudson House. Photo courtesy of Hudson House

Pro tip: Don't skip the Key Lime Pie for dessert.

Then there are the martinis. The restaurant's signature “World’s Coldest Martini” is made with Grey Goose vodka served on tap and chilled to 10 degrees.

Other martinis include The Classic, Bleu & Gold, The Lemon Drop, and The Espresso, while the cocktail list also includes the Frozen Bellini, Strawberry Spritz, Spicy Mexican, and Manhattan.

The restaurant offers a popular happy hour, which runs weekdays from 3-6 pm at the bar only, with half-price martinis, Bellinis, and wine by the glass, plus $3 East Coast oysters and $10 cheeseburgers.

The Hudson House's Fort Worth location, on "the bricks" of Camp Bowie Boulevard, earned a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. The nomination read, "The East Coast-inspired restaurant ... has remained nonstop busy for its polished design, raw bar, cheeseburgers, lobster rolls, and ice-cold martinis served in frozen glassware. Just blocks from Rivercrest Country Club, the chic spot draws regulars from the nearby Crestline and Arlington Heights neighborhoods, as well moms who lunch, golf buddies, and couples from all over Fort Worth who return again and again for top-notch service and reliable, upscale American fare."

Given the Southlake restaurant's proximity to other local shopping and leisure spots, including Central Market, Southlake Town Square, and Timarron Country Club, it should be a perfect fit.

Hudson House will be open 11 am-9 pm Monday-Wednesday, 11 am-10 pm Thursday-Friday, 10 am-10 pm Saturday, and 10 am-9 pm Sunday.

southlake openings hudson house