Chef News

Dallas chef Kent Rathbun resigns from his company to try something new

Chef Kent Rathbun, the world is his oyster.

Photo courtesy of Kent Rathbun

Dallas chef Kent Rathbun has resigned from Kent Rathbun Concepts, the restaurant company he founded in 2009. According to a statement from his partner Bill Hyde, Rathbun will relinquish his day-to-day activities to pursue other avenues of interest, but he will remain part of the company.

"We are currently exploring his new role and welcome his continued engagement for the benefit of our guests, staff, and company," Hyde says. "We are extremely proud of the culinary talent we have placed in each restaurant and look forward to continuing to serve our valued guests."

Hyde, who previously worked with Ruth's Chris Steak House, took over after Rathbun's original partner, Robert Hoffman, died in 2006. The company has six restaurants, including Abacus; Hickory in Plano; and four branches of Jasper's, in Plano, Richardson, Austin, and the Woodlands. It also runs the Kitchen at 6130, a catering operation in Preston Center, in the former Blue Plate Kitchen space.

As noted on Escape Hatch, Christopher Patrick was recently promoted to the top chef position at Abacus, and the other restaurants had chefs in place. Rathbun says he felt like it was time to venture off and do something else. "I'm excited and want our team at the restaurant group to succeed and excel," he says.

One of Dallas' best-known chefs, Rathbun was nominated as the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southwest in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. He has appeared on numerous TV shows, including the Food Network's Chef du Jour, Cooking Live with Sara Moulton, Ready Set Cook, the CBS Early Show, the Rosie O’Donnell Show, and NBC’s Today Show. In 2008, he competed on Food Network’s hit series Iron Chef America, where he beat Bobby Flay.

He and his wife, Tracy Moore Rathbun, are working on the reopening of Chelsea Corner, the famed Uptown bar from the '80s, in partnership with Len Critcher, owner of The Tavern.

"We're planning on opening in September," Tracy says. "They are swinging hammers, and we are working on the menu. We're having some fun with it. I think people can reinvent themselves and move on."

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Taking the field

Dak Prescott-backed Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux kicks off in Wylie

Photo courtesy of Walk-Ons

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is opening in Wylie on August 10.

A Louisiana sports bar chain that counts Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as a partner continues to build its fan base in Dallas-Fort Worth: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is set to open a new location in Wylie on Monday, August 10.

Announced earlier this year, the restaurant is at 906 FM 544, near the intersection of Highway 78 and FM 544. The opening marks the chain's 20th Texas location and its second operating restaurant in the DFW area.

Founded in Baton Rouge in 2003 by former LSU basketball "walk-ons" Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On's has grown to more than 80 locations nationwide. The company is co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (an Austin native), and franchise partners include Prescott, along with former NFL player Derrick Brooks, and college football coach Dabo Swinney.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Wylie The new Walk-On's is at 906 FM 544, Wylie.Photo courtesy of Walk-On's

The menu is centered on seafood and classic Louisiana dishes: fried seafood platters, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, po'boys, fried oysters, gumbo, fried alligator, and boudin balls. Prices range from $10 to $20.

Starters include waffle cheese fries, fried pickles, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders, spinach-artichoke dip, and venison nachos. They have a bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

There's also a plentiful selection of beers on tap, plus margaritas and other crafty-ish cocktails.

The Wylie restaurant is owned by franchisee Cooper Thomson, who says the community made the city an appealing place to expand.

"I am thrilled to expand Walk-On's presence in Dallas, and particularly in the community of Wylie," Thomson says in a release. "To be a part of the growth in this area - to serve families and be a place where little league teams celebrate and football fans cheer on their team - is such a special opportunity."

Although Walk-On's has been in the DFW market since pre-pandemic times, Wylie will be its second restaurant in DFW open currently, joining a location at Grandscape in The Colony. Earlier Dallas-area locations in Irving and Arlington have closed, although the company has previously said it plans to reopen the Arlington restaurant at a new location.

The Wylie restaurant features a sports bar with dozens of TVs, a large outdoor patio, and a family-friendly dining room designed for game-day crowds.

Grand opening festivities will kick off at 10:30 am on Monday, August 10, with a ceremony featuring Walk-On's founder Brandon Landry, franchise owner Cooper Thomson, Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, city officials, and representatives from Wylie High School and Wylie East High School.

The celebration will include donations to the two schools' athletic departments, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 am. Doors open to the public at 11 am, and the first 100 guests to dine will have a chance to win free Walk-On's for a year.

Walk-On's will be the second sports bar concept with celebrity cred to open in DFW within a few days' time. Shark Club, from Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, opened Friday, August 7 in Northlake.

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