Austin import

Affordable fine-dining Austin restaurant eyes a spinoff in Dallas' Oak Cliff

Chad Dolezal is a Dallas native.

The Hightower/ Facebook

An Austin restaurant noted for its fine-dining menu combined with a laid-back atmosphere is expanding to Dallas: Called The Hightower, it's a neighborhood restaurant from chef Chad Dolezal and partner Victor Farnsworth, who will open a spinoff in Oak Cliff.

Dolezal grew up in Dallas and says he wants his kids to grow up here, as well. He'll move to Dallas oversee the new restaurant, while Farnsworth remains in Austin to manage the original.

The Hightower opened in Austin in 2014 and set itself apart by putting out quality food at affordable prices in a non-pretentious environment. The food and drink are descibed as "new Texas cuisine," inspired by Eastern European and Mexican flavors that represent Texas heritage and using local, seasonal ingredients and a creative bar program. The Austin restaurant is open for dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays, plus weekend brunch.

The menu includes appealing dishes such as blistered green beans with honey mustard and candied pecans, roasted pork jowl with rice, and a flat iron steak with hash and a 6-minute egg.

It's also heavily veg-friendly, with distinctive options such as mushroom quesadillas and grilled cabbage with kale and smoked pepitas.

Nothing on the menu is over $20.

Dolezal is decidedly down-to-earth. After opening The Hightower, he confessed he wasn't a fan of the term chef, stating that he takes just as much pride in being a cook. "Being a chef means a lot more things and it's a wide range," he said. "To me, it’s become more of a figurehead public speaking role versus cooking in a kitchen. And I feel I can take more pride standing in a kitchen with cooks, being a cook."

Hightower is his mother's maiden name.

"I want this to be its own version of the Hightower, and it won't be called that," he says. "We're throwing around two or three names, but I want it to be as unique to the neighborhood as I can make it. This is under the Hightower umbrella, but it's going to be something unique to Dallas and Oak Cliff."

"Oak Cliff is significant; my mother worked here for AIDS services in Oak Cliff and we were specific about where we wanted to be," he says. "I fought hard and looked long and I'm proud we get to be in Oak Cliff."

He's not divulging the address yet; they're purchasing the property, a unique vintage building, and are still under contract, and he doesn't want to jinx the deal. It'll definitely be a bigger venture than Austin.

"We're picturing a decent-size dining room but also an outdoor area that's family-friendly, which is something we're not able to provide in Austin because it's a smaller space," he says. "And I'll be moving a half mile away from the restaurant, which is not only for transportation needs but because I love that neighborhood. I'm ecstatic about it."

oak-cliff

seasonal sips

Top spots to sip holiday tea in Dallas this 2026 Christmas season

The Adolphus

Holiday tea service has arrived at The Adolphus.

Holiday tea has long been a Dallas tradition during the festive season, especially at the city's grand hotels and historic venues. In recent years, it has become a bigger seasonal draw, with restaurants and hotels putting their own wintertime spin on the classic afternoon ritual. Along with traditional finger sandwiches, sugary confections, and fresh-based scones, guests can add Champagne and caviar and enjoy live holiday music, a panoramic view, or even visit with Santa.

Here are the top Dallas-area spots serving holiday tea this holiday season. This year's offerings begin in November, with some continuing through the first days of 2027. The list may grow as more plans are unveiled. All require reservations.

Holiday Tea at the Adolphus' French Room: The holidays would be dim without one of Dallas' most enduring traditions, Holiday Tea in the French Room. Since 1912, the Adolphus Hotel has transforming its elegant interiors into a festive destination drenched in evergreen garlands, twinkling lights, and seasonal décor. The three-course holiday tea includes savory mini sandwiches, freshly baked scones with house-made preserves and English double cream, and an assortment of pastries. Teas are sourced from local purveyor Zakti, which creates special blends for the hotel. A welcome glass of Champagne or French sparkling cider is included, with an optional Petrossian caviar service also available. Weekend piano performances and daily harp music add to the atmosphere. November 4-January 10, daily, 10 am-4:30 pm (last seating). $85 and up.

Holiday Tea at Hotel Swexan's Léonie: Léonie at Hotel Swexan in Dallas' Harwood District provides an intimate setting for holiday teatime, with seasonal décor beneath the restaurant's skylight and signature greenery. The menu features freshly baked scones, savory bites, and dainty holiday pastries. November 27-December 27, Fridays-Sundays, with seatings from 12-2:30 pm. $85 per person and $35 for children 12 and under.

Holiday Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas: Holiday tea at The Ritz-Carlton means an afternoon of seasonal treats in an elegant hotel-restaurant setting. Fearing's, which hosts the tea inside the restaurant, serves loose leaf teas, crustless finger sandwiches, and pastries inspired by the season. November 28-January 2, Saturday-Sundays, with reservations available from 11 am-2 pm. $45-$100 per person.

Holiday Tea with Santa at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas adds a Santa visit to its holiday tea service at Bar Juniper, which gets a seasonal makeover for the occasion. The menu features seasonal savory bites, sweets, and bubbles. Children can visit with Santa, write letters to him, listen to holiday stories, and take home a keepsake gift. December 5-20, Saturdays and Sundays, plus December 22-24, with seatings at 12 noon and 3 pm. $135 for adults, $55 for kids 12 and over, free for kids 5-12.

Holiday Princess Tea at the Hilton Anatole: Princesses of all ages can don their tiara for a royal holiday tea that pairs a traditional three-course tea service with princess performances in the hotel's majestic Wedgwood Ballroom. Young guests can enjoy confections and a decaffeinated tea selection with savory bites, freshly baked scones, delicate sweets. Champagne flows freely (but not free) for the adults. Saturday, November 14, 1-3 pm. $100.19 for adults, $42.42 for children.

Holiday Tea at the Reserve at The Highland: Traditional afternoon tea gets a distinctly Texas treatment. The three-course holiday menu includes pimento cheese and roasted jalapeño tea sandwiches, cucumber ranch-Boursin, and chicken salad with Texas pecans and dried cranberries. Scones arrive in citrus-poppy seed and jalapeño cheddar varieties, followed by seasonal sweets such as mini pecan pie tartlets, macarons, and petit fours. Guests can add a Champagne tea cocktail, including an Earl Grey French 75 or Blueberry Royale. November 19-January 3, Thursday-Sunday, with seatings at 1 and 1:30 pm. $75 per person; optional Champagne or cocktail upgrade, $20 per person.

Modern Holiday Tea at Mirador: Perched atop Forty Five Ten in downtown Dallas, Mirador puts a contemporary spin on the traditional holiday tea. It begins with a chai-spiced scone, followed by savory bites such as beets with strawberry goat cheese, a Wagyu sandwich, and a caviar tartlet. Seasonal sweets include a ginger molasses cookie, pear financier, and cranberry-orange pastry. Teas from The Cultured Cup and Mariage Frères accompany the courses, with optional caviar additions and beverage flights available. The restaurant's wraparound terrace overlooks downtown's Eye sculpture. November 7, 21, and 28, and December 19, 24, and 26, with seatings from 10:30 am-2 pm. $98 per person; children's menu for ages 10 and younger, $35.

Holiday Tea at Restaurant DeGolyer at Dallas Arboretum: The Dallas Arboretum's Restaurant DeGolyer offers a seasonal afternoon tea surrounded by the magnificent Christmas at the Arboretum decorations. The menu includes finger sandwiches sans crust, holiday-inspired soup, freshly baked scones, festive desserts, and specialty teas. It's a particularly appealing option for combining a holiday outing with a visit to the Arboretum's seasonal displays. November 16-January 8, with seatings at 11 am and 2 pm. $65 per person.

Christmas Tea at the Alexander Mansion: The historic C.H. Alexander Mansion on Ross Avenue is transformed into a holiday tearoom with elegant decor, sweets, treats, tea, and champagne. The menu includes cucumber tea sandwich, chicken salad on orange/cranberry bread, egg salad on marble bread, tomato-basil quiche, pimento sandwich, spinach and Gruyere cheese in puff pastry, cranberry and white chocolate scones, red velvet scones, and more. December 2-6 and 9-13, with one seating daily at 12 noon. $75 per person.

Nutcracker Holiday Tea at Hotel Crescent Court: A beloved holiday ballet sautés as the theme of the holiday afternoon tea. Nutcracker-inspired décor, seasonal treats, and live holiday set the stage for the hotel's annual celebration. Guests can also order unlimited Champagne. Saturdays and Sundays in December, with seatings at 11 am, 12 noon, and 1 pm. From $59.75.

Café 43 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center: Holiday Tea at Café 43 offers a festive afternoon in the presidential center's restaurant, with the option to explore the George W. Bush Presidential Museum before or after tea. December 16-17, with seatings at 2:15 and 3:30 pm. Sold out; guests can join the waitlist to request tickets.

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