News You Can Eat

Dallas' best burger relocates, fresh summer menus and more newsy morsels

Restaurant openings in Dallas-Fort Worth aren't letting up. We have at least three more coming right up here, plus news of brunch, lunch and summer menus. Eat up:

Hickory, the new restaurant concept from chef Kent Rathbun (Abacus, Jasper's) opens on June 15. Located in far north Plano at Highway 121 and the Tollway, the restaurant has a casual menu of burgers and barbecue but an "elevated, full-service setting," according to a release.

General manager is Dennis Egert and chef de cuisine is Jeff Qualls. Design by Jones Baker "exudes a modern roadhouse feel," with rustic woods and metal; a patio includes picnic tables and a fireplace.

In addition to burgers topped with eggs and such, sides include apple coleslaw, burnt end baked beans, potato salad, onion rings and waffle-cut Maytag blue cheese fries. Each table will be equipped with serve-yourself pickles and other condiments, and there's a full bar. Opening hours are lunch and dinner, but they'll eventually add breakfast.

Off Site Kitchen, chef Nick Badovinus' super-casual restaurant on Irving Boulevard, is relocating to more spacious headquarters at Trinity Groves. That means you won't have to wait in line or jockey for a stool, and it won't feel as divey as the original. Uh-oh, there goes its mystique. The restaurant, which first opened in February 2012, is noted for its cheap burgers (winner in the 2015 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards), but the menu also includes sandwiches, tacos, fried chicken and cheese fries. It opens at Trinity Groves on June 16.

Del Frisco's Grille will open a branch at the Shops at Legacy on June 19. This restaurant will have the new menu that was just recently rolled out for grille locations. It is also the first Del Frisco's Grille in Collin County. The location features an open-air kitchen and second-floor mezzanine that looks out onto the downstairs patio and the street.

Paul Martin's American Grill has an opening date for its Dallas location at 3838 Oak Lawn Ave.: mid-July. This is the restaurant concept from Paul Fleming, founder of P.F. Chang's, with American classics such as spinach dip,  calamari, kale Caesar, short ribs, brick chicken and polenta with vegetables.

Pei Wei has opened a second location in Lewisville, at 4600 State Highway 121. In addition to its regular menu, there is Kung Pao three ways: regular with rice, with crisp lettuce cups instead of rice, or in sushi form with a Kung Pao shrimp sushi roll.

The first Lewisville location of this Asian fusion chain serving "wok'd-to-order" dishes opened in 2003. This second Lewisville location will be the 26th in the DFW area; the last was at Casa Linda in December 2014. Two more are coming to DFW — Richardson and Fort Worth — part of 10 openings total in 2015.

In addition to its Asian cuisine, Pei Wei restaurants offer Coca-Cola Freestyle machines with more than 100 beverage options, as well as wine and beer.

Dallas Fish Market's new chef, Richard Triptow, has a three-course, fixed-price menu for the summer. Choose from options such as English pea soup, watermelon salad, shrimp cakes, almond milk-poached cod, salmon with green pea mash and warm mustard potato salad, flat iron steak, shrimp and summer squash, or cavatelli pasta with goat cheese and basil.

Desserts include lemon ice box cake, yogurt parfait, chocolate canelé or "cherries and berries," with pickled cherries, seasonal berries, candied nuts and pistachio gelato.

The Rustic has launched a "jam and toast" brunch from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring bluegrass and blues musicians beginning at noon. The brunch is served family-style and is $16.95 per person. Options include cheese and fruit, baked eggs, butcher shop skillet with bacon and sausage from Rudolph's Market, spicy fried chicken and dill pickles, French toast, cheddar grits with poblanos and cheddar on sausage gravy, and doughnuts.

Coconut's Fish Cafe offers poke and poke bowls, a signature dish from Hawaii. Pronounced POH-keh, poke is the raw fish dish similar to tartare or ceviche, with yellowfin tuna, soy sauce, inamona (roasted crushed candlenut), sesame oil, limu seaweed, and chopped chili pepper.

R Bar & Grill has four new tropical drinks: the R frozen margarita with strawberry infusion, peachy Patrón margarita, raspberry-flavored Raspatrón margarita and a frozen strawberries & cream cocktail.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is now serving lunch, beginning at 11 am every day, featuring both the regular menu and a lunch special of a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza, Caesar salad, and a drink for $10. The regular menu includes salads, sandwiches, baked ziti, garlic knots, hot wings and seasoned fries.

Dunkin Donuts has some new iced coffee drinks and doughnuts featuring the flavors of Oreo and Chips Ahoy cookies. There are Coolatta frozen drinks with cookie mix-ins, and two Chips Ahoy doughnuts: one with cookie dough-flavored buttercream filling and another with chocolate icing and crumbled cookies.

Dallas Fish Market has chilled English pea soup on the menu.

Photo courtesy of DFM

Dallas Fish Market has chilled English pea soup on the menu.

news-you-can-eat

Restaurant News Roundup Time

Exclusive Prime rib and fancy lunches lead this Dallas restaurant news

Mirador

Time for another roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, and there's plenty to chew on: From new lunch and dinner menus to holiday-flavored beers. Even bigger news— the McRib is back, for those who have been anxiously awaiting its return.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and night, has opened its first store in Grand Prairie, at 2810 S. SH-161, with in-store, pickup, and delivery. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, Cookies & Ice Cream flavors, brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth. This is their 26th store in Texas and 308th location nationwide.

HoneyBaked Ham has a new Prime Rib item exclusive to Dallas. The Prime Rib averages $26 per pound, with sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. It serves 6-16 people, depending on the size. There are limited quantities available at each store. It's available at all 10 Dallas locations.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is introducing the zesty chicken bacon ranch pizza, the latest from their seasonal pizza lineup. The pizza features a creamy ranch base, grilled chicken, bacon, tender artichokes, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and topped with a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The pizza is available for $8.50 a slice, $21-$23 for a 12-inch pizza, and $26 for a 16-inch pizza. It’s available through February 2 at both Greenville Avenue and Peavy Road locations.

Mirador has launched a weekday three-course prix-fixe lunch menu for $30. It starts with a choice of two deviled eggs with caviar and chives, whipped ricotta toast, cup of tomato soup, or salad; second course includes choice of dishes like chicken paillard with Swiss chard, preserved orange sofrito, and aged parmesan; and a farro bowl with cauliflower green goddess, cherries, Marcona almonds. For the third course, there’s a to-go cookie. Available Tuesday through Friday from 11 am - 3 pm.

Broken Yolk Cafe in McKinney has two limited-time items: carrot cake waffle, a cinnamon spice cake batter waffle with shredded carrots and raisins, finished with candied pecans, powdered sugar and cream cheese icing starting at $9; and snickerdoodle latte, combining espresso, cinnamon bun and cookie butter syrup, vanilla cream, milk, and cinnamon sugar, available hot or iced for $6. Available through January 6.

Truluck’s has three new holiday items featuring cake and cocktails. For dessert, there’s chocolate peppermint cake made with layers of chocolate cake, frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing, topped with crushed candy and Godiva chocolate sauce; $14 per slice, $10 per petite slice, and $70 whole cake. Cocktails are $17.50 and feature Holiday Nog, a spiced cocktail with Bourbon and Bourbon cream; and Nutcracker Rum Punch, a rum ball balanced with honey and fruit. Available at Dallas, Plano, and Southlake locations until the end of December.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Plano has launched new holiday items, including a Japanese A5 Wagyu experience served rare with a sizzling hot stone tableside accompanied by miso glaze, grated horseradish and black lava salt. There’s a new $140 Season of Opulence filet and lobster four-course menu; and holiday weekend lunch starting at $28, featuring choice of steak frites, cabernet filet, or barbecue salmon fillet. Also, there's a new $94 caviar service featuring Hackleback caviar served with blinis, capers, chives, sour cream, egg, and shallots. Available through January 6.

Jinya Ramen Bar has brought back The Red Garnet and curry rice croquettes for a limited time. The Red Garnet is a red vegetable broth featuring pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage, white onion and topped with chili garlic sauce, served with thick noodles for $18. The croquettes are lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar cheese that start at $8. Available until February 28 at all Dallas locations.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are both offering three chalkboard specials throughout the month. Dishes feature $15 FishWich, with beer-battered haddock fish; $17 chimichurri shrimp tacos; and$24 horseradish Arctic char, served with a Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. The specials are available at all 12 DFW locations and run through December 31.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is bringing back its Fire & Spice seasonal menu. New winter dishes include the pepperoni diavolo pizza; the bridge board, an assortment of Italian meats and cheeses, with walnuts, dried cranberries, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with hot honey, served with sliced bread; and white chocolate cheesecake. Cocktails feature the desert pear margarita and Vino’rita, a classic margarita topped with a festive pour of Mille Gradi Sangiovese. Prices range from $7 for the white chocolate cheesecake to $32 for an 18-inch pepperoni diavolo. Available through March 3.

Carrabba's Italian Grill has launched two new full-sized cakes: cannoli cream cake, a vanilla cake with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios, and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust for $64; and strawberry cheesecake, a New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51. Place orders 48 hours prior to pick up or delivery. Available through January 13.

Moxies, the Canadian pub in Uptown, is rolling out limited-time festive cocktails. There are three new drinks, including the Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail with High West Bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and orange bitters; Peppermint Mocha Martini with a combination of Cafe Borghetti, Ketel One vodka, and peppermint syrup; and Winter Aperol Spritz, with Aperol, Ruffino Prosecco, and Moxies' cranberry syrup. Cocktails are available through January 1.

Dairy Queen has brought back their chicken and dumplings, featuring chicken, gravy, and fluffy dumplings. It comes in three sizes: 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce, available for dine-in, drive thru, and takeout. Chicken and dumplings are available at locations across Dallas-Fort Worth through the end of February.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Peppermint Cold Brew Frozen Coffee with vanilla Italian Ice, frozen custard, cold brew coffee, and a hint of peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping; and Peppermint Milkshake with a blend of Vanilla Frozen Custard and crushed peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping.

McDonald's brought back its famous McRib on December 3. To celebrate the return, they even launched half-gallon jugs of McRib sauce for those who can't get enough, which is already sold out. The McRib is available through the McDonald's app, in-restaurant and through the drive-thru.

Red Lobster has launched a new menu featuring seven new dishes including Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Lemon Basil Mahi, bacon Wrapped Scallops, lobster bisque, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus, plus the return of fan favorites Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies.

Cinnaholic has launched two holiday rolls flavors and menu items. Holiday rolls feature Nutcracker Sweet, topped with crème brulee frosting, a trio of Bavarian candied almonds, walnuts, and pecans, and dusted with powdered sugar for $6;and Oh Fudge, topped with chocolate frosting, fudgy cookie dough, chocolate bark, homemade chocolate sauce, and holiday sprinkles for $7. Other items include $5 CinnaBites, $4 hot cocoa, and $33 wreath cake, with cinnamon rolls shaped into a wreath. Available through January 6.

Shiner, the Texas-based beer, has a festive brew called Shiner Holiday Cheer with flavor from Texas peaches and pecans for $11 for a six-bottle pack and $19 for a 12-bottle pack. Plus, the 12-pack Home for the Holidays collection goes for $15 and features two new flavors: FM 966, a sweet and spicy ale; and s’more, a dark ale brewed with chocolate & marshmallow with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. Both are available through the end of December.

Yelp featured two Dallas restaurants on this year's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024 list. Wicked Butcher, the downtown steakhouse, and Casa Pollastro, the Brazilian restaurant in Far North Dallas, both made the cut at no. 6 and 20 respectively. They were two of only four Texas restaurants on the list.