No More Paella

West Dallas complex shuts down chef-driven Spanish restaurant

Trinity Groves in West Dallas loses a culinary destination.

Casa Rubia/Facebook

No more daily paella at Trinity Groves, as the West Dallas restaurant incubator complex has shut down Casa Rubia, the acclaimed Spanish restaurant starring chef Omar Flores. The restaurant's final service was July 22.

Trinity Groves co-founder Phil Romano says in a statement that Casa Rubia helped put the complex on the map.

"Casa Rubia and Omar's creative take on Spanish ingredients epitomized our goals as an incubator," Romano says. "Omar has been a fantastic partner, and Casa Rubia helped put Trinity Groves on the culinary map. Omar has a distinctive and visionary cooking style, and he approaches his work with passion and integrity. I can't wait to see what he does next."

Flores opened the restaurant in 2013 with Jonn Baudoin, with whom he'd opened Driftwood, the seafood restaurant in Oak Cliff. With its interpretation of traditional Spanish tapas, charcuteria, and paella, Casa Rubia was considered one of the more fine-dining spots at Trinity Groves. The restaurant also offered a full Spanish wine list and one of Dallas’ largest selections of sherry, Spanish beer, and cidras.

It was one of the top 10 best restaurants in CultureMap's 2017 Tastemaker Awards, and Flores was one of the 10 best chefs in 2015. Flores was also a James Beard semi-finalist for best chef Southwest in 2015, and Casa Rubia was a Beard semi-finalist for best new restaurant in 2014.

But the prices at Casa Rubia were also among the highest at Trinity Groves: Dinner for two could easily cost $200.

According to Flores, business had been slower than usual in 2017.

"Summers are rough for us down there," he says. "Financially, we couldn't do it. We barely made it last summer. This year's numbers were trending with last year, so we had to pull the plug. I was ready to move on from Trinity Groves, though."

In 2016, Flores opened another restaurant concept called Whistle Britches in North Dallas, a stylish restaurant that serves chicken, biscuits, fresh pies, custard, and sophisticated cocktails. Whistle Britches earned a slot on CultureMap's best new restaurants list for the 2017 Tastemaker Awards. A second location is scheduled to open at the Shops at Willow Bend in 2018.

Turnover has been part of the game at Trinity Groves. In 2015, Baudoin opened Sugar Skull Cafe, a Mexican restaurant that closed at the complex after seven months. In 2015, Didi's Tamales, a tamale restaurant that moved into Trinity Groves from Mesquite, closed after less than four months. Also in 2015, Potato Flats, the baked-potato concept, closed after a year. In 2016, Resto Gastro Bistro closed, but rebooted as a fried chicken place called Fat Chicken. Kitchen LTO, the incubator within the incubator, shuttered in 2016, and is now a permanent restaurant in Deep Ellum called Junction Craft Kitchen.

"As an incubator, we are constantly evolving and gaining valuable insight from our customers," Romano says. "As Trinity Groves expands to include new residential, commercial and retail development, we are more excited than ever to welcome new concepts from aspiring restaurateurs."

closings

Romantic Dinners

All the best Dallas restaurants for Valentine's Day dining 2025

Omni PGA

Clink your glasses at Trick Rider at Omni PGA

Valentine's Day is a month away and it's not too soon to start planning, especially if you're planning a romantic dinner. Restaurants around Dallas are ready with special meals, and reservations are already being made.

This year, the holiday falls on a Friday — the perfect night for a romantic date. But some restaurants are also extending their Valentine's Day specials for that entire weekend. So if you can't make it on a Friday night, there's always Thursday or Saturday as a backuup plan.

These are all the restaurants so far with Valentine's Day meals, but we'll be adding new ones every day.

Here's where to celebrate Valentine's Day in Dallas:

Apothecary. Lower Greenville restaurant offering 7-course chef's tasting menu including oyster with champagne-rose mignonette, golden osetra caviar, and micro chervil; lobster & prawn with coconut saffron "tom kha," pickled mustard, Thai basil, and lime leaf chili crisp; and orange cardamom duck breast. A vegetarian menu is also available. $165-$185. Seatings start at 5 pm, February 13-15. 972-850-9192.

The | Bar. Loews Arlington bar offering Valentine's dinner drinks and a meal featuring Chef Luis Penaloza's Valentine's special, tiger prawn raviolo with shallots, garlic ricotta, prawn bisque, and a charred Fresno reduction. $25. February 13-14. 682-318-2810.

The Charlotte. Offering a special 3-course menu, but the full regular dinner menu will not be available for Valentine's Day. A Charlotte teddy bear can be added on for $85. $95, wine pairing for $55. Reservations here. 972-803-6720.

Coupes. Oak Lawn champagne bar will feature a flight of three elevated rosé champagnes, along with the featured by-the-glass selection, Champagne Didier-Ducos, and La Rosée, plus a special caviar tartlet feature and choice of entrée. $25 deposit. 214-434-1347.

Eddie V's. Plano steakhouse is doing special Valentine's dishes including surf & turf with 10-ounce center cut filet mignon & 5-ounce South African lobster with lobster beurre blanc, and bananas Foster butter cake. Prices a la carte. 4-10 pm. Plano 469-268-3758 and Fort Worth 817-336-8000.

Farena. Loews Arlington Hotel restaurant is offering exclusive dishes and the regular dinner menu including oyster pizzaiolo, beet-stuffed ravioli, King’s Cut Steak for two with Gulf shrimp, marble potatoes, and lobster sauce. Dessert includes a chocolate torta. Prices are a la carte. Reservations are encouraged here. 682-318-2810.

The Finch. Mockingbird Station restaurant offering 3-course couple's menu featuring shared salmon crostini, choice of soup or salad, and New York Strip or seafood risotto. $120 per couple. February 14-16. Reservations here. 469-893-0990.

Goldie’s. Lake Highlands neighborhood restaurant is doing an exclusive prix-fixe menu with champagne and dessert. 214-586-3033.

JOA Grill. Korean BBQ restaurant is offering a 3-course Valentine’s Day menu with yuzu salad, cod pancakes, meat board with prime short rib, NY strip, chuck flap, & ribeye, and chocolate cake. Reservations are recommended. $52. 972-241-3900.

La Parisienne. French Bistro is offering a 4-course Valentine’s Day menu in addition to their regular menu. The menu includes salad, soup, and choice of spicy rigatoni pasta, boeuf bourguignon, steak frites, Saumon Aux Amandes, and dessert. $75.

Malai Kitchen. Thai and Vietnamese restaurant with four locations will feature a special limited menu with crispy lamb “money bag” potstickers, lotus leaf steamed black cod, green chili hanger steak, Vietnamese five-spice pork belly, and Vietnamese tiramisu for dessert. Reservations are recommended. Preston Center 972-373-4434, Uptown 214-599-7857, Southlake 817-251-9141, Fort Worth 682-707-3959.

Montage. JW Marriott Dallas Arts District hotel restaurant has two options: a 3-course meal on February 13 and 15 with cognac celeriac bisque, seabass, and opera cake for $85; or a five-course menu for two on February 14 with lobster burrata crepe, corn bread with honey, cognac celeriac bisque, lamb agnolotti, braised short rib, and opera cake, $250 per couple. 214-736-7760.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille. Downtown restaurant hosting candlelight dinner for two featuring salads a 12-ounce Filet Mignon Roast (prepared medium) for two with bearnaise, truffle merlot, and roasted peppercorn sauces, lobster tails, two sides to share, and chocolate-dipped strawberry kisses. $185 per couple. Reservations available 6:15-9:30 pm. 214-855-5151.

Ramble Room. Park Cities restaurant is hosting dinner with complimentary caviar plus cacio e pepe oysters, lobster salad, steak frites, and Chilean sea bass. Dessert features butterscotch crème brûlée. Reservations are recommended. 214-620-0385.

SĒR Steakhouse. Hilton Anatole restaurant hosts a 3-course dinner with oysters & pearls with osetra caviar, olive-fed Wagyu tenderloin with black truffle sauce, and desserts like rosé & berry verrine. $130, or $189 with wine pairings. 214-761-7479.

Society Bakery. Lakewood bakery and tea room is hosting a Galentine’s Day 3-course tea with an Emily in Paris-themed Afternoon Tea. The menu features “Savoir” sandwiches, baked scones, and desserts such as champagne & strawberry cake. Customers can also order The Champère, a blend of champagne and blackberry infusion. Reservations required at least 96 hours in advance. $75. Available until February 28. 214-827-1411.

Sushi | Bar. The 17-course omakase concept located underground in Dallas is featuring a specialty omakase experience with Valentine’s Day-inspired additional nigiri bite, caviar, truffle and foie gras on select bites, and a champagne toast upon arrival. $255. February 13 - 15. Limited reservations available. 214-420-8532.

Table 13. Addison bistro is doing a 4-course dinner with choices from shrimp cocktail, bacon-wrapped dates, crab-tini, lobster bisque, caesar, Caprese salad, sea bass or ribeye crab Oscar, surf & turf tenderloin and lobster tail, lobster frites with lobster tails & fries, berries & cream, chocolate cake, or red velvet cheesecake. $125. 6-10 pm. Served February 13-15. 972-789-9558.

Te Deseo. Uptown restaurant offering 3-course prix-fixe menu including ceviche, half dozen oysters aguachile, roasted beet salad, filet mignon, and a dessert choice of arroz con leche frita or pastelitos de guayaba. $85. 214-646-1314.

III Forks. Frisco steakhouse is offering a steak and lobster tail special featuring a 6-ounce certified Angus beef filet and a 6-ounce cold water lobster tail. $110, or pair your meal with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label for $28 per glass or $149 per bottle. 972-267-1776.

TJ’s Seafood Market. Preston Royal restaurant offering caviar, oysters, crab cakes, lobster, complemented by a classic martini or a glass of sparkling wine. Prices a la carte. Reservations are recommended. 214-691-2369.

Trick Rider. Fine dining restaurant at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa is doing a 4-course menu by Executive Chef Joe Riojas featuring hamachi crudo, his and hers 30-ounce porterhouse, and chocolate kiss. $198 per couple. Wine pairings available for additional $98. 469-305-4610.

Y.O. Ranch. West End steakhouse offering 3-course menu plus amuse bouche featuring choices such as chicken fried quail with wild mushroom brandy sauce, duck carnitas quesadillas, lobster bisque, steaks, wild game, seafood, dessert, and complimentary chocolate dipped strawberry. $100- $125. Three seatings: 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm. 214-744-3287.

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