Pizza News

New Plano pizzeria with international flavors takes you around the world

The lineup includes this chicken alfredo pizza.

Photo courtesy of 360

Pizza has many variations but every so often, something comes along that feels brand new. 360 Pies is an independenly-owned restaurant with classic options such as meat supreme and veggie pizza.

But the unique slice here are the internationally inspired gourmet pizzas, with a clever lineup of different cuisines — one that takes you around the world. 360, get it? So clever.

For example, there's a "Tikka" pizza with lightly-spiced creamy tomato sauce, chicken, fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and mozzarella.

A Greek pizza has tzatziki sauce, gyro meat, crumbled feta, lettuce, tomato, and black olives. Tex-Mex has taco meat, lettuce and tomato, cheddar and mozzarella. A "Nippon" pizza has teriyaki sauce with chicken.

Pies come in medium (12-inch) or large (14-inch) and run about $9 to $15 depending on your order.

Owner Imtiaz Haiyoom, a 30-year resident of North Texas, has worked for nonprofits for most of his life but has always had an overabiding interest in food, and partnered up with his entrepreneurial cousin, Syed Ansari, to open 360.

"We're focused on bringing international flavors to American pizza," he says. "Pizza is such a popular cuisine, but we noticed that nobody was doing toppings like chicken tikka. And that's our best-selling item, so we've seen the demand."

They're making their toppings as well as their dough. Their crust is a New York-style, not too thick, not too thin.

They also do wings, cool "chicken bites" with some of their international seasonings, as well as build-your-own calzones.

They opened their first location in Allen in May 2017, and will open a second in Plano at the end of August, at 4006 W. Plano Pkwy., an area that had great demographics for them, including the University of Texas at Dallas just a couple of short miles away.

The one thing they don't do is offer in-house dining. It's all take-away or delivery if you live nearby.

"Most of the time it's not a problem," Haiyoom says. "But we're Halal, so there are a lot of people who come to us specifically, and we don't have a place for them to sit down. It's something we'll work on for our next location."

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Mex-Mex News

New Dallas restaurant Mr Habanero brings haute touch to Mexican food

Mr. Habanero

There's a new Mexican restaurant doing haute-style things in northwest Dallas: Called Mr. Habanero, it's now open at 3312 Forest Ln. in a former Golden Corral at Webb Chapel Village.

Mr. Habanero is a spinoff of a restaurant called Habaneros, which owner Javier López opened in Grand Prairie 10 years ago. Like the original, it offers quesadillas, flautas, and other staples people expect at a Mexican restaurant — but it does a whole lot more.

That includes upscale entrees like rib eye steak in a mushroom cream sauce; or tropical salmon salad, with mixed greens, mango, strawberries, jicama, pineapple, and tomatoes in a honey balsamic vinagrette. Prices are reasonable: The $25 rib eye is the most expensive dish.

A native of Michoacán, Mexico, Javier describes himself and his family as foodies who love to dine out and discover new dishes. That curiosity and passion informs what he does.

“Cooking is an art for me, and we have to prepare the dishes as if they were for ourselves — this is what I tell my staff," he says. “We frequently rotate in new items — we are always looking for creative ideas."

The menu is extensive and ambitious, with breakfast served daily until the forgiving hour of 1 pm, including chilaquiles, pancakes, and omelets in options such as veggie or fajita. They also offer lunch specials Monday-Thursday from 11 am-2 pm with $12 plates.

Mr. Habanero cocktailsMr. Habanero

There are also craft cocktails with a menu designed by Javier’s daughter Diana, who helps with restaurant operations.

“I wanted to make our drinks original, with memorable names," Diana says. Those include a watermelon twist on a Moscow mule and the Puerto Escondido, which has both mezcal and tequila, with passion fruit, piña, lime, and agave.

The space seats 250 and is upscale yet comfortable and welcoming. There's a large bar area and a stage for live events, with a DJ in the evenings. They offer personal touches like free desserts and singing waiters for birthdays. Service is a top priority, Javier says.

“Our staff is upbeat, most have been there for so long, they genuinely care," he says.

The neighborhood has no shortage of Mexican restaurants including El Fenix, La Carreta, and El Tizoncito, but Javier says this was actually what attracted him about the neighborhood.

"We want to help attract more people to the area and give them dining options," he says. "We know that if we do well, people will come back."

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