Chef News

Restaurant and retail center in Farmers Branch scores celebrity chef

You've seen her on TV, and soon you'll be able to see her in Farmers Branch.

Photo courtesy of Wine Poste

A mixed-use center underway in scenic Farmers Branch has a slate of new restaurants that'll include a TV-famous chef.

The center is the Shops at Mustang Station, a retail development with restaurants, retail, and entertainment set in the Station Area, a master-planned district unfolding in West Farmers Branch.

The shopping and restaurant village has already signed on Cox Farms Market and the Cedar Creek Brewhouse & Eatery. According to a release, there are new tenants coming in, as follows:

Roots Southern Table, the Southern-fare concept from Top Chef alumna Tiffany Derry and her partner Tom Foley. In a statement, Derry says she likes the center's small-town feel because it's what Roots is all about.

Red Stix – Asian Street Food, an Asian street food concept developed by Uno Immanivong, formerly of Chino Chinatown in Trinity Groves. Immanivong calls Red Stix Street Food "a great complement to The Shops, because it adds to the diversity of Farmers Branch eateries and mirrors the families within the community."

Victoria's Mexican Kitchen, a Farmers Branch Tex-Mex favorite formerly known as The Victoria Restaurant, will relocate The Shops. Chef-owner Francisca Alvarado says that it allows The Victoria family to continue operating in Farmers Branch, where its roots were laid.

Starwood Cafe, a breakfast and lunch concept from owners Violeta and Andy Rushiti.

Developed by Western Securities and leased by SHOP Companies, the Shops at Mustang Station is a five-building development at the corner of Valley View Lane and Bee Street. Anchored by a DART rail station, it's also minutes away from business hubs such as the Valwood Industrial Park, Westwood Business Park, and Mercer Business Park, as well as recreational green spaces and sports facilities.

Western Securities broke ground on the three-acre site in 2018, with a completion date scheduled for early 2020. These restaurants, along with Cox Farms Market and Cedar Creek, will open around the same time.

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Red letter opening

Dallas bar veterans open Italian speakeasy-restaurant in Denton

Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Exposed stone walls and a backlit glowing bar anchor the subterranean space at Red: Italian.

A new speakeasy lounge serving high-end Italian food has arrived at a cool historic building in Denton. Called Red: Italian, the subterranean restaurant opened in the basement of Ruby Rodeo, a bar and live music venue located at 122 N. Locust St. on Denton Square.

The concept comes from Victor García and Mike Church. García spent years at Truth & Alibi — the popular speakeasy lounge disguised behind the faux storefront of the Deep Ellum Candy Company — before acquiring the same space for Scarlett Lounge and Kitchen in Deep Ellum in 2024. Church, a commercial pilot, trained at The Culinary School in Fort Worth and the Ritz-Carlton to refine his passion for cooking.

The business partners say they fell in love with the historic nature of the 1877 building in Denton, which housed Andy’s Bar for 30 years.

“We have always loved the building — it is the oldest building on the square. We saw the vision and loved the aesthetics for both our Ruby Rodeo and Red: Italian concepts,” Church says.

After opening Ruby Rodeo, the duo launched Red: Italian this month. Church notes that the "red" naming convention across their concepts — Scarlett, Ruby, and now Red — nods to his favorite color, a symbol of passion, and the red wines and tomato sauces central to Italian dining.

Church’s passion for Italian cuisine defined the menu, which he created alongside executive chef Denise Gabrielle, his former culinary school instructor. Gabrielle brings decades of hospitality experience from the Westin Hotels, The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and most recently, The Taste Project in Fort Worth and Arlington.

The 58-seat underground space — which includes 10 seats at the bar — serves elevated Italian classics. Entrees range from $25 to $40, with menu highlights including:

Spicy sausage lasagna with arrabbiata sauce
Cacio e pepe bucatini
Chicken piccata
Braised lamb leg
Mediterranean Sea bass
Shrimp diablo
Espresso-crusted filet mignon with Italian seasoning

Appetizers are priced under $15 and include house-made fried mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, grilled artichokes, bruschetta, meatballs, and flatbreads. The kitchen also serves salads, featuring a classic Caesar and a house chopped salad with nine toppings.

Shrimp diablo served over pasta with toasted slices of bread at Red: Italian.Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Desserts feature house-made panna cotta, ricotta-amaretto Italian cheesecake topped with drunken cherry sauce, and a table-side bananas Foster served with house-made amaretto gelato.

The bar program leans into Italian flavors with options like an Italian margarita made with house limoncello, tequila, amaretto, and simple syrup, alongside a peach Bellini and a smoky Godfather. The wine list spotlights Italian bottles and a selection of Napa Valley options.

“The place has the perfect intimate, upscale, fun Italian wine and food ambience,” Church says.

While entering Red doesn't require a password, it still has an off-the-beaten-path entry that is characteristic of speakeasies. Social media posts direct patrons to "look for the red awning" adjacent to Ruby Rodeo’s black awning. A set of red stairs leads guests downstairs to a door with a small sign reading "Red:".

To preserve the speakeasy atmosphere, cell phone use is discouraged. The space also features subtle Easter eggs for guests to discover, such as conversation starters tucked beneath the napkins.

Following a sold-out opening weekend, Red: Italian is now open, with an official ribbon cutting planned for September (exact date to be announced).

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 5-10 pm, with last seating at 9 pm to wrap up dinner service before Ruby Rodeo’s live music starts upstairs at 10:30 pm.

speakeasy italian restaurant denton