Tex-Mex News

New Tex-Mex opening at Preston Royal Dallas with largest patio evah

Will ya take a look at that patio.

Courtesy rendering

When in doubt, Tex-Mex: A new restaurant called Escondido Tex-Mex Patio is opening in the Preston Royal area of Dallas, from an operator who knows the neighborhood well.

Escondido is a new concept from Jon Alexis, owner of TJ’s Seafood, which is at the same intersection.

According to a release, the restaurant will open in winter 2022 at 5950 Royal Lane A, in the southwest corner previously occupied by Ruggeri’s.

"TJ’s has served Preston Royal and Preston Hollow since 1989," Alexis says. "When we discovered Tex-Mex was leaving Preston Royal, we knew we had to bring it back."

When he talks about Tex-Mex leaving, he doesn't say which, but one presumes he is referring to Cantina Laredo, which had been open at Preston Royal Shopping Center for more than 20 years before closing in December.

Escondido will offer a menu of family-friendly Tex-Mex classics including nachos, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and more.

"We're not re-writing the Tex-Mex playbook," Alexis says. "This is the food I crave the most. It’s all about the details — sizzling fajitas, warm chips that are thin but don’t crack, fresh lime juice in the drinks, etc."

Escondido will feature what they call a "resort-style indoor/outdoor bar" on the largest patio in Preston Hollow, featuring Mexican tile, lush landscaping, and seating for 75 diners. Largest patio in Preston Hollow is a bold claim, one presumes they'll back it up with data on square footage once the restaurant opens.

Directly off Royal Lane, Escondido will feature a dedicated To-Go window for takeout.

Alexis is the owner of Malibu Poke and TJ’s Seafood Markets. But the release says he's moving into a new phase of his career with restaurants that go beyond seafood. To that end, he's has formed a new restaurant group called Imperial Fizz, which will do non-seafood restaurants.

"We are really good at building community-supported restaurants," he says. "Our new concepts focus on bringing back the old fashioned hospitality to neighborhood dining."

tex-mex

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

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