Deep Ellum News

Pittman Hotel restaurant in Dallas' Deep Ellum debuts with vegan must-have

Graham Dodds' highly creative vegetarian charcuterie has become one of his signatures.

Elm & Good

There's an opening date for the long-awaited Kimpton Pittman Hotel, going into the landmark Knights of Pythias temple at the corner of Good Latimer and Elm Street in Deep Ellum: August 12.

The hotel promises to provide guests with an experience rooted in history, without sacrificing modernity, with many plush amenities including 165 guest rooms, meeting space, outdoor patio, pool, and fitness center.

It also promises to provide a restaurant starring Dallas chef Graham Dodds. Called Elm & Good, it'll be a modern American tavern inspired by no-fuss farmhouse fare, and like the hotel, it too opens on August 12.

Food
The menu at Elm & Good is said to be inspired by classic all-American fare, but modernized to align with contemporary trends. It emphasizes clean and bright flavors with grilled meats, seasonal vegetables, and seafood.

Dodds has incorporated twists on some of the dishes he's done at restaurants such as Bolsa, Central 214, and Wayward Sons, the Greenville Avenue restaurant where he dabbled in vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Highlights include:

Garden Charcuterie Board, an ever-changing plant-based version of the traditional charcuterie board with marinated olives and seasonal, pickled vegetables
Lion’s Mane with trumpet mushroom “chorizo”, beech and maitake mushrooms, and saffron Bomba rice
Rabbit Agnolotti, with fennel seed dusted rabbit loin, fines herbes and beurre fondue

Beverage
The beverage program at Elm & Good is integral to the dining concept and the proof is in the bar which occupies a large, front-and-center space.

It's overseen by Gregory Huston, formerly of Bowen House, Victor Tangos, and Grange Hall.

Cocktails feature all of these buzzy concepts: Bespoke spirits. Tonics, tinctures, and bitters. Fresh-squeezed juices. Proper ice. Classy glassware. Memorable presentations.

Drink highlights include:

The Pittman Paloma, with El Jimador, grapefruit, fresco, bittermens, grapefruit bitters and tonic
The Gypsy Tea Room, with green tea steeped rum, lemon juice, honey syrup and muddled blackberries

There'll also be a rotating selection of regional and craft brews and celebrated American and international wines.

Atmosphere
The 5,525-square-foot restaurant features an expansive floor plan broken into varied seating areas. The decor combines contemporary with rustic with a timeless, industrial aesthetic. The space features white walls with dark beams and columns, high ceilings, one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures, hand-hewn wood tables, and leather banquettes.

As a part of Kimpton’s Clean Promise, Elm & Good ensures that the restaurant will be thoroughly cleaned, accommodate for physical distancing and provide single-use gloves and face covering for guests upon request.

Hours
Elm & Good will be open for breakfast daily from 7-10 am, and dinner Tuesday-Saturday from 5:30-10 pm.

The Elm & Good bar will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 4-11 pm.

Kimpton manages over 80 distinctive restaurants, bars, and lounges across major metropolitan cities, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets in the United States, Caribbean and Europe.

hotels deep-ellum

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."

tex-mex openings