Plano closure

Dallas chef-driven barbecue restaurant closes Plano outlet

Plano restaurant scene loses a player.

Photo courtesy of Smoke Plano

The Plano location of Smoke Restaurant is closing after two-and-a-half years of business. The restaurant announced the closure in prototypical 2017 style, with a post on Facebook, left on Sunday, August 13, the day of the closure.

"After 2 1/2 years of business, we are sad to announce that we are closing our Smoke Plano location after our brunch service August 13," the statement says. "We'd like to publicly thank our landlords at Eden, the City of Plano, the neighborhoods of Willow Bend, Prestonwood, and the other surrounding 13 neighborhood associations. We would also like to thank the many employees, past and current, who have contributed their time to help us try to succeed. We have made many great friends and employed a ton of great people."

"We will be relocating our current staff to our other restaurant concepts. We truly tried to make it work, but to put it simply there is no more gas left in the tank. Thank you for your support. We could not have made it this far without you."

The restaurant was an offshoot of the original Smoke Restaurant in Dallas at the Belmont Hotel, and it is part of the same restaurant family as Bolsa in Oak Cliff, The Theodore at Northpark Center, plus Chicken Scratch/The Foundry Bar in West Dallas.

Smoke Plano opened at the beginning of 2015 in a former Snuffer's location. It earned some fanfare when it opened, but it seemed to be floundering, particularly in recent months. One diner recently wrote to say that at a dinner on August 9, the restaurant appeared to be on the verge of closing, with no host or hostess, half the dining area closed, and the coverings on the backs of the chairs "literally falling apart." They went on to say that it was the worst meal they were ever served.

The closing notice was posted at 1 pm; oddly, only two hours before at 11 am, the restaurant posted a cheery pitch for its brunch, announcing, "Brunch is here!" Maybe brunch did not do that well?

Smoke Plano is not the only closure for ownership group Turn The Tables; they shut down Bolsa Mercado, a market-restaurant combo, in mid-July. Meanwhile, they're part of a partnership taking on the big task of running the restaurant operations at the newly renovated Statler Hotel, where it will be responsible for overseeing a flexible venue space and five new restaurants and bars.

Deep Ellum restaurant Filament also closed on August 13, citing slow business as the reason.

closings barbecue

Tex-Mex News

New Dallas Tex-Mex Texano Cocina opens in former El Fenix space

Texano Cocina

The name may change but the Tex-Mex goes on: A new concept called Texano Cocina has opened at 5622 Lemmon Ave., in the Lemmonwood Shopping Center, taking over the space that was most famously El Fenix, but has seen a series of Tex-Mex concepts open and close in recent years.

The space was most recently occupied by Eddie's Cocina & Cantina, and prior to that was home to Tex-Mex restaurant Casa Rosa, which closed in 2024.

Eddie's was from Eddie Cervantes whose previous restaurants include Primo's in Uptown, now closed, and E-Bar Tex Mex in East Dallas, now owned by Ernie Quilantan. Cervantes also owns Eddie's Tex-Mex Cocina at 2018 Greenville Ave., which he opened in 2021.

The location at Lemmon and Inwood is adjacent to Park Cities, Preston Hollow, and the Medical District — all neighbors who desperately want a Tex-Mex nearby. El Fenix had been in that location for 60 years before it closed in 2020.

A release states that Cervantes and his former partners have decided to part amicably, and describes Texano as a rebranding, boasting an updated vision while continuing to deliver the restaurant's signature flavors and hospitality.

"We are incredibly grateful for Eddie's vision and contributions to establishing such a beloved spot on Lemmon Avenue," says managing partner Rick Castillo. "We wish him nothing but the very best in his future projects. As Texano Cocina, we are excited to build upon the strong foundation he helped create, introducing new recipes, fresh ideas and an enhanced experience that celebrates the vibrant culinary traditions of Texas and Mexico."

That means a menu fusing Mexican and Texan flavors with a commitment to exceptional food, outstanding service, and a memorable dining experience.

There are fajitas, chicken with mole, steak with onions, mushrooms, & peppers, guiso de res beef stew, chile relleno, and redfish, pan-seared or blackened. There's also a smashburger, a Mexican cheesesteak, and eight tacos with options such as carne asada, brisket, or shrimp.

There are lunch specials including combo plates with rice and beans priced from $12-$14; and appetizers like ceviches, queso, nachos, and Texas torpedos, stuffed with chicken and cheese, then deep-fried, grilled, or wrapped in bacon.

Guests can look forward to a new remodeled dining and bar area, along with a patio area for dining in the cooler months, and an expanded menu featuring more regional Texas-inspired dishes.

tex-mex openings