Dining News
Sliders and neighborhood closures top this slice of Dallas restaurant news
Summer usually brings some restaurant closures in Dallas and this summer is no different. But there are also openings to offset the bad news. We also have news of burgers, mac and cheese, and, in an early sign of fall, the first hint of Starbucks PSL news. Here's what's happening in Dallas dining news:
Neighbor's Casual Kitchen, a restaurant that opened last year in Lake Highlands, has closed. The restaurant posted a notice on Facebook, saying, "Dearest neighbors, the restaurant known as Neighbor's Casual Kitchen will be permanently closing its doors." Peter Touris, part of the family that owns Chubby's, opened the restaurant in 2014 as a family-friendly, neighborhood spot with dishes such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A Groupon offering was a bad sign, and then Touris sold the restaurant to a local group. Their plan was to remodel and re-open, but they were unable to make that happen.
Oven & Cellar, a downtown Dallas restaurant that has been threatening to open since 2014, is now officially not opening. Located in the 1900 Elm St. building, the space sat empty for years, and then in 2014 was taken on by downtown kings DRG, who own Dallas Chop House and Wild Salsa, among other concepts. But now it's back on the market for rent.
I Love Juice Bar is here to save the day. The location in Lakewood at the brisk intersection of Grand Avenue and Gaston Road will open on August 18.One thing that sets I Love Juice Bar apart from other juice bars is its diversified menu. In addition to juices and smoothies, they also do edibles such as salads, soups, and bowls, plus coffee, snacks, and a grab-and-go area.
Snappy Salads, the eco-friendly Dallas-based gourmet salad chain, opens its downtown branch at 717 N. Harwood St. on August 15. It will be the first branch to offer breakfast.
The Common Table, the Fairmont Street craft beer bar, is expanding with a second branch in Frisco. It's opening at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys complex, and check out its address: 6740 Winning Dr. Who wouldn't want to reside at Winning Drive?
Cane Rosso, the most famous Neapolitan-style pizzeria in all of Dallas-Fort Worth, and really Texas, for that matter, if not the world, celebrates its opening at The Star in Frisco on August 16. In addition to all-night happy hour deals, guests who dress up in Cowboys gear will receive a $5 discount.
Smithy is a new bar at 2927 N. Henderson Ave, from Brandon Luke and Ronald Von Hatten, owners of The Woolworth in downtown Dallas.
Panda Tea is a tea shop opening on Greenville Avenue near Lovers Lane in the same center as Yumilicious and Pho is For Lovers. Manager is Chris Thretipthuangsin, brother to "Chef Eddy" who was at PakPao and Bite.
Botolino Gelato Artigianale is a new gelato shop opening soon at 2116 Greenville Ave., in the old Bottle Shop space. Owner Carlo Gattini comes from the family who founded Momo Italian Kitchen in North Dallas.
Suze, the Preston Hollow neighborhood restaurant from chef Gilbert Garza, will move from its longtime berth at 4343 W. Northwest Hwy. into the former Ball's Hamburger space most recently vacated by Preston Hollow Grill, which closed in July.
Slater's 50/50, the Greenville Avenue burger place with the bacon theme, is doing Slider Pops as its burger of the month. Two sliders are coated in crumbs and fried, then served on a stick. Urgh. There's a burger with bacon and American cheese on a brioche bun, covered in crispy panko breadcrumbs; and a burger with bacon and peanut butter on a brioche bun, covered in chocolate cereal crumbs and smothered in strawberry jelly. It costs $14, although a percentage goes to the Boys & Girls Club of Dallas.
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, the game-centric restaurant in Dallas' West End, has new appetizers and entrées on its dinner menu including venison chops with wild mushrooms and bread pudding; miso-glazed sea bass; and chopped sirloin steak with grilled onions, mushrooms, and brown gravy. There's a cool crab-filled corn cake, described as a savory pancake; and house-cured and -smoked salmon.
Eatzi's Market & Bakery is joining the Hatch chile phenomenon with more than 20 new Hatch chile dishes: Hatch chile mac and cheese, bacon and Hatch pimento cheese stuffed chicken, corn and Hatch chile quiche, red velvet Hatch cupcakes, Hatch succotash, and Hatch pepper hummus.
Stonedeck's Pizza Pub has a new menu of mac-n-cheeses, spiked with items such as bacon, blue cheese, Brussels sprouts, Sriracha, capicola, and tikka masala. They're available for dine-in or take-out, 5 pm to 1:30 am daily.
Second Floor, the restaurant at The Westin Galleria Dallas, has a new power lunch menu from chef David Smith. You can get a baby kale Caesar with a cup of soup for $14, or add the salad-soup combo to a $16-$18 entree option such as ciabatta pizza, a Reuben sandwich,a prosciutto sandwich, or a sofrito quinoa bowl.
Starbucks isn't saying yet when they'll start selling PSL, aka the famed Pumpkin Spice Latte, last year it was September 6. But they have new related products, coming to grocery stores. One is a pumpkin spice latte in a ready-to-drink bottle, containing coffee, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The other is pumpkin spice flavored ground coffee.
In addition to the PSL news, Starbucks also has a cool new Frappuccino flavor: Horchata. The blended beverage has almond milk, cinnamon dolce syrup, coffee, and ice. If you're vegan, have them hold the topping of whipped cream, caramel, and cinnamon and sugar sprinkles.
Ruthie's Rolling Cafe, a Dallas food truck, is one of 10 finalists in a contest for "grilled cheese food truck of the year." The 10 finalists were determined by readers and by the number of votes they received in the first phase of the contest. The poll closes on August 18, and the results will be announced on August 21. They want your click! Go here to vote.