Eyetalian Invasion

Roman Cucina from California gives Dallas another serving of meatballs

An Italian-American restaurant chain from Southern California is stepping outside its stomping grounds, and its first foray will be in Dallas. Roman Cucina will open at Belt Line and Coit roads, in the old Marrakesh Cafe space, with a renovation already underway.

Construction is moving forward with an opening date slated for this fall, confirmed a spokesman at their original restaurant in Sunset Beach, who said that co-founder Giovanni Roman was in Dallas to oversee the build-out.

They chose Dallas, he said, because the city seemed ready for an Italian-American restaurant and because the environment was business-friendly.

Roman Cucina was founded in Orange County in 2001 by brothers Giovanni and David Roman; their partners include Jonny Walla and Ryan Tombrello. The company places a high value on service.

The atmosphere is very Phil Romano, which is to say, there's a shtick, with a rustic brick interior, arches, fireplace and Frank Sinatra singing in the background. Photos on the Facebook page show the ongoing installation of a particularly sharp white-and-black-tiled floor.

The location had recently been unoccupied; Cafe Marrakesh closed in spring 2010 and was replaced by Tex-Mex restaurant Rio Azul, which closed in early 2011.

Roman Cucina's recipes are inspired by the Romans' Italian grandmother, including her trademark meatballs. Obviously they heard that meatballs are a big trend in Dallas right now. Specialties include steak Milanese; penne with shrimp and crab in a spicy red arrabiatta sauce; and pasta Tombrello, a twist on Bolognese with ground Italian sausage and mushrooms; and pizza and calzones.

All your Ital-American classics are here: garlic bread with pepperoni, sauteed mushrooms, chicken Parmigiana, eggplant Parmigiana, Italian sausage, meatballs and calamari.

Roman Cucina also has the special-request diner category covered: The penne, fettuccine, spaghetti, bread and pizza dough are egg-free; dishes can be made vegan by requesting no butter or cheese. And they can substitute gluten-free pasta on any dish. Gluten-free pasta — will wonders never cease?

Roman Cucina will feature Italian-American dishes culled from family recipes.

Photo courtesy of Roman Cucina

Roman Cucina will feature Italian-American dishes culled from family recipes.

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Tex-Mex News

Dallas Tex-Mex chain Uncle Julio's closes short-lived Frisco location

Uncle Julio's

Tex-Mex spread at Uncle Julio's

An ill-fated restaurant in Frisco has pulled the plug: Uncle Julio's, the Dallas-based Tex-Mex chain, closed its location by Stonebriar Center at 2401 Preston Rd. in mid-May, after only two years.

According to a release, the location closed due to lease issues.

"While the company explored every opportunity to continue operating at the location, the closure ultimately follows unresolved lease-related matters with the property," their statement said. "The decision was not made lightly, and the brand remains deeply appreciative of the loyal guest base that made the restaurant part of their traditions for so many years."

Their PR representative did not respond to a query for further comment.

The closure marked the final chapter in a prolonged journey that began in 2022 when plans for the location were first revealed. The opening date was originally targeted to be the second half of 2022 but construction dragged, and the restaurant did not open until April 2024.

Their menu features prototypical Tex-Mex favorites including fajitas, tacos, carne asada, enchiladas, quesadillas, tamales, nachos, and queso, plus specialties such as their bacon-wrapped shrimp. There are margaritas in varieties that include frozen, swirl, and special-edition fruity flavors such as strawberry.

In more recent years, they became known for their chocolate pinata, an interactive dish they introduced in 2016 featuring a hanging chocolate globe filled with churros and fruit that diners crack open with a hammer.

Uncle Julio's was founded in 1986 by a trio that included Rusty Fenton, who went on to open the Rusty Taco chain before passing away in 2013. Uncle Julio's experienced another tragedy when its president, Harper Caron, died in 2021 at age 45; he'd worked for the company for 25 years, moving up the ranks to become president in September 2019. The company called his passing "a profound loss."

The chain was acquired in 2017 by private equity firm L. Catterton, who subsequently sold it in December 2024 in a foreclosure auction to Sun Holdings, a Dallas-based company that owns Taco Bueno and Freebirds, and who more recently acquired the Bar Louie chain in October 2025, also in bankruptcy proceedings.

There are currently 33 Uncle Julio's locations, with six in the DFW area including the original location on Lemmon Avenue, plus Keller Springs, Allen, Arlington, Grapevine, and Fort Worth.

In a statement, Uncle Julio's VP John Herrera said that the company was grateful to the Frisco community for their loyalty and support.

"This location has meant so much to our team, and we are proud of the relationships built here," Herrera said. "While this chapter is coming to a close, our commitment to serving the DFW community remains as strong as ever.”

tex-mex closings