Fried Chicken Out?

One of Dallas' most elegant Southern restaurants has closed for now

This fried chicken is, for now, unavailable to you and me.

Photo courtesy of Sissy's

One of Dallas' most elegant Southern restaurants, Sissy's Southern Kitchen and Bar, has closed possibly temporarily, maybe for good. Owner Lisa Garza-Selcer confirms that the restaurant is closed for now due to a variety of issues, some of which may make the closure permanent.

The restaurant shut down in early September, due to what Garza-Selcer says are issues with the building.

"Unfortunately, there are major infrastructure issues with the building, and I am having to close while we work with the landlord to address them," she says. "At the same time, our lease is up for renewal, and we're trying to decide with our landlord how to best move forward."

Sissy's opened in 2012 on Henderson Avenue as a welcome newcomer to the diminishing field of grand old Southern-themed restaurants. That combined with Garza-Selcer's fame as a contestant on Food Network's The Next Food Network Star helped draw big crowds. Its Southern-mansion atmosphere, with fine china and servers in cute uniforms, has made it a favorite place to take your mom and a popular destination for brunch.

Sissy's was ahead of the pack on fried chicken, with a unique rendition in which the chicken is brined, then fried in a pressure fryer. A dozen fried chicken restaurants have opened since, in a trend that peaked in 2016. That includes the arrival of Houston-based chain Max's Wine Dive, which opened branches in Uptown Dallas and Fort Worth; the Uptown branch closed in August.

Other signature dishes at Sissy's include curry deviled eggs with tobiko caviar, gumbo, Texas quail, lobster étouffée, and squash fritters. The beverage program was also early on trends such as barrel-aged bourbons and house punches.

Garza-Selcer had a setback in 2015 when a restaurant she was supposed to open in the LTV Tower in downtown Dallas called Shelby Hall fell through. Just as the building was ready to open, HRI Properties decided to run the restaurant themselves and sent Garza-Selcer a notice to vacate. A well-known player in the commercial real estate business told SideDish that, "Lisa got so screwed," calling it "the biggest screw job I've seen my whole career."

"I'm just taking one day at a time right now," she says.

closings trends

Now open

French bakery-cafe Maman from New York makes chic Plano debut

Photo courtesy of Maman

Maman has opened a cafe at Legacy East in Plano.

A fast-growing New York bakery-cafe chain has expanded into a new North Texas city: Maman debuted a new location Friday, August 7 at Legacy East in Plano.

The cafe is at 7200 Bishop Rd., Ste. D, where it serves coffee, breakfast, lunch, pastries, and baked goods in a 2,650-square-foot space with seating for 78 indoors and another 34 on an outdoor patio, according to a release.

Plano is the brand's third Dallas-area cafe in about a year, with more on the way.

Founded in New York's Soho in 2014 by partners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Maman has grown to about 60 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The company made its Texas debut in November 2025 with a cafe at The Plaza at Preston Center, followed by a Lakewood location that opened earlier this year. Another location is planned at Fields West in Frisco, as well as in Dallas' Casa Linda Center.

Maman Coffee and croissants at Maman.Photo courtesy of Maman

The menu features espresso drinks, tea, pastries, salads, sandwiches, and breakfast and lunch items, plus seasonal offerings and a few Dallas-area exclusives, including:

Magnolia Sweet Tea Fizz: Cold-steeped magnolia bud tea with Topo Chico, Texas wildflower honey syrup, lemon, and mint.
Lone Star Cinnamon Bun: A cinnamon roll topped with vanilla glaze and a signature pastry star.
Salted Caramel Pecan Pie Roll: A pastry swirled with salted caramel, vanilla, and toasted Southern pecans.

Known for its French provincial-inspired interiors, Maman's cafes feature vintage furnishings, wood accents, and the brand's signature blue toile details. The Plano location also offers catering and private event space.

"We're so excited to continue growing in the Dallas area with our newest location in Plano," says co-founder Elisa Marshall in the release. "Legacy East has such an incredible energy and strong sense of community, making it the perfect home for Maman. We can't wait to welcome both longtime guests and new neighbors into the space to enjoy coffee, pastries and meaningful moments together."

Maman New York Lemon meringue tarts from Maman. Photo courtesy of Maman

The company also sells coffee, tea, matcha, merchandise, and its cookbook, Maman: The Cookbook, All Day Recipes to Warm Your Heart, and continues its collaboration with Martha Stewart through limited-time menu items and retail products.

Doors opened at 8 am August 7. To celebrate the opening, the first 100 customers who make a purchase will receive a complimentary tote bag and chocolate chip cookie. From 1-3 pm, the first 50 customers who spend $15 or more can receive a complimentary croissant charm at an on-site charm bar hosted by Charmed Haven.

Regular hours are 7:30 am-6 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am-6 pm Saturday-Sunday, with the kitchen closing daily at 4 pm.

bakery legacy east maman plano openings