Uno Due Go No

Fast-casual Italian concept Spezzo courageously overcomes Plano deep-dish snub

Amy Havins, Katie Cassidy

Photo courtesy of Spezzo

It turns out there may not have been as many local Chicago-style deep-dish pizza fans as anticipated: The Uno Dué Go in Plano, which closed in July, will be refashioned into a fast-casual restaurant with an Italian-American menu called Spezzo.

Rob Goldblatt of FGR Food Group, which opened the restaurant one year ago, says that the new concept will open by the end of the year. He doesn't entirely blame the questionable popularity of deep-dish pizza.

"I think people also may have found the 'marketplace' setup confusing," he says. "They didn't react favorably. We tried to make some changes, but it didn't catch on."

Uno Due Go would not be the first place to attempt a marketplace format, which is a little like a food court with different stations for different items. Il Grano, a nearly identical concept, opened in 1997 at Parker Road and the Dallas North Tollway, with food stations and an Italian theme. It managed to survive 10 years. (The space is now an On the Border.)

And Goldblatt says they're keeping the Uno Due Go open at DFW Airport, where its quick-snack personality makes a better fit for customers on the go.

Spezzo's fast-casual mode means that customers will order at the counter, and the food will be brought to their table. "We think a fast casual Italian concept is a niche that is not being met," he says. They've assembled a team that includes design group Plan B; restaurant consultant Mark Brezinski; and Tom Fleming, chef-owner at Crossroads Diner, as consulting chef.

"We'll have meatballs, salads and sandwiches. It's a nice little fast-casual menu," Goldblatt says. "The name is Spezzo, but the tagline will say 'rustic Italian pronto.'"

They'll make use of their deck oven and offer a line of pizzas — but it's ciao to deep dish.

"Uno is well-known, and we saw some Chicagoans who were very passionate about deep dish, but it was a tough sell," he says.

pizza

Hotel News

Graduate Dallas hotel quietly debuts with chef-led restaurant to come

Their lobbies are always colorful with a touch of whimsy.

Photo courtesy of Graduate

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A groovy hotel with a collegiate theme has quietly debuted in Dallas: Called Graduate Dallas, it's a boutique chain that embraces a school theme, and has opened in the former Hotel Lumen, at 6101 Hillcrest Ave. across from Southern Methodist University.

According to a representative from the brand, the hotel softly initiated its transformation this week, with a bigger announcement scheduled for later this year.

They've also begun a renovation of the Front Room Tavern, the former restaurant for Hotel Lumen. The new in-house dining option will become a barbecue-Tex-Mex restaurant called Los Charros, led by Dallas chef Julian Barsotti (Nonna, Sprezza, Fachini). It's slated to open in May.

Graduate Hotels is a collection of hotels that reside in university-anchored towns such as Seattle, Berkeley, and Nashville, with each each hotel reflecting the motif and culture of its nearby college. There are currently more than 35 Graduate Hotels open or in the pipeline across the U.S. and the U.K.

Room rates at Graduate Dallas start at about $250 per night for a "Graduate King" with one king bed, writing desk, and lounge chair, with "decor that pays tribute to the Highland Park area and invites guests to reminisce about SMU's century-long history."

They aspire to five-star status with nice amenities and friendly service, but their uniqueness comes from the way they incorporate nods that reference the heritage and history of the university and its hometown.

Their lobbies come with a strong dose of whimsy and loads of cheerful color. Most locations feature one-of-a-kind antique furniture and historical photos on the walls. The concept has a subtle retro vibe, from the vintage font used for its logo to its nostalgic celebration of the youthful optimism of school days.

The Lumen debuted in 1963 as a motel which it remained until 2012 when it was transformed into a boutique hotel by owner Tim Headington; he sold it to AJ Capital Partners in 2019.

The conversion from Hotel Lumen to Graduate has been in the works since 2021. Graduate Dallas was initially anticipated to debut as part of the Graduate Hotels collection in Spring 2022.

In 2024, the Graduate Hotels brand was acquired by Hilton, joining Hilton’s fast-growing lifestyle portfolio alongside Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton, and Motto by Hilton – each launched within the last 10 years to respond to growing demand from travelers for localized travel experiences. The transaction was called one of the “most influential hotel industry deals in 2024” according to Hotel Investment Today.

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