Opening News
These 5 sneaky new Dallas restaurants have opened oh so quietly
CultureMap Dallas tries to keep up with all the important restaurant openings. CultureMap Dallas stays up night and day so that no important restaurant opening slips through the cracks.
And yet somehow, restaurant openings happen, undetected. When that happens, there's only one thing to do: make a list.
Here are five new restaurants, in geographically diverse locations spread across the DFW area, that have opened quietly in the past week:
Ebb & Flow. New restaurant in Deep Ellum is from a committee of entertainment personnel that includes Whitney Barlow, co-owner of Trees, Bomb Factory, and Canton Hall; two of her employees, Eric and Laura Bradford; and Eric's brother Dallas Hale, owner of the Shell Shack chain. The menu is said to have toasted ravioli, Cubano egg rolls, "stuff jalapeños" (surely they mean stuffed?), charcuterie, sausage queso, sandwiches, and wraps. The vibe and atmosphere are "garden party" with a floral theme that includes flowers and living vines. 2651 Commerce St., Dallas.
Latin Deli Addison. Spin-off of the well-regarded East Dallas deli that's been serving Latin-American specialties since 2011. Owner Fernando Barrera does good-quality sandwiches, crepes, salads, baked goods, and coffee drinks. His best seller is his marinated chicken sandwich, which features thick chunks of white-meat chicken with pork and thinly sliced red onion on good ciabatta bread. His crepes, which he does in both savory versions and sweet, are also popular. This location is in Addison Circle; the hard-working Barrera also has a location in downtown Dallas he opened in 2016. 15615 Quorum Dr., Addison.
Pappas Delta Blues Smokehouse. Second location of an upscale barbecue restaurant from Houston-based Pappas Restaurants, which owns Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, and Pappasito’s Cantina. It's located in Plano in what used to be a Bone Daddy's; the original opened in Webster, Texas, in 2017. They do typical barbecue meat plates, and their signature is their Prime beef brisket. But they also do buttermilk fried chicken and a fancy chicken-fried steak. 3916 Dallas Pkwy., Plano.
Royal Blue Grocery. Second downtown location of Royal Blue Grocery, the "bodega"-style concept founded in Austin that combines gourmet shop, convenience store, grocery, and cafe all in one. Zac Porter has brought the concept to Dallas, first at Highland Park Village, then downtown Dallas, at the Mercantile Place building in 2018. Royal Blue does not lack for eats, with salads, breakfast tacos, cold sandwiches like the muffuletta, hot sandwiches heated on a panini press, and pizza by the slice, plus pre-prepared items to-go, plus local goods such as pastries by Bisous Bisous. This location is in the Trammel Crow building at Harwood and Ross; like every other Royal Blue, it will customize its merchandise to meet the needs of its unique neighborhood. 2001 Ross Ave., Ste. 150, Dallas.
Salaryman. New izakaya-style restaurant in Bishop Arts from chef Justin Holt has come to fruition after years of pop-ups. The menu includes yakitori, ramen, and cocktails featuring shochu and Japanese whisky. Noodles are made from flour ground in-house from Texas wheat, and the miso and pickles are fermented on site. The restaurant is small in size and vibe, with 27 seats at the bar, communal table, and three dining tables. If the restaurant's full, you pencil in your name to a clipboard with a waitlist. 400 Melba St., Dallas.