It's an exciting time in the world of Dallas restaurants, with a feast of eateries in the works. There are so many, they're starting to come in twos. Deep Ellum, for example, suddenly has two Cajun restaurants. Meanwhile, a new cupcake chain coming soon is going to give Dallas a cupcake showdown. Sprinkles, steel yourself.
Perhaps having heard that Deep Ellum is one of Dallas' hottest dining neighborhoods, Cajun restaurant Alligator Cafe opened a location, its second, on Elm Street, in the old Rosemont space. With Free Man Cajun Cafe already in business over on Commerce Street, it begs the question: How much gumbo do you need in a single neighborhood?
In Oak Cliff, The Fish opened on Jefferson Boulevard from Christopher Stanford, who previously worked at Dream Cafe. The menu goes fried: catfish, coconut shrimp, and unusual crab hush puppies, served with a slaw and sweet potato fries. It's BYOB, and the decor is rustic.
After 25 years in business, West End Pub closed on Saturday, September 28, announcing the news via a post on Facebook. "After much consideration we have made the extremely difficult decision to close West End Pub's doors," the message said. "Sadly, it is the end of an era, but it is the beginning of a new chapter for us," signed, Bob Allen and the staff of West End Pub.
Pie Five, the fast pizza concept by Pizza Inn, will close its store at Knox Street and Central Expressway and open a store on Greenville Avenue near Southwestern Boulevard. Guess Greenville Avenue represents a bigger pool of folks who live quick chain pizza? The new store opens October 7, in the sweet spot between Jamba Juice and the newly opened Snappy Salads.
Sprinkles, en garde: A new cupcake chain is moving into Dallas called Smallcakes, with two branches in the works: one in Southlake, the other at Mockingbird Station. Based in Kansas City, Smallcakes has more than 45 locations nationwide. The shops offer a dozen flavors daily, most of them chocolate, including caramel crunch, chocolate cream, chocoholic, cookies n crème and peanut butter cup. In addition, there's a rotation of 100-plus flavors such as maple bacon, pumpkin, sweet potato and caramel apple pie. Targeted opening date is mid-October.
Belly & Trumpet has undertaken a trio of overtures to ramp up business on Monday nights. The first is a casual menu, served on its front porch. B&T is also hosting a Monday "Industry Night" with half-price food for folks in the restaurant industry. And, finally, guest bartenders will join Belly & Trumpet’s barman Matt Perry to do some show-off cocktails.
Every week, there's a new Zoës Kitchen. The latest from this Tulsa-based chain opens in Addison on Belt Line Road, next to Whole Foods. It'll open October 10 and marks Zoës' 94th location nationwide.
Bars in downtown Dallas have a hit-or-miss record. But hope springs eternal for The Woolworth which is opening this fall in the Elm Street building, in the old Stone Street Martini Lounge space. The website says that the owners boast "a combined 40+ years in the food and beverage industry" and promises not just classic cocktails but "mouthwatering eats."
Omni Hotel has forged a culinary partnership with Dallas chef Nick Badovinus, one in which Badovinus will suggest freestanding dining concepts. His first initiative for the brand begins with menu consultation for Kitchen Notes, the new Southern restaurant at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
Caramel Crunch chocolate cupcake with caramel frosting, sea salt and pretzels will be one of the daily flavors at Smallcakes in Southlake.
