Downtown Dining

Downtown Dallas' French Room reopens with chic bar but bye-bye cherubs

Gaze on the cherubs for they are now painted over.

Photo courtesy of the Adolphus

In big news for the old-school downtown Dallas set, The French Room, the Zagat favorite and legendary restaurant at The Adolphus hotel, is back, following a 16-month restoration designed to return it to its roots as a top Dallas dining destination.

Opening on October 4, it will feature chef Michael Ehlert's interpretation of classic French cookery, seamlessly blending the technique and discipline of fine haute cuisine with the warmth and approachability of modern, elevated dining experiences.

Building on the numerous awards and accolades earned over the years, including the coveted AAA Five Diamond award for 25 consecutive years, The French Room begins its next chapter paying reverence to the past while welcoming guests old and new.

Ehlert's cuisine will be offered in a variety of configurations: as an evolving seasonal three-course menu; a seven-course tasting menu; and a 15-course experiential menu incorporating the Salon, Bar, and dining room.

Adolphus general manager of food & beverage operations Anthony Cournia and his team will cultivate a knowledgeable, engaging style of service that integrates charm and wit to guide guests through a warm, intuitive, and gracious dining experience. This will incorporate tableside presentation and service of dishes such as the Lamb Saddle for Two served with tomato-braised fennel and panisse or the Wild Striped Bass in Salt Crust with braised salsify and sauce Bretonne.

Sommelier is Jeff Gregory whose wine list showcases some of the finest examples from across the globe.

In addition to The French Room, two brand-new concepts debut as companion pieces: The French Room Bar and The French Room Salon.

The Salon is a lounge located just outside of The French Room with artwork from prominent Texas artists curated by Nasher Sculpture Center’s Lucia Simek.

The Bar is adjacent to The French Room and is a cocktail venue with a beverage program from beverage manager Anna Pereda and shareable plates from chef Ehlert's kitchen.

Last refurbished in the 1980s, the restoration features candlelight white plaster walls reminiscent of Parisian landmarks complementing gilded Louis XVI-style chairs, and twin Italian Murano glass chandeliers, restored to their original sparkle and lowered to be more prominently displayed.

Hours will be dinner Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10 pm, with The French Room Bar serving cocktails Fridays and Saturday until 1 am.

downtown openings

Supermarket news

H-E-B to open 2 new stores in Garland, including Joe V's Smart Shop

newsroom.heb.com

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Texas grocery chain H-E-B is expanding into the Dallas suburb of Garland, with not one but two stores in the works.

A February 24 news release breaks down the double projects:

Joe V's Smart Shop
"First, the company will revitalize a vacant shopping center located on the northeast corner of Centerville Road and LBJ Freeway," the release says. "The approximately seven-acre site will soon be home to North Texas’ fourth Joe V’s Smart Shop, an innovative price format that focuses on offering fresh, high-quality products at the lowest prices in the marketplace."

Joe V’s Smart Shop is an H-E-B spinoff that operates 14 stores in North Texas and Houston. The first one in DFW opened in Dallas in June 2024 at 4101 W. Wheatland Rd. A second opened in far east Dallas in March 2025. The third opened on Airport Freeway in Irving in November 2025.

Products include fresh produce, organics selections, in-store cut meats, in-store made tortillas, breads, and sushi made daily.

"Construction is expected to begin in the coming months," the release says.

H-E-B grocery store
"The second project involves H-E-B’s intent to develop an H-E-B store on a 21-acre site located between Crist Road and Firewheel Parkway off President George Bush Turnpike," the release says. "The purchase of that property is not yet final."

The Garland location will join H-E-B stores that have opened in Forney, Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Melissa, Prosper, and Rockwall, plus two in Tarrant County: Fort Worth/Alliance, and Mansfield. Stores in Irving, Denton, Dallas, Carrollton, and the Mid-Cities are in the works.

Although details of the Garland store have not been revealed, if it's like other H-E-B stores, it could include a full-service H-E-B Pharmacy with drive-thru, Curbside and Home Delivery service, Wellness Primary Care clinic, and a True Texas BBQ restaurant with drive-thru.

San Antonio-based H-E-B has been in Dallas since 2001 when it opened its first high-end chain Central Market, which now has six locations in Dallas, Plano, Southlake, and Fort Worth. The regional supermarket chain is consistently rated among America's best grocers by industry and consumer reports.

Additional details on the Garland projects will be shared as they develop, the company says.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

garland grocery stores h-e-b

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Supermarket news

H-E-B to open 2 new stores in Garland, including Joe V's Smart Shop