Very Important Restaurant Opening

Uptown hangout The Rustic debuts with burgers, Pat Green tunes and TX-OU fanfare

Rustic burger with brisket, cheddar, green chile and onion, with potato chipsand pickled okra.
Photo courtesy of The Rustic
The Rustic's peanut-butter pie.
Photo courtesy of The Rustic
Half dozen shrimp with slaw.
Photo courtesy of The Rustic
Texas goat cheese topped with roasted garlic cloves and served with butteredtoast.
Photo courtesy of The Rustic

Sound the klaxons, ring the bells, it is time, it is time. The Rustic, whose ownership team includes singer-songwriter Pat Green, will open with a flurry of activity as befits the blisteringly hot Uptown restaurant-bar hangout it promises to be.

Going into one of Uptown's most visible spots at the corner of Lemmon Avenue and US 75, The Rustic comes from Josh Sepkowitz and Kyle Noonan, who own Bowl & Barrel and who made such a splash with Mutts Cantina. They've partnered with Green and local businessman Brian Manion on this restaurant-bar that will also feature live music in a sprawling outdoor space. There's seating inside for 250, but outdoor seating totals 300.

"In my mind, there's nothing better than gathering with friends on a Texas ranch and grilling out under the stars," Noonan said in a release.

The menu was developed by chef-for-hire Sharon Hage; the cuisine is "approachable comfort food," with burgers, sandwiches, quail and pork ribs. Matt Balke will run day-to-day operations as executive chef. He worked with Hage for four years at York Street, and he was also at Bolsa and Bolsa Mercado.

Sandwiches range from $8.95 to $11.95 and include turkey, roast beef, crab melt, grilled chicken and a quinoa veggie burger with tzatziki sauce. Sides include hominy with cheddar cheese, chunky avocado salad and onion rings. For starters, there are deviled eggs, wild boar meatballs, chorizo empanadas, cactus fritters, calf fries, and Texas goat cheese with roasted garlic and toast. The most expensive item on the menu is a 12-ounce rib-eye steak for $28.95.

The official opening is October 16, but that'll be preceded by a week's worth of activities that include a watching party for the big TX-OU game on Saturday, as well as a Pat Green concert on Thursday, October 10, that is already sold out.

Friday, October 11: Sneak peek dinner and music night. Doors open at 4 pm, and local bands perform from 7 pm to midnight.
Saturday, October 12, 8-10 am: TX/OU party with Pat Green and ESPN live broadcast. $30 per person, with breakfast tacos, Bloody Marys and full bar.
Saturday, October 12, 11 am-2:30 pm: TX/OU watching party
Saturday, October 12, 2:30 pm: Pat Green concert. Purchase tickets online.
Saturday, October 12: Sneak peek dinner and music night. Doors open at 4 pm, and local bands perform from 7 pm to midnight.
Sunday, October 13: "Sunday Funday at The Rustic." Doors open at 11 am, local bands at 2:30 pm, and sneak peek menu.
Sunday, October 13, 7:30 pm-midnight: Cowboys watching party. Sneak peek menu and giveaways.

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Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.

Craft

Food and beer from Craft.

A restaurant concept from Canada is opening its first U.S. location in little old Dallas: Called Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, it's a small chain with an emphasis on craft beer and elevated casual dining opening in Preston Center at 5974 W Northwest Hwy.

That location is a former medical office, across the street from the Starbucks at the corner of Kate Street. According to a release, it will open in in early 2026 — their first in the American market.

The concept was founded in 2019 by craft beer wunderking PJ L'Heureux, who is partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Moxies chain. It will feature more 100 beers on tap including local Texas brews, along with cocktails, wine, and a fresh, globally inspired menu.

L'Heureux calls Dallas "a natural fit" for Craft.

"Our large restaurant footprint, commitment to local products, and dedication to community are what Texas is all about," L'Heureux says in a statement. "Texas and specifically the Preston area of Dallas, with its booming economy, diverse culture, and love for craft cocktails and beer, is the perfect place for us to begin this exciting new chapter."

Craft will occupy a state-of-the-art, 10,500 square-foot space with a modern yet welcoming interior, featuring warm woods, industrial accents, and a massive 360-degree bar as its center.

The space will also include a 5,250 square-foot rooftop patio with a full bar, booth seating, lush greenery, and a games area — suitable for casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Craft president Scott Frank says that the chain, which has nine locations across Canada and is no relation to the Craft restaurant concept by chef Tom Colicchio, likes to create unique menus and partnerships in each of the communities they are in.

"Craft has always been about bringing people together, and we're thrilled to share our passion for craft beer, exceptional dining, and community building with our friends in the Texas market," L'Heureux says.

Gaglardi previously brought Moxie's Grill & Bar, his glossy Canadian sports-bar restaurant, to Dallas in 2016 — the first in the U.S. He's since opened locations in Plano, Southlake, and Houston.

craft beer openings