Downtown News

Popover time: Downtown Dallas' beloved Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus reopens

Popover, Zodiac Room, Neiman Marcus Downtown

The signature popovers of the Zodiac Room.

A downtown Dallas dining institution is back: Following a recent renovation, Neiman Marcus has reopened its fine-dining restaurant the Zodiac Room to the public.

Located at the Flagship Neiman Marcus downtown, The Zodiac Room is one of the city's most venerable restaurants, with a modern take on old-world glamour: a dining experience that is warm, inviting, and elegant.

"The customer experience at Neiman Marcus Downtown is unlike any other location, and we are delighted to reopen The Zodiac Room," says Teri Hardin VP and General Manager Downtown & Willow Bend in a release.

"While the evolution of The Zodiac Room is an integral part of our vision for the future, the heritage and history of our Flagship store are at the heart of everything we do," Hardin says. "Dining at The Zodiac Room is one of the luxury experiences that customers have come to love at Neiman Marcus."

The restaurant closed, like many, during the pandemic. Its reopening is one of those small steps for diners but a big signifier that we're sort of crawling back to normal.

Customers can expect to dine with luxurious Carlo Moretti glassware and Bernardaud china, all available for in-store purchase, as well as an impressive art collection, including work from abstract minimalist painter Charles Hinman, recognized for creating three-dimensional shaped canvas paintings in the mid-1960s.

They'll open with Executive Chef Sara Toth, serving classics and signature dishes, including the complimentary demitasse of chicken broth followed by Neiman Marcus' famous popovers with strawberry butter.

A seasonally driven menu will include a wedge salad and charcuterie selection as new offerings. Other customer favorites returning include salmon tacos, black Angus cheeseburger, and mandarin orange souffle.

They'll also have a full bar with cocktails, wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Toth has an extensive background in the New Orleans fine-dining community including roles as the first female Chef de Cuisine at Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse in New Orleans, as well as their Corporate Pastry Chef and head of the catering team; and Chef de Cuisine at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar in Frisco.

She joined Neiman Marcus NorthPark's NM Café as Executive Chef in 2018.

Located on the sixth floor, The Zodiac Room will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 am-3 pm. To reserve a table, visit Open Table or call 214-573-5800.

In addition to the Zodiac Room, Neiman Marcus Downtown also features the Espresso Bar on the main floor, serving quick bites Monday-Thursday 11 am-4 pm, and Friday-Saturday 11 am-4:30 pm.

downtown

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

openings