Restaurant Revival
Rotating Dallas restaurant concept stages comeback in Deep Ellum
Now in a new location, Kitchen LTO, the rotating-staff restaurant that was formerly in Trinity Groves, will reopen in Deep Ellum on October 25.
The restaurant is at 2901 Elm St., which most recently was briefly occupied by Twenty-Seven, which closed in April. That space was also once occupied by Rush Patisserie, as well as a catering company called My Private Chef. For many years, it was home to Sweet Endings, a bakery and bistro.
Kitchen LTO was created by Casie Caldwell, founder of Greenz Salads and co-owner of Pink Magnolia in Oak Cliff. It changes identity every six months, with a new chef, new menu, and new artist. A new restaurant is unveiled twice per year.
The opening executive chef in Deep Ellum will be Josh Harmon, while Melissa Ellis is the featured artist.
Harmon has staged at restaurants such as David Burkes' Townhouse and Buddhakan in the Chelsea Market, and was chef de cuisine at the Milk & Honey Co. He's worked at Savor in Dallas and was most recently at Main Street Bistro & Bakery in Grapevine.
His menu has a Southern theme and features entrées, small plates, and snacks. There is fried chicken, short rib, shrimp and grits, Korean sticky duck leg, fried green tomatoes, beef tartare, and a Romaine salad.
With the move to Deep Ellum and away from Trinity Groves, some changes have been made, including ditching the public voting process that was part of the original concept. Caldwell and her team will interview and choose the chefs.
Ellie Visconti will serve as art curator of a the new Gallery LTO, where multiple artists may be featured during the six-month rotation.
Melissa Ellis, the first featured artist, specializes in abstract and contemporary nature oil paintings. Her bold use of color is apparent in all of her work, from large-scale heavily textured abstracts to delicate paintings of flowers, plants, and trees. She employs creative and unique techniques, often using a palette knife, to create motion, texture and depth.
The restaurant will be open for dinner from Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch will be added at a later time.
