Uptown News

New restaurant-bar rolls out pretty tableside cocktails at Union Dallas

Cocktails will be a big deal.

Photo courtesy of Royal 38

A veteran Dallas bar team is rolling out an ambitious new concept. Called Royal 38, it's a restaurant and bar from the founders of Hide, and will open at The Union Dallas, the mixed-use project at Field Street and Cedar Springs Road.

According to a release, Royal 38 will open November 18. The actual street address is 2301 N. Akard St., in the same area as The Henry, TacoLingo, North Italia, and more.

Hide is the bar that opened in Deep Ellum in 2018, and has earned accolades for its creative cocktails and upscale comfort food, including a nomination for co-owner/bartender Scott Jenkins for Best Bartender in CultureMap's annual Tastemaker Awards in 2019.

Royal 38 will feature the following trademarks from the team at Hide:

extensive menu they anticipate will be crowd-pleasing
eclectic wine list
one-of-a-kind cocktails

They'll be open lunch and dinner with a menu includes bar snacks, starters, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts.

Starters include Lobster Corn Fritters with white corn meal, corn, pepper, and remoulade sauce.

There's a Vegan Grain Bowl with champagne vinaigrette, farro, sugar snap peas, radish, Brussels sprouts, roasted yams, grilled portobellos, little gems, and pepitas.

The Royal Double Smash Burger Frites comes topped with American cheese, bacon, and sweet hot pickle chips.

Chicken Schnitzel has spaetzle and a hot sauce beurre blanc.

They'll also do a weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-4 pm, with dishes that include:

Huevos Rancheros
Lobster Benedict with potato cake, poached eggs, lemon hollandaise, and fried capers
Stuffed French Toast with brioche, vanilla cream anglaise, bananas foster syrup, and berries
A variety of Mimosas and Royal 38 signature brunch cocktails

Jenkins, who is the beverage director, composed the wine list and cocktails, which are categorized by taste profile, from "Spirited and Brave" to "Comforting and Refreshing". One creatiion called The Fistful of Pansies is a spice gin blend that includes pear brandy and Fino sherry. The Frisky Spritz is a low-ABV cocktail made with Brut Cava.

But the real news here is that, in addition to classic cocktails, they'll offer tableside cocktail cart service upon request. This personalized experience lets guests be ringside as their cocktail is prepared.

The space has 4,000 square feet, with two levels, offering dining and a full bar on both levels, as well as an outdoor patio with ample socially distanced room.

Additional steps to ensure the health and safety of guests include social distancing, virus suppression using UV light devices in the AC system, daily wellness checks and mask requirements for staff, and contactless or one-time use menus.

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Pizza News

Donatos Pizza debuts in Texas with first opening in Frisco

Donatos

Donatos Pizza

An anticipated pizza chain is about to make its Dallas debut: Donatos Pizza, the franchise famous for spreading its toppings to the very edge of the crust, will open its first location in Texas at 8990 Coit Rd. in Frisco.

According to a release, it'll open on November 12.

Donatos is so into its method of distributing toppings all the way to the edge that they have registered a phrase: Edge to Edge® pizza.

Their menu features more than a dozen varieties of pizza such as veggie, four cheese, and pepperoni with hot honey. Their signature crust is a thin-crust but they also offer thicker alternatives as well as a cauliflower crust. Pizzas come in a 7-inch individual and go all the way up to a 14-inch large. Prices range from $15 to $25.

Fans appreciate their better-than-average ingredients and describe it as more flavorful compared to other corporate pizza chains, with a crisp thin crust and generous toppings.

In addition to pizza, Donatos' menu includes oven-baked wings, sub sandwiches, including meatball and Italian cold cuts, plus appetizers and salads.

“Opening a Donatos Pizza location in Texas is a dream come true for us. As lifelong fans of Donatos, we’re thrilled to bring this beloved Ohio-based brand to the Frisco community,” said Casey Dennis, co-owner of Donatos Pizza Frisco. “We can’t wait for everyone to experience great pizza and join us for some fun at the grand opening on November 12th.”

Bringing Donatos to Frisco are two three natives of Ohio, all with a connection to Donatos: Dr. Rico Singleton, Casey Dennis, and Cameron Hopkins — all eager to share their long-time love of Donatos in their new home in Texas. They also share a brotherhood through Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., which emphasizes initiatives like Bigger and Better Business, reflecting their entrepreneurial spirit.

Singleton is a native of Zanesville, Ohio, with a background in Information Technology who has lived in Texas for 8 years. Dennis is from Columbus, has a degree in pharmacy, is lifelong friends with Singleton, and has also lived here for eight years. Hopkins is also a native of Columbus, with a background in software engineering and real estate investing and has lived here five years.

They're also opening another location in the Dallas area in Flower Mound, coming later this year.

“Bringing Donatos Pizza to Texas marks a historic milestone as we begin this exciting journey to expand the brand throughout the DFW area,” says Donatos President and CEO Kevin King. “We look forward to becoming an integral part of the Frisco community through our promise to serve the best pizza and make your day a little better.”

Donatos Pizza was founded in 1963 when Ohio State sophomore Jim Grote bought a small pizza shop in Columbus, Ohio, where the company is headquartered. At one point, Donatos was bought out by McDonald’s in 1999. By 2003, Grote bought it back.

Ther are currently 470-plus locations in 28 states. That includes 175 stores plus nearly 300 non-traditional locations nationwide, including select Red Robin restaurants.

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