Tex-Mex News

New Tex-Mex in iffy Dallas location hopes lobster fajitas do the trick

If not lobster, then maybe enchiladas?

Photo courtesy of Primo's

A Tex-Mex restaurant is taking a crack at a North Dallas location where others have not fared so well: The restaurant is Primo's MX Kitchen & Lounge, the concept from Refined Hospitality Concepts, and it's opening what will be its third location at 8611 Hillcrest Rd., #100.

According to a release, it'll open November 23.

The menu will feature the same twist on Tex-Mex plus elevated cocktails found at the Primo's locations in Uptown and downtown Dallas at the Statler hotel. Favorites include Carne Asada Fries, tableside fajitas, and a vegetarian Enchiladas Verdes y Crema.

But they've also added new items, to give this opening a little pizzazz. Those include:

Lobster Fajitas
16-ounce Bone-In Ribeye
Grilled Texas Quail

"When we decided to open Primo's on Hillcrest, we wanted to open with some amazing new items,” says Robert Hall, CEO of Refined Hospitality Concepts. "From there we decided to bring these enhancements to all Primo's locations."

They'll host a weekend brunch on Saturday-Sunday from 10 am-3 pm with unique menu items like Chilaquiles Burrito and The Churro Waffle, plus mimosas and other fun brunch cocktails.

They'll also serve lunch seven days a week with combo plates such s Asada Tacos and Chile Relleno Primo, served with black beans and Spanish or cilantro brown rice for $16.95.

Located in an odd center at the corner of Northwest Highway, this space was previously Nosh Bistro, which chef Avner Samuel opened in 2019, partnered with Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Centurion Development Group, and founder of Refined Hospitality Concepts. So this is just one RHC concept becoming another. (Samuel left in early 2020.)

Originally an office, the first restaurant that opened there in 2012 was a Mexican place called Soleo. By 2014 it was a restaurant called Dish which closed in 2018, with owner Tim McEneny citing "unresolvable concerns" with the building and location, IE not enough visible parking.

Perhaps COVID-19 will offer the opportunity for a restart. They anticipate lots of takeout and delivery and have arrangements with third-party delivery platforms such as UberEats, Grubhub, and Seamless.

COVID-19 measures include temperature-screens on all guests as they enter the restaurant, QR code menus, and hand sanitizing stations.

openings

Deli News

Gourmet market Ari's Pantry to open in Dallas' Trinity Groves

Ari's Pantry

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A new gourmet grocery is coming to Trinity Groves: Ari's Pantry, the market launched in Oak Cliff by husband-and-wife Ari and Amy Lowenstein, will open a second location in West Dallas’ Trinity Groves, with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 30.

Located at 3011 Gulden Ln. #119 in the space that was once home to Potato Flats who remembers them, the Trinity Groves store will offer: pasta, olive oil, vinegars, preserves, candy, bread, crackers, cheese, meats, pizza dough, fresh pasta, housewares, cocktail ingredients, novelty kitchen gadgets, spices, prepared foods, fresh pesto and Ari’s own tomato sauce.

“We are excited to open our newest location at Trinity Groves joining the great businesses already there and the wave of new ventures opening in the development,” Ari Lowenstein says in a release. “With this location we will reach a new audience in West Dallas and be closer to our customers coming from downtown and the north.”

The couple opened their first location in Winnetka Heights at 1307 ½ W. Davis St. in December 2023 to fulfill Ari's passion for all things Italy. The idea was a small Italian food store with recipe-ready staples, with a hyper-local vibe. It has since blossomed into a general-purpose gourmet stop.

In addition to the food staples for sale found at their Bishop Arts location, Ari’s Trinity Groves location will also include a commercial catering kitchen that will enable them to provide full-service catering, prepared meal pick-up, pasta classes, and private dinners.

“Amy and Ari bring something new and special to this development as our first partner to offer consumer packaged goods made by people and companies outside of Trinity Groves,” said Sam Romano, Partner at West Dallas Investments, parent company of Trinity Groves. “They are part of the vision we have for the future of Trinity Groves that will combine innovative, up and coming chefs and restauranteurs with lifestyle and entertainment options like pickleball, bocce ball, popup events, arcade game play and additional retail partners.”

The Ari's empire doesn't stop here: Their goal is to open multiple locations "in all corners of DFW and beyond," and that includes a location in the Cyprus Waters community in Coppell, slated to open in spring 2025.

downtown openings