Uptown news

Dallas’ falafel influx continues with Uptown’s Mediterranean newcomer

Look for new Roti Modern Mediterranean in Uptown Dallas in spring 2017.

Photo courtesy of Roti

There's yet more falafel in the works for Dallas with the arrival of a new Mediterranean-themed fast-casual concept coming to Uptown. Called Roti Modern Mediterranean, it will open in the new McKinney & Olive high-rise building; a spokesperson says the target opening date is spring 2017.

This Roti is not to be confused with the Dallas-based Indian chain Roti Grill. Instead, it's a chain founded in Chicago in 2007, with branches in New York, Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Its menu features bowls, wraps, rice plates, and salads. You start with a base, to which you add meat, sides, toppings, and sauces.

Meats include fajita-like strips of chicken or steak, chicken or salmon kabobs, or falafel. Sides and toppings include rice, hummus, tomato-cucumber salad, couscous, quinoa-cauliflower tabbouleh, cabbage slaw, and feta cheese. Sauces such as tahini, yogurt, and vinaigrette are house-made. You can also order a starter such as falafel or hummus with pita bread.

It's a little like a Mediterranean version of Chipotle, with a fast-casual service model that will make it a good lunch option for tenants in the building as well as workers nearby.

The chain recently underwent a makeover. It started out with an emphasis on rotisserie. But that model was overhauled in 2015, to distinguish it from falafel shops and kebab houses, and to cater to a generation of younger consumers seeking inexpensive food made from whole grains, vegetables, and meats raised without antibiotics or hormones.

After a harrowing local shortage of falafel, Dallas has seen a falafel influx, with the arrival of newcomers such as the Austin-based Verts Mediterranean Grill chain, which has three branches in the Dallas area; New York's Halal Guys; and the falafel kings themselves, Amsterdam Falafelshop, which has one branch in Deep Ellum.

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Escargot News

New all-day French bistro in downtown Rockwall is all from scratch

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Belle View Bistro Rockwall

An all-day French bistro has made its debut in Rockwall: Called Belle Vie Bistro, it’s a new mom-and-pop in the charming historic downtown district, at 112 E. Rusk St., the former home of The Fatted Calf restaurant, where it opened its doors on November 12.

Belle Vie is from Luis and Iliana Marquez, a hard-working couple who also own Los Marquez, a popular taco--themed food-truck-turned-restaurant in Rockwall they first debuted in 2019. In May, the couple took over the former Fat Chicken space to open a brick and mortar location of Los Marquez, where they serve well-made Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, but also burgers & fries. They open for breakfast with breakfast tacos, and run a daily lunch special, often creative, always popular, such as birria ramen with choice of beef or lamb for $11.

But the couple had a bigger vision of creating a place where chef Luis could stretch and showcase his skills.

"Luis has a lot of culinary experience, and it’s something that he’s been putting aside,” Iliana says. “We were just waiting on the perfect time to bring this to life.”

"This is something exciting and new for us, it’s something that we always wanted to make,” Luis says.

Like Los Marquez, Belle Vie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving classics like French onion soup, moules frites, escargot, and duck confit. There are also comforting and American dishes like spinach-artichoke dip, crab cakes, and fish & chips.

Lunch features Cobb salad, a French dip, and chicken & Brie panini, while an extended breakfast -- which runs from 7 am to 4 pm — includes pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, beignets French toast, and crepes, plus pastries and breads made from scratch.

Mural on the wall at Belle Vie Bistro RockwallFacebook

The bakery counter is a delight, with eclairs, croissants, scones, fruit tarts, and cake slices in flavors like carrot cake and white chocolate raspberry. There's also a serious coffee program with espresso drinks such as lattes.

"We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch," the duo says. "Our bread—whether for sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers or anything listed on our menu is made fresh just for us by our incredibly talented pastry chef and baker. The same care goes into our pastries and desserts ensuring every bite is special and crafted with love."

The dining room is warm and cozy with dark wood chairs and plush booths and a full-wall mural depicting a street in Paris. They also have a full bar, with cocktails and beer on tap. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $9 for a Belgian waffle during breakfast to $45 for prime ribeye at dinner.

For now, they're not taking reservations — it's first come, first serve.

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