Bar News

Savvy White Rock clan to open friendly new bar in Lake Highlands Center

Rendering shows a pretty interior.

Rendering courtesy of Bar None

UPDATE 12-3-2020: BarNone will open on December 4. The menu includes burgers, wings, stuffed mshrooms, tacos, cioppino, pasta salad, meatloaf sandwich, Greek salad, "Sunday gravy" and rigaoni, fish & chips, and a bacon-wrapped hot dog.

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East Dallas gets a cool new bar, from a family with lots of food & beverage experience: Called BarNone, it will open in White Rock Center, the super-hot shopping center at the intersection of Buckner Boulevard and Northcliff Drive in East Dallas.

The address is 718 N. Buckner Blvd., #100, and according to a release, the opening is tentatively scheduled for spring 2020.

BarNone is from husband-and-wife Todd Dickerson and Jennifer Rohde Dickerson, who are heading up the project along with Jennifer's parents, Jack and Karen Rohde.

They envision BarNone as a bar first with friendly service, signature drinks, beer, wine, and sports to watch.

But there will be food: all-American fare, including a burger made with meat ground in-house, plus other sandwiches and family favorites that include clams Casino, wings, Todd’s Sunday gravy, and Manhattan clam chowder.

Local diners may recognize Todd as a career restaurateur with 31 years food and beverage experience, including his role as managing partner of Angry Dog for 20 years. He is also the former co-founder, president, and CEO of Dallas Grilled Cheese Company.

Jennifer brings industry savvy via her family's business, Bud's Salads, which has supplied produce to distributors, produce companies, and food manufacturers for 45 years.

Todd has lived in the area near White Rock Center since 1994, way before it got cool.

"Jennifer and I are very excited to bring BarNone to East Dallas, an amazing community where our children attend school and we call home," he says in a statement. "White Rock Center is an ideal location in the heart of a family friendly neighborhood with close proximity to the lake."

The release says that Todd has been cooking since he was a teenager, honing his skills at Penn State where he first created his signature dishes for his fraternity brothers, a discriminating set of diners if there ever were one. He also collects recipes, and has amassed a collection from his favorite restaurants, as well as dishes not found in Dallas.

Decor-wise, BarNone will be designed by fellow White Rock Center tenant Malone Maxwell Borson Architects. Keeping it local. They're going for warm, welcoming, visually exciting, and fun, with an open space and 40-foot bar.

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Hummus News

Upscale Mediterranean restaurant to open in Centrum Dallas building

Babel

A new upscale Mediterranean concept from a familiar Dallas name is coming to the Centrum building: Called Babel, it's a project from veteran restaurateur Mo Kamal, and it'll open at at 3180 Welborn St., in the former Steel restaurant, which closed a few months ago after many years in that space.

According to a release, it'll open in late November.

Babel will be rooted in generations of family tradition and inspired by the unique flavors of Lebanon, which is surely the best Middle Eastern cuisine of all. It'll build on the success of Kamal's popular restaurant Open Sesame — capturing the essence of Lebanese hospitality.

Open Sesame has been open since 2017, and has become a go-to for excellent Lebanese food with pita sandwiches and dishes such as kafta, which is ground beef with onions and parsley.

Babel promises to be its upscale sibling, with a more profoundly personal touch.

“Dallas has been missing a culturally authentic, upscale Mediterranean restaurant,” Kamal says in a statement. “With Babel, I wanted to create something that feels personal — a place that honors my family’s recipes, Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage and an elevated experience that guests will appreciate. Every detail, from the food to the atmosphere to the service, will tell that story.”

Details on the menu are still scant but the kitchen will be led by chef Zeina Kamal, Mo's sister, who will bring authentic Lebanese recipes passed down through generations.

She'll combine traditional spices and techniques with a refined presentation — featuring tastes from Beirut to Marrakesh including mezze, grilled meats, seafood, and vegetarian dishes.

Designed as a modern Babylonian retreat, Babel's interiors will feature soft curves, flowing drapery, and a warm neutral palette, evoking the beauty and the Mediterranean coast.

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