Steakhouse News

Nuri Steakhouse to debut in Uptown Dallas with an Asian-NOLA twist

Nuri Steakhouse

Nuri

An unusual Dallas steakhouse that's been two years in the making is finally opening: Nuri Steakhouse, which will take an innovative Asian-plus-American approach, will open on August 20 at 2401 Cedar Springs Rd. #120, near Maple Avenue and across from Uchi.

Nuri is from Wan Kim, a native of South Korea who studied in Boston, acquired his MBA in California, then opened Korea’s first Smoothie King franchise, before eventually acquiring the company. He debuted JOA Grill in 2022 and now introduces Nuri Steakhouse, a more ambitious restaurant venture, which he first hatched in 2022.

According to a release, Nuri means “whole world” in Korean.

"We believe that food is a celebration of life, bringing people together with every bite," Kim says. "Our mission is to provide genuine care for our guests while offering them a culinary experience that transcends cultural boundaries."

The twist will help set it apart in a neighborhood rife with steakhouses including Capital Grille, Ocean Prime, Nick & Sam's, Perry's, and STK. (Maple & Ash, a steakhouse originally planned for the Maples Terrace building, will no longer open and is being replaced by Catch Dallas, a seafood restaurant from Catch Hospitality Group.)

The menu at Nuri is a collaboration between South Korea’s Michelin-recognized Chef Minji Kim and Executive Chef Mario Hernandez (Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Gordon Ramsay North America) which combines influences from Asia, New Orleans, and the South.

Signature dishes include

steak tartare presented in two styles: an Eastern version featuring fried noodles, quail egg, and yuzu ponzu, alongside a Western interpretation with capers, anchovies, and egg yolk
two gumbos: classic chicken and Andouille gumbo or a Korean-inspired version

The wine program is from acclaimed Master Sommelier Barbara Werley, one of only 14 Master Sommeliers in Texas and one of just 34 female Master Sommeliers worldwide, with 750 labels and 6,000 bottles.

Spanning 9,500 square feet, Nuri offers indoor seating for 150, including the bar and dining areas, with an additional 50 seats outdoors, and a private dining room.

Every design element is custom-made, reflecting an investment of more than $16 million in design and buildout, blending art deco romance, traditional Korean celadon ceramics, and an unexpected touch of cyberpunk culture.

“We carefully select each design element, from the custom stone floors and hand-painted wallpaper from England to the striking polished chrome light fixture repurposed from a milk tank in the bar. We even sourced over 100-year-old china directly from Korea to ensure a dining experience that is as unique and authentic as it is luxurious,” says Kim.

openings

Hummus News

New Mediterranean restaurant in McKinney spotlights Greek and Lebanese

Ilio's

Chicken shawarma plate at Ilio's Greek & Lebanese

A new Mediterranean restaurant starring two cuisines has debuted in McKinney: Called Ilio’s Greek & Lebanese Restaurant, it's now open at 210 N. Custer Rd. #130, with a collection of Middle Eastern favorites like gyros, shawarma, kebabs, hummus, falafel, and pita wraps.

The restaurant, which opened in mid-May in a center on the newer west side of McKinney, is from a pair of restauraunt veterans, Anas Abu-Ziad, nicknamed "Ziad," and Talal Hammad, who owned a similarly-themed and similarly-named concept in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Managing the front of the house is Ziad's affable wife Jessica Gardener, whose doting customer service has quickly made her a diner favorite.

"The idea with combining Greek and Lebanese was to make the restaurant inviting to everyone," Gardener says.

Baton Rouge has a reputation for good Greek and Lebanese food, even boasting a few restaurants that feature "Greek & Lebanese" as part of their name. Those two cuisines are slightly less common in Dallas, where the Middle-Eastern restaurant scene has been dominated mostly by Turkish and Syrian places.

Ilio's, which was the ancient Greek name for the city of Troy and is a popular moniker for Greek restaurants across the U.S., specializes in sizzling grilled kebobs, which are available in chicken, beef, shrimp, and kafta, the Lebanese favorite consisting of ground meat — often a combination of beef and lamb, with spices, onions, and herbs — molded into a long cylinder.

Greek dishes include dolmas (stuffed grape leaves with rice), spinach pie, and lamb shank — all dishes that can appear on many Middle Eastern menus but are most closely allied with Greek cuisine. That includes moussaka, the homey casserole dish made with eggplant, meat sauce, and bechamel — although Ilio's version is deconstructed, which is easier for restaurants to execute than the traditional layered version favored by home cooks.

Hummus comes in three options: traditional, Mediterranean, and Sultan, topped with chunks of meat. Other Mediterranean classic dishes include chicken shawarma, gyro plates, falafel, and fried halloumi cheese.

Most dishes come in under $15 and the restaurant is also BYOB.

There are extra-healthy dishes including salads, lentil soup, and pita wraps, made with pita that's a little softer and less doughy than many pitas in town. And there's also a fusion twist that's very Texas: a "Greek quesadilla" with your choice of grilled meat stacked between pita bread.

greek cuisine lebanese cuisine mckinney mediterranean restaurant middle eastern favorites openings