Hummus News

Luxe NY Mediterranean restaurant Avra hums into Dallas first in Texas

Trio of dips from Avra Mediterranean

Avra Group

A restaurant known for its Mediterranean cuisine and luxurious ambience is coming to Dallas: Called Avra Estiatorio, it's a concept founded in New York that will make its Texas debut in Uptown at the Crescent in spring 2025.

Avra was founded in 2000 by restaurateurs Nick Tsoulos and Nick Pashalis, who opened the first location on E. 48th Street in New York. They've since opened two more locations in Manhattan, plus Beverly Hills and Miami. They specialize in Mediterranean cuisine inspired by seaside tavernas across Greece, not to mention vibrant energy and lavish design.

According to a release, they'll occupy a nearly 14,000 square-foot space at 300 Crescent Ct. #120.

The menu features seafood imported from Greece, produce, and traditional Greek dishes. Their big thing is their choose-your-own-seafood from an ice display with options such as branzino, red snapper, wild Dover sole, and rare Mediterranean fish like fagri and lithrini.

You can then choose the technique: grilled whole over charcoal, deboned, and finished with Avra’s signature ladolemono sauce, or baked in salt. They also have raw options like carpaccio and ceviche.

Other menu highlights include:

their "famous" Avra Chips: crispy paper-thin sliced zucchini and eggplant
prime steaks and lamb chops
traditional dips made using their grandmother's recipes

Their extra virgin olive oil, hand-pressed at a farm in Greece’s Peloponnese, enhances nearly every dish on the menu.

An extensive bar program will include Greek and international wines plus creative Greek-inspired cocktails such as the Helios Heat with Creyente Mezcal, Diplomatico, and fresh Spicy Mango.

Design is by the renowned Rockwell Group, and will be words like modern yet timeless, Greek aesthetic, versatile, and private dining. The space will incorporate The Conservatory, a glass café adorned with lush greenery, creating an oasis-like atmosphere.

“We are excited to bring the Avra experience to Dallas, a city known for its up-and-coming culinary scene,” said co-owner Nick Tsoulos. “Our goal is to create a dining destination that not only offers exceptional food but also transports our guests to the idyllic shores of Greece, right here in Dallas.”

BBQ news

11 Dallas-Fort Worth BBQ joints showcased in Texas author's new tome

Photo by Brianna Caleri

This hefty book highlights the behind the historical connections that make Texas Barbecue so interconnected.

Most Texans know our barbecue traditions are more complicated than a bit of salt, pepper, and smoke, but how much else is there to say? For Austin-based food and travel writer Veronica Meewes, the answer is: a lot.

Her new 512-page book, Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow, covers the subject in great detail, from long restaurant and pitmaster profiles to shorter blurbs that weave the complicated web of who's who in Texas 'cue. Gorgeous photographs round out this feast of a coffee table book.

Eleven Dallas-Fort Worth barbecue restaurants get featured in the book, including Cattleack Barbeque, Zavala’s Barbecue, Goldee’s Barbecue, Smoke-a-Holics BBQ, Heim Barbecue, and more.

This book stands out not just for its beauty — including embossed lettering and a cloth wrap that looks and feels like a high-quality denim apron — but for the depth at which it chronicles each establishment.

Texas BBQ: The Art of Low and Slow table of contents Big photos make Texas BBQ fun to flip through.Image courtesy of HarperCollins

Some of the most notable entries, such as Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth, Truth BBQ in Brenham and Houston, and Aaron Franklin in Austin, get six to 10-page spreads. Each is written in a way that the reader would understand if they simply flipped to their favorite restaurant, but during long reading sessions, bigger narratives start to unfold.

The author recounts the story of Fort Worth's highly acclaimed Goldee's, from its founders' childhoods and early work experiences to its beginnings just before the pandemic, to its Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction in 2024. There are even a few recipes, equipment, and cooking secrets revealed.

In between comprehensive restaurant histories, the author offers snippets of more general knowledge: a barbecue glossary, a breakdown of different types of wood and knives, and a profile of two popular barbecue education courses.

Since the book is organized by region — North, East, Central, South, and West Texas — it's both a great semi-personalized book for Texans who love their hometowns and a useful travel guide.

The title of this book could be a tongue-in-cheek reference to how it's written, with a clear passion for getting to the bottom of things, finding the flavor, and trimming very little fat.

Author Veronica Meewes at la Barbecue.Photo by Alex Gray

Texas BBQ is published by HarperCollins, with an original release date of November 11. It is available via the publisher for $50, or as an ebook for $34.99, as well as from other stores across Texas and major online retailers. (As of publish time, it's on sale on Amazon for $30.04.) This is Meewe's fifth book.

Here's the complete list of the Texas barbecue joints featured in the book:

North Texas

Goldee’s Barbecue - Fort Worth
Panther City BBQ - Fort Worth
Cattleack Barbeque - Dallas
Zavala’s Barbecue - Grand Prairie
Smoke-a-Holics BBQ - Fort Worth
Heim Barbecue - Fort Worth & Dallas
Sabar BBQ - Fort Worth
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue - Aledo
Hutchins Barbeque - MicKinney & Frisco
Lockhart Smokehouse - Dallas
Smoke’n Ash BBQ - Arlington

East Texas

Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue- Tyler
1701 Barbecue- Beaumont
Blood Bros BBQ- Houston
Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue- Tomball
Bar-A BBQ- Montgomery
Bodacious Bar-B-Q- Longview
Sunbird Barbecue- Longview
Mimsy’s Craft Barbecue- Crockett
Martin’s Place- Bryan
Khoi Barbecue- Houston
Harlem Road Texas BBQ- Richmond
Gatlin’s BBQ- Houston
Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue- Houston
Feges BBQ- Houston
Killen’s Barbecue- Pearland, Cypress, Shenandoah
Redbird BBQ- Port Lavaca
Patillo’s Barbeque- Beaumont
Brett’s BBQ Shop- Katy
Roegels BBQ Co.- Houston
CorkScrew BBQ- Spring

Central Texas

Franklin Barbecue- Austin
Louie Mueller Barbecue- Taylor
la Barbecue- Austin
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue- Austin
Micklethwait Craft Meats- Austin
InterStellar BBQ- Austin
Kreuz Market- Lockhart
Snow’s BBQ- Lexington
Eaker Barbeque- Fredericksburg
Rossler’s Blue Cord BBQ- Harker Heights
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que- Llano (and other locations)
Miller’s Smokehouse- Belton
Southside Market & Barbeque- Elgin, Bastrop, Austin & Hutto
The Original Black’s Barbecue- Lockhart, Austin, San Marcos
Terry Black’s Barbecue- Austin, Lockhart, Dallas, Waco
Distant Relatives- Austin
Rollin’ Smoke BBQ- Austin
Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen- Austin
KG BBQ- Austin
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew- Austin
Smitty’s Market- Lockhart
City Market- Luling
Black Board Bar B Q- Sisterdale
Victorian’s Barbecue- Mart
Viteks’ BBQ- Waco
Guess Family Barbecue- Waco
Helberg Barbecue- Woodway

South Texas

2M Smokehouse- San Antonio
Burnt Bean Co.- Seguin
Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que- Brownsville
Teddy’s Barbecue- Weslaco
Reese Bros. Barbecue- San Antonio
GW’s BBQ Catering Co.- San Juan
Lavaca BBQ- Port Lavaca
Butter’s BBQ- Sinton

West Texas

Perini Ranch Steakhouse- Buffalo Gap
Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque- Wolfforth (outside Lubbock)
Brantley Creek Barbecue-
Hallelujah! BBQ- El Paso
Desert Oak Barbecue- El Paso
Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue- Marathon

Profiles:

Daniel Vaughn
M&M BBQ Co.
Chief Firewood
BBQ Confessional
Houston Edgeworks
Camp Brisket (at Texas A&M)
Chud’s BBQ
Mill Scale Metalworks
Jess Pryles/Hardcore Carnivore
Brisket Country
The Sausage Sensei
Matti Bills (Three Six General, Howdy Child)

books barbecue texas history chefs pitmasters goldee's