BBQ News

Baker's Ribs will open location in East Dallas on hallowed foodie ground

Baker's Ribs coming to East Dallas.

Courtesy photo

A Dallas address that was home to one of the city's top restaurants has a new tenant: The space at 601 N. Haskell Ave. previously occupied by the acclaimed Petra and the Beast will become a new location of Baker's Ribs, the small Dallas barbecue chain.

A Baker's spokesperson confirmed that they would be opening a restaurant there in early 2024. "Hopefully by January," he said.

3-4-2024 UPDATE: Baker's Ribs is now open at 601 N. Haskell Ave. serving breakfast tacos, lunch, and dinner.
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The opening marks a return to central Dallas for Baker's, who'd previously had a location in Deep Ellum for 31 years. They closed that location at 3033 Main St. in 2018 after selling off the property; it's now home to a bank.

Founded in 1988 by pit master Joe Duncan, Baker's is known for its St. Louis Cut pork ribs and brisket, smoked over hickory and served with warmed BBQ sauce. Sides include herbed dill potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, fries, and fried okra.

They're also noted for their fried pies, sold out of a separate stand inside the restaurant, in options such as chocolate, pecan, peach, and cherry, plus savory options like brisket.

Baker's started out on Buckner Boulevard, before relocating to Commerce Street in Deep Ellum, then moving again to Main Street. There was also once a Baker's on Greenville Avenue; that location moved to Northwest Highway in 2013.

When they shuttered Deep Ellum, they expressed their desire to return to the area, stating that they were seeking a location in the same area near downtown. Mission accomplished.

Duncan said in an email that he also liked that it was near the Baylor Medical Center complex where it is sure to become a lunch destination for hospital and medical personnel.

There are currently six locations, with four in DFW: Northwest Highway, Mesquite, Garland, and Weatherford. (A location in Grapevine was forced to close after a fire in 2019.) Joe Duncan also has a side project called Kearney's Feed Yard, a sprawling backyard restaurant in Sunnyvale that opened in 2019.

Petra chef-owner Misti Norris left Haskell Avenue in August after five years in the space to find bigger digs. She moved to 1901 Abrams Rd., a space previously occupied by Lakewood Smokehouse.

So Petra moved into a BBQ place, and now a BBQ place takes over the old Petra space.

barbecue chefs openings

Tex-Mex News

Mico's new Tex-Mex restaurant ready for debut at Dallas' Maple Terrace

Doce Mesas

Chili relleno from Doce Mesas

A new Tex-Mex has landed on Maple Avenue via the debut of Doce Mesas, the restaurant from Dallas favorite Mico Rodriguez, opening at 3007 Maple Ave. in the Maple Terrace mixed-use development in Uptown Dallas.

According to a release, it'll open on Thursday, September 12.

Rodriguez still maintains a devout following as the co-founder of Mi Cocina, Dallas' best-known Mexican restaurant chain, which he left in 2010.

He went on to cofound his next concept, called Mr. Mesero, opening the first location on McKinney Avenue in 2011. That location served as a template for the Mesero chain, which currently has seven locations across DFW.

In 2017, Rodriguez parted ways with Mesero Restaurant Group following a lawsuit. He kept the original on McKinney Avenue, while Mesero Restaurant Group got the rest. He changed the name of his location to Doce Mesas, which translates into "12 tables," in 2018. He opened a second location at The Hill on North Central Expressway and Walnut Hill Lane in 2022.

Doce Mesas' menu is primarily Mexican food, but also includes other dishes such as roast chicken, and a cool Romaine salad with avocado and hearts of palm. He's currently offering a fried chicken sandwich to capitalize on the hot trend, which he makes with chicken thighs and bread & butter pickles.

There are tacos, enchiladas, and combination plates, but all done with unexpected and upscale twists. Nachos come topped with carne asada, black beans, and avocado; queso has white cheddar cheese, charred poblano, and spinach, like a clever cross between queso and spinach dip. There's also ceviche and a chicken pozole soup.

The Maple Terrace location is a freestanding building with frontage on Maple Avenue, with valet service and surface parking for quick grab-and-go. The space includes an outdoor terrace with landscaping and gardens.

“Doce Mesas brings a vibrant energy and culinary excellence that perfectly aligns with Maple Terrace's vision," says Hines managing director Corbin Eckel in a statement. "Together with the upcoming opening of Catch Dallas in November, these exceptional dining venues will enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and visitors, making Maple Terrace a premier destination in Uptown Dallas."

Maple Terrace is the 3.37-acre mixed-use development which incorporates a historic 1920s building facade, fronting a 22-story residential tower, office space, and street-level restaurants.

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