A hyper-buzzy new restaurant in prime North Dallas turf is making its big debut: Bobbie's Airway Grill, a neighborhood spot from Western Addition, who also own the Park Cities restaurant il Bracco, has opened at 5959 Royal Ln. #515, at the northwest corner of the Preston-Royal intersection, in the space that was previously home to Preston Hollow institution Dougherty's Airway Pharmacy.

According to a release, the restaurant is named for two things: owner Robert Quick’s mother, Bobbie, the inspiration behind many of the company’s recipes; and Dougherty’s.

The restaurant hosted a soft opening over the weekend of June 4-5, and if you judge by the social media posts, it attracted just about every foodie in town. Buzz buzz buzz.

Their cuisine is upscale American grill fare with mid-century nods, high-quality ingredients, and from-scratch cooking, including Prime meats and fish butchered in-house, plus house-made breads and desserts.

A flashy French brass Rotisol rotisserie is on display through the kitchen window, spinning the chicken used in a variety of dishes, and a wood-fired grill burns Texas Post Oak.

In a statement, COO Matt Gottlieb calls Bobbie's "your new neighborhood go-to."

"Whether it’s a salad and glass of wine on the patio at lunch, a bite and a cocktail at the bar during date-night, or family dinner, there is something on the menu for anyone and any occasion," Gottlieb says.

They should know, since they live in the neighborhood.

“We live in this neighborhood, as do our families, and we saw the need for a place like this," Quick says. "Preston and Royal is an iconic Dallas intersection. With the revitalization of the area, everything looks different. Preserving a piece of Dallas history was important to us. You’ll see the original “Airway” sign hanging above our kitchen window, and nods to the golden age of aviation and classic Preston Hollow neighborhood culture throughout the space, whether through design details, art, architecture or menu."

Design of the 5,500-square-foot space features intimate booths, coffered ceilings, wood floors, a full service bar inside, and a partially covered patio, designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, in conjunction with Mary Lucille Quick, VP of Design for Western Addition and principal partner of MMaison.

Art is from the Quicks' personal collection featuring original works and limited-run prints from notable artists such as David Shrigley, Robert Mangold, Roy Lichtenstein, David Byrne, and Matt Kleberg.

The patio is a new addition to the building, with tables for al fresco diners, as well as lounge seating around a hand-poured concrete outdoor firepit. A newly planted Live Oak from south Texas offers shade.

Food
Starters include:

• Buttermilk Biscuits with French Beurre de Baratte and house-made orange marmalade
• Oaks Dip, inspired by a secret family recipe, with sharp cheddar and served chilled with Frito’s
• Poached Shrimp cocktail with horseradish cocktail sauce
• Crispy Oysters with Flower Street vinaigrette

Salads include:

• The Moroccan, with rotisserie chicken, Medjool dates, herbs, roasted carrots, pistachios and French feta
• Iceberg Wedge with warm blistered tomatoes, herbs, bacon lardons and Pt. Reyes bleu cheese
• Niçoise, with seared ahi tuna, new potatoes, green beans and Kalamata olives and tomatoes

Sandwiches include:

• The Oaks Burger with house-ground chuck, aged cheddar, pickles, iceberg and Oaks barbeque sauce
• Italian Beef, with shaved tri-tip, provolone, sauteed broccolini, and giardiniera spread, served with au jus
• Tuna Burger, offered at lunch only, with seared tuna, avocado, jalapeño coleslaw on a toasted bun

Entrees include crab cakes with lemon dill sauce and French fries; Duroc pork chop; and two USDA Prime steaks: a Center Cut Filet and the Post Oak Ribeye, are cooked over the Texas Post Oak woodfire grill.

Desserts include a classic Banana Split, Pineapple Upside Down Cake a la mode, and Carrot Cake, from Bobbie's recipe.

The Bar
House cocktails include cocktails such as the The Bracco (a frozen greyhound with Aperol and fresh grapefruit), Rum Dum with Mt. Gay rums, lemon, & egg white, and a Vesper martini, stirred, not shaken, as well as an extensive yet approachable wine list with interesting finds as well as big names, which the release says is a feature that Western Addition restaurants are known for.

Founded in 2018, Western Addition specializes in casual fine dining concepts, and has launched il Bracco locations in both Dallas and Houston, where they'll open a concept called Balboa Surf Club this summer.