News You Can Eat

Catch up on the hottest Dallas restaurant news with this timely roundup

Salad at North Italia

North Italia

Mid-May calls for another chapter of Restaurant News Roundup, our bi-monthly roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, culled from press releases, secret tips, and the worldwide web. This edition is your prototypical multifaceted CultureMap restaurant news roundup with openings, name changes, new lunch offerings, spring menus, and in a pleasing twist, lots of booze.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Swank is the new name for the Oak Cliff restaurant formerly known as Beckley 1115. It's still run by chef Luke Rogers and still has his food but has rebranded itself. They're also hosting live music: "chill ballads and piano."

White Rock Coffee has opened a location at 6312 LaVista Dr. in the center of Lakewood, taking over the space previously occupied forever by Starbucks, which has relocated a block away to 1924 Abrams Pkwy. It's the seventh location for the Dallas coffee shop chain.

JingHe Japanese Restaurant is a new-ish restaurant at Mockingbird Station in the former Urban Taco space from husband-and-wife Kangfan Jing and Gangchao Zhang that opened in January 1, serving Izakaya-inspired cuisine. Menu items include sushi, sashimi, noodles, sake, Japanese beer, wine, and cocktails. Megan says to get the tuna tawa roll, a riceless roll with spicy tuna, avocado, crabmeat, and mango.

Chick-fil-A is opening a new location in DeSoto at 616 W. Belt Line Rd. on May 16 from franchisee James Pruitt. It;ll be open for dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out and delivery from 6 am-10 pm Monday-Saturday, and joins more than 148 other Chick-fil-A restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Shodo, the Japanese concept in the Design District, is now open for lunch Tuesday-Friday 11 am-2 pm featuring power lunch combos like seaweed salad or miso soup with rolls; a 3 roll combo with Salmon, Spicy Tuna and Snow Crab for $25; wedge salad, Tokyo Niçoise, sashimi salad, miso black cod, Wagyu burger with white cheddar and fries, chicken fried rice, and the Prime beef “katsu” sandwich. Plus sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri.

Bobbie's Airway Grill has added a new weekend lunch menu available Saturday-Sunday from 11 am-3 pm with dishes such as Croque Madame on housemade Brioche, French omelet with soft French cheese, and Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes with hot fudge, and a Breakfast Martini, their twist on gin and jam made with Bobbie’s Marmalade.

STK Steakhouse has a new steak dinner for two with choice of Lil’ Brgs, jalapeño pickled shrimp cocktail, or baby gem Caesar, 6-oz filet, 14-oz NY strip, miso-glazed Chilean sea bass, maple-rubbed salmon, mushroom & truffle tagliatelle, and two sides including tater tots, asparagus, mac & cheese, plus doughnuts or apple pie. $69 per person, available Sunday-Thursday.

Te Deseo in the Harwood District has a new Sunday-night "Menu de la Familia" with unlimited Latin small plates for $39, plus pitchers of margaritas or sangria for $20. Must be enjoyed by the whole table in a two-hour time frame.

Locals Craft Beer + Fine Wine and Locals Lounge, the wine store-lounge concept in Farmers Branch, is now serving brunch every weekend from 10 am-1 pm, including pastries from La Casita Bakeshop, plus cocktails like ‘Banana Nut Coffee’ and ‘The Corpse Reviver #2.

Mendocino Farms has a new lineup of limited time entrées available beginning Tuesday, May 21: Street Corn Chicken Sandwich with al pastor chicken over street corn, roasted peppers & onions on a toasted sesame roll, and Peach Goat Cheese Salad with chicken, peaches, goat cheese, almonds, fennel, Romaine, kale, and mixed greens. New sides include couscous tabbouleh, Oaxacan potato salad, macaroni salad, corn chowder, and chicken tortilla soup.

North Italia Dallas has debuted its Spring/Summer lunch, brunch, and dinner menus available now through mid-October, including sea scallops over corn risotto with asparagus, pancetta, Hot Honey & Prosciutto Pizza, tortelloni al pomodoro, lemon olive oil cake with lemon curd and blueberry compote, carrot buttercake with cream cheese frosting, and cocktails like the My Verona and Ristretto.

Dive Coastal Cuisine in Snider Plaza has new dishes: Spring Pea Soup with crab; Farm Fresh Salad showcasing lettuce and herbs from DiveDWN, her new high-tech container garden; PEI Mussels with sofrito and chorizo; Steak Tacos, topped with micro radish and jicama.

Ramble Room has new spring menu items: yellow curry mussels, crab & corn beignets, beets & fried Brie (with blood orange, pistachio, frisee, aged balsamic vin), shrimp cocktail, tuna sandwich with wasabi slaw, crab & corn bisque; Little Gem & Bibb Salad, catch of the day with pea & farro risotto, scallops with forbidden rice succotash, 10-oz pork chop, and 16-oz 44 Farms ribeye.

Twisted Root Burger Co. is celebrating its 18th birthday with new menu items: Birthday Cake Shake, featuring vanilla custard with cake pieces, topped with a cake slice; Cuban Burger with Swiss cheese, bread & butter pickles, ham, and horseradish Dijon mustard; and a sampler platter with fries, onion strings, fried pickles, fried green beans & carrots, chips, chipotle ranch, and peppercorn ranch.

Kona Grill has a new $39 Steak Night dinner featuring field salad, 6-oz NY strip, choice of chili glazed salmon or lemon garlic penne, New York cheesecake, and glass of wine, available daily from 2-10 pm.

La Neta Cocina y Lounge at The Epic at Good Latimer has a new $50 prix-fixe three-course dinner menu featuring a Flaming Watermelon Shot, and choices from queso fundido, Brussels salad, chicken with poblano & cheese, al pastor pork chop, seafood poblano, and tres leches. Available Wednesday-Sunday from 5-10 pm.

Chili’s has a new Big Smasher Burger, featuring a hand-smashed burger patty with Thousand Island, red onion, lettuce, pickles, American cheese, and a Crispy Chicken Sandwich with topped with mayo and a pickle.

Pollo Campero, the Guatemalan chicken chain, has two new permanent crispy chicken sandwiches: The Buffalo Slaw Chicken Sandwich with coleslaw and buffalo sauce, and the Queso Bacon Chicken Sandwich topped with Pollo Campero's new green chile queso and bacon.

Sweetgreen is now serving Caramelized Garlic Steak available at all Dallas/Fort Worth locations and nationwide in three new entrées: The Caramelized Garlic Steak protein plate with wild rice, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomato, and pesto vinaigrette; The Steakhouse Chopped warm bowl with Romaine, herbed quinoa, cabbage, tomato, crispy onions, blue cheese, and green goddess ranch dressing; and The Kale Caesar (Steak) salad with kale, Romaine, tomatoes, and parmesan.

Dog Haus has three specials for May featuring Colorado Green Chili: Colorado Green Chili Sausage, a smoked green chili, jack cheese & pork sausage topped with Colorado green chili sauce, corn tortilla strips, cotija cheese, and scallions between grilled King's Hawaiian rolls; Colorado Green Chili Burrito with smoked green chili, jack cheese, pork sausage, eggs, Colorado green chili sauce, white American & cotija cheeses, corn tortilla strips & scallions in a flour tortilla; and Colorado Green Chili Queso Hot Fries.

Cinnaholic has two specialty desserts for the summer: Strawberry Shortbread Roll with strawberry frosting, strawberries, and shortbread cookie crumble; and Churro cinnamon roll dusted in cinnamon sugar.

Whataburger has a new Caramel Latte Shake, a twist on a latte with espresso, caramel, and vanilla, available for a limited time, how long they do not say. To quote the Supremes and Vanilla Fudge, they just want to keep you hangin' on.

La La Land Kind Cafe is serving the Crookie, a buttery croissant/chocolate chip cookie hybrid originally made famous by Boulangerie Louvard in Paris, combining a croissant with a chocolate chip cookie. The La La Land version features chocolate chip cookie dough baked with a flaky, buttery croissant.

La Casita Bakeshop has a new treat for May: Blood orange Figure 8 knots featuring a Danish thyme filling, blood orange marmalade, fresh orange, and a hazelnut crumb.

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans has new Southern Wedding Cake flavored drinks: Southern Wedding Cake Iced Latte, Wedding Cake Velvet Ice featuring almond and vanilla blended with Southern Wedding Cake cold brew concentrate, choice of milk and ice; and Southern Charm Chicory Cold Brew, a chicory-infused cold brew topped with black sugar sweet cold foam.

Cantina Laredo is featuring the USA ’Rita, a layered red, white, and blue frozen margarita with flavors of Blue Curaҫao and strawberry puree, for Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 24-Monday, May 27 at the restaurant’s Addison and Frisco locations.

Malai Kitchen, the Thai and Vietnamese restaurant with four DFW locations, is offering specialty tequila drinks for the month of May. The week of May 10, it's a Lychee Guava Mezcal Cooler with mezcal, lychee syrup, guava juice. The week of May 17 it's a the Blood Orange Tequila Old Fashioned with añejo tequila, Grand Marnier, blood orange simple syrup, angostura and whiskey bitters. The week of May 24 it's a Mezcal Mule with mezcal, agave, passion fruit puree, lime and cucumber topped with ginger beer.

Electric Shuffle has a new specialty cocktail, the Electric Marg, featuring flavors of lime, orange, and tequila, on the rocks or frozen.

Shiner Bock released three new beers for summer: Shiner Shandy, !Orale Limon¡ and Tex Hex Passion Fruit IPA, as well as a sober Rode0 variety pack with Citrus Wit, Red Amber, and Golden Brew.

Silver Fox Steakhouse and III Forks Steakhouse are both serving three new cocktails available through September 9: Sparkling Paloma with Herradura Reposado Tequila, Q Sparkling Grapefruit; Gunpowder G&T with Gunpowder Irish Gin, Q Classic Tonic; and Aperol Spritz with Aperol, Lunetta Prosecco, Q Club Soda.

Southfork Ranch executive chef Juan Rivas has created an expansive collection of catering menus, with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, including smoked meats, steak dinner, and desserts.

Candor Food Chain is a new technology that allows shippers to transport frozen and refrigerated food across the U.S. using a fully reusable cold packaging solution that allows pallet and box-sized frozen and refrigerated shipments to go by regular transport and stay frozen or refrigerated for up to nine days. The release is short on how they do this, but the eco-safe packaging and cooling components are non-toxic, safe, and food-grade, which means no more dry ice. All boxes are reusable. The Candor team picks up the chilled and filled palettes, delivers them, and then retrieves packaging for cleaning and reuse.

Restaurant News Roundup Time

Exclusive Prime rib and fancy lunches lead this Dallas restaurant news

Mirador

Time for another roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, and there's plenty to chew on: From new lunch and dinner menus to holiday-flavored beers. Even bigger news— the McRib is back, for those who have been anxiously awaiting its return.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and night, has opened its first store in Grand Prairie, at 2810 S. SH-161, with in-store, pickup, and delivery. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, Cookies & Ice Cream flavors, brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth. This is their 26th store in Texas and 308th location nationwide.

HoneyBaked Ham has a new Prime Rib item exclusive to Dallas. The Prime Rib averages $26 per pound, with sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. It serves 6-16 people, depending on the size. There are limited quantities available at each store. It's available at all 10 Dallas locations.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is introducing the zesty chicken bacon ranch pizza, the latest from their seasonal pizza lineup. The pizza features a creamy ranch base, grilled chicken, bacon, tender artichokes, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and topped with a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The pizza is available for $8.50 a slice, $21-$23 for a 12-inch pizza, and $26 for a 16-inch pizza. It’s available through February 2 at both Greenville Avenue and Peavy Road locations.

Mirador has launched a weekday three-course prix-fixe lunch menu for $30. It starts with a choice of two deviled eggs with caviar and chives, whipped ricotta toast, cup of tomato soup, or salad; second course includes choice of dishes like chicken paillard with Swiss chard, preserved orange sofrito, and aged parmesan; and a farro bowl with cauliflower green goddess, cherries, Marcona almonds. For the third course, there’s a to-go cookie. Available Tuesday through Friday from 11 am - 3 pm.

Broken Yolk Cafe in McKinney has two limited-time items: carrot cake waffle, a cinnamon spice cake batter waffle with shredded carrots and raisins, finished with candied pecans, powdered sugar and cream cheese icing starting at $9; and snickerdoodle latte, combining espresso, cinnamon bun and cookie butter syrup, vanilla cream, milk, and cinnamon sugar, available hot or iced for $6. Available through January 6.

Truluck’s has three new holiday items featuring cake and cocktails. For dessert, there’s chocolate peppermint cake made with layers of chocolate cake, frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing, topped with crushed candy and Godiva chocolate sauce; $14 per slice, $10 per petite slice, and $70 whole cake. Cocktails are $17.50 and feature Holiday Nog, a spiced cocktail with Bourbon and Bourbon cream; and Nutcracker Rum Punch, a rum ball balanced with honey and fruit. Available at Dallas, Plano, and Southlake locations until the end of December.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Plano has launched new holiday items, including a Japanese A5 Wagyu experience served rare with a sizzling hot stone tableside accompanied by miso glaze, grated horseradish and black lava salt. There’s a new $140 Season of Opulence filet and lobster four-course menu; and holiday weekend lunch starting at $28, featuring choice of steak frites, cabernet filet, or barbecue salmon fillet. Also, there's a new $94 caviar service featuring Hackleback caviar served with blinis, capers, chives, sour cream, egg, and shallots. Available through January 6.

Jinya Ramen Bar has brought back The Red Garnet and curry rice croquettes for a limited time. The Red Garnet is a red vegetable broth featuring pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage, white onion and topped with chili garlic sauce, served with thick noodles for $18. The croquettes are lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar cheese that start at $8. Available until February 28 at all Dallas locations.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are both offering three chalkboard specials throughout the month. Dishes feature $15 FishWich, with beer-battered haddock fish; $17 chimichurri shrimp tacos; and$24 horseradish Arctic char, served with a Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. The specials are available at all 12 DFW locations and run through December 31.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is bringing back its Fire & Spice seasonal menu. New winter dishes include the pepperoni diavolo pizza; the bridge board, an assortment of Italian meats and cheeses, with walnuts, dried cranberries, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with hot honey, served with sliced bread; and white chocolate cheesecake. Cocktails feature the desert pear margarita and Vino’rita, a classic margarita topped with a festive pour of Mille Gradi Sangiovese. Prices range from $7 for the white chocolate cheesecake to $32 for an 18-inch pepperoni diavolo. Available through March 3.

Carrabba's Italian Grill has launched two new full-sized cakes: cannoli cream cake, a vanilla cake with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios, and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust for $64; and strawberry cheesecake, a New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51. Place orders 48 hours prior to pick up or delivery. Available through January 13.

Moxies, the Canadian pub in Uptown, is rolling out limited-time festive cocktails. There are three new drinks, including the Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail with High West Bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and orange bitters; Peppermint Mocha Martini with a combination of Cafe Borghetti, Ketel One vodka, and peppermint syrup; and Winter Aperol Spritz, with Aperol, Ruffino Prosecco, and Moxies' cranberry syrup. Cocktails are available through January 1.

Dairy Queen has brought back their chicken and dumplings, featuring chicken, gravy, and fluffy dumplings. It comes in three sizes: 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce, available for dine-in, drive thru, and takeout. Chicken and dumplings are available at locations across Dallas-Fort Worth through the end of February.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Peppermint Cold Brew Frozen Coffee with vanilla Italian Ice, frozen custard, cold brew coffee, and a hint of peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping; and Peppermint Milkshake with a blend of Vanilla Frozen Custard and crushed peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping.

McDonald's brought back its famous McRib on December 3. To celebrate the return, they even launched half-gallon jugs of McRib sauce for those who can't get enough, which is already sold out. The McRib is available through the McDonald's app, in-restaurant and through the drive-thru.

Red Lobster has launched a new menu featuring seven new dishes including Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Lemon Basil Mahi, bacon Wrapped Scallops, lobster bisque, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus, plus the return of fan favorites Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies.

Cinnaholic has launched two holiday rolls flavors and menu items. Holiday rolls feature Nutcracker Sweet, topped with crème brulee frosting, a trio of Bavarian candied almonds, walnuts, and pecans, and dusted with powdered sugar for $6;and Oh Fudge, topped with chocolate frosting, fudgy cookie dough, chocolate bark, homemade chocolate sauce, and holiday sprinkles for $7. Other items include $5 CinnaBites, $4 hot cocoa, and $33 wreath cake, with cinnamon rolls shaped into a wreath. Available through January 6.

Shiner, the Texas-based beer, has a festive brew called Shiner Holiday Cheer with flavor from Texas peaches and pecans for $11 for a six-bottle pack and $19 for a 12-bottle pack. Plus, the 12-pack Home for the Holidays collection goes for $15 and features two new flavors: FM 966, a sweet and spicy ale; and s’more, a dark ale brewed with chocolate & marshmallow with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. Both are available through the end of December.

Yelp featured two Dallas restaurants on this year's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024 list. Wicked Butcher, the downtown steakhouse, and Casa Pollastro, the Brazilian restaurant in Far North Dallas, both made the cut at no. 6 and 20 respectively. They were two of only four Texas restaurants on the list.