Tex-Mex News

Dallas Tex-Mex master to open Eddie's Cocina & Cantina in El Fenix space

Tacos from Tex-Mex king Eddie Cervantes

Yelp

A much-respected Dallas Tex-Mex restaurant is expanding: Eddie’s Cocina & Cantina, the popular eatery from legendary restaurateur Eddie Cervantes, is opening at 5622 Lemmon Ave., in the Lemmonwood Shopping Center at the corner of Inwood Road.

Eddie's will go into the space probably best known as the former El Fenix, but briefly home to Tex-Mex restaurant Casa Rosa, which closed after two years in May. Construction is underway, with an opening targeted for early fall.

Dallas insiders know Cervantes as the original owner of famed Tex-Mex watering hole Primo's on McKinney Avenue, which he opened in 1986 — a spot so beloved, he still has devout fans dating back to those days.

They followed him to Eddie's Tex-Mex Cocina, a cozy restaurant in East Dallas, which he opened at 2018 Greenville Ave. in 2021.

Among those fans was Dean Flowers, who has experience in real estate and restaurants, and is now partnered with Cervantes.

"I lost a few brain cells back in the day at Primo's," Flowers says, joking. "Eddie and I have been friends for a long time. I help out on the business side so he can focus on running the restaurant. He's the best at what he does. He cares deeply about his food, his staff, and his customers."

It's a formula that draws crowds: good-quality Tex-Mex — enchiladas, nachos, tacos, and award-winning queso, plus strong margaritas and attentive service — that stands out in an increasingly watered-down Tex-Mex scene.

Eddie's also goes a little beyond Tex-Mex with entrees such as steak and seafood, and a weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

The new location will take all that to another level, Flowers says.

"We're still in the middle of making plans, but given that it's a bigger space, we hope to add a nice high-end bar," he says. "I'm pretty sure we're planning on a tequila bar with 100 different tequilas and mezcals. There's so many tequilas now, nobody knows what to drink anymore, so we'll have a program to help clarify the different kinds."

"But really, it's going to be a second Eddie's — just bigger," he says.

It'll also bring great Tex-Mex to a neighborhood — adjacent to Park Cities, Preston Hollow, and the Medical District — that wants it desperately. Especially in that storied location, home to El Fenix for 60 years before it closed in 2020.

"I live in the area, and people were screaming about the loss of a Mexican restaurant," Flowers says.

Henderson Avenue News

Dallas bar High Fives will close on Henderson Avenue after 10 years

High Fives/Facebook

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A nightlife staple on Dallas' Henderson Avenue is closing: High Fives, the bar located at 1804 McMillan Ave., will close in early January, after more than 10 years.

According to a release, the actual closing date will be tied to the Texas Tech Red Raiders' game schedule in January.

"To all our neighbors, the Red Raider faithful, and everyone who has made High Fives their home—we are saying goodbye by raising our hands high for one last High Five," says owner Phil Schanbaum. "This establishment was built on community, spirited rivalry, and countless memories. We are deeply thankful to every single patron and, especially, to all of our incredible staff who were the heart and soul of this place."

High Fives opened in mid-2015, part of the portfolio of This & That Hospitality, the company Schanbaum founded with partner Brandon Hays, next door to its sibling bar The Whippersnapper (which was rebranded into a concept called Boogies in October 2025.)

Schanbaum says that they're unsure of what will go in the High Fives space after it closes — but that the closure "paves the way for the ongoing evolution of Henderson Avenue."

The property is owned by Acadia Realty, the New York-based company that is partnered with Dallas development firm Ignite-Rebees on a 161,000-square-foot, creative, mixed-use development currently underway on Henderson Avenue between Glencoe Street and McMillan Avenue at the eastern end of Henderson Avenue.

High Fives' closure is part of that plan to transform the quarter-mile stretch into a walkable destination featuring restaurants, retail, and office space.

"To Henderson Avenue, we look forward to further expansion and to making this street even better. We are excited for the neighborhood's renaissance, which will bring new experiences, retail, and dining concepts to the area," Schanbaum says.

Moving target
The actual closing date will depend on the outcome of the season for Texas Tech's football team the Red Raiders.

"The final chapter for High Fives will be written alongside the almighty Texas Tech Red Raiders. The bar's ultimate closure is tied directly to the team's success," the release says.

The next game day is on January 1, when doors open at 10 am.

If the Red Raiders advance past the game on January 1, High Fives will remain open for subsequent Texas Tech game days until the team's run ends. Meanwhile hours in December will be Thursdays & Fridays from 8 pm-2 am, and Saturdays: from 2 pm– 2 am.