The sincerest form of flattery

Dallas restaurant news, the spinoff edition: Hook Line & Sinker leads a convoy

The fried catfish at Hook Line & Sinker stands out from its peers.
Hook Line & Sinker/Facebook
The people of Bedford will soon be able to sample Twisted Root's Frito Banditoburger in their own backyard.
Twisted Root Burger Co./Facebook
Park Tavern in the Shops at Park Lane will soon have a sibling to the west, indowntown Fort Worth.
The Mediterranean shrimp salad at TruFire Kitchen & Bar has spinach, orzo,cucumber, tomato, feta cheese and, of course, shrimp.
TruFire Kitchen and Bar/Facebook
Torchy's Tacos opened its fourth DFW location December 5.
Torchy's Tacos/Facebook

After serving up crispy fried catfish and shrimp on McKinney Avenue for the past 17 years, seafood shack Hook Line & Sinker is ready for expansion. A second branch will open on Preston Road in early 2013. Hook, a.k.a. HLS, trolled northward for its new baby bro and will take over a Taco Cabana between Frankford and Campbell roads.

This will be Hook Line & Sinker Version 2.0, says Markus Pineyro, founder of the Urban Taco chain and partners with HLS founder John Tuma.

"Hook Line & Sinker has excellent food," Pineyro says. "John has always taken a lot of time with sourcing and with attention to the product, yet he kept it affordable. But I learned when I opened the Urban Taco on McKinney that the second branch is pivotal. You need to be able to re-create the level of quality and make it even better."

Hook Line & Sinker enjoys an all-walks-of-life clientele, with pickup trucks parked next to Mercedes Benzes — a mix you don't often see around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Hook Line & Sinker was a revelation when it opened in 1995, and not just because its fried fish seemed cleaner and less oily than anywhere else. It enjoys an all-walks-of-life clientele, with pickup trucks parked next to Mercedes Benzes — a mix you don't often see around Dallas-Fort Worth.

"Hook Line & Sinker has the ability to fit in with all demographics, whether it's West Village or Bishop Arts," Pineyro says. "It can camouflage itself as far as appealing to different people."

He and Tuma will capitalize on the restaurant's decor, duplicating its fun neon and kitschy boat motors. They will also expand the selection of grilled fish.

"I keep telling people, 'You gotta try the grilled salmon, the trout,'" Pineyro says. "They're amazing, and we expect them to be popular at the Preston location."

They also see the two concepts flourishing together.

"Hook Line & Sinker has the beer and the shrimp and the ice-house atmosphere, while Urban Taco is margaritas and tacos," he says. "We want to see what we can do about putting the two next to each other."

More spin-offs
Hook Line & Sinker is not the only place about to be cloned. Dallas restaurants are in expansion mode, with second and third locations coming soon all over the place.

Torchy’s Tacos, the Austin-based gourmet taqueria, opened its fourth Dallas-area branch in Casa Linda at 9440 Garland Rd. on December 5, where it serves specialty cocktails and infused tequilas along with beer and tacos.

Park Tavern, one of the many Restaurants America concepts sprouting up all over DFW, has signed on to open a location in Fort Worth, in the City Place development downtown, at 150 Throckmorton St. The first is in the Shops at Park Lane in Dallas, where it's using cheap happy hours to pack 'em in.

TruFire Kitchen & Bar, an ambitious, polished, American-meets-pizza-meets-hummus restaurant in Frisco, is finally poised to open its second branch in Southlake, in the old Jack's Porch space at 1239 Main St. TruFire was conceived by a couple of ex-Brinker/P.F. Chang's guys, who launched in April 2008.

The website reads: "We make familiar food, while still giving off a unique flavor," which doesn't seem like something to brag about, but they do a pizza and a salad with fig, and that's always a good thing.

Twisted Root Burger Co. will open a restaurant in the Mid-Cities — Bedford, to be exact, in a new shopping center north of 183. Owner Jason Boso hopes to open in February 2013.

A third branch of Mellow Mushroom, the hippie-ish Atlanta chain, will open in Mansfield, following branches one and two near TCU and Arlington. Owners Kim and Montie Slawson are Mansfield residents and selected a unique spot near historic downtown.

Tacos Y Mas Mexican Grill just opened a fourth location at 1540 Keller Pkwy., in Keller. It's a bit of a hike from the other three branches, all in Dallas proper, but a staffer said that one of Taco Y Mas' owners lives out that way.

Blue Mesa Grill will open a branch in Arlington's Lincoln Square, which, according to the Facebook page, will be happening in February. This will be the sixth BMG in Dallas-Fort Worth; there's also one in Lubbock.

Quaker Steak & Lube, a garishly decorated wing chain from Pennsylvania that inexplicably brags that its nickname is "The Lube," is opening a second location in far north Plano off State Hwy. 121, following one that opened previously in Carrollton.

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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.