Eating on the fly

Wine bar Vino Volo and tea shop Teavana lead a new wave of foodie options at DFWAirport

Vino Volo will offer wine by the glass or in flights, plus cheese plates andother snacks.

Photo courtesy of Teel Construction
Teavana's exotic blends made it an appealing purchase for Starbucks, whichacquired the company in November.

Photo courtesy of Teavana
Teavana at the airport means you can pick up a tin for that last-minute foodiegift.

Photo courtesy of Barber Shop Marketing

High-flying oenophiles passing through DFW International Airport will soon have a new spot to get their wine with the opening of Vino Volo, a wine bar and retail store serving wine flights, small plates and bottles to go.

Vino Volo will be located in Terminal A, near Gate 17 which isn't anywhere near La Bodega Winery, the wine bar/retail shop from restaurateur Gina Puente, located at D14. But Puente announced in January a new partnership with Stephan Pyles called Sky Canyon Wine Bar that will replace La Bodega with a more food-focused spot.

The opening date on Vino Volo is predicated on the airport renovation, said spokeswoman Sarah Evans.

"Our DFW location is going to be opening late winter / early spring, but the timeline is being governed by the rest of the terminal construction, so we can't be 100 percent sure at the moment," she said.

The first Vino Volo opened in 2005 at Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport. There are now 18 airport locations, with the closest to Dallas being San Antonio. More are planned, and the company just opened its first stand-alone store in Bethesda, Maryland. The stores offer wines by the glass, in flights, or by the bottle to take on your flight or have shipped.

Vino Volo CEO Douglass W. Tomlinson (who has a patent for classifying the fruitiness of wine and who also donated money to oppose the gay marriage initiative in California), told the Washington Post that Vino Volo — which means "wine flight" in Italian — makes wine tasting "fun and interactive by putting together tasting flights that allow guests to discover which wines they enjoy most."

The stores boast a swanky atmosphere with leather lounge chairs and dark woods. Small plates and entrees include cheese plates, dry-cured meats, and the signature dish smoked salmon and crabmeat crostini. Diners can eat onsite or take the food onto their flights.

More airport grub
Eating action at DFW International Airport is brisk, and it's not just because the holidays are here. The airport recently announced the opening of III Forks, a branch of the North Dallas steakhouse, located near gate D27, and Teavana, which sells specialty teas and accessories, at gate A16.

Teavana was acquired by Starbucks for $620 million in November. There are four Dallas-area locations, at NorthPark Center, Galleria Dallas, Shops at Willow Bend in Plano and the North East Mall in Hurst.

Also new to DFW Airport:

Cantina Laredo, Mexican restaurant newly relocated to gate D24
Qdoba Mexican Grill, Jack in the Box's Chipotle concept, at A16
Salt Lick Bar-B-Que, barbecue legend from Central Texas, at A16

DFW Airport says that Qdoba and Salt Lick are among the first offerings in a new "village-like space" in Terminal A.

Meanwhile, if you want to know where to eat today, Eater has a list of what it considers to be the five best eats at the airport: Urban Taco (gate C22), Grand Hyatt DFW's Grand Met and M Lounge (outside terminal D), Reata Grill (D33), Cousin's Bar-B-Q (B27 and D28), and La Bodega at D14.

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Gearing up

Upscale sports bar Moxies will touch down at The Star in Frisco

Moxie's

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Moxies, the upscale-casual concept founded in Canada and co-owned by Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is joining the restaurant lineup at The Star in Frisco.

According to a release, a new location of Moxies will open in The Star District, at 3680 The Star Blvd. #1300, in an old City Works space, in 2027.

The sporty restaurant at the home of the Cowboys will be designed for everything from lunch and happy hour to dinner and late-night gatherings, offering chef-driven dishes with a lively bar experience in a polished, social setting, the owners say. The new location will include the restaurant's signature statement bar, elevated dining experience and high-energy hospitality.

“Being part of The Star in Frisco is a perfect fit for Moxies,” says Joanne Forrester, president and COO of Moxies, in the release. “The entire district is built around elevated experiences and connection — training, work, entertainment and hospitality all in one place. That’s where we thrive. Our chef-driven dishes, signature cocktails and statement bar are designed for exactly this kind of social, high-energy setting anchored by the Dallas Cowboys.”

Frisco will be the fourth DFW location for Moxies. The first one debuted at The Crescent in Uptown Dallas in 2016, and got a major renovation in 2024. The chain also has locations in Plano and Southlake.

Moxies is owned by Gaglardi, proprietor of the Dallas Stars, and brought to the U.S. by franchise group Eatz Hospitality.

While few details of the Frisco location have been revealed, the other locations serve lunch, brunch, dinner, and happy hour specials, with a menu of elevated American classics overseen by executive chef Brandon Thordarson. A typical Moxies menu includes:

Sushi Cones, made of tempura shrimp with avocado, pea shoots, nori crisps and drizzled with sesame chili ponzu
Poutine, the Canadian staple with French fries, hot beef gravy, and cheese curds
Kale and Quinoa Salad
Vegetarian Power Bowl with marinated tofu, shiitake mushrooms, soft boiled egg, vegetables, and greens

Brunch options include:

Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros
Smoke Salmon Goat Cheese & Egg White Omelet
Sicilian Sausage Hash

The traditional Moxies bar features craft cocktails such as Strawberry Ghost Pepper Margarita and a Hard Lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka.

The spaces typically feature an extended bar, a large covered patio, TVs inside and outside, and flex walls that can be converted for private dining experience and party spaces.

Other openings at The Star in Frisco

Moxies will join previously announced bar The Imperial Room, which will open at at 3685 The Star Blvd. in early September (aka "next week," a spokesperson clarifies).

The new bar will open next door to the Frisco location of Cane Rosso, and is from PILF Restaurant Group (Cane Rosso, Zoli's Pizza, and Thunderbird Pies), which also owned Cow Tipping Creamery, which closed in July.

With seating for 25 to 30 guests, The Imperial Room will offer an intimate setting for pre-event cocktails, date nights, celebrations and late-night gatherings, the release says. Guests can expect a sophisticated cocktail program featuring expertly executed classics and original creations, complemented by elevated shareable plates and select entrées.

PILF Restaurant Group has drafted acclaimed Dallas bartender Gabe Sanchez, whose work has helped shape cocktail programs at some of the city's most respected bars.

Longtime Star Tex-Mex restaurant Mi Cocina has expanded its outdoor dining experience with a renovation of its main patio, at 6740 Winning Dr. Ste. 1010. The enhanced space features additional seating, permanent heaters, larger fans, and drop-down shades, creating a more comfortable three-season patio for guests to enjoy throughout the year, the release says.

On the non-restaurant front, Élan Sculpt Club, a new luxury boutique fitness concept combining infrared-heated sculpt classes with Pilates reformer training, is opening its flagship location at The Star District, at 3620 The Star Boulevard, #1215.

Moxie’s is also known for their light sign décor, centered on the main dining wall, that spells out "I will if you will."

opening frisco moxies sports bar