Spring has arrived, and in the world of Dallas dining, that means one thing: new spring menus. There are also openings, a closing, a rebrand, and a bankruptcy filing.
Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, the breakfast-centric offshoot of Denny's, has opened a restaurant in McKinney - West Grove at 8701 W. University Dr. #490, where they're serving waffles, French toast, plus panini for lunch. This is the fifth location in Texas.
Pretty Tasty Pasta, a pasta bar restaurant, opened in February at Plaza of the Americas at 600 N. Pearl St. The concept comes from chef Kendall “Kennei B” Williams and serves pasta with a Cajun twist with options like Cajun cream sauce and Andouille sausage, plus appetizers, breakfasts, and desserts.
Saviana, a winery founded in Cedar Hill in 2020, is closing down. They closed their Lancaster location on March 29; the last day for Cedar Hill is still TBD. According to owner Julie Denton, business slowed down over the past year, especially after a patio fire in December. Following the closure, they'll sell their wines at festivals.
Chído Taco Lounge, which first opened in Frisco in 2021, has rebranded as Casa Alma Restaurante Mexicano with a new chef, menu, and design. Chef Francisco Guerrero leads the kitchen after serving as executive chef of restaurants like Ida Claire and Sugar Bacon. They’ve added ceviche, shrimp cocktail, shared plates, sous vide pork chop, and glazed salmon; weekend brunch additions include breakfast nachos, churro waffles, and birria stacked enchiladas. The drinks menu has been updated with more wines. They've also updated their interior to be light and airy with earth tones and natural light.
Black Rock Coffee Bar has opened at 5200 N. Garland Ave. in Garland. It's the 10th location to open in Dallas, serving hot and iced coffee, energy drinks, and teas.
Harwood Hospitality Group restaurants Mercat Bistro and Stillwell’s, both recognized as Michelin recommended, have launched exclusive Michelin tasting menus. Mercat Bistro has a five-course French menu features tartar de boeuf, onion soup gratinée, duck confit and braised HWD short rib; $95. Stillwell’s has a seven-course menu with crab croquette, tuna crudo, beef dumplings, dry-aged strip, and baby kale salad for $125.
The Mexican, the Design District restaurant, has launched Sunday lunch service, featuring some of their dinner items including spicy ceviches, aguachiles, queso fundido, lobster elote, filet and bone marrow, crispy red snapper, and 33-ounce tomahawk Wagyu ribeye. Hours are 1-4 pm.
Pesca, the Trinity Groves restaurant, has added a weekday lunch menu featuring Baja shrimp ceviche, New England clam chowder, yellowfin tuna salad, Texas redfish, and lobster roll. Lunch is Tuesday-Friday 11 am-3 pm.
Blue Goose Cantina is introducing spring items to the menu including $15 chipotle shrimp enchiladas; $18 Milanesa de Res Bien Vestida, a torta with milanesa steak topped with refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and red onion; and $17 chile rellenos. New $12 cocktails from Augie's Cocina include TX margarita and The Cactus Jack, a mix of prickly pear and poblano with Astral Tequila, lime juice, agave, and Ancho Reyes Poblano liquor. Available at all seven Dallas locations.
Greenville Avenue Pizza Company has debuted its latest limited-time pizza: Chipotle Chicken Pizza with grilled chicken, red onions, black bean & corn salsa on smoky chipotle sauce, topped with cheddar cheese. A slice is $8.50 and full pizzas are $21-$26. Available until the end of May.
JOA Grill, the Korean BBQ restaurant, launched a spring menu featuring crab fritters, raw oyster trio, beef carpaccio, Korean meatballs, miso salmon, and tofu steak. They also have new desserts including yuzu cheesecake, matcha mont blanc cake, and chocolate mousse cake. Prices range from $7 for a yuzu citrus salad to $60 for the Mountain Bulgogi.
La Madeleine has launched daily all-day brunch featuring French toast, croissant-waffles (croffles), bacon bon-bon brioche sandwich, and reinvented avocado toast. They've also added wine cocktails. Dipped croissants topped with freeze-dried strawberries or crusted pistachios are now on the permanent menu.
Danish at Sugar & SageSugar & Sage
Overeasy at The Statler has a new menu featuring $8 acai bowl, $16 Texas-style OE Benedict, $16 spicy fried chicken sandwich, and $20 salmon bowl. Plus, new cocktails and mocktails include $14 Boozy Bellini and $10 non-alcoholic Sicilian with Fever Tree Sicilian sparkling lemonade, strawberry and lemonade.
Sugar & Sage, the University Park bakery, has launched a limited time spring menu with five berry-filled items crafted by Pastry Chef Jill Bates and Sous Chef John Evans: strawberry rhubarb Danish, strawberries & cream stuffed croissant, lemon blackberry danish with lemon curd, and blackberry jam, strawberry cupcake, and S&S lemon blueberry muffin. Available through April.
Velvet Taco has ditched its Weekly Taco Feature (WTF) after 13 years to replace it with Velvet Bowls. Tacos like the spicy tikka chicken will now be available as a bowl option rotating each week. There’s even a seasonal veggie bowl for the last week, not available as a taco. All bowls feature a cilantro basmati rice base, or a “Make It Lighter” option to swap rice for a carb-free napa slaw. Bowls are $11.50-$13.50.
Talkin' Tacos in Plano has new seasonal and kids menus. The seasonal menu features a $16 crispy stacked wrap with flour tortillas, tostadas, Chihuahua cheese, cheese sauce, lettuce, pico de gallo, avocado salsa, Takis, and choice of protein; and $10 Biscoff churros. Kids menu features quesadilla, burrito, or chicken tenders with a choice of a side of fries, chips, or apple slices and a drink choice of chocolate milk, apple juice, or water for $10.
Catch Dallas, the Uptown seafood and steakhouse, has launched brunch featuring a 10-foot raw boat with oysters and ceviche, sushi bar, chilaquiles, salads. Brunch is $75 and happens every Sunday from 11 am-4 pm.
The French Room at the Adolphus is hosting a cherry blossom afternoon tea featuring a three-course menu with finger sandwiches, scones, teriyaki smoked chicken and aged cheddar on challah, and Sakura cherry blossom cheesecake tarts. There will also be loose-leaf teas from local purveyor Zakti, complemented by a Champagne toast. Vegan varieties are also available. Tickets are $75 and available Monday-Thursday, 11 am-3 pm and Friday-Sunday 10 am-4:30 pm through April 13.
Kessaku has launched a limited-time shio duck & Wagyu ramen with soy-cured duck egg, marinated shiitakes, and a touch of Szechuan chili crunch for $28. Available Tuesday-Thursday until sold out.
Tupelo Honey, the Southern kitchen and bar chain, has brought back its oversized Sweet Potato Pancakes topped with spiced pecans, now a permanent menu item. They've also brought back fried okra and grilled cheese & tomato soup.
Salata is launching tofu as a new protein option including a grilled tofu salad with kale, arugula, spinach, beets, broccoli, carrots, red onion, bell peppers, strawberries, grapes, and walnuts; and grilled tofu wrap with arugula, red onions, cabbage, beets, cucumbers, broccoli, edamame, and sesame sticks, wrapped in a cucumber wrap. A small salad starts at $10, a wrap starts at $10.25. Available at all Dallas locations starting April 1.
Tacodeli is reintroducing one of its top-requested tacos— the Tikin Xic. It features achiote-marinated grilled fish with salsa negra, habanero-pickled onions, cilantro in a tortilla for $6.50. They’re also rolling out the blood orange basil agua fresca, a citrusy, herbal refresher for $4.50. Available for a limited time.
North Italia is celebrating its annual Pi Day campaign, featuring 12 pizzas for $22 each. (This replaces the “Chef’s Daily” pizza on-menu.) Featured pizzas include lasagna verde, carbonara, and Neptune’s Pie with clam, candied bacon, red pepper, and preserved lemon. Available through April 11 at Galleria Dallas and Plano locations.
Nick the Greek has a new steak bowl, a first for the restaurant. It features flame-grilled steak tossed in chimichurri chickpeas, pickled onions, and hummus over rice, finished with toum and spicy harissa for $15.
Donatos Pizza is featuring Mike's Hot Honey, including hot honey wings, five for $8. A $22 smoky hot honey pizza features pepperoni, bacon, onion, provolone, and Mike’s Hot Honey; a $10 chicken sub features chicken, jalapenos, bacon, and Mike’s Hot Honey. Available at Frisco and Flower Mound locations through April 27.
Maggiano’s has new menu items: Wagyu beef stuffed shells, “The Grand” chicken parmesan served with Maggiano’s Rigatoni Marinara; 30-layer lasagna with house-made Bolognese and ricotta; and fettucine alfredo.
Kate Weiser Chocolate has an Easter collection featuring $16 chocolate bunnies, $12 chocolate bunny bark, $15 four-piece bonbon collection, and $4 fried egg yolk bonbon. Plus, they have an Easter party tray featuring 48 assorted chocolate flavors for $99.
Catbird at the Thompson Hotel is bringing back Chinese tile game Mahjong and Martini Mondays every first Monday starting April 7. Open to all skill levels from beginner to advanced. Tickets are $15 for skilled and $5 for beginners. The event is bring your own tiles (BYOT).
Nothing Bundt Cakes is bringing back fan-favorite churro dulce de leche in two items: the original with cinnamon spice cake filled with dulce de leche; and the new churro de chocolate with a chocolate filling. Both cakes are $5.50.
Yogurtland, the self-serve frozen yogurt chain, has a limited-edition Peach Tart flavor, tangy and sweet and made with real peaches. They're also putting chocolate and pistachio flavors next to each other so that customers can try the viral-inspired Chocolate Pistachio Swirl, a "middle handle" that pairs Chocolate and Pistachio frozen yogurt.
Birdcall, the chicken sandwich chain, has launched breakfast at the McKinney location featuring bacon egg & cheese biscuit, Nashville Hot chicken biscuit, sweet chicken & honey butter biscuit, Southern burrito, and green chile burrito. Breakfasts start at $5.
Fogo De Chão introduced its first merchandise collection called “Fogo is Fire.” It features a limited quantity collection of T-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs and tote bags. There will be more merch drops throughout the year. Prices start at $12 for a tote.
Chick-fil-A is introducing a new bottled parmesan Caesar dressing to store shelves plus 16-ounce bottles of zesty buffalo and honey mustard. There's also new 24-ounce two-pack versions of Chick-fil-A sauce available at select wholesale retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Warehouse. Prices range from $5-$15.
7-Eleven has unveiled Southland Reserve, a private label line of cold brew teas, in partnership with AriZona Beverage in four flavors: Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea, Peach Tea, and Lemon Tea. The black and green tea leaves are sourced from Argentina, Indonesia and Kenya and steeped for an extended period to ensure an aromatic flavor without bitterness, using gravity-based filtration and a cold steeping process.
Bar Louie has voluntary filed for a Chapter 11 restructuring plan for its 31 corporate-owned locations. Operations will continue without interruption; this process is not expected to impact the company's day-to-day operations. Prior to the filing, Bar Louie closed underperforming locations to enhance its financial stability.
