who's invited?

Dallas restaurant world abuzz over just-sent-out Michelin invites

Sister Restaurant from Duro Hospitality.

Facebook/Sister

The buzz around the Michelin Guide’s impending Texas edition reached a fever pitch on October 15 when chefs, restaurateurs, and media members received invitations via email to a ceremony where restaurants will receive awards on November 11.

Restaurants that received invitations can take heart. A Michelin representative confirms that an invite to the ceremony means they will receive some form of recognition. That could include being designated as

Michelin stars, rated at one, two, or three for restaurants that offer exceptional experiences
Bib Gourmand, described as “restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices”
Green stars for “restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy”
Recommended, for restaurants that don’t quite qualify for a star rating

Gwendal Poullennec, the Guide’s international director, will be present at the ceremony. During the event, restaurants that receive a star will receive a plaque that honors their achievement.

The invite-only event will be held in Houston, at downtown’s 713 Music Hall. The venue typically hosts concerts that draw a few thousand people but is also available for private parties that want to take advantage of its top-notch lighting and sound technology.

Despite the size of the venue, the guest list is limited, with recipients warned that the invitation is for one person only — no plus-ones allowed.

All restaurants were notified on October 15. Some invitees have not officially divulged they've received nominations but Dallas names swirling about include Duro Hospitality, Georgie, Quarter Acre, Lucia, and Rye. Houston chefs invited included Ronnie Killen, who received an invite for Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland, and Chef Justin Yu, who received an invite on behalf of Theodore Rex.

First announced in July, Michelin’s guide to Texas will cover Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and each city’s suburbs. Texas Travel and local tourism boards in each city agreed to provide marketing support — $90,000 per year for the first three years in Dallas alone — to bring the guide to Texas. The restaurant announcement follows a ceremony in September that revealed the American hotels to receive Michelin keys, including four in Dallas.
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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

awards chefs michelin guide

Opening News

7 new restaurants open in Dallas in a single week

Kayla Enright

Le Bistrot Bar Sardine

Dallas is brimming with an unexpected bounty of openings this week. Who would have thought? From sweet crepes and rolled ice cream to a unique dual-restaurant in Frisco, these are the absolute newest places to check out, all in time for the holidays. (And if you want more ideas on where to take your out-of-town guests, we have that list right here.)

Here are the hottest brand new restaurants around Dallas:

Cream & Crepes Cafe
Dessert shop with crepes and ice cream opens on December 20 in the Shops at Turtle Creek Village, at 3858 Oak Lawn Ave #405 (near the now-closed Jalisco Norte). They do creative crepes in flavors such as Biscoff cookie butter, berry cheesecake, dulce de leche, and mango banana. They also do the once-trendy rolled ice cream in 10 flavors, such as brownie melt and spicy mango, plus scoops and pints, vegan ice cream, and milkshakes.

Donatos Pizza
Ohio-based pizza chain opened in Flower Mound at 1400 Long Prairie Rd. #160 on December 17. Known for their edge-to-edge toppings that stretch to the crusts, their menu features more than a dozen varieties of pizza, including veggie, four cheese, and pepperoni with hot honey. Their signature crust is a thin-crust but they also offer thicker alternatives as well as a cauliflower crust. There are also oven-baked wings, meatball subs, Italian cold cut sandwiches, appetizers, and salads.

Elephant Indian Bar and Grill
Indian restaurant opens on December 20 in a legendary spot in the former Buzzbrews space at 4154 N. Central Expwy., which closed in 2023. It's another concept from chef Praveen Prasanan, who also owns of Shiva’s Bar and Grill. The menu includes Indian classics, Indo-Chinese fusion, and vegetarian dishes, including chicken tikka masala, butter masala, tandoori, and a variety of biryani. Prasanan says, “it seemed to be a great location, so I picked it up.”

Keke's Breakfast Cafe
Fast-growing chain that's a sibling to Denny's just made its big Texas debut on December 10 in the Lincoln Park center at 7700 W Northwest Hwy. #600, across from NorthPark Center. They're open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch with pancakes, waffles, omelets, and an assortment of stuffed French toasts, plus sandwiches, wraps, and salads for lunch. This is the first of five new Keke's cafes coming to DFW.

Le Bistrot Bar Sardine
Parisian bistro concept from Vandelay Hospitality opens on December 20 at 6805 Snider Plaza with a menu of small plates and dishes that showcase chef Elliot Azoulay's mastery of French cooking techniques: escargot, salmon tartare, and scallops with leeks and Osestra beurre blanc. Their goal: to transport diners to the cobblestone streets of Paris.

Mudbugs and Revel Grill
Frisco seafood boil restaurant Mudbugs closed in November, and now they reopen on December 20 as a dual-concept with Revel Grill at 9305 Preston Rd. On the Mudbugs side, they'll have Cajun seafood eats — gumbo, po'boys, snow crab boil, shrimp etouffe, oysters, crawfish. On the Revel Grill side, they'll have burgers, quesadillas, and wings. They'll also feature live music, sports, and bar bites.

Seager & Sons
Retro-leaning restaurant just opened at the Boardwalk at Granite Park, at 5864 SH-121 #106 in Plano with a nostalgic '70s theme including decorative elements like vintage records, guitars, and lo-fi stereos. The menu features pizza and fried chicken, plus fun specials like cacio e pepe fritters. A full bar includes cocktails and their own craft beer. Seager & Sons is from 33 Restaurant Group, who also own Union Bear, The Yard, and Suburban Yacht Club.

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