School's Out

Restaurant with cute school theme at Dallas' West Village closes after 7 years

Public School cheese plate and beer sampler

They were champions of craft beer just as the craft beer trend was emerging.

Photo courtesy of Public School

School's out at the West Village in Uptown Dallas with the sad closure of PS 214, the catchy school-themed restaurant located in the 3700M building at 3700 McKinney Ave.

Also known as Public School 214, the restaurant, which opened in early 2015 during the then-emerging craft beer trend, closed in late November, after seven years in the space. A spokesperson for Grill Concepts, the parent company, said that they were unable to come to an agreement on the lease, which was up for renewal.

Originating from Southern California, Public School 214 was part of the Grill Concepts family, which owns the Daily Grill and Grill on the Alley chains. It was a big proponent of craft beer with gastropub-style food, plus a scholastic theme manifested in elements such as the black-&-white composition notebook menus, featuring trendy dishes such as bacon cheddar tots with Sriracha ketchup, and shrimp & cheddar grits.

But the company hit a rocky patch during its time in Dallas.

Things started to take a turn when Grill Concepts' dynamic director Bob Spivak, who was still at the helm when Uptown opened, retired a year later, taking some of the driving energy with him.

Grill Concepts also got hit hard by the pandemic and was forced into a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in April 2021.

In 2017, a second DFW Public School was announced for Addison, called PS 972. But costly construction issues delayed its opening by two years, and they finally pulled the plug on that location in 2021. (It's now home to TK's Place, a comedy club.)

In addition to Public School, Grill Concepts also had another presence in Dallas: a location of its high-end Beverly Hills restaurant Grill on the Alley at Galleria Dallas, which closed in the 2021 bankruptcy fallout, after 15 years.

Darin Botelho, president of McLemmon Group, which manages the property at 3700 McKinney Ave. where PS 214 was located, says that its departure is unfortunate, but they are already in talks with a few operators.

"We're hoping to replace it with another American tavern concept," Botelho says. "It's sad because they tried to keep it open, but had so many challenges."

uptown closings

Ramen News

Dallas' acclaimed Ten Ramen to open in Cru Wine spot in West Village

Ten Ramen

A highly acclaimed ramen spot is coming to Dallas' West Village: Ten Ramen, one of Dallas' most celebrated ramen spots, will open a location in the former Cru Food & Wine Bar space at 3699 McKinney Ave. #107.

According to a release, Ten Ramen will open in spring 2026.

In related news, the concept was acquired by Vandelay Companies (Hudson House, Jack & Harry's, East Hamption Sandwich Co., El Molino), led by CEO Hunter Pond, who counts himself a big Ten Ramen fan.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of who is arguably one of Texas’ most respected chefs — founder and creator Teiichi Sakurai — and what Ten Ramen embodies,” says Pond.

Vandelay also owns Tei An, the award-winning authentic Japanese restaurant and Ten Ramen sibling which Sakurai opened at One Arts Plaza in 2008.

Ten Ramen debuted in March 2015 at the Sylvan | Thirty mixed-use project in West Dallas — a pioneering concept at the time, and one that quickly earned a devoted following with its tiny 10-seat setup and uncompromisingly authentic flavors.

Back then, it was a ground-breaking concept for Dallas and is still one of the most beloved ramen spots in the city. Diners flocked to wait in long lines for its menu of Mazemen, Shoyu, Tonkotsu, and Lobster Ramen — recipes that will remain intact, Pond says.

“We haven’t touched the recipes, they’re perfect just as they are,” he says. “After many months under our ownership already, it remains clear that the magic is in the food, the service, and the experience. Our goal with this new location is simple: bring what we feel is the best ramen in Dallas to more people, in a space that feels both fresh and familiar.”

Ooooooh, so Vandelay has owned it for many months. Well well well.

“When the opportunity came to bring this incredible concept into our family of restaurants, I jumped at it," Pond says.

He's the one shepherding it into the West Village — a location he says will give more diners the chance to experience the concept.

The location has an impressive track record: Cru Wine Bar closed in August 2025 after an unparalleled 23 years at that address.

The new 1,480-square-foot space will be a fresh take on the Ten Ramen experience, with a full-service bar that seats 7, and an intimate dining room seating 28 — versus the impromptu stand-up situation at Sylvan Thirty.

Their goal is to make a space that feels approachable and lively while staying true to the dishes that made Ten Ramen a local favorite.

openings