Sushi News

Acclaimed sushi restaurant opens in neat niche at Dallas' Adolphus Hotel

Sushi by Sushi By Scratch.

Sushi By Scratch

A chi-chi sushi place that was previously a pop-up in Dallas is making a commitment: Sushi By Scratch, the buzzy sushi speakeasy that started out as a short-term pop-up at the Adolphus Hotel, has decided to make it official, and has set up permanent residence.

According to a release, they're now open in a permanent space on the 8th floor of the Adolphus, serving an omakase-style menu and a robust selection of premium Japanese whiskys and sakes.

Part of Scratch Restaurants Group, Sushi By Scratch first began as a pop-up in Los Angeles, and now boasts 10 outposts in cities across the U.S.

The Dallas location opened as a temporary concept at the Adolphus in December 2023, serving a greatest-hits collection of recipes from Scratch Restaurants Group co-owner and chef Phillip Frankland Lee and pastries from pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee.

They set up in a room with a makeshift temporary decor — coming somewhat to the rescue of the Adolphus, whose restaurant situation had been struggling through a post-pandemic recovery.

They landed in Dallas at the pinnacle of the booming omakase trend, and quickly earned high marks from sushi cognoscenti, garnering applause for their excellent nigiri and skilled use of toppings that complemented the nigiri, such as truffles, caviar, and bone marrow — instantly selling out seatings and drawing a waitlist before they even opened.

Inspired by the response, Lee and his team pivoted to make the space permanent — moving the temporary setup to the lobby behind City Hall Bistro so they could transform the original space to permanent status.

Is this complicated? A little. The point is, they're now back on the 8th floor in a newly designed space with updates that include:

a new 14-foot live-edge Spalted Maple sushi counter crafted from a single tree by artisans at Awesome Shoppe in Beeville, Texas. With matching back bar and shelves, the counter is designed to stand as a stunning centerpiece.
The layout of the sushi bar has been redesigned.
New flooring and enhanced lighting.
Black appliances and finishes add a commanding presence.
The walls and ceiling adorned in moody shades of green.

Adjustments have also been made to the welcome area, and there's a concierge lounge adjacent to the sushi room.

They've beefed up their spirits offering, with more than 25 hard-to-find Japanese Whiskys, including Yamazki 12 year, 18-year, and Distiller's Reserve, Toguchi 15, as well as the complete line up from Shibui.

Reservations are still a hot ticket: released on the first of the month at 12 pm for the following month's availability, available via Tock. There are three seatings every night at 5 pm, 7:15 pm, and 9:30 pm, at $165 per person. Guests are invited 30 minutes prior to their reservation time for a welcome cocktail and canapes prior to the start of dinner at no additional cost.

Scratch Restaurants Group also has two locations of Pasta|Bar in Los Angeles and Austin; NADC Burger in Austin and Chicago; and Wolf and Wheat in Austin.

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Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

deep-ellum tex-mex openings