Steakhouse News

Family-driven steakhouse to open in former TGI Fridays in Dallas' West End

Steak done Liam's Steakhouse-style

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A downtown Dallas address that was home to TGI Fridays for 28 years has something new in the works: The space at 1713 N. Market St. in the West End will become Liam's Steakhouse, a new venture from Jay Khan, a neighborhood veteran who operates three other restaurants in the district: RJ Mexican Cuisine, Chet's Dallas, and 3Eleven Kitchen and Cocktails.

TGI Fridays closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and has sat empty since, despite being prime real estate. TGI Friday’s was a fixture, but Khan feels optimistic about the new concept.

“Texas is known for three things: steakhouses, Mexican restaurants, and seafood,” he says. "With RJ Mexican Cuisine, we’ve already got that niche filled, and this strip of West End will be perfect for Liam’s."

The West End surely has room for steak since The Palm, the epic steakhouse chain, closed its Dallas location in 2017 after 33 years, leaving only Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse to fill those steaky needs.

Liam's is an homage: It's named for Khan’s grandson who turned one year old in December. "His birth — that changed everything for me," Khan says.

The family ties don’t stop there. Khan's daughter Sunna and son Ramiz, both in their early 30s, will be involved, with Sunna lending a hand in operations while Ramiz focuses on social media and marketing.

Khan's longtime associates Hilario Casas and Juan Sanchez, who have both worked for 20-plus years at his other restaurants, will serve as general manager and head chef, respectively.

Steak options will include some unique twists: There'll be Texas Wagyu as well as a selection of halal steaks, meaning they’re permissible or kosher to Muslim diners. All meats will be choice and 21-day dry-aged. They'll also offer a selection of plant-based steaks.

“My goal is to make sure it’s all American products — Texas wagyu and American beef," Khan says.

Liam's will be a mid-range option in price, with dinner running about $50 to $60, targeting a middle- to upper-class crowd. True to steakhouse form, it'll feature a full bar and an extensive wine selection.

Khan has witnessed the West End evolve over the last 20 years. While it once attracted mainly tourists, he now sees a shift towards more locals and downtown residents, and that's the audience he aims to serve.

“I’ve been in this area since the early 90s, and that should tell you I’m here to stay,” he says.

downtown openings

Coffee News

French cafe from New York to open at buzzy Dallas center near Lakewood

Maman

Lemon meringue tarts from Maman.

A French cafe chain from New York is bringing its ritzy fare to a buzzy intersection in East Dallas: Maman, a celebrated spot with coffee and brand-name pastries, will open a location in Hillside Village, at 6465 Mockingbird Ln. #316, at the address previously occupied by Palmer's Hot Chicken.

Signage is already up in the space. According to a spokesperson, renovations are underway, with a targeted opening date of early fall.

Famous for its pale blue-and-white toile decor and Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies, Maman was founded in Soho in 2014 by partners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, and has expanded across the U.S, with locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Canada.

They made their Texas debut in November 2025 when they opened a location in the Plaza at Preston Center. There are also plans for another location in Frisco at the new Fields West mixed-use center, as well as a location in Casa Linda Plaza. Still more locations are said to be in the works.

At the favorably situated Hillside Village, they'll be joining tenants such as Sprouts, SusieCakes, and Sephora. The center has undergone an overhaul in the past decade with the addition of new tenants, starting when Sprouts took over the former Stein Mart.

Palmer's was there for five years; they opened in 2020, part of a then-wave of hot chicken places, before exiting the premises in January 2026. A permitting notice for Maman was posted the same week.

Maman will update the space, installing their signature interior touches to create a cozy, European garden atmosphere. They boast a French provincial aesthetic with vintage furniture, wood floors, imported tiles, and signature blue toile that extends to the custom espresso machine.

The cafe will be open during daylight hours with coffee, breakfast and lunch: espresso drinks, tea, and pastries such as croissants, kouign maman, Bundt cakes, tea cakes, and cookies. Heartier breakfast and lunch items include quiche, a breakfast bowl (with potatoes, arugula, bacon, caramelized onions, avocado, and egg), chicken Caesar wrap, and Mediterranean steak sandwich.

Their drinks can be elaborate with rarefied ingredients; for example, a vanilla honey butter latte with sweet corn foam & cornbread crumbs, or a salted tahini honeycomb latte. They also partner up on brand collaborations with food & beverage names such as Martha Stewart.

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