Opening News

Next-gen Truluck's opens in Plano with shuck-while-you-watch seafood bar

Truluck's

Plano gets a dynamic new dining option with the opening of Truluck's, the sophisticated seafood spot famous for stone crabs, statuesque cakes, wine, cocktails, and beautiful environment.

The restaurant is now open at The Shops at Legacy, at 7161 Bishop Rd., marking the third in North Texas, joining Uptown Dallas and Southlake. There are also locations of this privately held chain founded in Houston in 1992 in Austin, Houston, Florida, Illinois, and Washington DC.

Truluck’s avoids serving overfished species, and has their own in-house team of crabbers who are only allowed by law to remove the crabs' claws, before returning them to the water, where they can regenerate their limbs in 18 months.

In addition to stone crab, the Plano menu will include signature dishes such as:

Miso-glazed sea bass with crab fried rice
Sesame seared tuna
Prime king crab
South African lobster tails

According to a release, Plano represents the next generation of Truluck’s thanks to the addition of a live-action station with bar-height seats where you can watch chefs hand-shuck iced oysters from around the world and hand-roll sushi to your order. Selections will include hand rolls, pressed sushi, and even a vegetarian roll with mushrooms.

Food is not Truluck's only distinction: Their wine list has received Wine Spectator Magazine’s prestigious Award of Excellence, with options by the bottle and by the glass, plus a Happy Hour every day, plus music from a dedicated Light & Sound Coordinator who will utilize real-time song selection ensuring the sights and sounds match the vibe.

Truluck's Plano Spiffy dining room at new Truluck's in PlanoTruluck's

The restaurant seats 140 in a refined dining room, plus 30 in a private dining and group dining space. Leading the Executive team is general manager Tambra Tatum, chef Justin Valladarez, and events manager Vanessa Sbraga.

Truluck's Managing Partner Chris Davis says in a statement that the project has been a long time in the making.

"We have always kept our eye open for the perfect location north of Dallas, and when this location became available, we knew it was the right fit," he says. "We will be bringing our commitment to hospitality and sustainably sourced fresh seafood as well as a brand-new look!”

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RIP Al

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat dies at 69 after ALS battle

Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, RIP

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, founder of the acclaimed local steakhouse Al Biernat's, passed away on November 13, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease; he was 69.

Biernat was one of Dallas' all-time great hospitality figures, dating back to his days at The Palm steakhouse, for whom he worked in Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas.

Biernat founded his namesake restaurant in 1998 on Oak Lawn Avenue, where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town.

His sense of hospitality had little competition in Dallas. He was a charming and personable host who genuinely liked people, and it didn't matter whether you were Conan O'Brien, David Crosby, or one of the other high-profile diners that visited his restaurants — or else just a regular schlub: He had a knack for making everyone feel special and remembered.

Biernat was born on August 20, 1955 and grew up in Michigan, then lived in Colorado, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, before moving to Dallas to work at The Palm in the West End, where his dynamic presence gave the restaurant an incomparable vitality; it closed in 2017.

He opened Al Biernat's at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave. in 1998, followed by a second location in North Dallas at 5251 Spring Valley Rd. in 2017.

He began to experience ALS symptoms in May 2023, was diagnosed in December, and revealed his condition in February 2024. The revelation was met with an outpouring of sympathy and well wishes from the hospitality industry — a sign of the high regard in which he was held.

The average life expectancy for people with ALS is two to five years after diagnosis. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing, or in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. He began to have difficulty communicating in September, and spent his last days in a hospice.

On September 18, he broached the topic of dying, before ending on a note of gratitude to friends and family.

"Having Bulbar ALS I am realistic about my future," he said. "Friends and family have asked me if I’m afraid of dying, and this is what I say to them. Because of the salvation of Jesus, I will be rejoicing in my spirit to see him in all of his glory. Since we are all flesh, soul, and spirit, only my flesh is being left behind. But don’t get me wrong, I have a blessed life in this world, with a loving wife, and a beautiful family and many wonderful and caring friends. I am grateful!"

Both Al Biernat's locations will continue to remain open under the management of Biernat's nephew Brad Fuller, as they have for nearly the past two years.

Biernat is survived by Fuller, as well as his wife Jeannie and three daughters: Angelica Saylor, Kaitlin Biernat Connell, and Jess Biernat, plus five grandsons and two granddaughters. . According to family members, details regarding a celebration of his life will be announced soon.

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