Wine News

East Dallas favorite Urban Vines Wine Bistro closes after 10 years

One less glass of wine gets poured today.

Courtesy photo

A darling wine bistro in East Dallas has closed: Urban Vines Wine Bistro, a quintessential neighborhood spot in Casa Linda at 9219 Garland Rd., closed on September 28, after a decade in the space.

Chef and owner Tony Aguirre called it a "sad decision" and expressed gratitude to customers and staff, stating that "we are thankful to our staff who work hard everyday to provide the best service to our guests. We are extremely grateful to each of our guests who came into Urban Vines Wine Bistro and shared their time with us at our restaurant."

Urban Vines Wine Bistro opened in 2013 from husband-and-wife Jon Sparks and Jennifer Rodriguez who wanted to bring a quaint and personal wine experience to East Dallas.

Located on the ground floor of the Reserve at White Rock Apartments, Urban Vines had a cozy neighborhood vibe, with a bar plus lots of little nooks throughout the space and a pet-friendly sidewalk patio.

The menu spotlighted wine, plus a menu with appetizers, bruschetta, flatbreads, sandwiches, and charcuterie — well before charcuterie was a trend. It benefited from a location that was convenient to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

This is a wine-friendly area, that's also home to Terroir – A Place For Wine, a boutique wine shop that opened in the same center in 2022.

Urban Vines' original owners sold the business to Aguirre in 2020, who maintained the menu while adding Peruvian dishes such as ceviche, that reflected his heritage.

They ran frequent specials such as half-off wine by the glass, and also hosted musicians on weekend nights.

The place was beloved by its regulars and did steady business. But like many businesses, it struggled during the pandemic, and "Chef Tony" told customers that his overhead, including lease, energy bills, cost of ingredients and more, had increased greatly since the pandemic.

closings wine

Putting into Plano

New Plano restaurant Sip'Stroke tees up golf with chef-driven fare

Saffron salmon skewers, one of the featured seafood offerings on Chef Madan Oli’s menu at Sip’Stroke.

Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

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It's tee time for a new restaurant featuring a private Full Swing golf simulator and an indoor putt-putt course in Plano: Called Sip’Stroke, the new "eatertainment" spot is opening Saturday, August 1 at 5969 Dallas Pkwy.

The concept comes from Kushal Raj Bastakoti, a cityscape artist and interior designer from Nepal who moved to Dallas in 2013 to attend the University of North Texas. Bastakoti also owns Skyline Lounge in downtown Dallas, which opened earlier this year, and is a franchisee of the Asian beverage and dessert chain Feng Cha Café.

He says he chose the location due to the rapid growth of businesses and residences in the nearby Legacy area.

“At Sip’Stroke we created a space that is entirely unique — it feels like you're on a 9-hole golf course, but paired with exceptional dining,” he says.

Although built around golf, the restaurant is also chef-driven. Bastakoti recruited chef Madan Oli, who launched his culinary career in Copenhagen, where he developed a focus on high-quality ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and presentation.

“My goal is to bring people together through modern American cuisine with bold flavors and global inspiration,” says Oli. “Every dish is crafted with care, balance, and a true passion for hospitality.”

$Sip\u2019Stroke$ At Sip’Stroke, you can catch the game, play a round of putt-putt, and enjoy a high-end meal.Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

Oli designed a menu featuring shared boards, fresh seafood, premium steaks, elevated bar staples, and desserts. Highlights include prime ribeye frites, saffron salmon, maple leaf duck breast, Cabernet-braised short ribs, Wagyu sliders, and a selection of tacos and wings, with prices ranging from $20 to $35.

The full bar serves classic and signature cocktails, along with shots, wine, beer, and zero-proof drinks.

The venue includes a private golf simulator that accommodates up to eight guests, a custom nine-hole mini-golf course integrated into the dining room, seating for 60 indoors, and an additional 15 seats on the patio.

While Sip’Stroke has been operating with limited hours during a soft opening over the past several days, regular business hours begin Saturday, August 1, from 12 noon to 12 midnight daily. A grand opening celebration is planned for late August.

A second Sip’Stroke location is also in the works next to Skyline Lounge at 2012 Commerce St. in downtown Dallas and is expected to open before the end of the year. The owners say restoring the historic 100-year-old building has taken longer than anticipated.

eatertainment golf plano