Where to eat
Where to eat in Dallas right now: 5 brand new restaurants to try in June
Full spread from Saaya Lounge.
The June edition of CultureMap's monthly Where to Eat gives thanks to the never-flagging restaurant scene in Dallas and its surroundings, where new openings provide column fodder just about every month.
This collection of newcomers includes a buzzy restaurant at the ritzy intersection of Preston-Royal; a swanky restaurant-lounge near Deep Ellum; a dumpling spot in Plano; a handroll bar in McKinney; and a Southern-themed restaurant in Las Colinas. Something for every neighborhood.
Here's where to eat in Dallas right now:
Bobbie's Airway Grill
Neighborhood restaurant-bar from the owners of Park Cities restaurant il Bracco opened in the old Dougherty's Airway Pharmacy with a Dallas greatest hits menu: burgers, oysters, ribeye, crab cakes, and salads such as a Niçoise with ahi tuna, new potatoes, green beans, Kalamata olives, and tomatoes. A brass rotisserie is on display through the kitchen window, spinning chicken used in a variety of dishes, and there's art on the walls. Signatures include a cheddar cheese dip served with Fritos, and homey desserts from family recipes including carrot cake, pineapple upside down cake, and a banana split.
Heian Handroll Bar
Handroll sushi bar in McKinney stars chef Jun Park (Nori, Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar in Fort Worth) with a menu that includes temaki (Japanese-style handrolls), sushi, and sashimi. They keep it simple to put the focus on the fish, listed on a menu along with the country from which it's sourced. There are also appetizers and cute skewers in options such as fried okra and fried shiitake mushrooms. Sushi aficionados are raving over Chef Jun's attention to detail, including proper preparation of not just the seafood but also the rice, both in flavor and consistency, and the handrolls are generously sized, always a crowd-pleaser.
Saaya Lounge
Mediterranean oasis from Milkshake Concepts (Vidorra, The Finch, Harper’s) is in the North Good Latimer District at 2511 Swiss Ave., where it aspires to provide a refuge from the urban realm. The menu features mezza-style shared plates including feta dip, kebabs, and Lebanese-style pizzas. They're having fun with dishes such as lamb sliders, a "Lebanese Caesar" featuring tahini Caesar dressing, and their spicy take on crispy cauliflower, with pine nuts, capers, and harissa. Exotic cocktails include the Ombra of Anubis with Sombra Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, and Ramazatti, but there's also traditional Turkish coffee, as well.
Steam Dumpling
Dumpling spot in Plano at 3131 Custer Rd. #182 is a noteworthy addition to the local dumpling scene, with five fillings - pork, beef & onion, chicken & corn, shrimp, and vegetable - which you can get steamed, boiled, or pan-fried. There are also soup dumplings (xiao long bao), the cult favorite beloved for their juiciness, plus Chinese staples like egg rolls, salt & pepper shrimp, kung pao chicken, dan dan noodles, chow mein, and scallion pancakes. Service and ambience get high marks as well.
Tupelo Honey Las Colinas
North Carolina-based chain serves Southern favorites including biscuits, pimento cheese dip, meat loaf, burgers, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp po'boys, plus a bunch of fried chicken, with waffles or without. A Tex-Mex dish or two plus salads and bowls break the streak. A full bar offers craft beer and an inventive lineup of cocktails such as a frozen drink with acai that's like a boozy acai bowl. Founded in Asheville, N.C. in 2000, they came to Texas in 2016 with a location in Frisco; this one in Irving is the second.
USA 'Rita at Cantina LaredoPhoto courtesy of Cantina Laredo
Nothing Bundt Cakes are getting patriotic for the 4th.Photo courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes