Upcoming Restaurant Openings in the Metroplex
Restaurant openings just keep on coming in the Metroplex. With so many new spots on the horizon this year, this guide will help you separate the wheat from the chaff — because not all openings are created equally.
Here are the most exciting and crave-worthy new restaurants opening in Dallas and all around the Metroplex this spring and summer.
Ella
7949 Walnut Hill Lane, #130
The location currently hosting Chido Tacos Lounge will transition to Ella. While details are scant on the food and decor, the big news here is that Julian Shaffer, winner of the 2024 Michelin Texas Exceptional Cocktail Award, is coming on board as the general manager and beverage director. He will be joined by chef Kyle Farr, formerly of Michelin-recognized Sachet and the now-defunct Boulevardier. The space will be redesigned by Plan B Group, which is behind designs for Velvet Taco, the Statler hotel in Downtown, Mexican Sugar, and more.
Expected opening date: Late spring/early summer 2025
Frenchie
8420 Preston Center Plaza
Founders Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia and the team at Travis Street Hospitality (Rose Cafe, Knox Bistro, Georgie) are opening an all-day French cafe in University Park in the former location of a Corner Bakery. Culinary director Bruno Davaillon will oversee the food, crafting a menu fusing his signature French bent with Mediterranean and California elements. Some dishes on the menu include rillettes de saumon, terrine de lapin (rabbit terrine with rosemary and spring onion pickles), and aile de raie meunière (pan-roasted skate wing with capers and a lemon brown butter sauce). Designed by Garcia and Robert Romano of Hub City Productions, Frenchie will offer breakfast, lunch, and a wine list showcasing small French vineyards. A major highlight will be the restaurant’s large and breezy outdoor patio.
Expected opening date: Late spring 2025
The patio at Frenchie’s is set to offer different style seating and an outdoor bar.
Travis Street Hospitality
Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails
4424 White Settlement Road in Fort Worth
Chef Tim Love’s new cocktail bar and croquet club is slated for Fort Worth’s River District along the Trinity Trail. Expect the vibes of a British-influenced country club (one Pimm’s Cup, please) without a membership requirement. As with all of Love’s ventures, this one is named after a family member — this time, his father, Stewart Love. Croquet is part of the family’s story as well. Love played the game on his father’s farm in Tennessee while he was growing up. The small, intimate space will only hold 28 seats and is just over 1,000 square feet, but the outdoor area is a whopping 15,000 square feet with plenty of room to recreate that iconic scene from Heathers (always skip the two shots and send the other player’s ball out). Stewart’s will serve cocktails and small plates, including Gulf shrimp cocktail, lobster rolls, steak frites, a Texas blue crab cake, a croque monsieur, and a croquet club sandwich.
Expected opening date: March 2025
