Partnership Split: Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun Go Their Separate Ways
After 19 years in Dallas running Asian restaurant Shinsei, Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun have split up.
Fearing is now the owner of Shinsei and its sibling restaurant Lovers Seafood and Market. Their third restaurant, Perch Bistro and Bar, is majority owned and operated by Fearing. Rathbun has a minority share and isn’t involved in daily operations.
The three restaurants are on Inwood Road at Lovers Lane, near Dallas’ Bluffview, Devonshire and Highland Park neighborhoods.
Both Fearing and Rathbun said in Dallas Morning News interviews that the partnership has been fruitful for nearly 20 years. So why the change?
Restaurant News
Evolution of Lives and Business
“My life and Tracy’s life have evolved,” Fearing said.
Lynae Fearing is pictured inside the Dallas restaurant on Inwood Road after it transitioned from Dea to Perch Bistro and Bar in 2024.(Azul Sordo / Special Contributor)
“I hope Tracy enjoys this next phase of her life, and I’m going to enjoy the next phase of mine.”
Rathbun is sending her youngest child to college this summer.
“I’m ready to do different things,” Rathbun said.
History of Partnership
Fearing and Rathbun met decades ago in a dinner group that called themselves the Restaurant Wives. The two were married to two of Dallas’ best-known chefs: Tracy Rathbun to Kent Rathbun, formerly of Abacus; and Lynae Fearing to Dean Fearing, former executive chef of the Mansion Restaurant and current chef-owner of Fearing’s at the Ritz-Carlton. The Fearings have since divorced.
The women talked about owning a restaurant together, emboldened by their proximity to restaurants through their spouses. Both had worked in restaurants previously, though Rathbun also sold Porsche vehicles for 14 years.
“You’re the only one I want to do business with,” Rathbun recalls saying to Fearing some 20 years ago.
Shinsei: A New Beginning
The plan was “a little taco stand,” The News reported in 2006. But Fearing was friends with the owner of Yamaguchi’s, who announced he planned to sell the Inwood Road restaurant. The Restaurant Wives ended up taking the Yamaguchi space and opening a two-story Pan-Asian restaurant, Shinsei, in its place in 2006. The word in Japanese means “new life” or “rebirth.”
The two had a lot to prove.
“No doubt there were some mean spirits who wanted to see a meltdown when the wives of two famous chefs started their own place,” Dallas Morning News critic Dotty Griffith wrote after the opening.
She stopped the gossip with her 4-star review.
“Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun’s Asian fusion restaurant and sushi bar is a deserved hit,” Griffith wrote.
Expansion and Success
Casey Thompson, who formerly worked for Dean Fearing at The Mansion, was Shinsei’s executive chef. She bolstered the girl power at Shinsei when she appeared on Season 3 of Bravo TV show Top Chef in 2007. Fellow Dallas chef Tre Wilcox, who was Kent Rathbun’s chef de cuisine at Abacus, was also a Top Chef contestant on Season 3.
In essence, both Tracy and Kent Rathbun had their own Dallas chef to root for.
Thompson won fan favorite and tied for second place. Another win for the women.
Despite the new direction for Rathbun and Fearing in 2025, they told The News separately they’re proud of Shinsei’s start.
“We had a 10-year plan,” Rathbun said, “and it has been double.”
The two opened Lovers Seafood in 2017, followed by Dea (the former Fireside Pies) in 2022. Dea changed to Perch, a more casual pizza and pasta restaurant, in 2024.
Future Plans
Under Fearing’s ownership, she does not plan to make changes to menus, design or staffing.
She told The News she’s excited to be the boss.
“Any mistakes I make will be my own, and any victories I have will be my own,” she said.
Conclusion
The split between Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun marks a new chapter in their lives and careers. With Fearing now at the helm of Shinsei, Lovers Seafood, and Perch, she is ready to take on new challenges and make her own decisions. Rathbun, on the other hand, is looking forward to exploring new opportunities and spending more time with her family. Despite the change, both women are proud of what they have accomplished together and are excited for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun split up?
A: Fearing and Rathbun said their lives have evolved, and they are ready to move on to new phases. Rathbun is sending her youngest child to college and wants to do different things, while Fearing is excited to be the boss and make her own decisions.
Q: What will happen to Shinsei, Lovers Seafood, and Perch?
A: Fearing will continue to own and operate Shinsei, Lovers Seafood, and Perch, with no plans to make changes to menus, design, or staffing.
Q: What is next for Tracy Rathbun?
A: Rathbun is looking forward to exploring new opportunities and spending more time with her family. She has a minority share in Perch but is not involved in daily operations.
