Every Month, a New Crop of Restaurants Opens in the Metroplex
Every month, a new crop of restaurants opens in the Metroplex. While everyone loves a good steakhouse, sushi spot, and burgers, this round-up will give you the high-end spots and the low-end spots that are new to town — be they good, bad, or so bad, they’re good/so good they’re bad. Whether it’s a locally-owned restaurant or the latest addition of a chain, here’s what’s happening in the world of restaurant openings in Dallas and beyond for the month.
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58 Highland Park Village
If you didn’t read about it in the Dallas Morning News, Women’s Wear Daily, or CultureMap Dallas, then let us break the news to you that chef Dominique Crenn of San Francisco’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier Crenn is leading Cafe Dior in Dallas. The restaurant serves lunch and tea service. Crenn and executive pastry chef Juan Contreras took inspiration from Dior’s archives in designing plates for the opening that reflect the brand’s history. The La Colle Noire is a chicken dish inspired by a look designed by Marc Bohan in the 1970s, while the Miss Dior Consommé features floating flowers that echo the Miss Dior dress designed by Christian Dior himself. Reservations are required and at press time were booked out through April.
7859 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 190
The tagline here is: it’s just a chicken sandwich; it is not going to change your life. If you like Guy Fieri or chicken sammies, have one. These are brined in pickle juice and served tenders-style, even in the bun, with an array of dipping sauces that are the highlight of the whole place.
1318 North Peak Street
How’s this for a story: A pair of chefs meet while working at the notorious and beloved East Side dive bar, Lakewood Landing, and wham bam, next thing you know, they’re opening a tacos and barbecue spot that also has killer cookies and baked goods. Two twists: it’s takeaway only, and their real goal is to practice so they can land a presence at the State Fair of Texas. It’s wild.
4438 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100
Love burgers, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes? It’s your lucky month. The folks behind Roti Grill and India Palace teamed up to open this fast-casual joint — for a limited time. In an interesting move, the owners took a short-term lease in this location to test the restaurant idea out. If it works, it will reopen elsewhere.
1632 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Ruthie’s is making the jump from food truck to cafe in South Dallas, just a mile and a half away from Downtown. This is more than just a restaurant opening, however — it’s an intentional move to combat food insecurity and encourage development in South Dallas by the Good Foundation, a nonprofit of which the cafe is a part. It is also a fresh-start employer, which means it hires folks who the justice system has impacted to teach them job and life skills. Expect breakfast and lunch meals with elevated diner food with options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free versions of meals.
Other Openings:
- 1940 LBJ Freeway in Farmers Branch: This one is less of an opening and more of a return at a new address. This Italian restaurant has relocated from the Buffview neighborhood in Northwest Dallas to Mercer Boardwalk in Farmer’s Branch and is open for dinner service. It’s been around for 40 years, with a menu rooted in traditional Italian-American favorites.
- 11930 Preston Road, Suite #110: The great bagel craze of Dallas continues with another new option. This one is from a husband and wife team, Kyriakos and Lisa Kouzoukas, who have previously owned bagel shops in McKinney, Richardson, and the Colony — and several shops in the Northeast before they moved to DFW. The shop serves breakfast and lunch, and the owners recommend making your bagel into a sandwich.
- 13675 Noel Road, Suite 160: This fast-casual burrito spot in Dallas makes its way from Cozumel, Mexico. Head in for classic Tex-Mex and Mexican options like bean and cheese, asada, ground beef, chicken tinga, and shrimp, as well as some Cali-Mex options like chicken tenders, Loco Veggie, and the Veggie Break.
- 2926 W 7th Street in Fort Worth: Everyone’s favorite Texas barbecue spot opened up another DFW location this month, with Terry Black’s out of Austin taking on the fine barbecue of Cowtown. It feels like a bold choice. As good as Terry Black’s is, there are two Michelin-recommended barbecue spots in Fort Worth already and plenty more that feel like they were overlooked. But maybe there’s always room for more barbecue?
- 5724 Locke Avenue in Fort Worth: Also in Fort Worth this month, a food truck to storefront success story, FWTX reports. This small menu cafe focuses on American favorites, from steak to grilled salmon, with straightforward sides including potatoes au gratin, green beans, and mushrooms — all of which change seasonally. It serves lunch, brunch, and dinner, and, yes, one can get a solid cheeseburger here, too.
- 4041 South Custer Road, Unit 2110 in McKinney: This is the first restaurant for Ty and Hiroko Wada, CultureMap Dallas reports. Ramen is a smart addition to the locally-opened options up in McKinney. With dishes like the spicy miso (chicken tonkatsu spicy broth with house-blended miso, topped with spicy ground pork, nitamago, bean sprouts, and corn) and niboshi (clear chicken broth topped with umami sardine oil and pork chashu, nitamago, scallion menma, and seaweed), it’s a comfort-food go-to. The menu also features karagge (Japanese fried chicken), yuzu french fries, a vegetable croquette topped with tonkatsu sauce, and more.
- 8981 2nd Street in Frisco: Crepes, anyone? The chef behind Didi’s Downtown, one of our picks for the best restaurants in Frisco, opened this spot focused on crepes with a very crepe-tastic menu. From the savory options, we’re intrigued by the Caesar chicken crepe, the lemon chicken crepe (made with herb-crusted shredded chicken, asparagus, parmesan, and lemon beurre blanc), and the classic Norwegian crepe (smoked lox, shaved red onion, whipped cream cheese, tomato, and capers). There are also breakfast crepes, which take the ingredients from several beloved omelets, and of course, sweet crepes — the expected Nutella crepe, a play on crepes Suzette called the Little Suzie, and a churro crepe are all here. There are also bagels, ice creams, pies, cakes, and an extensive coffee and beverages list.
Conclusion:
This month, Dallas and its surrounding areas welcome a new crop of restaurants, from high-end spots to low-end spots. Whether you’re in the mood for a steakhouse, sushi, or a quick bite, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss out on these exciting new openings!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I find out about new restaurant openings in Dallas?
A: Sign up for our newsletter at dallas@eater.com.
Q: Can I make reservations for Cafe Dior?
A: Yes, reservations are required and can be made by contacting the restaurant directly.
Q: What kind of food can I expect at Ruthie’s cafe?
A: Expect elevated diner food with options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free versions of meals.
