As December comes to a close, it seems all is well, or at least better, as many highly anticipated restaurants made their debuts. David Uygur was back in the kitchen, plus a New York deli and the latest Lombardi venture both opened. We were expecting few restaurants to shutter since, being the holidays and all, they like to stay open this month. All was well until Wednesday when Teresa Gubbins broke the news that local cupcake chain Dimples, which recently shuttered in the West Village, was closing its remaining outposts and ceasing work on two upcoming locations. Owner Chad Sorrells blames the closings on a recent D Magazine article examining the company's alleged business practices, and you can read more about his plans to file a libel suit against the magazine here. Perhaps the demise of Dimples is just another nail in the cupcake-trend coffin, but we're just waiting for the trends to come in 2011. Here's how December played out...
Restaurants Opening in December
Naan Sushi, 2600 Cedar Springs Rd.-- The restaurant expands from The Shops at Legacy to Uptown.
Smashburger, 2222 McKinney Ave.-- The Colorado-based burger chain adds Uptown to its list of locations.
Brackets, 5300 E. Mockingbird Ln.-- You can play shuffleboard and ping pong now in the space that formerly housed the tiki palace known as Trader Vic's.
Oddfellows, 316 W. Seventh St.-- The Oak Cliff eatery is only serving breakfast and lunch right now, but they'll soon add a dinner menu.
Decanter, 408 N. Bishop Ave.-- The other recent addition to Oak Cliff features New American-California cuisine from Chef Tony Gardizi of Capriccio Ristorante.
La Fiorentina, 4501 Cole Ave.-- Alberto Lombardi adds a Tuscan steakhouse to his family of restaurants.
Gio's Cafe and New York Deli, 12817 Preston Rd.-- If you're craving pastrami on rye, check out the latest addition to the Preston Valley Shopping Center.
Honey Shack Grill and Bar, 4218 Lemmon Ave.-- The self-proclaimed breastaurant touts "ample portions- titillating fun!" on its menu. We're biting our tongues.
Restaurants Closing in December
Everyone's Frank, 2304 Coit Rd.-- The Plano location has shuttered and the restaurant's website is down, but the Garland branch remains open.
Dimples, all locations-- The space left vacant by Dali Wine Bar earlier this year is now empty again as Dimples exits One Fine Arts.
Mi Tierra Latin Fusion Restaurant, 603 W. Abram St., Arlington-- Today is the last day to eat at the Puerto Rican-Cuban restaurant before it shutters. Jose Ralat Maldonado has the story here.
Coming Soon
Malai Thai Vietnamese Kitchen-- Owners are planning an early January opening in the West Village where Tom Tom Noodle House once resided.
Elevation Burger-- The burger joint, which feautures 100 percent organic and grass-fed meat, was slated for a December opening and has pushed that to January.
Alma-- Tristan Simon's latest enterprise takes over the spot that formerly housed Cuba Libre in early February.
