Now that summer is largely behind us, things are picking up. There are more food festivals, more events and a batch of new restaurants preparing to open this fall. These are the forthcoming restaurants we've got our eyes on:
The Statler
The Statler Hotel downtown is in the midst of a massive renovation, and according to a press release, it will house five new food and drink venues, all run by Graham Dodds, who was recently tapped as the culinary director for the hotel and its many new concepts:
- Overeasy, "serving farm-to-table breakfast, lunch and dinner, and featuring a gourmet coffee bar, counter seating and patio on Commerce Street overlooking Main Street Gardens."
- Scout, "a 12,000-square-foot social space offering a scratch American menu with shareable items and craft beer on tap. Scout will feature live music, flat-screen televisions, four bowling lanes, four Ping-Pong tables, billiards tables and foosball."
- Fine China, "a full-service lunch and dinner Pan-Asian restaurant and cocktail bar, featuring sake, Japanese whiskies, high tea, communal seating, private rooms and weekend DJs."
- Bourbon & Banter, an "underground cocktail lounge with an extensive bourbon and whiskey library and craft cocktails, open from 4 p.m. until late."
- Waterproof, "a poolside roof deck bar and lounge, situated on the 19th floor, offering 360-degree panoramic views, weekend DJs, resort-style service and craft cocktails."
- And the Grand Ballroom, "a nearly 12,000-square-foot flexible space that will play host to A-list concerts, large-scale events, and will be downtown’s premiere wedding destination. Full of history, this ballroom once featured performers including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Michael Jackson."
Matt McCallister (left) is joining the Malibu Poke team, led by TJ's Seafood owner Jon Alexis.
Courtesy of Kevin Marple/Malibu Poke
The DFW market is swimming in poke (sorry), the marinated raw seafood dish that's proliferated across North Texas at an unsustainable rate. There is one forthcoming poke spot that's caught our eye, though: Malibu Poke, a fast-casual spot that focuses on sustainable catch and high-tech ordering. Malibu Poke recently made the news with a surprising addition: FT33's Matt McCallister has signed on as the culinary director, which means these poke bowls could turn out to be substantially more interesting that Dallas' other poke offerings.
Internet Cafe 2 is the ironic, tongue-in-cheek coffee shop Oak Cliff didn't even know it needed.
Beth Rankin
Opening in October on a sleepy street in North Oak Cliff, Internet Cafe 2 is "part art piece, part performance art and part coffee shop," explains owner Megan Wilkes, who is also co-owner of Emporium Pies. Expect a side of irony with your espresso drinks, along with a few pastries and "so much internets."
Sachet opens Sept. 20 in the Shops of Highland Park.
Courtesy of Brad Murano/Sachet
A striking new restaurant from the team behind Gemma, Sachet is bringing a stunning, light-filled, coastal Mediterranean restaurant to the Shops of Highland Park on Oak Lawn. Opening Sept. 20, Sachet promises "a fresh, light menu that’s inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean coast, drawing from a broad array of countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Tunisia, and Morocco," according to a press release.
Chef Bruno Davaillon's over-the-top French restaurant has spent an obscene amount of money on the buildout and high-dollar custom everything, right down to the napkins.
Courtesy of Bullion's Facebook page
Chef Bruno Davaillon's lavish French restaurant, opening downtown this fall, has teamed up with Dallas Urban Farms. A custom hydroponic setup in Bullion's catering kitchen will allow Davaillon to grow "specialty heirloom vegetables, such as herbs and greens." While this has been the most-hyped restaurant opening of the year to date, we're wary. Owner Davaillon told the The Dallas Morning News: “I want a place where people can come two or three times a week.” In the same interview, he said meals will cost about $80 per person. With prices at Dallas restaurants continuing to trend upward, we're frequently concerned that those who can't afford $80 per person per meal will be left behind. Still, Bullion's hydroponic farm is forward-thinking, and we're curious to see how the restaurant comes together.
If Houndstooth's new location is half as gorgeous as its Sylvan Thirty spot, we're in for a treat.
Courtesy of Houndstooth Coffee's Facebook page
Last week, Houndstooth Coffee announced that it'll soon be opening cafe No. 3 in Dallas, but this one has some fun twists: The new location will be next door to the new sustainable home supply store TreeHouse, which means it "will be powered by solar energy and employ renewable and sustainable building materials and practices," according to a press release. If the new cafe is anywhere near as gorgeous as the location in Sylvan Thirty, this solar-powered coffee shop will be a real stunner.
Yes, you can ride this 50-foot-tall Ferris wheel on Ferris Wheelers' 7,000-square-foot patio.
Courtesy of Ferris Wheelers
With a 7,000-square-foot patio complete with 50-foot-tall working Ferris wheel, Ferris Wheelers Backyard BBQ, opening later this month, is anything but subtle. On the menu, you can expect "Texas staples such as brisket, ribs, house-made sausage, honey-brined smoked turkey breast and Carolina-style pork shoulder," according to a press release. "The Southern-influenced sides include smoked BBQ beans, smoked green beans, BBQ mac & cheese, jalapeño bacon cole slaw and Southwestern potato salad." Doug Pickering is Ferris Wheelers' head pitmaster.
