Food and Cooking

East Hampton Sandwich Co. is Opening Second Location in Plano

The East Hampton Sandwich Co. is sailing its upscale nautical-themed sandwich shop northward to the Shops at Legacy in Plano. The first spot, in University Park's Snider Plaza, opened last fall. Founder Hunter Pond wanted to bring the sandwiches he found while vacationing in northeast to the Dallas ... More >>

Spoon Opens for Lunch and Brunch Beginning May 12, and Chef John Tesar Promises to French My Mom

Two highly important pieces of information for you: 1) May 12 is Mother's Day. Get it tattooed on your forehead. 2) Spoon Bar & Kitchen will open for lunch and brunch on Sunday, May 12. If you want to win Mother's Day, consider hooking The One Who Made You up with Mother's Day brunch at Spoon (a.k.a ... More >>

The 14 Best Spots to Get Cheap Food and Drinks on Cinco De Mayo in Dallas

It's certainly not a weekend for lightweights. Leave your fanny pack at the house and imbibe in many of the options around town as we collectively celebrate General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín's defeat of the French in 1862 in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Despite the fiesta, many ... More >>

Pop Diner is a Big Bust

Closing time: You don't have to go home, but don't go here.

Hospitality Sweet Now Open Downtown for Breakfast and Lunch

The Hospitality Sweet, a quaint little bakery and café, opened earlier this week inside the historic downtown post office and courthouse at the corner of Ervay and Bryan streets (400 North Ervay, Suite 175). This building was originally constructed in the 1930s and has been undergoing a massive red ... More >>

The Best Food and Beer Events of the Week in Dallas (May 1-5)

Wednesday, May 1 This Wednesday, Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth will saunter over to Craft and Growler to introduce its newest brew, Daybreak, a four-grain breakfast beer modeled after cereal finished with a touch of honey. Co-owner David Wedemeier will be there and it's a keep-the-koozie ki ... More >>

Il Cane Rosso White Rock Opens and More from a Busy April

Another month has come and gone and with it a handful of restaurants have opened. Read on for the full list of restaurants happenings in April, and be sure to share tips about new and/or dead restaurants in the comments section below or at dish@dallasobserver.com. Openings: Il Cane Rosso White Roc ... More >>

Taverna Rossa to Open at Lakeside Market in Plano

Taverna Rossa Craft Pizza and Beer will open this summer at the Lakeside Market (4005 Preston Road) in Plano. This is a new concept for the same group that owns Palio's Pizza Cafés and Cadillac Pizza Pub in McKinney. Chef Brian Luscher of the Grape helped create the menu for this spot, which focus ... More >>

Snappy Salads Chris Dahlander Expands His Chain While Striving to Keep a Personal Touch

A proper salad can be so much more than just a salad. It can have layers, depth, a mix of distinguishing ingredients as unique and special as the creator itself -- your soul in a bowl. Well, maybe that's a stretch, but for a fast healthy lunch, a tailor-made salad can stave off dullness. That's the ... More >>

10 Awesome Spots for Happy Hour in Dallas

It's Monday, start of a new week. Time to bring home the bacon, climb ladders and all that good stuff. Thinking about it just makes us plot when and where we'll be able to decompress. Here are a few new(ish) places to add to your regular rotation. Or if you need a rotation, here's a good place to st ... More >>

Frisco Super Norma's Cafe Starts Hiring for Opening at End Of May

The third location of Norma's Cafe is a few steps closer to opening. The new Frisco location was set to open its doors in April, but things never seem to work that way around here. The restaurant is now expected to open closer to the end of May, though that could change as they're still hanging dryw ... More >>

How Dallas Killed Farmers Markets

Dallas leads the nation in over-regulating farmers markets ­— which is why we have so few of them.

Urbano Café Travels the Globe

Bolognese next to pork belly with pickled mustard greens? Somehow, it works.

Burning Questions with Marc Cassel of 20 Feet Seafood, on Books, Beef-Eating Vegans and Old-School Taco Bell

In this week's issue of Burning Questions, in which we quiz a chef about cookbooks, worst meals, food shames and whatever else comes to mind, we hear from Marc Cassel, the man behind 20 Feet Seafood Joint. What are a few of your favorite cookbooks? The Internet has made the cookbook question sort ... More >>

Slow Food Kicks Off Season At Craft And Growler

Last night, the Dallas chapter of the Slow Food group met at Craft and Growler, the hip new beer dispensary that opened in Fair Park six months ago. This was the first meeting for the group with Liz Goulding, a young, small and very determined food nerd at the helm. After a few beers (otherwise wha ... More >>

Urbano Cafe Makes Quiet Chef Change

While eating at Urbano Cafe, the subject of this week's review, I had a hard time figuring out the menu. A pasta Bolognese and other dishes point to Italian cooking, but an evening special touted pork belly and Vietnamese honey. This odd sort of fusion is something I wouldn't expect to work, so I ca ... More >>

Khanh Nguyen of DaLat on Lessons He Learned During His First Year as Restaurateur (Hint: Think Location)

This is the first of what we hope to be a semi-regular feature here at the City of Ate, in which we talk to restaurant owners one year out (or there about) to see how the restaurant business is treating them. We interviewed Khanh Nguyen of DaLat when he first opened his late night pho spot on Fitz ... More >>

Kenny Mills Expands His Smoky Empire with Chop House Steak and Seafood in Pantego

Chef Kenny Mills knows a thing or two about running a steakhouse. His resume includes The Capitol Grille, Sullivan's and Dallas Chop House. But a few years ago, Mills grew tired of the Dallas scene and took a chance on a burger joint in a pretty nondescript strip mall in central Arlington. He didn't ... More >>

New Chef De Cusine At Oak Frees Up Brian Zenner To Focus On Belly And Trumpet

Belly and Trumpet opened this February in Uptown, creating a stir with its fresh take on small plates. Oak owners Richard and Tiffanee Ellman partnered with John Paul Valverde last year, when they opened The Bowery, an upscale hot dog restaurant that belly flopped. The team kept the Belly, added a h ... More >>

Wicked Po'Boys Now Open in Preston Center

Chi and Joey Le have expanded their N'awlins sandwich shop, Wicked Po'boys, to Dallas proper, after opening their first spot in Richardson (1811 N. Greenville Ave.) just last year. This second restaurant is in the heart of Preston Center (6030 Luther Lane, Ste. 130), which is ripe with new restauran ... More >>

Come And Get It! Well, Almost. Raw Milk Bill Goes to House Floor.

Late yesterday afternoon House Bill 46, which allows for expanded raw milk sales, was voted out of the Texas House Public Health Committee by a vote of 9-2. While it's not time to pop open a box of cereal just yet because the bill still has to pass through the full House and Senate, then get the sig ... More >>

Latte Da Dairy in Flower Mound on Award Winning Goat Cheese And Raising 31 Kids

Anne and Johnny Jones started Latte Da Dairy in 2005 with five acres of land and a wild cheese-making dream. Anne, a veterinarian by trade, bought just two goats to get started and named them Serenity and Rosemary. But, no kidding, things have really changed in eight years. On April Fool's Day this ... More >>

Full Circle Tavern Opens on Lamar, Offering a Shady Spot for Local Beer and Badass Burgers

Full Circle Tavern (1319 S. Lamar St.) is a new restaurant and bar now open on South Lamar, brought to you by Jennifer Bonner and Lara Whittington of EdiblEnvy Catering. This spot offers a tree shaded wrap around deck, plenty of local beer and a badass burger made with two half-pound patties, french ... More >>

Here Are Some Great Restaurants That Will Be at Iron Fork: Plus How To Get Your Tickets For Half The Cost

Last Year's Iron Fork was a lot of fun, and as new restaurants step forward to participate in this year's event, I'm only getting more excited. In addition to securing the Dallas Contemporary, a bad-ass space with lots of room to move around, we're getting some really great eats. You remember Mughl ... More >>

Mot Hai Ba to Open Tuesday, Bringing a Blend of North Vietnamese and Street Food

Jeana Johnson and Colleen O'Hare have announced the opening date of their much anticipated Vietnamese concept. Mot Hai Ba will open next Tuesday, serving a blend of North Vietnamese cooking including a selection of street foods that may just be perfect for snacking. See also: An Open Letter to Mot ... More >>

Curious About Ten Bell's Ramen Nights? Hurry Or You'll Miss Out.

Occasionally there is ramen served in Oak Cliff. It's ladled into disposable bowls in an English pub after the other neighborhood restaurants have locked their doors. Ten Bells Tavern has a reputation for well-executed riffs on bar food classics with an Anglophile slant. Ramen doesn't quite fit into ... More >>

TX Whiskey in Fort Worth Takes Best American Craft Whiskey at World Spirits Competition

Fort Worth-based Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co. won double gold medals and Best in Class in the category of American Craft Whiskey for their TX blended whiskey at the 13th Annual World Spirits Competition in San Francisco recently, where more than 1,407 spirits were poured from 63 countries ... More >>

Watch Your Wallet At Bowl & Barrel

This isn't your greasy stepfather's game any more.

Interview: Liz Goulding, New Leader of Local Slow Food Movement on Why Local Matters

The Slow Food movement was initially founded by Italian Carlo Petrini in the mid-1980s as a way to counteract our "fast" culture, which, among many other things, affected the way we eat. Now Slow Food is a global (yet very local) interest group that advocates for sustainable food. In a giant stroke, ... More >>

Six of the Best Mom and Pop Restaurants

I love small, family owned restaurants. You do too. The quaint dining rooms and original menus make for lasting memories while affordable prices make it possible to return again and again. Here are some of the best mom and pop restaurants in Dallas. Los Torres Taquería (pictured above) This small ... More >>

Pearl Cup in Richardson Now Open

Pearl Cup Coffee in Richardson at II Creeks shopping center is now open (2701 Custer Parkway, Ste. 917). This is the third spot for one of Dallas' favorite locally owned coffee shops; other locations are the original at 1900 Henderson Ave. and 750 N. Paul Street downtown. Tuesday was their first d ... More >>

Lone Star Park's Silk Restaurant Gets a Remodel for New Racing Season That Starts Thursday

Live thoroughbred racing returns to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie this Thursday when the ponies take their post positions at 6:35 p.m. for the first race of the year. Since last season the racetrack has spent $11 million on improvements, including a remodel of Silks Dining Terraces on the fourth ... More >>

Bring Your Own Bottle and Enjoy: Cafe Urbano Serves Up Some Serious Bolognese

It's nasty out. This doesn't feel like spring at all. But the one thing I've learned in the time I've spent in Texas is that warm (and sometimes stifling) weather is often just a day away. Take advantage while you can and use this cold dreary day to indulge the warm hearty dishes that won't be as a ... More >>

Start's Real Food Fast Is Just What a NYT Mag Writer Sought. Too Bad He Went to Taco Bell.

In a recent New York Times Magazine, Mark Bittman endorses Taco Bell's bean burrito. Well, not really, but he does point out that from a nutritional standpoint the "mushy beans in that soft tortilla" are a lot better than the alternatives. Bittman uses the anecdote to launch into an appraisal of new ... More >>

First Look: Queenie's Steakhouse Brings Sexy Back to Denton

Love Shack of Denton and its glorious Bigfat-burgers-with-a-bigfat-egg-on-top were laid to rest in October when Tim Love decided to close the doors and revamp the space with visions of dry-aged steak and white tablecloths dancing in his head. Fast forward to now and Queenie's steakhouse (115 E. Hick ... More >>

Raw Milk Bill Hung Up By Fuddy Duddies at the Texas Medical Association

Dig raw milk? Right now to indulge unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk from cows and goats that are raised on pasture-based farms (you know, the way we all used to do it) individuals have to drive out to the farm and purchase it directly. That may be a fun weekend drive if you've got a convertible and ... More >>

Ascension's Fix: One Man's Obsession Gives Dallas a Whole New Addiction

Restaurant Ava in Rockwall Has Closed

Earlier this week, Scott Reitz reported on the very untimely passing of chef and restaurateur Randall Copeland. Last night, Teresa Gubbins at Culture Map reported that after one last dinner service for friends and family to commemorate Copeland's passing, Restaurant Ava has permanently closed. Co ... More >>

An Open Letter to Mot Hai Ba: The Upcoming East Dallas Vietnamese Restaurant

Dear Mot Hai Ba: You better bring it. There is a massive hole in Dallas' dining scene that you could exploit, and I know if you do this city will be all the better for it. The announcement of your coming existence in a Culture Map blog post was a welcome one, and your creators, Jeana Johnson and Co ... More >>

Shock Top Sent Me $100 Worth of Swag and Two Awful Beers. That Sums Them Up Perfectly.

Yesterday I received a box full of suburban "camping" gear and a couple of sample beers from Shock Top, a package that stands as the perfect symbol of Anheuser-Busch InBev's utter contempt for and cluelessness about the culture of craft beer. Packed inside a shock-resistant SwissGear Synergy laptop ... More >>

Burning Questions for Pecan Lodge's Husband and Wife Duo, Justin and Diane Fourton

Each week (or thereabout) we ask a local chef three burning questions about his or her favorite culinary reads, food shames and best (or worst) meals. This week, we hear from Boss Lady and Pitmaster, Diane and Justin Fourton of Pecan Lodge. 1. What are your three favorite cookbooks? The Tex-Mex Co ... More >>

Freedom Through Food Event to Be Held at Garden Cafe

Two weeks ago we told you about a guerrilla gardener and his request that we all go out and plant some shit. This week it only seems proper that we point out an event at the Garden Cafe that can help you get started. See also: - The City of Ate Chef Interview: 24-Year-Old Garden Cafe Chef Mark Woo ... More >>

Ten Bells' Black Pudding Is Bloody Delicious

I'm quite certain that an expat straight from England would scoff at this entire blog post, but it needs to be said. Ten Bells has a damn fine full breakfast on its weekend brunch menu. Let's clear up a few things quickly for the sake of discussion. Yes, the tomatoes actually look like real tomatoe ... More >>

Wine Poste Open in Design District for a Unique Wine Experience in Dallas

A new wine venue unlike any other in Dallas, Wine Poste (2001 Irving Blvd., Ste. 145), has opened in the burgeoning Design District. James Jordan, a local wine industry veteran of 30 years, and Matthew Thompson, a certified sommelier and wine writer, are leading the charge in this new concept that s ... More >>

Snuffer's to Rebuild Iconic Greenville Location

The original Snuffer's location at 3526 Greenville Ave. is going away soon. But, not to worry your little cheddar fries-laced arteries. The old spot is coming down so a new spot can go up. Late Sunday night Snuffer's announced via their Facebook page plans to rebuild: "In March 1978 we were buildi ... More >>

Victoria's Mexican Grill Opens, Lemon Bar Closes and More Restaurant Happenings

Another month has come and gone and with it a handful of restaurants have opened and closed. Read on for the full list of restaurants happenings in March, and be sure to share tips about new and/or dead restaurants in the comments section below or at dish@dallasobserver.com. Openings: Victoria's M ... More >>

20 Feet's Midas Touch

A new East Dallas seafood joint uses beer batter like a fabled king.

Texas Rangers Invested in a Plethora of Glorious Gut Bombs This Off Season. Our Top Ten.

The Texas Rangers have been busy this off-season. No, not building a better bullpen. Who cares about that? Instead, they've been building amazing plates of glorious food. While trying to orchestrate the feeding of an estimated 25,000 hot dogs to baseball fans next Friday at Opening Day, Casey Rapp ... More >>

Victoria's Mexican Grill in Oak Cliff Now Open

Victoria's Mexican Grill at 607 Willomet Ave. just off of Davis Street in Oak Cliff has finally opened. Last summer owner Jorge Flores started refurbishing this two-story house and has since transformed it into a quaint spot with two huge patios. I spoke with the manager today, Maria Perez, who sa ... More >>

Brian Zenner of Belly & Trumpet on Dinner in Thailand, Bruno Davaillon, Chef-Driven Dining and the Best Time for Cheap Tacos

Chef Brian Zenner of Belly & Trumpet in Uptown has been around a bit. Born in Bangkok, his family moved to Dubai and London before finally settling in Texas. And while on paper his culinary career started at the Texas Culinary Academy, one might say the cooking wheels started churning on a dock in T ... More >>