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An East Dallas dive gets a gentle sprucing, a downtown Dallas speakeasy is ready for its 2.0 close-up, Taco y Vino opens its second location, plus one of the most anticipated fall restaurant openings, and more food news.
Avra, Uptown
Avra finally opened on Friday, Sept. 19, joining The Capital Grille and Nobu at the iconic Crescent Court. This upscale Mediterranean restaurant was the most recent, highly anticipated restaurant opening in Dallas. The Avra Group has other locations in New York, Beverly Hills, Miami and now Dallas. The focus is hyper fresh seafood in a Greek seaside tavern kind of ambiance, with some recipes on the menu passed down in the co-founder and co-owner’s family for generations. We’re hype. 300 Crescent Court
Rising Tides, East Dallas
Seasoned veteran of the Dallas bar scene, Alex Fletcher, took over Royal Pour in East Dallas and spruced up the old blue building into a more modern cocktail dive bar. The large stage is still up to continue the weekday karaoke tradition and more updates are still rolling in, like additional seating and arcade games. The grand re-opening is on Saturday, Oct. 18. In the meantime, Fletcher never closed the restaurant to make the changes, so don’t mind the dust when you pop in. 9909 Garland Road
Musume at the Star, Frisco
The buzz about Musume had been circulating for months before the Asian fusion restaurant finally opened its second location in Frisco last month. The concept first popped up in the Arts District near downtown in 2018, and now it’s spreading its collection of premium sake and Japanese whisky to the suburbs. Our fave, Gabe Sanchez, is behind the cocktail menu, and fish flown in daily from Japan backs its fusion menu. 3625 The Star Blvd.
Akai, Arts District
Akai had an official closing party back in August before renovating the entire speakeasy into a more elevated nightlife experience. Check out the club’s Instagram for a sneak peek. The red dragon light feature on the ceiling is back (or will be soon). The first iteration of this sexy speakeasy was on point, and we expect nothing less after its refresh. 1740 Crockett St.
Brya Zan Thai Noodle & Brew, Plano
The owners of Malai Kitchen opened a brand new outpost that is a little more casual and a lot more affordable, with the same house brews we all love. The new fast casual spot, Brya Zan Thai, has been getting rave Google reviews since it opened, and who couldn’t love it when the entrees cost $11.50? 1909 Preston Road
Hampton House, Downtown
Hampton House is a new members-only club that opened beneath Hampton Social this week. Access to the club’s “rarefied culture,” they call it, is by invitation only, which is a nice way to say: “no, not you.” Allegedly, the downstairs is seductive, discreet and alive with possibility. Woohoo? 1520 Main St.
Taco Y Vino, Garland
Taco y Vino has been a charming Oak Cliff go-to for tacos and wine since 2018. Almost seven years later, co-owner Jimmy Contreras decided it was time to expand and opened the second Taco y Vino location in downtown Garland on Friday, Sept. 12. 706 Main St., Garland
The Reserve at the Highland, Highland Park
When The Highland Hotel concluded its partnership with chef John Tesar in March of this year, it rode out the licensing agreement until Knife Steakhouse officially closed on Sunday, Aug. 31. Late last month, The Reserve at the Highland replaced Knife, and now the modern American grille is open for lunch Monday through Friday, and dinner service nightly from 5-10 p.m. 5300 E.Mockingbird Lane
Kings Cave, Carrollton
Carrollton just got this 4,000-square-foot sports bar with an international twist. King’s Cave serves game day favorites like wings, loaded fries and cheeseburgers with international dishes like jerk chicken and shawarma. The concept is from Kenechi “KC” Nnamani, who opened Cafe Nubia in North Dallas in 2024, which is one of our favorites. 2661 Midway Road
Cafe Olivia, Addison
Dallas-based On Brand Hospitality debuted a new chef-driven cafe this week in Addison called Cafe Olivia. It’s open weekdays for breakfast and lunch with standard cafe fare like avocado toast, grain bowls, salads, sandwiches, soups and desserts. They partner with local farms for a select number of ingredients, like Cedar Ridge eggs for their breakfast offerings. All menu items are noted with a v, vg, or gf, and they pride themselves on not using seed oils. 14551 Dallas Parkway
Sugoi Sushi, West Dallas
The Sylvan Thirty retail complex near West Dallas has a new sushi restaurant called Sugoi. It’s bringing its own twist on Edomae-style sushi to the area, and naturally, they’re also offering two omakases, one of which is 11 courses for $80, which piqued our attention. The rest of the menu has starters, hot and cold plates, rolls, sashimi, and nigiri, all at reasonable price points, like the hamachi roll that only costs $8. 778 Fort Worth Ave.
JW Steakhouse, Downtown
The JW Marriott in downtown Dallas reimagined its 11th-floor restaurant (for the third time since 2023) as JW Steakhouse. Executive Chef Miguel Antonio’s menu included modern interpretations of Texas favorites, emphasizing experience and seasonal ingredients. 800 N. Harwood St.
