EJ Galvez
Audio By Carbonatix
Some of the slowest months of the year in hospitality didn’t stop these Dallas restaurants from opening in January.
If you can believe it, Dallas gained four more Italian spots, one farm-fresh Maine lobster fast-casual spot, a modern Chinese restaurant from a Dumpling Queen, a second location for duck-fat fried chicken, coastal Mexican from a favorite local bunch and an adorable cafe.
Oh, and a 13-Time World Pizza Champions’ Texas debut.
Ateliê
367 W Jefferson Blvd.
Art and gastronomy walk hand-in-hand at this new creative bistro in Bishop Arts. Chef Wyl Lima was previously at Le Margot in Fort Worth, one of Texas Monthly’s best new restaurants in 2024, and then served as the culinary director at The Charlotte. Atelie collaborates with Daisha Board Gallery, serving as a rotating satellite gallery showcasing emerging and underrepresented visual artists.
The Saint & Night Rooster
1000 N Riverfront Blvd.
Two openings. One address. The first floor is The Saint, which is an Italian steakhouse that relocated from East Dallas. Upstairs is Night Rooster, a modern Chinese restaurant from celebrated chef Shirley Chung, who returns to the kitchen after beating stage IV cancer. Each concept is independent of the other, but both are from Hooper Hospitality Concepts. That’s one way to save on rent.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
301 N Akard St.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is the largest brick-and-mortar lobster roll chain in the U.S. It opened in Victory Park around mid-December, and is bringing some robust-looking rolls to the area.
Roots Chicken Shak
3748 Belt Line Road
Chef Tiffany Derry’s fast casual concept, Roots Chicken Shak, opened its first franchise location in Addison last month. The spot is known for its duck-fat-fried chicken and fries, and other Southern favorites.
Puerto Cocina
155 Riveredge Drive
The same group behind Ayahuasca and Xaman Cafe opened this new coastal Mexican restaurant in the Design District. Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman is consulting the kitchen, and it’s already a hit. Soon, they plan to expand to offer a coffee program, along with breakfast, lunch and other grab-n-go items. Which will also be a hit, more than likely.
Urban Italia
3030 Nowitzki Way
Urban Italia is another addition to Victory Park, opening at the beginning of the month. The “Italia-Merica” restaurant celebrates how Italian cuisine was reimagined in America. It’s from the same group behind Sanjh, and Yangdup Lama, the globally acclaimed bartender who developed Sanjh’s bar program, is also behind the scenes at Urban Italia.
Hug’s Cafe
2918 Live Oak St.
Hug’s Cafe, the casual spot with a cause, opened its second location in Dallas recently. They hire adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provide them with jobs and training to serve breakfast and lunch in the community. Leading the kitchen is chef Diana Zamora, behind Nena Postreria and previously of Cry Wolf and Pillar, who has developed the menu of cafe favorites.
Centrale Italia
7859 Walnut Hill Lane
Centrale Italia is from the same group behind Princi Italia, and while the two have nearly identical menus, each has its own distinct draws for you to pull up a seat.
Slice House
5995 Preston Road (Frisco)
Tony Gemignani, a 13-Time World Pizza Champion, opened his franchise, Slice House, in Frisco this month. The fast casual spot is serving New York, Sicilian, Grandma (sheet-pan pizzas by home cooking) and Detroit-style pizzas all under one roof. It sounds like it should be illegal, but only someone with the right credentials could pull this off; and by the looks of it, he does.
