Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
Has anyone ever heard of a restaurant inspired by “East Texas seafood joints”? This month, that is new, plus some other fresh faces around the neighborhood.
A Palestinian restaurant is packed with flavor and good baklava. A new market fills a South American-sized hole in the Dallas market. Another all-day Aussie cafe opens, but doesn’t try all that hard and more food news.
New Dallas Restaurants
AM/FM
1950 Market Center Blvd., Design District
The former Ferris Wheelers space is now an all-day diner and live music venue. It’s appropriately called AM/FM. Two big names are behind this venue: Spune Productions for the sound side; and chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman on the food side, whom we happen to be smitten with. The menu spans time zones and continents with breakfast all day and a late-night menu from 8 p.m. to close. Check online for the hours; they open at 9 a.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. on weekdays.
Ayat
200 W Spring Valley Road, Richardson
Palestinian food has arrived in Dallas by way of New York. And Ayat brought enough seasonings to fill dozens of kitchens in Dallas. Owner Abdul Elenani hopes to tell his country’s story through its menu, starting with the pizzawarma, and baklava.
Barrio’s Tacos
9401 W. University Drive, McKinney
This new taco spot subscribes to a build-your-own tacos, nachos and bowls ethos. Barrios is a micro-chain that started in Tremont, Ohio, and has peppered itself across the Northeast and the Chicago area. Do they know they’ve found themselves in chorizo-infested streets? We wonder how they’ll fare.
Flying Fish
4032 Preston Road, Plano
The former Dickey’s BBQ space in Plano is now Flying Fish, a fast-casual seafood spot inspired by East Texas seafood joints. It has locations in Addison, Arlington and other cities across Dallas. Be on the lookout for all-you-can-eat catfish on Wednesdays for $22.95 and $1.50 oysters all day on Sunday.
Paris Baguette
7615 Campbell Road, Far North Dallas
This franchise is having a quarter-life crisis. Last month, Paris Baguette opened its 25th location in Texas with no plans of slowing down anytime soon. The owners plan to add four more locations across DFW in the coming years, and the franchise as a whole hopes to reach 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada by 2030. That’s a serious number of baguettes.
Manny’s Mexican Kitchen
1250 State St., Richardson
The owners of Manny’s Tex-Mex unveiled a new concept in Richardson called Manny’s Mexican Kitchen. More Mex and less Tex is its motto, and they’re bringing in time-honored recipes and vibrant regional flavors close to Cityline Plaza.
Pangea
1910 Pacific Ave., Downtown
Everyone was devastated when the original Pangea closed. So when chef Kevin Ashade announced it was back, this time in downtown Dallas, there was a citywide celebration. Don’t worry, his coq au vin is back.
Cafe Olivia
2200 Ross Ave., Downtown
Are your chakras aligned? No? That’s OK. That’s what Cafe Olivia, the new wellness-focused cafe in Dallas, is here for. One large exhale, that’s what the owners wanted the cafe to feel like. So even if you’re new to the woo, all you have to do is order the milk bread French toast and you’re in.
Unimarket
7215 Skillman St., North Dallas
Dallas knows its Mexican cuisine, but the large, South American-shaped hole in the Dallas market was undeniable. The newly opened Unimarket fixed that.
Little Ruby’s
2305 Cedar Springs Road, Uptown
Two Aussie cafes decided to open in Dallas, and this one decided to play it safe. *Sigh*.
