Lauren Drewes Daniels
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The saga continues for local Dallas restaurants, struggling due to the rising costs of food and rent. The general climate is a story of extremes: Every month, we’re getting new imports from major cities, all while our favorites shutter under uncertainty.
Last month, two neighboring concepts under the same owner closed shop in downtown Dallas; a Michelin-recognized spot officially closed its doors in search of a new address, and did anyone notice when this Deep Ellum club known for celebrity spottings closed?
Perch Bistro & Bar
7709 Inwood Road
Perch Bistro & Bar was a go-to for homemade pizza, pasta and a killer espresso martini. Previously, it was Dea, a cozy spot that aspired to be a fine-dining Italian restaurant. Owners Lynae Fearing and Tracy Rathbun of Far Hospitality (Shinsei, Lovers Seafood & Market) remodeled it into Perch in 2024, but could not get enough regular customers to sustain business. “I’m going to miss everything about it. And that’s why I hung on for so long. It’s hard to let it go,” Fearing told The Dallas Morning News.
The Mitchell
1404 Main St.
The Mitchell’s last day of service was Saturday, April 4. The neighborhood bar was New Orleans-style with French influence from chef Jodi Carroll. “We were most proud of the fact that we were able to do it “our” way, to receive the recognition and support of not being so mainstream, not to mention building one of the biggest back bars in Texas. Why do you have 200 gins? Because we can?” celebrates the farewell Facebook post.
Ye Olde Scarlet Pumpernickel Tavern
1402 Main St.
Next door to the Mitchell is Ye Olde Scarlet Pumpernickel Tavern, which is under the same owner. The proud American tavern was an everyday drinking bar that was open for six years. The menu featured items like fancy Bologna sandwiches, loaded beer cheese fries and chicken fried steak. It’s also closed Easter weekend.
San Marzano
3700 McKinney Ave.
San Marzano was a famous (to them) New York outpost for Italian food, but it didn’t land when it opened in the West Village in 2024. The entire menu was under $20 and it won Best Trattoria in the Observer’s Best of Dallas 2025. This space in the West Village must have a bad aura. The last few restaurants that have opened here have not lasted. If not an affordable Italian place, then what?
Rye
1920 Greenville Ave.
Rye is a silver lining to this list of restaurant closures because the Michelin-recognized spot isn’t closing forever; it’s looking for a new space to grow into. While we wait for Rye’s new location to be found, we can enjoy the new two-room cocktail experience that expanded into its old digs, Alchemy and Archive.
HIDE
1928 Greenville Ave.
HIDE had a really good run in Dallas, first in Deep Ellum pre-pandemic then along Lower Greenville after. We’re sad to see this one go; the burger was surperior and the rooftop was a lot of fun, especially when it transformed into a Christmas wonderland during the holidays. No word on if they have plans to reopen elsewhere.
Citizen
2511 Swiss Ave.
One night many moons ago, we showed up and Citizen was almost fully lit and half empty. Even a rapper made an appearance, but it was so unmemorable that we cannot remember who it was. Celebrity appearances and after-parties likely kept the club afloat, but after 10 years, it’s officially closed.
RAYO Bar and Lounge
841 Exposition Ave.
Now this one is sad. RAYO Bar & Lounge was a newcomer to Exposition Avenue, and it was a hit as soon as it opened. It was a cocktail bar-meets-lounge and we loved the palm-sized sliders. In their farewell post on Facebook, they mentioned it was hard to maintain operations in the current climate.
Duck Inn Again
303 Alamo Ave.
“With broken hearts, we share that Duck Inn Again will be closing its doors. When we reopened in September, we did it to honor 79 years of family history — this place first opened in 1945, and bringing it back meant everything to us. Your warmth, your loyalty, and your excitement reminded us why it mattered so much,” reads the Duck Inn Again Facebook post. The restaurant started in the home of owner Susan Howard’s grandparents. They eventually built it out into a full-service restaurant. They said skyrocketing costs and tariffs turned the labor of love into a fight to stay afloat.
