Seems there's always much ado about little in the restaurant news.
So it was in October: Lazare became Lemon Bar and will, most likely, become something else before long. Ten 15 Elm (or 1015 Elm, I was never sure) decided to call itself Thrive instead. The ballyhooed Jean-Michel's, coming to downtown, will no longer be Jean-Michel's and no longer be downtown. Gaspar Stantic left Cadot--an announcement we all knew was coming at some point from the vagabond chef. More personnel stuff (yawn) happened at Tre Amici. Big news arrived about a ban on raw gulf oysters...starting in 2011.
But there were several high points. Shortly after FitzGerald Dodd introduced his new fall menu at Screen Door, he was let go--and a new group led by chef David McMillan and the once golden Mico Rodriguez swept in.
Interesting combo: a chef at his best when dealing with diver scallops, truffles and such with a restaurateur who revels in mediocrity. See that working well.
The rest of it:
Entering
Samar, the new Stephan Pyles place.
Zato Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar...and if they added tableside guacamole, they'd have it all.
Majesty's Inspirational Dinner Club an ungainly addition to Flower Mound.
Norma's Cafe in North Dallas, which opened with a pie-eating contest.
Terra Mediterranean Grill in Allen's Watters Creek development.
GattiTown, featuring some 20,000 square feet of food and--mostly--entertainment.
As well as a Cowboy Chow for Roanoke, a Burguesa Burger for Las Colinas and a few lesser spots.
Exiting
Las Colinas Prime, as if anyone but the authorities care.
Lito's, which had a core of fans.
La Palapa Veracruzana.
A sad note, that last one. It was one of the better Mexican restaurants in the city. But no one seemed to notice.
Those are the highlights. A few lesser spots dropped off, as well.
On the way
Ocean Prime, the seafood palace is set to open in mid-November.
Al's Steakhouse and Salad Bar--yin and yang in Preston-Royal.
Rock N Taco, to roll into Uptown.
DISH, a restaurant-lounge planned for Cedar Springs.
