Ocean Ranch Makes a Splash, Opens in Old Carte Blanche Space

For three years, the bakery-by-day and fine-dining-by-night spot Carte Blanche thrived between Botolino Gelateria and Single Wide along Greenville Avenue until it closed last summer.

Last year was filled with much speculation about what would take its place. In early March, Ocean Ranch, an Italian-influenced seafood and chophouse, opened in the space from chef Enrico Glaudo. Glaudo grew up near the Italy-France border, where his family ran a restaurant and hotel. Many dishes here bring a European touch to Dallas' most popular dishes.

It's all in the name: Ocean Ranch. This straightforward restaurant emphasizes approachable, high-quality steak and seafood.

Much of the menu focuses on seafood, including a seafood and crudo bar with raw oysters, clams, whole Maine lobster, tuna tartare, a Mexican shrimp cocktail and others. Adventurous diners can order a combination platter with a bit of everything.

Moving down the menu, starters include wagyu meatballs, crispy calamari, blue crab cakes and a caprese salad. New England clam chowder and nicoise salad are highlights of the next section, and entrees like short rib, Berkshire pork chops and 28-day-aged prime black Angus cuts put the ranch in Ocean Ranch.

Whole Mediterranean branzino, Texas redfish fillet and Scottish salmon fillets are all available from the off-the-grill section, and there are plenty of toppings and sauces to gussie them up: poached lobster meat, crispy oyster mushrooms, uni butter, Italian chimichurri, Barolo reduction and a signature O.R.1 sauce.
For drinks, all the signature cocktails are $15 or less and include the classics with a few twists.

Your steaks can have their vino companion with selections from Italy and California.

Happy hour at Ocean Ranch runs from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and offers $6 house wines, $9 martinis and $5 off old-fashioneds. Lunch runs Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To top it off, the patio is primed for your next date night.

Ocean Ranch, 2114 Greenville Ave., Sunday - Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday/Saturday, 4-11 p.m.