Hungry for John Tesar’s food? Looks like you’ll get a chance to taste his newest creations when Cedars Social, a “cocktail den and comfort food kitchen” located in the Cedars at 1326 South Lamar, opens next month. Tesar created the menu and will open the restaurant for owner Brian Williams, former NFL linebacker-turned-restaurateur. Tesar is technically a consultant to the project but he plans to be in the kitchen to get the ball rolling. He will stay involved in Cedars Social and create seasonal menu changes and oversee the kitchen.
In the bar (den) will be Michael Martensen. He worked the cocktail program at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek the same time Tesar was in the kitchen. Martensen plans to pay homage to the “golden era of bartending.” His artisanal cocktails will be a mixture of classics and seasonally-inspired concoctions along with a tribute list of famous cocktails from notable watering holes around the U.S. “I plan to be in the kitchen at Cedars Social for seven nights a week from when we open to mid-March or the first of April,” says Tesar. “Then I’m going to open my own place at One Arts Plaza in April.”
Huh? Did I just bury my lede? Details on Tesar’s OAP restaurant will be released next week. Former Dali Wine Bar space? Probably.
UPDATE: Full release below.
Cocktail Den and Kitchen Opens in the Cedars Neighborhood
Menu by Chef John Tesar and Hand Crafted Cocktails by Michael Martensen
DALLAS, TEXAS (February 2011) – True to the tradition of informal gatherings, The Cedars Social, a cocktail den and comfort food kitchen located in the vibrant, urban Cedars community at 1326 South Lamar unveils February 2011. Thoughtfully conceptualized by owner Brian Williams, this informal yet fashionable cocktail den will allow guests to enjoy hand crafted cocktails by Michael Martensen and Modern American Comfort food by Chef John Tesar.
Staying true to the artisan theme of the Cedars neighborhood, Williams welcomed one of the nation’s leading barmen, Michael Martensen, to develop a notable cocktail program that pays homage to the golden era of bartending. Exploring what it was like to drink before, during, and after prohibition, The Cedars Social cocktail menu includes a repertoire of relished classics, but focuses primarily on seasonal, signature cocktails. In addition, there is a tribute list of original cocktails from other famed bars around the country, including Death and Company in New York City, Violet Hour in Chicago and Rick House in San Francisco.
The Cedars Social menu, created by award-winning Chef John Tesar, features modern American fare utilizing some of the finest local ingredients along with ingredients from Chef Tesar’s many friends, farmers, fisherman, and ranchers. Combining impeccable ingredients and fine dining techniques, he plans a menu of classic American comfort food with a modern transforming twist. With style and charm, Tesar will offer The Cedars Social diner a comfortable, modest and contemporary reinterpretation of American classics. Lunch and dinner menus will offer shared items, small plates, daily specials and desserts.
Concept creator Williams acquired his passion for architecture and design of bars and restaurants during extensive travels across the United States. The playful indoor/outdoor environment is a unique dichotomy of reclaimed industrial materials and mid-century architecture accented with vintage furnishings. A large circular fireplace serves as the warm welcoming focal point at the heart of the dining area and allows guests to feel at home while enjoying Chef Tesar’s modern American food and Martensen’s hand crafted cocktails. The Cedars Social is poised and ready to quench the thirst and satisfy the appetites of Dallas’ urban sophisticates.
