Welcome to SideDish’s weekly dispatch of need-to-know News Bites, from quiet closures to opening updates and everything in between—and back to coronavirus updates!
Get “Globally Inspired” at Harper’s
On the edge of Deep Ellum and downtown at 2525 Elm Street, comes Harper’s, the latest restaurant to open in the new Epic development. It officially debuts on August 5. The restaurant is run by Milkshake Concepts, the same group behind fellow Deep Ellum dwellers like Vidorra, Stirr, and Serious Pizza. Harper’s is decidedly more higher-end in style and menu than its Milkshake counterparts. Here, diners “can explore worldly flavors intertwined with American roots through gourmet fare.” Per the press release, this translates into such dishes as “Peruvian anticucho beef sticks, Burmese tea leaf salad, and Texas wagyu tomahawk made with miso compound butter.”
Oak Closed on July 31
After about a decade in the Design District, ARG Concept’s Oak is closing to rebrand; it’s a move that, owner Richard Ellman tells Dallas Morning News, has been in the works for a while. It’s a long-renowned restaurant in Dallas that has had more than its fair share of chef turnover over the years.
Malai Kitchen Plots Fourth Restaurant
Malai Kitchen will take over the former Bartaco space at the Preston Center—Not Preston Village or The Plaza at Preston, or any of the other huge shopping centers with Preston in the name of which there are frankly too many! So this fall, at 6130 Luther Lane, owners and couple Yasmin and Braden Wages will bring their house-brewed, Asian-style beers, curries, and lovely brunch (don’t sleep on the congee and pork sausage frittata, y’all). And speaking of Burmese tea leaf salads, Malai Kitchen makes one of my favorites. At the forthcoming location, expect a large dining room with a U-shaped bar, and a nice little patio, too.
Bar & Garden Is Making Moves
But not until next year. DMN reports that the plant-packed natural wine and spirits bottle shop will move into a new space sometime mid-2022. And it’s not relocating far. Bar & Garden, currently at 3314 Ross Avenue, next to Dahlia Bistro and Burgundy’s Local butcher shop, will hop over to a spot about a half mile away. The new digs at 1900 North Haskell Avenue is right across from E Bar Tex Mex and the newly opened Loro. It’s becoming quite the bustling food and drink intersection.
Some Dallas Restaurants Requiring Masks Again
If you’re living on the cautious side but are still going out to eat, keep your eye on this Eater Dallas article. It lists local restaurants that are requiring masks again for the safety of their staff and diners as the Delta variant, which has put Dallas County back into a code red advisory that urges residents to limit non-essential travel, continues to spread in the community. Some places are requiring only staff to wear masks, while others are asking employees and guests to don masks when not eating or drinking.
In Case You Missed It: 2021 Will Be Great American Hero’s Final Year
The Lemmon Avenue sandwich shop and drive-thru has been a loved Dallas staple for 45 years. Here’s last Friday’s write-up about it. Great American Hero will stick around until the end of this year, or sooner if owner Dominick Oliverie sees fit. He’s tired, y’all!
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