Welcome to SideDish’s weekly dispatch of need-to-know News Bites, from quiet closures to opening updates and everything in between.
Lower Greenville, Meet Niku Bar (Postponed)
The neighborhood just got snackier. Manpuku, which brought Japanese yakiniku barbecue to Lower Greenville this summer, will introduce its outdoor patio spot, Niku Bar, on an as-yet-to-be-determined date. (Previously, Niku was slated to open October 7 but after staff tested positive for COVID both Manpuku and Niku will be closed until further notice.) There, find Japanese-meets-Spanish tapas (uni and kobe beef sashimi, beef yakiniku tortilla pizza, crab ceviche, Japanese taco rice, spicy beef ramen) from chef Kentaro Tsunoda. To round out the Euro-Japanese eats, find whiskys, sangria, and craft beer. And just in time for the Texas/OU weekend (and through Oct. 21), Niku Bar will have half-off glasses of house wine, sake, beer, and cocktails from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Koryo Kalbi Makes a Much-Welcome Comeback
Speaking of barbecue, this time of the Korean persuasion, Koryo Kalbi has plans to reopening after a lengthy hiatus. The beloved Korean barbecue restaurant had quietly closed sometime last year, perhaps summer 2020 amid several pandemic-induced closures. Now, though, reports Eater Dallas, the Royal Lane restaurant has reopened under new ownership that has retained “charcoal-grilled meats, soups, and other classic Korean dishes that made Koryo Kalbi a Koreatown institution.” As for what’s new, the new owners have made some renovations and upped the quality of beef.
Sister—Sibling Restaurant to The Charles—Is Open
Dallas has anticipated the arrival of Sister, the Greenville Avenue restaurant with Italian and Mediterranean bent, since word spread that Chas Martin of The Charles was going to take over the old Grape location. After about two years since the Grape shuttered, the Lower Greenville address is again home to a warm and welcoming dining spot. Dallas Morning News has the details.
Bell’s Sweet Factory Brings Authentic New Orleans’ Fare to Plano
The celeb-approved restaurant with humble beginnings opens October 17. Owners and couple Ashley Johnson and Thaddeus Bell have snagged the attention of Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott for their food: gumbo, fried fish, crab cakes, all with an authentic New Orleans flair. Now the duo will debut an upscale restaurant at 2109 West Parker Road in Plano this months, reports DMN. Until then, find them at the food truck outside of the forthcoming restaurant from noon to 5 p.m. on weekends or at 2600 K Avenue during the week.
Amid the On-Going Dearth of Restaurant Labor, Fish & Fizz Goes Takeout Only
For the Morning News, Nick Rallo reports Richardson’s fish and chip shop has closed its dining room (for now) and will be to-go only. Owner Nick Barclay cites the difficulty in finding people to staff his restaurant on Coit Road. The nationwide labor issue has touched several industries, the service industry being among one of the most affected. In a September story from the Observer, Texas’ leisure and hospitality sector’s employment rate was down 7 percent from pre-pandemic levels yet has record high job openings. It is likely still a long road to having those staffing numbers bounce back to normal.
Happy Trails to the Dallas Observer’s Brian Reinhart
After five and a half year and 144 restaurant reviews, the local pub’s dining critic says goodbye. Reinhart doesn’t say in his goodbye post where his next chapter will be, but we hope it’s some place delicious.
Zalat’s Newest Dallas Outpost Opens October 11
Keeping momentum with its string of new openings for the local pizzeria, Zalat Pizza’s latest location debuts at Forest & Central (11613 North Central Expressway, Suite 111) next Monday. The pizza concept from Khanh Nguyen recently brought Zalat to Arlington and Irving earlier this year, as well as its first by-the-slice spot inside AT&T Discovery District’s The Exchange Hall food hall.
This article was updated on Oct. 7 with new information about Nike Bar’s delayed opening.
