Something in the August air is telling Dallas restaurateurs it’s a good month to debut or announce a new restaurant. Maybe it’s the rush of people coming home from summer vacation or taking advantage of a dip in foot traffic as students head back to school. (Better for testing, I’d assume). Either way, many new openings have been announced, and we can’t fall behind. Here’s what’s on the docket.
Abby’s Bagels (Fall 2023)
A new bagel shop is set to open on Lower Greenville this fall from Nick Backlund of NB Concepts, the parent company of Hide and Toller Patio. Abby’s Bagels, named after Backlund’s wife Abby Perkins, will have about 12 to 14 bagel flavors and 12 to 15 schmears, according to CultureMap. They’ll also have espresso, sandwiches, and late-night bites. It’ll be in space that was once a Kathy Fielder boutique.
Abby’s Bagels, 1915 Greenville Ave.
Anchor Sushi Bar (Aug. 14)
Vandelay Hospitality, the group behind Hudson House, East Hampton Sandwich Co., and Drake’s Hollywood, opened a sushi restaurant at Preston Road and Royal Lane in the former Cantina Laredo spot. Anchor Sushi Bar debuted Aug. 14 and serves sushi, robata skewers, and a signature burger called the Tokyo burger, which features wasabi-gochujang aioli and onion rings. A second location will open on Knox Street later this year.
Anchor Sushi Bar, 6025 Royal Ln., 3130 Knox St.
Andreas Prime Steaks & Seafood (July 31)
A new European steakhouse in Allen opened July 31 from Andreas Kotsifos, the former executive chef of The Palm. The menu is French and Mediterranean-inspired (Kotsifos is Greek) and features steakhouse staples like a raw bar with fresh oysters and tuna tartare, grilled steaks, seafood entrees, and sides such as baked potatoes and ratatouille.
Andreas Prime Steaks & Seafood, 610 W. Bethany Dr., Allen.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer (Aug. 10)
A burger joint from New York City opened its first Dallas location earlier this month, and it’s serving ½ pound wagyu burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and salads. The burgers include a honker called The TX, a prime meat patty with a coffee barbecue rub, bacon, Colby cheese, an onion ring, barbecue sauce, and peppercorn mayo. The chain is also known for its massive “crazyshakes,” giant milkshakes rimmed with cookies or cereal and topped with cakes, peanut butter cups, cinnamon rolls, and more.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, 2475 Victory Park Ln.
Henry’s Majestic (Fall 2023)
This is technically a reopening—Henry’s Majestic was forced to close in October after the landlord of the McKinney Avenue location sold the building. The new location will open this fall at 2303 Pittman St. in West Dallas in the former Chicken Scratch/The Foundry spot.
The menu is expected to be familiar, according to a press release, but some part of it will be revamped with new items for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night. The drink menu will also get a bit of a makeover: it’ll try zero-waste cocktails with a sustainable wine list and a bar with sustainable brands. The drinks will also include ones that are zero-proof.
Henry’s Majestic, 2303 Pittman St.
Herby’s Burgers (Slated for September)
A new smash burger joint is hitting downtown Elmwood soon. Will Rhoten (AKA DJ Sober), Peaberry Coffee’s Elijah Salazar, and Jake Saenz of Rev’s Grilled Cheese, are opening Herby’s Burgers right next to Peaberry’s new Elmwood location on Edgefield Avenue.
Salazar says the concept happened quickly—the spot was Pizza Fritta, which closed earlier this year. The trio grabbed the space shortly after. Salazar told the Dallas Observer that he previously worked pop-ups with Saenz and Rhoten. When he told them he wanted to open a burger concept, the other two were all in.
At a recent pop-up, Herby’s sold smash burgers and tots until they sold out. (Salazar tells me it only took an hour.) A few more pop-ups are in the works, he says. When it’s officially open, they’ll have more offerings such as veggie burgers and chopped cheese sandwiches.
Herby’s Burgers, 2109 S. Edgefield Ave.
Kolache Shoppe (Fall 2023)
A Houston-based bakery chain called Kolache Shoppe is opening a location in Celina this fall, according to a press release. The shop is the first in D-FW and will be run by Frisco residents Jake and Courtney Poulsen and Courtney’s parents, Gary and Cindy Mechler. The menu includes coffee, kolaches, and klobasnik (savory versions) for breakfast and lunch. The savory ones aren’t limited to just ones stuffed with sausage links—breakfast buns are filled with scrambled eggs and a variety of veggies and meats. Sweet kolaches are made with fluffy bread and pools of fruit or Nutella.
Kolache Shoppe, 605 S. Preston Rd., Ste. 100, Celina.
Lubbies Bagels (Early August)
Another bagel shop! I wrote about Lubbies and its intriguing sign in the July food guide. Owners and sister Andrea Lubkin and Jennifer Lubkin announced a soft opening early August with an official opening later that week. They did have to close for a bit because the response from the neighborhood was overwhelming, according to an Instagram post, but they’re up and running again.
Lubbies Bagels, 1160 Peavy Rd.
Lyla (Aug. 17)
Lyla opened August 17 in Uptown Dallas in a 3,000-square-foot space with a dining room, lounge, patio, and private dining room. The Mediterranean-inspired concept comes from three co-owners—Veeral Rathod, Obi Ibeto, and Reham Choudhury—who wanted to “transport” guests to the coasts of Italy, Greece, and France.
The food menu includes a whipped eggplant dip (which kind of reminds me of the incredibly popular eggplant dip from Santa Monica’s Élephante), lobster linguine, and olive oil cake. Its cocktail menu has several signature drinks, like the Lyla, made with passion fruit and Greek tea mixed with Casamigos, and the Sidero, a gin-based drink with cucumber, ginger, and cardamom bitters.
Lyla, 3309 McKinney Ave.
Maison Chinoise (Aug. 11)
An “upscale” Chinese restaurant from longtime restaurateur Alberto Lombardi opened Aug. 11, and it’s already received rave reviews from customers. Lombardi hired Ivan Yuen from Hong Kong as Maison Chinoise’s chef to head the kitchen and create the menu.
The main menu is expansive and includes both starters and appetizers (I’m not entirely sure what the difference is) such as stuffed eggplant, shrimp chips, and pastrami egg rolls. Dumplings and dim sum plates scatter the menu, but the star is the Peking duck, which comes with thin mandarin crepes, scallions, honeydew, pickled papaya, and a sweet bean sauce that big enough for two to four people to share.
Maison Chinoise, 4152 Cole Ave., Ste. 106.
McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails (sometime in July)
Mike McRae, who operates Stan’s Blue Note, Table 13, and Dodie’s Cajun Diner, opened a new date night spot called McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails in July in East Dallas. McRae’s menu pulls inspiration from some of his other concepts, like Table 13’s tomato soup, which is served with a grilled cheese crostini. The menu also has sandwiches, pizzas, and entrees such as grilled quail and filet mignon, and the drink menu includes a selection of beers, wines, and cocktails. McRae’s is open for dinner only, for now, with no reservations.
McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails, 9913 Garland Rd.
Nick the Greek (Aug. 11)
A Mediterranean chain called Nick the Greek opened its first Dallas-area location in Irving. The menu includes pita sandwiches, bowls, plates, and salads with meat options like gyro, chicken, beef, falafel, lamb, and more.
Nick the Greek, 7707 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 110, Irving.
Sanjh (Late 2023)
A restaurant inspired by Indian feasts fit for emperors and kings will open in Las Colinas at the end of the year. Sanjh is a concept from owners Sanjay Joshi and Prob Arora, both of whom have prior experience in the hospitality and restaurant industries.
According to a press release, Sanjh will be an elevated Indian dining experience with a menu that will include dishes from all over India. We’re looking forward to seeing what that could look like.
Sanjh, 5250 N. O’Connor Blvd., Ste. 146, Irving.
Via Triozzi (Aug. 23)
On Lower Greenville, chef-owner Leigh Hutchinson is opening Via Triozzi this Wednesday to serve handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti with an accompanying Italian wine list. It’s been a much-anticipated arrival for the Italian restaurant, which is named after a street in Scandicci, a town in which Hutchinson lived while attending culinary school.
Inside the restaurant is a pasta room, where the team will make all of its pastas, including fusilli, tagliatelle, and more, for dishes such as ragù Bolognese and cacio e pepe. One of its most anticipated pastas is the lasagne al forno, which will also be available for purchase in a grab-and-go case at the restaurant. Its dessert menu also looks stellar: check out the Cannolo Sbagliato, a deconstructed cannoli made with pizzelle, cannoli cream, candied orange peel, cacao nibs and crushed pistachios.
Via Triozzi, 1806 Greenville Ave.
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