Hub Streat, whose founding team includes TGI Friday’s founder Daniel R. Scoggin, is a brand-new “culinary entertainment center” near historic downtown Plano.
Atmosphere: The venue (1212 14th St.) is relaxed, open-air, and massive. In the front, you’ll find a lineup of food trucks. There’s a main building that encompasses a cocktail bar, TVs for sports-viewing, and plenty of seating. Across the spacious, dog-friendly patio is a satellite pavilion with arcade games, a pool table, and rooftop seating. Often you’ll find musicians crooning country tunes on the outdoor patio (recent guests include the Tyler Rogers Band). The vibe is fun and friendly, and it’s so new that the main bar area still smells like unfinished wood.
What to Order: If you’re hungry, you’ll find a rotating assortment of food trucks parked out front (regulars include Gaucho Empanadas, The Butcher’s Son, and Yummy Spiedies). As if that wasn’t enough grub, Hub Streat will soon encompass four in-house restaurants of its own, offering burgers, pizza, rotisserie chicken, and tacos. But to the important stuff: There’s a healthy selection of beer, margaritas (including a “skinny”), a few wines, and a handful of fruity craft cocktails. Their Texas Mule (vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, mint) is refreshing and surprisingly delicious.
Who’s There: Right now, it’s a mostly Plano crowd, though it certainly has the potential to become a destination hangout spot. I noticed a mostly mid-20s to mid-30s crowd, some of whom had brought their dogs to sniff out the outdoor area. Weeknights are still pretty slow, but weekends and special events (like their recent Cinco de Mayo party) tend to pack in a healthy crowd. The bartenders are ultra-helpful and seem truly excited to be part of such a cool new space. (Random note: Hub Streat’s special events coordinator is an actual circus performer. So don’t be surprised if you notice acrobats ensuing.)
What I Didn’t Like: I like the idea of video games in the pavilion, but golf games are the worst (in my opinion!). Maybe some pinball machines and old-school Pacman arcade games are on the way?
What I Did Like: With the recent developments downtown, the east side of Plano (my hometown) has really picked up a great nightlife scene. Hub Streat might remind you of Truck Yard or The Rustic or even Foundry, but here in Plano, this place is the first of its kind—and an indicator that this boring old suburb is on the rise.
