There's a lot to look forward to this fall in the Metroplex, with a spate of restaurant openings coming up faster than you can say "pumpkin spice." Here are seven new dining destinations to track over the few months, serving the best of New Zealand's seafood, French Riviera-inspired plates, Cajun fare, steak, and oh-so-much pizza.
Delays may come up, per usual, so projected opening dates could change.
Location: 2023 Greenville Ave.
Combine the relaxed, neighborhood vibes of Lowest Greenville with a chef who has worked at Georgie in Dallas, as well as the Greenhouse in London and Cafe Boulud in both New York City and Toronto, and the idea of a restaurant serving "contemporary global cuisine" takes on a different tenor. Chef and owner Toby Archibald, who hails from New Zealand, says he wants to offer the upscale experience of the Michelin-starred restaurants where he trained in a lowkey dining environment. The menu is set to offer local produce from Texas and highlight seafood and wines from New Zealand and Australia.
Location: 2828 N. Harwood St.
Pizza and martinis are the focus of this new Harwood Hospitality Group restaurant. That's a surefire recipe for success. The slices will be large and foldable with a crispy outer crust - we call that New York-style pizza. And in addition to their martini offerings, there will be a "build your own" menu with multiple varieties of vodka, gin, vermouth, and olives to mix and match. Also, guests can pick it up at the walk-through counter, which will open seven days a week.
Location: 5238 North O'Connor Blvd. Suite 134 in Las Colinas
Out by the Toyota Music Factory, some fine dining comes to the 'burbs. The concept of Monaco is inspired by the French Riviera, tapping into fare from the Mediterranean, Italy, and Southern France, which means a heartier plate of vegetables with bouillabaisses and sauces galore. It also plans to offer extensive and out of the ordinary wine selections from Greece, Portugal, Argentina, and beyond. Owner David Lamberti also has Lamberti's Ristorante in Irving, and the rest of the team is made up of Irving natives with backgrounds in the DFW food scene.
Location: 3838 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite P175
Miami is bringing pizza to Dallas - fancy pizza, that is. Southern Italian master pizza chef Renato Viola will open his first Texas outpost of O1 in Oak Lawn. On the menu, diners will find the Mister O1 specialty, the star-shaped pizza like the Star Beckham, filled with ricotta cheese and topped with mozzarella, bacon, onions, fresh tomatoes, ranch dressing, and basil.
Location: 2633 Gaston Ave.
A few Las Vegas groups are eyeing a move into Dallas, including the one behind the Saint, which a press release describes as "a trendy Italian steakhouse." The Vegas vibes will follow as this 4,000 sq. foot space opens in the place of what used to be Two Sisters. It will seat 300 guests and an additional 3,000 sq. feet outside, encompassing a roof deck and a downstairs patio. The menu will offer a robust option of steaks and pasta and be vegan and vegetarian friendly simultaneously.
Location: 122 E Exchange Ave., Suite 200 in Fort Worth
Chef Tim Love has been hard at work on this restaurant with a full music venue attached - and its slated to open in October. Located in Mule Alley, the Cajun-influenced cuisine offered will include plates such as grilled oysters, crawfish fritters, smoked cauliflower, a fried bologna sandwich, wild boar sloppy joes, and steak frites. With a music hall attached, the question of where to eat before the show has been answered.