Restaurants: general news/development

[exelone31]

Wild Detectives is a real gem, so I have high hopes for Sketches of Spain. Can't wait!

[Redblock]

Here's a mega list of restaurant openings put together by CultureMap.

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/resta ... -openings/

[itsjrd1964]

Pass The Ketchup, Whataburger, A New Burger Joint Is Coming To Texas

I think this is about the third time I've heard this in recent years, but apparently Fatburger, the west coast fast food chain, wants to come to TX with 25 locations. Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio are all mentioned, but no location or timeline specifics were part of the article.

https://bisnow.com/houston/news/retail/ ... xas-100108

[jetnd87]

Loro from Tyson Cole / Aaron Franklin in Austin coming to East Dallas...https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/20 ... st-dallas/

[cowboyeagle05]

Too bad it looks like it will be a suburban-style building with parking lot upfront.

[DPatel304]

I actually think this is great news. Considering what is currently there, and considering the location, I wouldn't really expect anything more than a suburban style restaurant, so I'm completely happy with it. These guys have quite the reputation, so to have them invest in this area is a great sign.

[Matt777]

I actually think this is great news. Considering what is currently there, and considering the location, I wouldn't really expect anything more than a suburban style restaurant, so I'm completely happy with it. These guys have quite the reputation, so to have them invest in this area is a great sign.

Eh, I'd rather us stick with Dallas based concepts and grow our own unique food scene. Austin restaurateurs seem to be invading and if it harms our own scene, we just become a satellite chainville of Austin concepts. I fear for Pecan Lodge once Austin-based Terry Black's BBQ opens in Deep Ellum, because I don't know if there's enough business to go around and Terry Black's probably has deeper pockets.

There's already a wonderful Japanese BBQ place nearby called Niwa. Will they be pushed out too by what's newer and shinier? Is this a takeover strategy that Austin restaurateurs are taking by opening up shop right by a matching Dallas concept?

Also, Asian BBQ from a pair of white chefs? Eye roll over here. Very Austin.

[DPatel304]

What you're talking about has been happening both ways, and Dallas-based establishments also 'invade' other cities such as Austin. This is just what happens when a restaurant becomes sucessful, they expand, and sometimes to other cities. We've been getting restaurants from various cities across the country, and have exported our own restaurants to other cities as well. This has been happening forever, and I don't really see the issue with it, especially since it sounds like we're talking about a handful of restaurants coming from Austin.

If this creates a more competitive market, then so be it. People are moving here in droves, so I'd imagine that there is more than enough business to go around. If other restaurants end up failing as a result, then that's just the nature of things. I know it's unfortunate, but we shouldn't deny new businesses setting up shop here to try and protect our own. That just seems absurd and a recipe for failure.

I see this as a win because a well-known team from out of town has decided that this part of Dallas is deseriable enough to invest their money into. It's a great sign for this particular area.

Also, Asian BBQ from a pair of white chefs? Eye roll over here. Very Austin.

I'm not sure why this would be considered an 'Austin' thing. Asian-fusion restaurants are popping up all over the country in every cities' trendy areas. I don't find anything unique about what Austin is doing in their city, so I always get confused when people say something is 'very Austin'.

[jetnd87]

Having been to both, Loro and Niwa are two entirely different things / concepts. Loro is more of an American BBQ with Asian flavors. Niwa is more a traditional Japanese style BBQ, but not remotely BBQ in the American sense of the word. I'd think they'd have very little true overlap.

[exelone31]

I think this is great news for the area, and definitely welcome concepts from other cities. If the food is great, it doesn't really matter to me who is cooking it.

As for Pecan Lodge, I think they will be just fine, and adding Black's BBQ to the area shouldn't totally knock out their business. Pecan Lodge is amazing. If anything, better places in areas outside of Deep Ellum would pose more of a risk, because that turns those areas into BBQ destinations instead.

[Matt777]

I think this is great news for the area, and definitely welcome concepts from other cities. If the food is great, it doesn't really matter to me who is cooking it.

As for Pecan Lodge, I think they will be just fine, and adding Black's BBQ to the area shouldn't totally knock out their business. Pecan Lodge is amazing. If anything, better places in areas outside of Deep Ellum would pose more of a risk, because that turns those areas into BBQ destinations instead.

Black's BBQ literally tried to destroy local institution Dallas Comedy Club by buying their building and then trying not to honor the existing lease, calling the fire department on them many times and creating fake fire violations to try to force them to give up their lease or go out of business. They were finally able to work something out after the press got a hold of the issue, but they will be getting zero dollars and cents from my pocketbook based off how they handled it.

"Nothing funny about carpetbaggers trying to run Dallas Comedy House out of Deep Ellum"
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm ... eep-ellum/

[DPatel304]

What does Black's BBQ have to do with Loro (aside from them both being from Austin)?

[Matt777]

What does Black's BBQ have to do with Loro (aside from them both being from Austin)?

Because my comment referenced the steady stream of Austin chefs opening restaurants in Dallas. How reciprocal is it? I know that the people I know in Austin shudder at the thought of eating in a Dallas based eatery. When I recommended they try Cane Rosso after they opened in Austin, it was like I was asking them to eat raw sewage.

I may be overreacting but our food scene is notoriously fragile. Restaurants seem to have a hard time making it, even good ones. Closures abound. The market is saturated. I would rather protect what we have to maintain a unique Dallas food scene rather than the likes of Uchi, Terry Black's, Loro, TacoDeli, and Torchys take over every corner in Dallas. Call me crazy, that's fine, but you will NEVER see Dallas concepts taking over Austin. Outside of Cane Rosso, I can't think of one restaurant a DFW chef has made popular in Austin. They protect their scene and culture regardless of how much one may like it or not.

Of course we can't "stop" them from coming to Dallas, but we certainly don't have to eat there or support them.

And regarding Black's, how many people do you think are planning to eat BBQ in Deep Ellum every day? Enough for two very high volume BBQ shops (I doubt it)? Why did Black's choose a location practically next to the most successful Dallas BBQ joint versus another busy area? If you don't think Pecan Lodge was on the target list for Black's, then one would not really understand how the restaurant industry really works especially when notable chef's egos are added to the mix. It is definitely targeted to take market share from a local institution and definitely carpetbagging.

[DPatel304]

We are a rapidly growing city and there are going to be people moving into DFW from all over every day, including from Austin. I don't have a problem with it, in fact, I welcome the growth and change. I just really despise the 'us' vs. 'them' mentality. I spent 1.5 years in Austin and couldn't take the toxic attitude that some people there have towards outsiders (mainly Dallasites). I'd hate for DFW to also adapt the same attitude.

I'm a firm believer in the free market, and would hate to try and step in and 'protect' our own against outside business. If restaurants here are failing, then clearly they need to up their game, it's as simple as that. I would love to see more Dallas-based restaurants, but they also need to prove their worth and actually provide a decent product, otherwise they will fail.

I think it may seem like Austin has a better local scene, but that might likely be because it's just a small market. Up until recently, it was likely too small for other people to really care too much to invest it. We're definitely seeing that change though, so, as the city grows, we'll likely see more chains come into the city. We're also overlooking all the older/longer-standing Dallas changes that have long since been in the city like 7-11, Macaroni Grill, etc..

I understand what Black's did was super shady, but, again, I don't see why we should hold this against the team behind Loro. Just because they happen to come from the same city?

[exelone31]

I don't mind an influx of restaurants from Austin, Houston, wherever. If the food is good, then great! If those cities don't care for Dallas restaurants moving there, then too bad. It's their loss.

I haven't eaten at Pecan Lodge since they moved to Deep Ellum because of the lines, I doubt that I am alone.

Plus, you've got all the folks who frequented Uptown that will soon be discovering Deep Ellum, so I don't think Pecan Lodge will be hurting.

[Hannibal Lecter]

Black's BBQ literally tried to destroy local institution Dallas Comedy Club by buying their building and then trying not to honor the existing lease, calling the fire department on them many times and creating fake fire violations to try to force them to give up their lease or go out of business. They were finally able to work something out after the press got a hold of the issue, but they will be getting zero dollars and cents from my pocketbook based off how they handled it.

Amen.

[Hannibal Lecter]

And regarding Black's, how many people do you think are planning to eat BBQ in Deep Ellum every day? Enough for two very high volume BBQ shops (I doubt it)?

There's plenty of demand. Baker's Rib did very well competing against Pecan Lodge for years, and they were in the building next to where Black's is going. They only moved out because their building got sold.