The Dallas Arts District has a new standout. ASTRA Kitchen + Lounge made its debut on Wednesday, March 4 at 1717 Leonard Street inside the luxury HALL Arts Hotel. The restaurant takes over the former Ellie’s—named for Hall Group founder and CEO Craig Hall’s mother—with a reimagined concept rooted in art and atmosphere.
At its center is Asteroid, a 2019 light installation by artist Spencer Finch. Composed of 360 LED fixtures designed to mirror the molecular structure of an asteroid, the piece serves as both focal point and philosophy, reflecting ASTRA’s aim to bring together art, drink, cuisine, and connection—much like the cultural district it now calls home.
“ASTRA is really about bringing people together,” Hall said in a release. “It’s a place to enjoy great food, great wine, and great conversation surrounded by art and design that feels welcoming, not intimidating. That’s always been at the heart of HALL Arts Hotel.”
The menu replaces Ellie’s Mediterranean-leaning take on American cuisine with a new lineup of “elevated Americana” fare. Executive chef Miguel Antonio, whose resume includes JW Steakhouse, as well as time in Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck and Fearing’s, leads the kitchen.
Antonio’s menu satiates a wide range of craving, kicking off with pressed sushi, charcuterie, French onion deviled eggs, tuna tartare, and smoked trout dip. Signatures balance trends with tradition. There’s the Don’t Tell My Trainer, a playful girl dinner trio of caesar salad, Parmesan-dusted fries, and a martini. Beef Wellington Bites offer a bite-sized take on the dish, a classic having a major resurgence in Dallas. And, handhelds check every box including a hot chicken sandwich, veggie burger, smash burger, and fish tacos.
Wellington takes center stage with two entrée options. The classic features 6-ounce filet wrapped in prosciutto and umami mushroom deuxelles, then baked in a flaky, buttery puffed pastry. A vegetarian version swaps the beef for mushrooms, onions, pecans, herbs, and vegetables.
The beverage program follows a similarly expansive path. The menu is complemented by HALL Wines from founders Craig and Kathryn Hall’s Napa Valley vineyard. Since 2003, the couple have restored and operated the historic 1885 St. Helena Bergfeld Winery. The sprawling vineyard spans more than 500 acres and focuses on sustainable, technology-forward practices. Cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc are staples on ASTRA’s wine list.
Cocktails skew theatrical and embrace indulgence, as in a martini flight served with a caviar bump. The flight includes a sweet Alaskan Martini with yellow chartreuse and gin; a Vesper Martini, known for its role in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale; and a good ol’ fashioned classic.
The starry restaurant’s namesake cocktail, ASTRA, is a galactic purple blend of tequila, orange liquor, muddled blackberries, lime, and simple syrup, finished with an edible glitter and a rock candy stick.
If the concept is about energy and convergence, the high-energy opening night reflected it well. A crowd of Dallas tastemakers and social regulars filled the space as it was unveiled on March 4, moving between indoor and outdoor lounge areas as a live DJ set carried the evening.
That momentum is set to continue. Beginning Thursday, April 9, the restaurant will introduce ASTRA Hour, a twice-weekly event held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays featuring drink specials, music, surprises, and a more casual entry point into one of the district’s most design-forward new arrivals.
Astra Kitchen + Lounge, 1717 Leonard St., Dallas, astradallas.com
