Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, your weekly serving of Dallas’ restaurant, bar, and culinary happenings. From buzzy openings and chef moves to can’t-miss events, menu debuts, and industry news, here’s everything you need to know about the city’s dining scene this week.
The 411
Vandelay Companies opened its 12th Hudson House in Southlake on Monday, September 14. The East Coast-inspired neighborhood restaurant has legions of fans for its East Coast oysters (only $3 apiece during happy hour), sushi, burgers, lobster rolls, and beautiful entrée-sized salads. Their “World’s Coldest Martinis” are a big draw, too (and only $8 during happy hour!)
Last week, the Village Dallas announced chef Eduard Osorio as Culinary Director for the entire East Dallas community, overseeing the kitchens at on-site restaurants Over Under, Village Beach Club, Anise, and Buzz & Bustle, while continuing to lead as executive chef of Meridian. He’ll also mentor new culinary talent in this expanded role.
This October, Austin-based Guest House will open its fourth location in Dallas at 1900 Cedar Springs Rd. in Uptown, joining Las Vegas and Scottsdale. The concept aims to lure diners to a place where you can start with happy hour, transition to a dinner date, and then move on to late-night cocktails with music. Guest House boasts sophisticated New American fare (Wagyu pastrami, Maine diver wild scallops, and a famous $100 cheesesteak among the options), plus elevated interiors, and a menu section devoted exclusively to “theatrical cocktails.” Try the tequila-forward Magic Mushroom, which comes served in a “mini forest setting, accompanied by a seasonal citrus fog.”
Happenings
On Tuesday, September 15, Dallas-based Nothing Bundt Cakes will give away confetti bundlets to the first 300 customers at each location, for a total of more than 250,000 free Bundtlets nationwide. It’s part of the first annual National Bring the Joy Day, a holiday created by the brand. Look for Biscoff cookie butter cake and apple pie cake flavors as part of their fall lineup, too.
Each September 15-October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture, history, and numerous contributions of American citizens whose lineage traces back to Mexico, Spain, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. El Carlos Elegante honors the month-long commemoration with its Flavors of Heritage: The September Elegante Experience, a multi-course, chef-crafted tasting menu. For $99 per person, and the option to add a $55 upgrade for wine pairings or $50 for tequila, diners can experience the flavors of these countries and regions from September 16 through October 31.
S&D Oyster Company, the iconic Uptown seafood restaurant, commemorates an impressive five decades in business on Wednesday, September 16. Food and drink specials mark the 50th birthday all week long, but Wednesday will give you the chance to enjoy 50¢ oysters and half-off alcohol all day. The celebratory week concludes with a Saturday, September 19, event featuring live music from the Revelers Hall Band. Finally, in honor of the 1976 founding, grab a variety of S&D merch items for only $19.76.
El Dieciseis de Septiembre (Wednesday, September 16), marks Mexican Independence Day, a holiday celebrated across Mexico, unlike the Americanized Cinco de Mayo. To commemorate the big day, El Chico in Rockwall offers guests $5.99 Mug-a-Ritas and Top Shelf Guacamole all day. (Psssst…it’s also National Guacamole Day, so consider it a two birds-one stone celebration!)
Addison Oktoberfest returns from Thursday, September 17, to Sunday, September 20, at Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Cir. The Bavarian celebration features all the classic events, with the occasional Texas twist. Experience food, plenty of German bier (and plain ol’ beer), polka music, plus a dog-friendly Sunday Hund-Day and Dachshund Dash. New this year, a traditional masskrugstemmen challenge pits the Town of Addison Police and Fire Departments against each other. Participants hoist bier-filled steins in a test of endurance to see who’ll be the last one standing, or, in this case, the last one holding.
GrapeFest returns to Grapevine for its 40th edition this weekend, from Thursday, September 17, to Sunday, September 20. Experience a wide variety of wine-centered events, including tastings galore, grape stomping, champagne cork shooting, plus live music, a carnival and midway, a dedicated KidsZone, and a wide variety of art for purchase.
This Friday, September 18, is National Cheeseburger Day, and Burger Schmurger in East Dallas is giving fans the chance to score one of its signature Schmurger burgers for less than any fast-food drive-thru. Starting at 1 p.m., get a burger for $1, with the price increasing every hour on the hour until 4 p.m., when it tops out at $4 for the final hour of the promo.
Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on Friday, September 18, at Field & Vine at the Clara Hotel in Plano. The Field & Vine Burger, featuring smoked cheddar and pepper aioli with a side of truffle fries, can be yours for half price. That’s right, the normally $22 cheeseburger drops to only $11 from 4 to 10 p.m.
Make the drive to Waxahachie’s Scarborough Faire on Saturday, September 19, from 1 to 7 p.m. for the inaugural Texas Mead & Music Festival. The event brings together 13 Texas meaderies, including Bee & Brew, Lonestar Meadery, and Valkyrie’s Kiss Meadery, for a day of sipping the world’s oldest fermented beverage while listening to fantastic tunes from a variety of bands.
As part of the Crescent Hotel Fort Worth‘s monthly beverage dinner series, Clase Azul Tequila brings its tequilas to the intimate Blue Room for a four-course menu paired with four distinctive Clase Azul expressions. The dinner is $180 per person and takes place next week, on Wednesday, September 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. Dishes include scallop crudo with gooseberry salsa; a homemade tortilla with chorizo verde; a smoked New York strip topped with guajillo agave sauce; and a torte made with Abuela’s Mexican Chocolate.
On the Menu
Café Duro, the coffee shop next door to Sister on Lower Greenville, has released its new fall menu selections. Sip on a host of soon-to-be favorites, including pumpkin pecan cold brew, spiced hazelnut mocha, salted pistachio caramel iced latte, and a cookie butter latte with Biscoff-infused oat milk.
Twin Peaks has done a major menu overhaul, with a Peaks Sampler with six items, including mini tacos and fried ravioli; Game Day Franks on King’s Hawaiian rolls; a thick-cut smoked bone-in pork chop; and a new Good as Cluck chicken sandwich. The chain has also launched a new weekday lunch menu with options under $10, including Chicken Snackers (chicken tenders wrapped in flour tortillas) and a four-cheese ravioli skillet.
In Carrollton, Smoking Tiger Bread Factory debuted this past June. The modern Korean cafe taps into the hot banana trend with a signature banana milk latte, featuring espresso, banana milk, and vanilla bean cold foam. If banana’s not your thing, try the sweet corn latte with corn milk, espresso, and sweet corn foam. Make sure to grab one of the freshly baked pastries and breads, such as the unusual and squishy Ube Wakppu Salt Bread or the Kimchi Musubi Croissant.
