Duro Hospitality is adding another ambitious restaurant to its growing Dallas portfolio, this time turning its attention to the Italian coast.
The hospitality group behind some of North Texas’ most celebrated restaurants—including the Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante, Café Duro, Casa Duro, Norman’s Japanese Grill, and Fort Worth’s the Chumley House—will debut Scilla on Friday, July 17, in the Preston Center district.
Occupying the ground floor of the newly completed 8111 Douglas office tower, the restaurant represents a slight shift for the Michelin-recognized group’s lineup. Rather than focusing solely on dinner, Scilla is designed as an all-day destination, equally suited for business lunches, afternoon aperitivi, lingering dinners, and late-evening cocktails.
“From the beginning, this project was driven by its location,” said Duro Hospitality founding partner Chas Martin in a statement. “The surrounding neighborhood, residential density, and business community created an opportunity for something we felt was missing—a place where guests can enjoy a business lunch, meet for an afternoon aperitivo, or settle in for dinner several times a week. We wanted to create a restaurant that feels like an escape while remaining deeply connected to the rhythm of everyday life.”
Named for the seaside village of Scilla in Italy’s Calabria region, the restaurant takes its cues from Mediterranean coastal living, pairing seafood-forward Italian cooking with an atmosphere intended to feel like an escape. The name also carries personal significance for Martin, whose father affectionately called his mother, Priscilla, “Scilla.”
The menu leans heavily into the sea, beginning with snacks like lobster arancini, gnocco fritto, and boquerones on toast before moving into crudos, seafood towers, and house-made pastas. Larger plates range from wood-grilled branzino and whole red snapper to za’atar lamb kabobs, Wagyu ribeye, and a seafood-focused paella. While rooted in Italian tradition, the menu leaves room for broader Mediterranean influences.
The beverage program follows a similarly adventurous approach. Wines will rotate daily, drawing from Italy, France, and Napa Valley, while the cocktail menu explores Italian classics through Duro Hospitality’s contemporary lens with spritzes, sours, and granitas—many finished tableside adding a dose of showmanship.
Designed by Duro partners Corbin and Ross See of See’s Design, the interiors are divided into two dining rooms connected by a central bar. One space embraces a livelier, theatrical energy, while the other offers a quieter, more intimate setting. Hand-painted murals, upholstered walls, and richly layered finishes create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from one of Dallas’ busiest commercial corridors.
“The restaurant exists very much as a space within a space,” explains Corbin in a statement. “From the exterior, there’s little indication of what’s waiting inside. We wanted entering Scilla to feel unexpected and transportive—as though you’ve discovered something hidden.”
Scilla opens this Friday and will initially serve dinner daily before expanding to lunch service in the coming weeks.
Scilla, 8111 Douglas Ave., Dallas, scilla-coastal.com
