Add another tick to the win column for Duro Hospitality.
Less than a month after making its Preston Center District debut this past July, the restaurant group’s Scilla has already become one of the toughest restaurants in town to snag a dinner reservation. Luckily, they rolled out lunch service on July 31, following through on the promise to be an all-day destination that delivers coastal Italian vibes, making it much easier to get a table.
Scilla is located on the ground floor of the recently opened 8111 Douglas multi-use tower near Preston Center. Google Maps and other GPS apps may lead you to a drop-off point on a street called Frederick Square instead of the valet area outside the restaurant entrance, which faces Douglas Ave. If you don’t see a patio filled with tables and umbrellas, drive around the corner. (The gorgeous patio should be open very soon.)
Once you walk through the doors, any hunting you did to find the entrance will be rewarded by the sight of a breathtaking bar, accented in rich mauves, pinks, and taupes, with marble, tile, and hand-painted murals used throughout the space to create an elegant, old-world atmosphere that transports you to Europe in an instant. Or the town of Scilla, Italy, to be more precise.
The darkened bar area serves as a communal meeting space with a dining room on either side, each brightened by the natural light allowed to flood in for a quite cheerful vibe that’s dressed up but casual enough not to be stuffy. And speaking of dressed up, make sure to review the dress code, which ensures a refined dining experience.
From the moment you check in at the host stand, the service is warm and attentive, with a staff that delivers Southern hospitality without overplaying it. Servers, bussers, and food runners are quick to engage, whether offering menu suggestions or escorting a guest to the restrooms. Order an iced tea, and you’ll be offered sweeteners, fresh mint, and a choice of lemon, lime, or orange slices. Pastas ordered for the table are portioned tableside, while leftovers are packed away from the table. Little details make a big impact, and together they add up to a seamless, intuitively serviced dining experience.
The lunch and dinner menus follow the same general format, with sections devoted to the raw bar, pastas, pizzas, and wood-grilled proteins. But the offerings within each category shift depending on the time of day, giving each menu its own identity rather than simply repeating the same dishes from lunch through dinner.
One lunch-only dish worth seeking out is the crab salad. Whether shared with the table or ordered as a light but satisfying summer entrée, it makes a strong impression. Mixed greens are tossed with fresh strawberries and candied pistachios in a labneh vinaigrette, then topped with a generous portion of sweet lump crab meat.
The salmon pizza, topped with house-cured Ora King salmon, yogurt, lightly pickled onions, and fresh dill, leans decidedly brunchy, especially when paired with a glass of wine or bubbly—even on a Tuesday. The squash blossom pizzas arriving at nearby tables looked equally enticing.
Bluefin tuna crudo with tomato tartare, prawn scampi trotolle (a thick, spiraled pasta), and a grilled Ora King salmon quinoa bowl are all well suited to a lighter lunch. But if a small splurge is in order, the petit filet with charred broccolini is a standout. Tender, flavorful, and expertly prepared, it satisfies a craving for steak without feeling excessive. With hits across the menu, repeat visits practically guarantee the discovery of new favorites.
For a little something sweet to eat—or drink—Scilla’s shaved ice options offer a cooling finish. It serves as the base for the elegant Sicilian Lemon, a half lemon filled with lightly sweet and tangy lemon curd. Or try the Sicilian Shaved Ice, made with Duro Socorro Joven Tequila, blood orange, and pineapple. It’s finished tableside and, somewhat counterintuitively, flambéed for a bit of refined spectacle.
Scilla is now open daily at 11 a.m., with dinner service beginning at 4:30 p.m. Reservations are available via OpenTable. With good food, gracious service, and just enough spectacle, Scilla has all the makings of a Dallas dining darling.
Scilla, 8111 Douglas Ave., Dallas, scilla-coastal.com
