The July edition of Where to Eat, our monthly column recommending the best restaurants to try, has a special theme. These five restaurants are not the same. For some reason, each of them has an unexpected appearance, whether it is a hipster club, a restaurant that opens quietly, or a wine and dessert destination.
Here’s the latest edition of Where to Eat right now:
Ellen’s Casa Linda
East Dallas’ Casa Linda neighborhood is the newest addition to this beloved all-day dining restaurant that originated in downtown Dallas’ West End. Ellen’s new location is located at 1152 N. Bucker Blvd., in a new building that was originally planned to be the location of the Snooze an AM Eatery chain, where owners Joe Groves, Russell Mertz, and Andrew Chooljian are looking forward to renewing Ellen’s home cooking, delicious food, service hours, all day. They are known for steaks, fried chicken, and breakfast/brunch dishes such as shrimp & grits and “pie pie” with pancakes topped with sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, brownies, fried eggs, and cheddar cheese. With a menu and customer-friendly hours, they’re ready to fill the space left by two departures: Barbec’s, a breakfast spot on Garland Road, and the popular Highland Park Cafeteria, both of which closed in 2020.
Kate Weiser Chocolate
The chocolate shop at Trinity Groves has expanded in size with a seating area for dessert and wine on site. Dishes like Strawberries & Cream with angel food cake, vanilla rice pudding, lemon madeleines, strawberries, & guava; Chocolate & Peanut Butter with devil cake, salted caramel brownies, cinnamon marshmallow cream, cocoa nib crumble, & peanut butter cremeux; and fondue with waffle bites and fruit. There are also cakes, brownies, and a quartet of cool desserts like vanilla cheesecake eggs on a stick, dipped in Valrhona 72% chocolate. The wine selection includes three reds, two whites, and one rosé, $8 to $15 per glass.
LadyLove
The former Dallas Grilled Cheese Co. hipster hot spot. in Oak Cliff is from David Grover and Kate Siamro, owners of Spinster Records, a vinyl record store in Bishop Arts. It’s a restaurant and lounge where the walls are lined with vinyl records, and sultry music is always playing in the background, with some nights dedicated to social music, and other dance nights. Their food and drink menu is limited, with interesting cocktails and a small selection of tapas-style dishes. “Ya Voy” is the brightest drink they offer, boasting a tropical blue color, with vodka, Uruapan Charanda, Combier Blue Curaçao, Passion Fruit Foam.
Renny’s, Maguire’s Bar & Grill
The new restaurant in the former Slater’s 50/50 (and at one time Rockfish Grill) in Preston-Forest comes from Dallas restaurateur Mark Maguire, who is creating a spinoff of Maguire, his longtime North Dallas restaurant, featuring American dishes with a modern twist. It’s a low-key but varied menu, with something in every category, from appetizers to salads to entrees to sandwiches. As always, they’re still offering signature steaks and Thai beef salad but they’re also serving up Angus burgers, spicy Korean appetizers, blackened shrimp tacos, tomato & feta dip and focaccia skillet, tuna with soba noodles & Asian slaw, and Southwest chicken Cobb with black beans, avocado, corn.
Tequila Social
A new Tex-Mex restaurant is opening on July 24 with a lofty view of Dallas’ Katy Trail. Located at 3100 McKinnon St. #G100, is another idea from the Harwood Hospitality Group (Dolce Riviera, Elephant East, Happiest Hour, Harwood Arms, Magnolias: Sous Le Pont, Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens, Mercat Bistro, Poco Fiasco, Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, Te Deseo, and The Grove at Harwood) – but alcoholic drinks, frobru , Tex-Me on the floor this week, Tex-Men on the floor, Tex-Men on the flame on Sunday, and its “comfortable West Texas” as inspiration. The menu, created by Harwood Hospitality VP Taylor Kearney, includes cheese queso, empanadas, fajitas, cheese enchiladas, a cheeseburger, and a commendable, meat-free item: Marinated Watermelon Salad with arugula, walnuts, avocado, pico de gallo, and tajin vinaigrette. They will have margaritas in many flavors such as blueberry basil, blood orange coconut, and frozen creamsicle margarita. Note: Opens on July 24th.
