From Design District Glam To The Neighborhood Gems You’ll Crave All Year
The DFW dining scene moves fast, and if you blink, you’ll miss the reservation everyone’s suddenly chasing or the cocktail that’s quietly becoming the city’s next calling card. Plates and Pours is your monthly insiders’ digest of what’s actually happening across Dallas restaurants and bars; new openings worth the hype, chef moves, and menu drops, wine dinners to book before they sell out, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) shifts shaping how the city eats and drinks right now. Think of it as the notes passed at the table: where to go, what to order, and why it matters, before everyone else catches on, according to our own dining aficionado, Cynthia Smoot.
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market has just opened in Peston Center, bringing an expansive food menu, curated cocktail program, and over 100 taps, along with a rooftop patio complete with bocce ball, to the neighborhood. Brought to life by Founder PJ L’Heureux and President & COO Scott Frank in partnership with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and Moxies Restaurants, the Dallas restaurant marks the brand’s first Texas location.
The menu features guest favorites, including Miso Salmon, Korean Sticky Ribs, Crispy Salmon Sushi, and the Brewmaster chicken sandwich, alongside bowls, steaks, pastas, and shareable starters, with weekend brunch served until 2 p.m. The drink menu includes cocktails such as the Strawberry Mezcalrita, Oak-Aged Old Fashioned, Espresso Shaft, and Rosé Lemonade, as well as local Dallas breweries, including Peticolas Brewing Company and Celestial Beerworks, plus premium wines and spirits. Guests can visit the restaurant on weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. for happy hour, offering discounts on bites like the Spicy Ahi Tacos, Queen Bee Pizza, and CRAFT Smash Burger alongside a variety of brews, wines, and signature drinks.
On April 9, Celebrity Chef Tiffany Derry is bringing a new gastro pub, sports bar, and social lounge called The Landing to EpicCentral in Grand Prairie. The chef-driven destination invites guests to gather for elevated comfort food, crafted cocktails, live entertainment, and big-screen game-day energy. The Landing promises to bring together the buzz of a sports bar, the warmth of a neighborhood hangout, and the polish of a social lounge. The Landing offers shareable, comfort-forward dishes such as smashburgers, wings, and other craveable favorites, alongside crafted cocktails, spirit-free options, watch parties, live entertainment, and community-driven programming…