Courtney E. Smith is the editor of Eater Dallas. She’s a journalist who was born and raised in Texas, although she spent time living in NYC and LA as well. Owning a restaurant is a hard business, with thin profit margins, difficult landlords, and a host of staffing issues – and that’s before they even let the customers in. DFW lost some great restaurants in 2024. Local chefs, owners, and food writers weigh in on the closings that hurt the hardest.