This fall, we're feeling like little kids, ready to jump into a pile of leaves. The arrival of autumn has brought us a heap of restaurant news, big enough to reach across many cities in Dallas and to many cuisines. So go ahead: Jump in.
New restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth are listed in alphabetical order.
The Artisan in downtown Dallas
For a casual lunch or dinner, the Dallas Arts District is now home to a market-style eatery called The Artisan. It's located at Hall Arts, a building that houses upscale restaurant Stephan Pyles Flora Street Cafe and an Asian restaurant called Musume. The Artisan sells sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and daily entrees from a walk-up counter. On Friday and Saturday evenings only, the Artisan Terrace is open -- and it might be a good option for drink before or after a show at the Winspear Opera House or Meyerson Symphony Center.
The Artisan is open now at 2330 Flora St., Suite 300, Dallas. theartisandallas.com.
Circo in Uptown Dallas
Italian-American restaurant Circo is one of the glammiest new restaurants in Dallas. It's meant to feel that way, too, with its walls decorated with letters from celebrities like Ivanka Trump and glitzy flourishes such as a circular staircase meant to resemble a big chandelier. Downstairs, it's an Italian-American restaurant (and wear your trendiest outfit); upstairs, there are two pools and a resort-style setting. Many of the flourishes honor New York City restaurateur Sirio Maccioni's original Circo. Get the name right before you go: It's "CHEER-koh."
- Circo is open now at 2619 McKinney Ave., Dallas. circotx.com.
Cow Tipping Creamery in Carrollton
Pack up your kids and take 'em to Cow Tipping Creamery in Carrollton, a fun ice cream shop with giant servings. If the name sounds familiar, this company used to sell soft-serve ice cream from a truck in Carrollton. Now there's a real restaurant, located where the now-closed Monkey King Noodle Company was. (There was also a Cow Tipping Creamery in East Dallas, but that one has closed. Existing locations are in Frisco and Austin.) The thing to get at CTC is a stacker: soft-serve ice cream piled with stuff. The Reese's Witha'spoon, for example, is a swirl of soft-serve topped with peanut butter blondie bar chunks, brown-sugar hot fudge, peanut butter sauce and peanut butter chips. So, you know: healthy.
Cow Tipping Creamery is open now, but only Thursdays through Sundays, at 1309 S. Broadway St., Carrollton. cowtippingcreamery.com.
Hudson House in Addison
Hudson House, a popular restaurant in the Park Cities, has expanded to Addison. While the restaurant specializes in seafood, the cheeseburger and chicken parmesan might argue they're the stars. Which is kind of the vibe here: The menu is classic, and there are plenty of options for adults and kids. Co-founder Hunter Pond (who is also behind East Hampton Sandwich Co., which has grown to 10 Texas restaurants), says Hudson House has "an obsession with East Coast oysters." Check out happy hour, at the bar from 4-6 p.m. every day, when martinis, cheeseburgers and those East Coast oysters are are half off.
- Hudson House opens Sept. 25 at 4933 Belt Line Road, Addison. hudsonhousehp.com.
Jack's Kitchen in Lakewood
Jack's Kitchen chef and founder Scott Jones has turned his catering storefront in Lakewood into a sit-down restaurant. The menu is mostly Southern, with dishes like deconstructed deviled eggs and shrimp and grits tamales. Anything with a biscuit or a pastry crust -- take, Jones' duck confit hand pies, or his panzanella salad made with buttermilk biscuit croutons -- show off his pastry skills. The menu also includes fried chicken with sour-cream mashed potatoes, lobster and dumplings, and pork belly served with butter beans.
Jack's Kitchen is open now at 6041 Oram St., Dallas. Check hours before you go; it's open for lunch on weekdays and for dinner Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only. jackskitchen.com.
Kai in Plano
The Lombardi family -- who brought French restaurant Toulouse, Italian restaurant Taverna, schmancy spot Bistro 31 and more to Dallas -- are launching their latest, Kai. The new Japanese restaurant opens in Legacy West, a hot spot for foodies in Collin County. (Notably, the Lombardi family has had something to do with that: Kai is their third Legacy West restaurant, behind Taverna and Toulouse.) The restaurant group also planned on opening a restaurant called Kai in Dallas in 2016, but a spokeswoman says this Plano restaurant is different. Kai is a robata, and its chefs cook over a very hot flame that can reach 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kai opens Oct. 7 at 7301 Windrose Ave., Suite C200, Plano (inside Legacy West). facebook.com/KaiPlanoLegacyWest.
Merchant House in Dallas
The question you should ask yourself at Merchant House in Dallas is: Do I want to share? The menu is split up into "selfless" options -- which customers will share with their tablemates -- and "selfish" options, sized for just one person. The menu, like the decor, is eclectic: there's hummus, and Korean-barbecue-style fried chicken, and ceviche. The decor is navy, white and black in one room; mustard and grass-green in another. Consider it for bigger groups or happy hours, as there's also a comfortable upstairs area with a bar.
Merchant House is open now at 4040 Maple Ave., Dallas. merchanthouse.argconcepts.com.
Mesero in Victory Park
Victory Park, the neighborhood near the American Airlines Center, is staging a major foodie comeback. It's too early to tell whether the restaurant boom there will stick, but one thing's for sure: There is a lot happening. Mesero, a well-known Mexican restaurant with several established locations, is expected to open in the middle of the Victory Park renovation in the fall. Expect all the same stuff here as at other Mesero restaurants: queso fundido, enchiladas tejanos, carnitas tacos and more.
- Mesero opened Oct. 1 at 2375 Victory Park Lane, Suite 180, Dallas. mesero.net.
Original ChopShop in Plano
The original Original ChopShop opened in Arizona in 2013. But its launch into Texas now means we have Original ChopShops in Las Colinas and Plano, with more on the way. The restaurants have a Chip and Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper vibe, with shiplap on the walls, white chairs and pops of color. The menu focuses on protein bowls, sandwiches, salads and fresh juices. We'll call it healthyish, a place where you can count calories but don't have to.
Original ChopShop is now open at 5717 Legacy Drive, Suite 180, Plano. originalchopshop.com.
Slater's 50/50 in Preston Hollow
The slogan at Slater's 50/50 is burgers, bacon, beer. You're listening, yeah? Texas' first Slater's 50/50 landed on Greenville Avenue in Dallas in mid 2017, and now the second one is landing just a bit north, at Preston Road and Forest Lane, in Preston Hollow. The name, Slater's 50/50, refers to the burgers made with 50 percent ground beef and 50 percent ground bacon. And the menu is full of burgers of all kinds: turkey, beef, tuna and plenty of the 50/50 bacon/beef variety. Sides and appetizers include loaded fries, crispy Brussels sprouts and deconstructed guacamole. For anyone still hungry, there's a pretty serious milkshake menu, too.
- Slater's 50/50 is now open at 11661 Preston Road, Suite 153, Dallas. slaters5050.com.
Unleavened Fresh Kitchen in Dallas' Snider Plaza
The first Unleavened Fresh Kitchen launched in Lakewood in mid 2015, and three years later, the company has four D-FW restaurants. The latest is in Snider Plaza in Dallas and opened in mid September 2018. Unleavened is a fast-casual breakfast, lunch and dinner spot that is best known for its wraps and salads. One fun tidbit: Peek at "the lab" in Snider Plaza; it's the company's test kitchen.
- Unleavened Fresh Kitchen is open now at 6632 Snider Plaza, Dallas. unleavened.com.
The Yard in McKinney
Could McKinney get any better for families? We would have said no, but a new, family-friendly place called The Yard proves otherwise. The Yard is a backyard restaurant built into a home that's well over 100 years old. There's lots to do outside, like hang out on the porch, sit around a fire pit, or let your littles frolic in a kid-sized playhouse. The slogan is "All of the fun of a yard, with none of the yard work." The picnic-y menu includes shared apps like beer cheese dip or carne asada nachos, followed by burgers, tacos and fajitas. There's three frozen cocktails for moms and dads who need a break, among many other alcoholic options.
- The Yard is open now at 107 S. Church St., McKinney. yardtx.com.
