Advertisement

Food

Italian restaurant il Bracco has opened in busy Park Cities shopping center

Updated on June 1, 2019 after the restaurant opened

Two Dallas men with resumes from Hillstone Restaurant Group have opened a new Italian restaurant. They've stayed close to the brand they know well: New restaurant il Bracco will be located on the same corner as Hillstone at the Plaza at Preston Center, located at Preston Road and Northwest Highway in University Park.

il Bracco's CEO, Robert Quick, is an SMU grad and former football player who worked for Thomas Keller. Its COO, Matt Gottlieb, has been the general manager for several Hillstone restaurants. Quick, too, worked for Hillstone, in Newport Beach and San Francisco.

Advertisement

If Dallasites love Hillstone — and so many do — it bodes well that this new restaurant's CEO and COO have experience there.

Eat Drink D-FW

The latest food and drink reviews, recipes and info on the D-FW food scene.

Or with:

Matt Gottlieb, left, and Robert Quick are behind il Bracco in the Plaza at Preston Center.
Matt Gottlieb, left, and Robert Quick are behind il Bracco in the Plaza at Preston Center.(Courtesy of White Unicorn Agency)
Advertisement

Quick and Gottlieb's new restaurant serves house-made focaccia, meatballs and burrata salad. Pastas are made in-house and include spicy gemelli, bolognese and marsala with trumpet mushrooms; diners can also order entrees like eggplant parmesan or chicken piccata.

Many of the recipes are Quick's, from his time training at the Culinary Institute of America in Northern California and studying under Keller.

Of course, these Dallas restaurateurs know their audience, and il Bracco will have a patio that seats nearly 50 people. About 100 will fit inside, including at the bar.

Advertisement

The restaurant arrives at a time when Italian spots are hot in North Texas. In the past year, The Charles, Circo, Fachini, Perfect Union and Da Mario have opened. In the two years before then, Piattello Italian Kitchen, Sassetta and Sprezza made fairly high-profile debuts.

Il Bracco is at 8416 Preston Center Plaza, University Park, next to Corner Bakery.

(Courtesy of White Unicorn Agency)