Table Talk

Look for a new place to enjoy a freshly brewed pint in the Shops at Legacy when Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant opens its first Texas location next month. The restaurant, founded 20 years ago in Palo Alto, Calif., pairs casual New American cuisine (think pecan-crusted salmon, barbecue chicken sandwiches and gourmet pizzas) with a half-dozen brewed-on-premises beers, including a Hefeweizen, a Märzen (a dry lager) and a Schwarzbier (black beer). The brewery abides by the (now repealed but still respected) centuries-old German beer purity law known as Reinheitsgebot, and its award-winning beers are created from only four ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast. Dallas native and Gordon Biersch veteran Jon Baker will be general manager when the Plano location opens May 19.

Take five

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is coming to Galleria Dallas. The popular fast-casual chain is famed for its fresh, never-frozen beef patties; hand-cut, Cajun-spiced fries; and complimentary burger toppings ranging from sautéed mushrooms and green peppers to fried onions and jalapeños. Other items on the brief menu include hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. Complimentary in-shell peanuts are available as a de facto appetizer while diners are waiting on their cooked-to-order burgers. The Virginia-based franchise, founded in 1986 by insurance salesman Jerry Murrell and his family, has stores open or in the works in two dozen states.

Back to the Rancho

Lakewood institution Matt's Rancho Martinez has long been revered for its Bob Armstrong dip and raisin-studded chiles rellenos. Last month, legendary restaurateur Matt Martinez Jr. birthed an outpost of his namesake eatery in the new Uptown Village at Cedar Hill complex. The celebrated Tex-Mex spot will soon be getting some new neighbors in the open-air retail center: Patrizio, Razzoo's Cajun Cafe, Maui Wowi and Italia Express are among the other restaurants scheduled to open there this spring and summer.

Kitchen confidential

There's a new face behind the stove at Kitchen 1924 . Ke'o Velasquez, whose résumé includes stints at Hotel ZaZa's Dragonfly and Ferré Ristorante e Bar, has taken the reins as executive chef of the popular Lakewood restaurant. The Hawaiian native's first task: creating a number of new seasonal dishes that will reflect his Big Island heritage. In addition to his new cooking gig, the 28-year-old chef serves as CEO of Lagatia Corp., which provides financial management software for the restaurant industry.

Into the drink

Tipplers can get shaken and stirred this week as the Palm Restaurant in the West End debuts a new menu of premium cocktails. The handcrafted drinks, created by "celebrity mixologists" Willy Shine and Aisha Sharpe, include the Screaming Mimi (vodka and orange liqueur with strawberry purée, lemon juice and champagne), the Gentle Palm (whiskey, pomegranate juice and black tea with muddled blackberries and strawberries) and the Cat's Meow (citrus-flavored vodka and elderflower liqueur with lemon juice, fresh mint and a splash of soda).

Master piece theater

Far North Dallas diners can feast their eyes on some pepperoni-laden works of art when Picasso's Pizza and Grill opens its third branch at the Dallas North Tollway and Frankford Road next week. The family-friendly restaurant's original location has been a longtime Lake Highlands favorite for its gourmet pizzas and full menu of American fare available for dining in, takeout or delivery, and a spinoff launched about three years ago at Inwood and the Tollway. Like its older siblings, the Frankford Road location will offer an extensive menu ranging from coconut shrimp and Thai pasta to grilled pork chops and quesadillas, along with regular and Chicago-style pies topped with everything from Italian sausage and roasted peppers to caramelized pears and Gorgonzola cheese.

Bits and bites

•  Al-Amir has opened a second location on Belt Line Road in Addison. Like the sprawling Dallas original on Upper Greenville Avenue, the new locale features authentic Lebanese cuisine, belly dancers and hookah pipes.

• Poppy's Pizza and Pasta in Frisco Square has closed.

• Sweet Tomatoes has followed up its Dallas debut last October with a second branch on Matlock Road in Arlington. The all-you-can-eat buffet eatery specializes in made-from- scratch soups, salads and bakery goods. Future openings are planned for Irving and Southlake.

• Pollo Campero, the Guatamalan fried-chicken chain with a cultlike following, has opened a second Dallas location on Preston Road near the Bush Turnpike (972-867-9400). The rapidly expanding fast-food franchise has plans for as many as 40 area branches, including ones in Frisco, Plano and Rowlett and additional Dallas shops.

Kim Harwell is a Dallas food writer.