Latest news with #EaterDallas
Eater
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Biggest Dallas Restaurant News This Month, May 2025
Catch up on the most exciting food and dining news of each month in Eater Dallas's newest column. The most popular news stories this month: 5. A Tale of Three Tasting Menus at Michelin-Recognized Restaurants in DFW Tasting menus are so hot right now, and three that Eater Dallas is particularly interested in, either for their Michelin recognition or their Beard awards, have launched new options this year. The chefs at Quarter Acre, Monarch, and the Heritage Table shared with us the details on what's on the menu, why they're offering it, and how Michelin influences their choices. 4. Where Do You Think Tom Cruise Should Eat Barbecue in Dallas? We asked, and you answered. Our inbox was full of suggestions, most of which Cruise did not opt for, but they certainly prompted us to add some bookmarks to our Google Maps list of places to go. Here were a few of the suggestions, in case you'd like to make a list yourself: Mike Anderson's Barbecue House, Kafi BBQ in Irving, Slow Bone BBQ, Records Barbecue, Marty B's in Bartonville, and Meshack's Bar-B-Que in Garland. 3. Tom Cruise Went to Pecan Lodge and All We Got Was a Confounding Instagram Post Talk about a media clusterfuck. Tom Cruise visited Pecan Lodge on Thursday, and no one shared any details about his visit with the media, such as what he ate, until late Friday afternoon. In fact, the only way we were able to confirm it was with a random Instagram post from one of the owners of Tribal All Day Cafe in the Bishop Arts. Anyway, here's a photo of Cruise at Pecan Lodge without his sunglasses on but absolutely not eating. 2. Where to Take Your Dallas Parent for Mother's Day Based on What Kind of Mom They Are A whole lot of y'all needed help figuring out Mother's Day this year, it would seem. Thank god that's over, right? Hope we helped. The Michelin-Recognized Birria Joint That Used to Be a Hidden Gem Very happy to find out that so many of you were also curious about what made this particular spot Michelin-worthy. In case you missed it: Tiffany Derry Spills the Tea on Her First Season as a 'MasterChef' Judge This much-lauded Dallas chef became the first Black woman to serve as a judge on MasterChef on Fox. We talked to her about how that happened and how she broke the news to her mentor Bobby Flay that she wasn't going to be on Triple Threat anymore. The Coolest Underground Dinner Party Series in Dallas Is in a Ceramics Showroom We got the chance to attend one of these last summer, when RJ Yoakum from Georgie hosted, and it was a blast. The folks at Marcello Andres have only amped up the talent they're working with for one-of-a-kind Kiln to Table dinner since. The Best Restaurants in Bishop Arts Our most popular map this month? Of course, it was an update to the Bishop Arts guide. There are so many new and interesting places down there. Have you been to Pillar? Maybe Little Blue Bistro? How about Michelin-recommended Stock & Barrel? Well, what are you waiting for? Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Reggae Jerk Hut Co-Owner Marsha Telfer's Guide to DFW Restaurants for a Self-Care Day
Marsha Telfer and her husband, Adrian Telfer, opened Reggae Jerk Hut in summer 2023. The restaurant stemmed from Adrian's vision of a place he wanted to open after he worked as a line cook before he joined the military. When he finished his service, Adrian decided he wanted to get back into hospitality and cooking. The duo took a look around their hometown of McKinney, Texas, and realized it lacked diverse Caribbean food destinations outside of a couple of staple places. Marsha had the idea to blend elements from Haitian and Jamaican cuisines and, in doing so, the couple created the city's first Haitian-Jamaican restaurant. 'Reggae Jerk Hut [brings] both of our cultures together to serve Jamaican and Haitian food, fused together,' she says. At Reggae Jerk Hut, find deep-fried conch fritters served with a creamy dipping sauce; oxtail birria tacos; chicken wings coated with a variety of sauces; rasta pasta, where penne and bell peppers get smothered in a cream sauce with RJH's secret assortment of spices; curried goat or chicken; a griot snack box; and a macaroni and cheese oxtail skillet. 'The first dish someone visiting for the first time should order is the Tour of Jamaica, because it offers a little bit of everything,' Marsha says. 'It has oxtail, curry goat, and you can pick a Haitian rice to go with it.' Marsha spoke to Eater Dallas about some of her favorite places in DFW to eat, from other Caribbean-inspired spots to the places she goes to for self-care. Her sweet tooth informed some of her choices, as well as the networking she has done with other small business owners as they support each other in the industry. Daqs & Oxtails 8700 Preston Road, #127 in Plano This place has only been open for a couple of months, and I want to show them love. They serve Louisiana/soul food fusion. The daiquiris are amazing, and the food is good. It's like stepping into Louisiana without leaving DFW. I've been trying all the daiquiris out. Perle des Antilles Caribbean Restaurant & Market 1522 East Abram Street in Arlington This place has authentic Haitian food; I believe it's the only Haitian restaurant in the DFW area. They also sell Haitian goodies and treats. The standout dish here is the legume, which is a blend of vegetables and meat with cabbage, beef chunks or oxtails, eggplant, and carrots that are cooked down together and served over rice. I found this place because we have a Haitian community, and the business owner reached out to me to ask some questions. We stay connected, and we all have to help one another. Hutchins BBQ 1301 North Tennessee Street in McKinney I go here a lot because it's so close to me. I'm there two or three times a week. I love the brisket — I get the lean cut. I love the cream of corn, it has me in a chokehold. The flavors here are great. When I go to other barbecue spots, it can be hit or miss, but Hutchins is consistent every time I go. Kitchen & Kocktails 1933 Elm Street in Dallas I love soul food, and I like how [owner] Kevin Kelly does it with a twist. It's mixed, like the jerk lamb chops, which I love. Also, the fried lobster with shrimp and grits. My favorite drink there is the peach d'usse frosé. I like to go here for date nights with my husband, and I've been for brunch with my girlfriends. It's a good place to meet up with people who visit Dallas, especially if they're staying Downtown. Cocktail Creamery 205 East Virginia Street in McKinney This is a place in Downtown McKinney that sells boozy ice creams and sorbets. I like the rum and raisin. They soak the raisins in rum for a while. It's a typical ice cream place where you can get cones or cups. I always get a cup, because if I eat that waffle cone, it might soak up the liquor, and I want to feel the booziness in my ice cream. Terilli's Restaurant 2815 Greenville Avenue in Dallas I'm into places with live music or bands. Terrilli's has a piano man on the weekends, which is when I usually go. I like to take myself on a solo date to eat and listen to music. I also enjoy the martinis there and the shrimp alfredo. Miriam Cocina Latina 2015 Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Dallas This place is woman-owned, which I like. [Owner Miriam Jimenez] doesn't mind coming out to talk to people. It makes me feel like I'm not just a customer, but a guest. She always has a smile on her face and is very personable. I want to support other woman-owned businesses. The empanadas and bolitas de yuca — crispy yuca fritters stuffed with mozzarella cheese and served with spicy ranch dressing — are really good. I also like the carne asada. Cookie Society 5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 830 in Dallas My kids like to come here for a treat. They always have seasonal specials, and the owners are super sweet. The cookies here are so good: The chocolate chip and banana pudding cookies are special favorites. There are also excellent lemon bars, and the brownies are the best. We'll stop by on the weekends with the kids, and sometimes I'll bring a box home. The kids like to try the new flavors for the season. I think the other day we had a pound cake cookie. They also love it when we get some ice cream to go with the brownies. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Inside River North's Ambitious Italian Restaurant With Brazilian Flair
Nic & Junior's is a sleek restaurant in River North, hidden in the shadows of skyscrapers, just east of Wabash, between the Chicago River and Hubbard Street. It's a unique building with large windows and an outdoor patio. Eventually, Nic & Junior's, which debuts today — Friday, May 16 — will start with dinner service before adding lunch. This is no downtown tourist trap, at least that's what Junior Borges and Nic Yanes hope. There are two dining rooms with distinct feels. The room near the entrance has a bar and a single TV, ideal for a cocktail and a quick bite like a burger or salad. The experience diverges while walking into the rear dining room, where there's a chef's counter and a modified tasting menu with dishes like A5 wagyu picanha and an orechetti with braised octopus. But this isn't tweezer food or a place where customers need to wear formal attire. They're attempting to toe the line between neighborhood and fine dining restaurant with handmade pastas with Italian roots complemented by Brazilian flavors. Borges talks about a special version of giardiniera made with biquinho peppers served with mortadella: 'It's the food we want to eat,' Yanes says. 'It really is approachable.' There's a strong connection between Italian and Brazilian cuisine thanks to migration patterns, and that link makes it natural for Borges. The chef made the list of James Beard Award semifinalists in 2023 at Meridian, Eater Dallas's Restaurant of the Year in 2021. Meridian, which closed in mid-2024 after Borges's departure, showcased modern Brazilian cuisine through the chef's Afro-Caribbean lens; he grew up in Rio. Borges has spent 24 years in America and dreamed of owning a restaurant while helping to educate Americans that Brazilian cuisine isn't just about large skewers of meat. He talks about how most Brazilian restaurants in New York and New Jersey focus on more homestyle cuisine. Borges shares nostalgic stories about self-serve restaurants in Rio and mentions the Japanese and Portuguese influences on the country's cuisine. While Borges commutes between Texas and Chicago, his longtime collaborator, Justin Mosley, has moved to the Midwest to lead Nic & Junior's. Mosley has already familiarized himself with Chicago, even tracking down hard-to-find imported ingredients, like fermented yucca juice or a specific tapioca flour used in the Brazilian cheese fritter. They found two cheeses — queijo coalho and catupiry — at Brazil Legal Café, a restaurant in Bucktown. Borges finds Chicago welcoming and has done his best to connect with local chefs. He's cooked at two-Michelin-starred Oriole for a special dinner with 2025 James Beard Award finalist Noah Sandoval. Borges has bonded with John Manion, the chef at Brasero and El Che Steakhouse, and the two have shared stories about spending time in Brazil. Yanes started as a chef before launching Excelsior Hospitality and runs a handful of restaurants, including Austin, Texas restaurant Juniper, which debuted in 2015. He met Borges 12 years ago. Yanes and his family have since moved to Wicker Park, where they've gotten to know Chicago. That's why they have a TV at the bar — they won't deny sports fans a chance to watch an important contest. For the record, Borges is a Dallas Cowboys fan, but his heart is with Flamengo, a Brazilian soccer club. When the Chicago opportunity arrived, Borges was concerned with how the city would receive him as he traveled back and forth between his family in Texas and the Chicago restaurant. But knowing Yanes and Mosley were stationed in town, and the fact that several successful chefs manage restaurants from afar (Thomas Keller famously installed TVs that connect the French Laundry in Yountville, California and Eleven Madison Park In New York so he could hypothetically keep an eye on multiple kitchens), the issue began to fade. Borges says he wants to become part of the community. He's not in Chicago to chase awards or Michelin stars in a larger market. Borges enjoys sharing his food memories, hoping it resonates with diners. For example, he tells a story about a family recipe for papaya jam passed along through generations. Borges is conscious of a vocal tide of folks who may not care about those narratives, and they just want to be fed. Still, he wants to appeal to their intellectual curiosity by ensuring staff are educated and ready to share information if asked. Yanes adds that they're 'not here to drone on about how we are, who we are.' Borges agrees with that sentiment to an extent. He describes a dish he calls the Beach Grilled Cheese. It's a snack he grew up eating, a piece of cheese on a stick drizzled with hot honey. Borges says servers don't need to share the entire story. 'All the staff needs to say is that this is chef Junior's favorite snack on the beach in Brazil,' Borges says. 'Then they can walk away.' Nic & Junior's , 405 N. Wabash, open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; reservations via Tock . Sign up for our newsletter.
