Many of our favorite restaurants closed this year, but on the bright side, even more opened. Chefs and restaurateurs persevered through enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing measures and reduced occupancy limits and gave us something to look forward to with their exciting new food. These are the restaurants that opened in our neighborhood this year.
December
Well Grounded Coffee Community – The coffee shop on Garland Road partners with Exodus Ministries to provide formerly incarcerated women with jobs.
Son of a Butcher – The sliders concept opened in the former Melios Bros Char Bar space on Greenville Avenue.
BarNone – Co-founders Todd and Jennifer Dickerson opened the restaurant serving American fare in the White Rock Center on Buckner Boulevard.
November
Window Seat – The coffee shop on Lower Greenville conjures images of airports and airplanes to help customers find their sense of wanderlust every time they walk through the door.
Oak’d BBQ – The barbecue joint served Central Texas-style smoked meats when it opened at the Old Town Shopping Center.
Swizzle – The tiki bar opened a permanent location on Greenville Avenue after a series of pop-ups.
October
Palmer’s Hot Chicken – Founded by Dallas-born, Nashville-bred Palmer Fortune, the restaurant serves Southern comfort food, including shrimp, catfish and, of course, Nashville hot chicken. It was the latest in a series of hot chicken restaurants to open in the neighborhood.
September
Seely’s Mill – The restaurant decorated like a saloon opened inside the rebranded Beeman Hotel at 6070 N. Central Expressway.
Thunderbird Station – A bar and bites concept, Thunderbird Station is a vintage-style watering hole that boasts indoor seating and a 5,400-square-foot patio.
Lucky’s Hot Chicken – The Nashville hot chicken shack opened in a historic building at 4505 Gaston Ave. in Norman Brinker’s first restaurant, Brinks Coffee Shop & Restaurant.
Cheba Hut – The Arizona-based chain offers marijuana-themed sandwiches and cocktails.
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen – The food is inspired by chef Carol Nguyen’s favorite street vendors in Vietnam. Ngon serves traditional Vietnamese dishes like banh mi and bo hue
August
Elm & Good – Chef Graham Dodds opened his new concept inside the Pittman Hotel.
July
Hudson House – The chain’s third location serves seafood in the former IHOP on Abrams Road.
El Porton – The coffee house serves cappuccinos and other espresso drinks, as well as drip coffee and pastries, in the Casa Linda Plaza.
Standard Service– The restaurateur behind HG Sply Co. opened a new location of Standard Service on Alta Avenue in the Lower Greenville neighborhood.
JuneÂ
Uno Mas -The Tex-Mex restaurant opened on Henderson Avenue.
XOXO Dining Room – The pink speakeasy and cocktail lounge debuted on Ross Avenue.
Invasion – The indie restaurant specializing in fast, gourmet-quality food in Old East Dallas opened for patio service after shutting down in March because of the coronavirus.
May
Fish N’ Tails Oyster Bar – The seafood chain’s sixth location opened in the Casa Linda Plaza.
Haystack Burgers – The burger chain opened at the Hillside Village shopping center serving fast-casual food.
April
Chirps Chicken – The neighborhood’s first hot chicken restaurant opened in the former LG Taps space on Lower Greenville.
March
Jack and Ginger’s – The Irish pub opened on Henderson Avenue below 77 Degrees just before bars were ordered to close because of the coronavirus.
February
Enrique Tomas – The Spanish ham purveyor opened its first U.S. store on Henderson Avenue.
Leila Bakery & Cafe – After selling at the White Rock famers market as the Naturally Curly Cook, chef Kelly Ball opened the bakery at 6041 Oram St. in the space that was once Jack’s Kitchen.
January
Flatbread Company – The New England-based pizza company filled the vacant Firestone on Greenville Avenue.
