Rendering of development at 2110 and 2200 N. Henderson Ave. Photo courtesy of GFF.
Editor’s note: It’s been a while since the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate has done “Restaurant Talk,” but I’d like to bring it back to round up news about our local food and drink scene. Check it out.
The dining concept Romy is expected to open in a little over a year (December 2026) at the new Henderson Avenue development.
About a year ago, Acadia Realty Trust and Ignite-Rebees announced a project to construct multiple mixed-use buildings on a long-vacant 161,000-square-foot property between Glencoe Street and McMillan Avenue. The project (which has begun the vertical construction phase) will include restaurants, offices and retail. The development is expected to be finished by November 2026.
“This phase marks a visible turning point from groundwork to skyline,” said Mark Masinter, who co-founded Ignite-Rebees with Tristan Simon, in a press release. “We’re not just building structures. We’re building a new experience of place, energy and connection on Henderson Avenue.”
This is where Romy fits in. It’s the first of three new restaurants and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week plus food service for the Henderson East offices, according to the press release.
The restaurant is being brought to life by Simon, his business partner Taryn Anderson (whose eldest daughter is who the eatery is named for) and Billy Can Can Chef Matt Ford.
Rendering of Romy from the outside. The inside is expected to feature oak, marble, brass and plaster materials. Photo courtesy of Kate Murphy.
“Henderson Avenue was where I first learned how restaurants could reshape and define a neighborhood,” Simon said in the press release. “Romy represents both a return and an evolution. A more mature, soulful expression of dining that reflects how we envision Henderson’s future restaurant culture and Taryn and Matt are the perfect choices to bring this concept to the neighborhood.”
The menu and vibe will shift from day to night — cappuccinos, house-made pastries and light seasonal dishes in the mornings; handmade pastas, wood-roasted meats and a refined wine program in the evenings, according to the press release.
“Our menu will be elevated yet approachable,” Ford said in the press release. “I am proud to bring this new restaurant to Henderson to be part of its next evolution. The neighborhood has a rich culinary history and we want Romy to honor that while offering something completely new and fresh.”
New restaurants in Deep Ellum
Palomino Ranch and Gyu‐Kaku Japanese BBQ both opened earlier in October.
Palomino Ranch celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 23 at 505 N. Good Latimer Expressway, just north of Deep Ellum’s traditional borders (where Bottled Blonde used to be). This restaurant and bar promises “good music, strong drinks and down-home hospitality,” according to its website. The menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers, pizzas, two entrees (a plate of beef brisket or smoked chicken as well as fish and chips), sides and desserts. Then of course, Palomino Ranch serves cocktails as well as beer, wine and energy drinks.
Gyu‐Kaku Japanese BBQ also opened Oct. 23. Located at 2939 Main St. in the former Niwa Japanese BBQ space, the menu includes options for groups of two to six people, all with a feast of starters and barbecue items. Gyu‐Kaku Japanese BBQ also offers à la carte small plates, salads, soups, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables, rice and noodle dishes. There are separate menus for vegetarians and kids as well as for drinks (beer, sake, wine, cocktails, sodas, etc.) and desserts, the latter of which includes matcha tiramisu.
Live Más Café meets Mockingbird Lane
Here’s the CliffsNotes: it’s a cafe inside Taco Bell. It offers “crave-worthy coffee, creamy chillers, light and fruity refreshers, bold energy drinks, and seasonal creations” that are not available at regular Taco Bell locations, according to the Tex-Mex fast food chain’s website.
The Live Más Café at the Taco Bell at 5506 E. Mockingbird Ln. is expected to host a grand opening at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
Michelin winners
The Michelin Guide ceremony for our state took place this week in Houston, and Tatsu Dallas in Deep Ellum maintained its single Michelin star that the sushi restaurant previously won last year. This ranking signals “high quality cooking.”
Restaurants in our area that were honored with Michelin Bib Gourmand awards (“good quality, good value cooking”) are Gemma on Henderson Avenue, Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen on Greenville Avenue and Một Hai Ba at Skillman and Lewis Streets.
Michelin’s Selected Restaurants (“good cooking”) include Rye and Quarter Acre, both on Greenville Avenue.
All honorees on this list were previously recognized last year.
