Cynthia Smoot
From Exciting New Restaurants And Chef-Driven Concepts To Exclusive Wine Experiences, Charitable Culinary Wins, And Immersive Dining Events, Discover Everything Shaping The Dallas-Fort Worth Food Scene This Month
The DFW dining scene moves fast, and if you blink, you’ll miss the reservation everyone’s suddenly chasing or the cocktail that’s quietly becoming the city’s next calling card. Plates and Pours is your monthly insiders’ digest of what’s happening across Dallas restaurants and bars… new openings worth the hype, chef moves, and menu drops, wine dinners to book before they sell out, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) shifts shaping how the city eats and drinks right now. Think of it as the notes passed at the table: where to go, what to order, and why it matters, before everyone else catches on, according to our intrepid cuisine seeker, Cynthia Smoot.
Dock Local, the casual coastal kitchen founded by Chef Brett Curtis, opened its fourth Dallas location at Dallas Farmers Market, bringing its scratch-made seafood menu, chef-driven coastal favorites, raw bar offerings, signature cocktails, and genuine hospitality to one of the city’s most beloved culinary destinations. Known for its approachable take on premium seafood, Dock Local has built a loyal following with signature Maine Lobster Rolls, seafood tacos, The Original Crab Queso, Lobsta Grilled Cheese, and other craveable coastal dishes made with quality ingredients and a commitment to consistency.
Dock Local at Dallas Farmers Market will serve a coastal menu featuring the brand’s signature lobster rolls and chef-inspired seafood favorites, along with new craveable dishes, a raw bar and a full bar menu. This location will also introduce a fun, easygoing bar program. Signature cocktails include the Blue Coastal with Bacardí rum, blue curaçao, sweet & sour, lemonade and cream soda; the Lemonade Mule with Tito’s vodka, lemonade, ginger beer, mint and lemon; the Dock Ranch Water with tequila or vodka, Topo Chico, lime and a Tajín or sugar rim; the Blueberry Bourbon Smash with Maker’s Mark, lemonade, muddled blueberries and mint; and the DockaRita, served frozen or on the rocks with optional flavor twists including spicy, watermelon, mango, strawberry and prickly pear. For non-alcoholic options, guests can enjoy mocktails such as the Watermelon Paloma, Cucumber Mint Cooler and Tropical Sunrise Spritz. The bar will also feature an approachable wine list and a curated selection of bottled, canned, and draft beers, with many pours sourced from local Dallas–Fort Worth breweries.
Duro Hospitality, the award-winning Dallas-based hospitality group behind The Charles, Sister, Casa Duro, Café Duro, El Carlos Elegante, Mister Charles, The Chumley House, and Norman’s Japanese Grill® has just debuted its newest concept, Scilla. Located at 8111 Douglas Avenue, Scilla faces east towards Preston Center on the ground floor of the newly completed 8111 Douglas office tower.
The menu at Scilla celebrates coastal Italian cooking, a seafood-focused balance of refined preparations, with the warmth and ease of Mediterranean dining. Guests can begin with small plates such as Gnocco Fritto, Lobster Arancini and Boquerones on Toast, before moving into cold and raw offerings including Hamachi Crudo, Chutoro Crudo and a seasonal Seafood Tower. From there, the menu continues with a twist on the classics, including Paella di Mare and Duro’s legendary house-made pastas, alongside wood-grilled selections such as Branzino, Whole Red Snapper, Grass-fed Wagyu Ribeye and Za’atar Lamb Kabobs.
Scilla’s beverage program is unexpected – with a wine list that changes daily, evolving with each service, and a cocktail menu full of Italian-inspired plays on the classics, complete with Duro flair. The wine is a beautiful mix of Italian, French, and library-Napa Valley offerings, including hand-sourced iconic bottles and hidden gems that represent the team’s worldly travels. The cocktail menu features a wide assortment, from fresh spritzes to dynamic sours to granitas – complete with a table-side show.
Congratulations to Café Momentum, which was recently named as one of The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) Summer 2026 Grant Awardees, awarded this month. One of 10 recipients this round, Café Momentum is a nationally recognized nonprofit that transforms the lives of justice-involved youth ages 15-19 through paid, restaurant-based workforce development paired with education support, mental health services, and 24/7 case management. The casual fine-dining restaurant in Dallas, the program’s headquarters, serves 80-120 interns annually through a comprehensive, research-backed reentry model that combines culinary training, academic engagement, and long-term career planning. In addition to the $10,000 grant, Café Momentum will receive JPF branded aprons for their students and a group membership to the Foundation. Just another reason to support this wonderful concept.
Radici Wood Fired Grill, the acclaimed Italian concept from Chef Tiffany Derry and Tom Foley of T2D Concepts, is bringing back its much-beloved monthly Sunday Supper series. Rooted in Italian tradition and built around the idea that the best moments happen around a shared table, the lineup gives guests new ways to gather, taste, and connect with the people in a way only Radici can offer. Held the first Sunday of every month, the communal, family-style feast features a special curated menu inspired by traditional Italian Sunday dinners. Reservations for these events are strongly recommended through the Radici website.
Postino, the all-day restaurant and vibey wine café, is celebrating a quarter-century of its “Drinking Wine At Lunch Is Not a Crime” mantra. To mark its 25th birthday, Postino has launched the Postino Pass, a complimentary membership program where Postino guests sign up, then take a quiz to unlock personalized perks along with a welcome gift. Members will be treated to exclusive perks and surprises throughout the year, made to elevate their date nights, patio hangs, and happy hour outings – including wine bottle upgrades, special bites, and more.
Plus, to raise a glass to 25 years, Postino is releasing a premium Anniversary Reserve of their top two guest-favorite wines: StageDive Pinot Noir and Holly’s Way Chardonnay. These exclusive, limited-edition pours celebrate Postino’s rich wine legacy and collaborations with winemakers from around the world. As an added bonus, Postino Bottle Club members can receive these premium Anniversary Reserve bottles in their next tote at no extra cost.
COMING SOON
Broadway Dallas, North Texas’ premier nonprofit presenter of live musical theater, will launch of CLUB 909, an all-new cabaret concept held at the historic Music Hall at Fair Park beginning September 3-5, 2026 with Grammy Award winner and Broadway star Reeve Carney, best known for originating the role of “Orpheus” in the Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown and most recently starring as “Jay Gatsby” in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.
Performed in the Music Hall’s transformed Crystal Terrace, CLUB 909 will seat just 200 guests per evening in a fully immersive cabaret-style setting complete with full tableside service including specialty drinks and chef-curated light bites. Seating is general admission and includes table and bar seating. A very limited number of reserved VIP seats are also available. Seating is decided on the night of the show at the discretion of house management. Like the great cabaret halls from Paris to New York, guests may be seated at shared tables with other attendees, and large parties may not be able to be seated together.
Tickets for CLUB 909 featuring Reeve Carney start at $75 and are available at BroadwayDallas.org or by calling 800.982.2728. A very limited number of VIP seats are also available and include a meet-and-greet.
Broadway Dallas restaurant partner Culinaire has curated a bespoke cabaret food and beverage menu; in addition to the ticket price, there is a $30 food and beverage minimum per person.
Until next month, we remind you that reservations are always recommended. Remember: tables are fleeting…good taste is not.
10 Delicious Reasons Dallas-Fort Worth Is Having Its Tastiest Month Yet In 2026
- Dock Local Brings Coastal Cravings To Dallas Farmers Market
- Scilla Debuts As Duro Hospitality’s Stunning New Italian Destination
- The Raw Bars, Seafood Towers & House-Made Pastas Everyone Will Be Talking About
- Café Momentum Earns National Recognition From The Jacques Pépin Foundation
- Radici Revives Its Beloved Italian Sunday Supper Tradition
- Postino Celebrates 25 Years With Exclusive Wines & Member Perks
- The Cocktails Worth Crossing Town For Right Now
- Where Dallas Wine Lovers Should Be Sipping This August
- Broadway Dallas Unveils CLUB 909’s Intimate Cabaret Dining Experience
