Cynthia Smoot
From Outrageous State Fair Creations And Cozy Autumn Flavors To Buzzy New Restaurants, Acclaimed Chefs And Hospitality News, Here’s What’s Heating Up The Dallas-Fort Worth Dining Scene This September
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 Dallas editor-on-the-go Cynthia Smoot.
September’s biggest dining news in the Lone Star State comes from the State Fair of Texas, which will be opening on Friday, September 25, for another fabulous, deep-fried 24-day season. With over 300 concessionaires serving up delectable treats, there is no shortage of options. Here are our Top 10 Picks for 2026:
- Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider – Isaac Rousso has partnered with Trinity Ciders to create a delicious hard cider crafted with hints of apples, and other berries. Served in a cup rimmed with caramel and smoky bacon jam sugar, this sipper tastes like Fall.
- Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar – Robust cold-brew espresso is blended with Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream™, creating layers of deep coffee flavors and hints of vanilla. Each bar is artfully drizzled with ribbons of chocolate shell coating.
- Dippin’ Dots Dirty Dr Pepper® Do-Si-Do Float – Ice-cold Dr Pepper® is served with a drizzle of creamy coconut, then topped with Dr Pepper® Dippin’ Dots®, fresh lime, whipped cream, festive red sprinkles, and a Dr Pepper® jelly bean!
- The Gobble Roll at Hans Mueller – An egg roll loaded with smoky turkey leg meat, fire-roasted corn, sweet peppers, cream cheese, and a blend of savory seasonings. Hand-rolled and deep-fried until perfectly crispy, then served with your choice of sweet-and-spicy honey hot sauce or a cool creamy cilantro sauce.
- Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star by Smokey John’s – Smoked brisket, chopped jalapeño, and cream cheese stuffed in a real Twinkie. Dipped in batter, rolled in panko, deep fried, drizzled with raspberry chipotle sauce, topped with bacon crumbles and jalapeno slices.
- Zable’s Belgian Waffles – Belgian waffles are made from pastry batter, creating an airy interior; they are baked, not fried. Topped with real whipped cream, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar. Only 196 calories!
- Burger Chop Tater Tacos – Smashed cheddar cheese tater tots form a taco shell. It’s filled with ground meat, sautéed onions and jalapeños, mozzarella and American cheese, and finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tots.
- Flamin’ Crunch Pizza – Pizza with a jalapeño cheddar queso base is baked with a freshly grated blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Then topped with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®, a drizzle of jalapeño queso blanco, buffalo buttermilk ranch dressing, and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® dust.
- Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone – A waffle cone is dipped in white chocolate, rolled in buttery Texas pecan praline, crushed Biscoff® cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, and filled with homemade, creamy, scoopable cookie butter cheesecake.
- Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float – A peach bellini soft serve is infused with sparkling wine, topped with sparkling sugar and grated frozen peach. Finished with a sugary-sweet golden topping.
The State Fair of Texas is spread out over 277 acres, so wear comfortable shoes because you will get in your steps. The good news? You will walk off all of these calories, so dig in! This year, the State Fair of Texas is giving Fairgoers even more ways to enjoy all their favorite Fair traditions for less with the introduction of everyday values, presented by State Farm®, a new program that spotlights value-priced options and helps guests make the most of their visit, including an overall price reduction of rides and games on the State Fair Midway. The Fair has a dedicated listing of over 200 food and beverage items priced at $10 or less, along with value combo meals available throughout the Fairgrounds. Look for the “Every Day Value” sticker at respective food stands or visit BigTex.com/Value for a complete list of items.
Did you know that the State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with proceeds helping to preserve and improve Fair Park that underwrite museums, community initiatives, and scholarship programs to support students throughout the Lone Star State pursuing higher education? Coupons for a cause! The 2026 State Fair of Texas, themed “Stars, Stripes, and Howdies,” runs Friday, September 25 through Sunday, October 18 at Fair Park in Dallas. For complete information about 2026 admission, discounts, and the Every Day Values program, visit BigTex.com.
Pumpkin pie, spiced apple, and salted caramel are taking over Maman’s menu this fall. Beginning September 3, the French-inspired café and bakery is ushering in the season with a new lineup of limited-time pastries and beverages that put a twist on nostalgic fall flavors. Seasonal sips are made with Maman’s signature house-made syrups, including the return of the beloved Pumpkin Pie Latte. New this year is the Glazed Apple Fritter Iced Matcha Latte, along with the café’s first-ever muffin. Made for sweater-weather sipping and snacking, the seasonal launch also brings cozy new additions to Maman’s ongoing Martha Stewart collaboration, including Martha Stewart’s Apple Cider donut cake and creamy tomato soup, and three-cheese grilled cheese. Beyond the seasonal lineup, Kelsie’s steak sandwich is also getting an upgrade with grass-fed sliced Wagyu steak. Enjoy these seasonal items through December 2, 2026. Maman currently operates three open locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Walkers’, the debut restaurant from siblings Rosemary Walker-Greene and Russell Walker, recently opened on Lower Greenville Avenue. The dual-concept space comes to life by night with elevated New-American cuisine, classic cocktails, and a dynamic wine program. By day, the space transforms into a relaxed neighborhood destination featuring a specialty sandwich counter, a curated market, a wine bar, and a bottle shop. The Market at Walkers’ offers a focused, thoughtfully curated selection of specialty goods from local purveyors and from California, New York, and Europe, honoring the places that have meaningfully influenced Rosemary and Russell’s lives. Featured items include La Belle Vie from Austin, Austin Honey Company, Inez Olive Oil from Santa Ynez, CA, Bonilla la Vista potato chips from Spain, and Raazi Tea from Brooklyn, NY. Reservations for dinner are available through OpenTable.
Élephante has opened in Dallas at 2701 Maple Avenue in Uptown Dallas. Inspired by the spirit and cuisine of coastal southern Italy, the highly anticipated restaurant offers a transportive dining experience centered around seasonal Italian cuisine, aperitivo culture, and warm hospitality. The menu features light, coastal southern Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, seafood, premium meats, and vibrant seasonal ingredients designed for sharing.
Signature and notable dishes include whipped eggplant served with puccia and olive oil; Ragu Bianco cavatelli, Italian sausage, pecorino, broccolini, and fennel pollen; grilled octopus with hearts of palm, olives, capers, tangerine, and red onion; Margherita pizza with house made mozzarella, tomato and basil; Branzino with salsa verde butter, sea beans and lemon; and vodka sauce pasta with Calabrian chili, basil and parmigiano.
The beverage program draws from the Italian tradition of aperitivo, featuring signature spritzes, handcrafted cocktails and an extensive wine list showcasing regions throughout Italy. The collection will also include limited-vintage wines and proprietary private labels created exclusively for Wish You Were Here Group.
Terry Black’s Barbecue has introduced The Terry Black’s Experience, an immersive hospitality experience that offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the pitmasters, craftsmanship, family traditions, and hospitality that have made Terry Black’s one of Texas’ most celebrated barbecue destinations. More than simply a pit tour, The Terry Black’s Experience is designed to immerse guests in the story behind the brand. Visitors will meet the pitmasters who keep the smokers burning 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and learn the time-honored smoking techniques.
Offered daily during operating hours from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at select locations, The Terry Black’s Experience pairs this exclusive behind-the-scenes access with a signature Terry Black’s feast with a sample of all meats, sides, and desserts, creating an unforgettable hospitality experience that goes far beyond the traditional restaurant visit. The bookable VIP-style dining experience is available through OpenTable at select Terry Black’s locations. The one-hour experience combines exclusive behind-the-scenes access with a VIP dining experience that allows guests to skip the lines and enjoy one of Terry Black’s signature feasts at a reserved table.
COMING SOON
Marlowe, a new intimate, design-forward cocktail lounge and evening destination, is preparing to make its debut at 2912 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX 75204 in Uptown Dallas any day now. A dramatic façade anchored by a grand arched entry establishes a sense of intrigue and understated glamour before guests ever step inside. An enclosed glass-and-brass patio extends the experience outdoors, where a birdcage-inspired structure of repeating arches, golden framework, and soft amber lighting creates a jewel-box effect after dark. Beyond the entrance, the room unfolds through dramatic wood-vaulted ceilings, curved architectural forms and sculpted alcoves, with tiered seating designed to create intimacy while maintaining movement and energy throughout the space.
Early tastes tease Charred Matagorda pearl oysters, featuring Texas oysters flame-charred with garlic-lemon butter and finished with fresh parsley, and beef skewers, with marinated shaved beef kissed by charcoal and paired with sumac tahini yogurt. Among the cocktails guests can expect is a decadent take on the espresso martini, combining salted caramel vodka, dulce de leche, espresso, and Demerara syrup for a rich yet balanced interpretation of the familiar favorite. We can’t wait to get inside.
Masía, a new Spanish fine dining restaurant from Arrels Hospitality Concepts, is preparing to open at 2530 Fairmount Street in Dallas in Winter 2026/2027. The Houston-based hospitality group is known for creating some of Texas’ most transportive Spanish dining experiences, including BCN Taste & Tradition, which was awarded one Michelin star, and MAD, the group’s bold, Madrid-inspired restaurant in Houston.
Inspired by the Catalan “masía”, a countryside farmhouse centered around gathering, hospitality, and exceptional cuisine. Masía will bring a refined yet deeply personal expression of Spanish dining to Dallas. Located in a 3,500-square-foot space with seating for 86 guests indoors and 20 outdoors, Masía will be designed as a place where time slows down.
Go Behind The Scenes
As Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine marks its 16th year, it is debuting the Community Impact Awards to expand that vision by recognizing local leaders who have made and continue to make a lasting impact on the hospitality industry in Dallas, through philanthropic support, mentoring programs, and more — across four distinct categories: Restaurants, Hospitality, Wine & Spirits, and Purveyors. Tim Headington, founder and CEO of Headington Companies, and proprietor of The Joule Hotel, will serve as inaugural host of the Community Impact Awards with a portion of proceeds benefiting Café Momentum.
- The 2026 Restaurant honoree, Greg Katz, Founder, Katz Brothers Hospitality
- The 2026 Wine & Spirits honoree, Jamey Bellan, EVP, General Manager, Southern Glazer’s Texas
- The 2026 Purveyor honoree, Richard Torres, Vice President and Co-Owner of Chefs’ Produce Company
- The 2026 Hospitality honoree, Marisol Lopez, Director of Sales, HALL Arts Hotel
- And the winner of the 2026 Chad Houser Catalyst Award will also be announced at the event!
The Community Impact Awards dinner on September 30 at CBD Provisions will be emceed by Bob Sambol of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, a proud ambassador of Chefs For Farmers and the host of the insightful YouTube series “Rare Conversations,” where he interviews hospitality industry leaders. Chef Sezar Denis of CBD Provisions collaborated with chefs Eduardo Osorio of Meridian and Aaron Collins of Cafe Momentum on this year’s menu. Tickets: $165 pp + tax
Tickets available via Resy.
Katz Bros. Hospitality just announced the appointment of acclaimed Filipino-American Chef Charles Olalia as its culinary director. Most recently the executive chef of The Mansion Restaurant at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, one of the city’s most celebrated dining destinations, Olalia joins the Katz Bros. Olalia’s extraordinary two-decade career includes training under icons such as Thomas Keller at French Laundry in Napa Valley, Guy Savoy at his namesake restaurant in Las Vegas, and Daniel Patterson at Coi in San Francisco. As culinary director for Katz Bros. Hospitality, he will lead the teams at Beverley’s, Clifton Club, Greenpoint Seafood & Oyster Bar and Claremont, overseeing all kitchen operations, which includes creating seasonal menus, mentoring culinary talent, and guiding the staff on service focused on exceptional guest experiences. To see how Olalia influences the menu, follow @KatzBrosHospitality, @BeverleysDallas, @CliftonClubDallas @Green.pointDallas, and @ClaremontDallas.
Until next month, we remind you that reservations are always recommended. Tables are fleeting. Good taste is not.
10 Things Dallas Food Lovers Need to Know This September
- The State Fair’s Most Tempting New Bites
- The Fall Flavors Taking Over Dallas
- A New Lower Greenville Hot Spot
- Coastal Italian Cuisine Lands in Uptown
- The Ultimate Behind-the-Scenes Barbecue Experience
- A Glamorous New Cocktail Lounge Is Almost Here
- Spanish Fine Dining Is Coming to Dallas
- Chefs For Farmers Celebrates Hospitality’s Changemakers
- A Celebrated Chef Takes the Culinary Reins
- The Dallas Tables Worth Booking Now
