Dallas’ dining scene is heading into fall with a fresh crop of restaurants worth getting excited about. From homegrown concepts like Chef Matt McCallister’s much-anticipated return with River Sing and former SĒR Steak + Spirits Executive Chef Aubrey Murphy’s first restaurant of his own to buzzy out-of-town imports, including an Austin social dining destination and Houston-based steakhouse that screens old movies, there are going to be a ton of new spots to try in the city this season. To make it a bit easier on you, we’ve narrowed it down to the 10 Most Exciting Dallas Restaurant Openings This Fall.
This is the list we’ll be starting to check off, starting with a visit to Docent Steak tomorrow.
Docent Steak
2801 N. Harwood Street, Suite 100
Announced over two years ago, this new Harwood Hospitality concept is finally opening on October 1. It’s located at the Harwood 14 building and is “a new Dallas steakhouse rooted in Texas hospitality, exceptional beef and genuine neighborhood spirit,” according to a press release. Like fellow Harwood steakhouse Stillwell’s, Docent is serving HWD Beef — Harwood’s exclusive premium beef program (featuring Akaushi cattle) developed through a partnership with ranchers in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. The restaurant will also feature a certified Kobe program, making it home to one of the largest Kobe programs in Texas.
Corsaire
3225 Greenville Avenue
The next highly anticipated restaurant from the team behind Goodwins and Alamo Club, Jeff Bekavac and Austin Rodgers, finally has an expected opening date. According to a Dallas Observer article, Corsaire will debut in the former Pizzeria Testa space on Greenville this October. The new spot will serve a Mediterranean menu with influences from Spain, North Africa, France, and beyond. Foxcroft Studio designed the 9,000-square-foot space, whose work includes Goodwins, Hudson House, and more top local restaurants.
Chef Matt McCallister most recently led the kitchen at Homewood and UnaVida. (Photo by Kayla Enright)
River Sing
820 Exposition Avenue
Former Homewood chef Matt McCallister returns to the Dallas restaurant scene this October with a new, 22-seat tasting menu concept in Fair Park. River Sing recently made it onto Food & Wine‘s national list of 10 Most Anticipated Fall Restaurant Openings. They note that the “four-course tasting menu will spotlight the best of the area’s expert farmers, ranchers, and foragers.” McCallister tells F&W that this fall, guests can expect dishes like foie-gras-stuffed sweet potato doughnuts, roasted lamb loin with ash juniper, and chitarra aglio e olio, and more. The Expo Park space features a garden where the restaurant is growing ingredients.
Insurgent
920 S Harwood Street, Suite 17
This October, former Denton food truck Insurgent is opening its first brick-and-mortar at Dallas Farmers Market (DFM). The team includes Executive Chef & Owner Sam Lopez, Executive Pastry Chef & Owner Gabby Lopez, and Executive Sous Chef Alec Sanders. They’re known for a menu shaped by “local harvests, personal influences, and whatever sparks their curiosity that week,” the DFM team posted on their website, continuing that “they cook what inspires them and waste nothing along the way.” The new space in The Market will feature chef’s counter tastings, reservation-based dinners, and after-hours supper clubs.
Brute is a contemporary American concept that will debut in the former Swizzle space in Dallas’ Lower Greenville this fall. (Courtesy of Aubrey Murphy)
Brute
1802 Greenville Avenue, Suite 110
Most recently Executive Chef at SĒR Steak + Spirits, Aubrey Murphy is opening a new contemporary American restaurant called Brute in the former Swizzle space in Lower Greenville this November. We recently asked Chef Murphy a few questions about the new spot, but the highlights are that Brute will strive to serve Texas’ best chicken dish (amongst other contemporary American creations) in a Brutalist-inspired setting.
Fonda Toro
2100 Greenville Avenue
According to the Dallas Morning News, the co-owner of Xaman Cafe, Ayahuasca Cantina, and Puerto Cocina, Mauricio Gallegos, and creative director of Coeval Studio John Paul Valverde are opening a new Mexican restaurant in the former Meyboom Brasserie space in Lower Greenville this fall. Fonda Toro will be a casual spot for tacos, sushi, coffee, and cocktails.
Austin-based social dining concept Guest House will open in Dallas this October. (Rendering courtesy of Built Inc.)
Guest House
1900 Cedar Springs Road
An Austin-based social dining destination from RDM Hospitality, Guest House is coming to Uptown Dallas this October. Part modern American restaurant, part social gathering place, the restaurant features a menu created by Chef Todd Mark Miller with dishes such as wagyu pastrami, tuna & caviar cones, parmesan-crusted filet mignon, and more. There are also “theatrical” cocktails and an emphasis on design and music as part of the experience.
Trapeze
240 W. 8th Street
This new French-inspired restaurant from the co-founder of Deep Ellum’s Armoury D.E. and Ruins is gearing up to open in an old home in Bishop Arts this October. Diners can expect dishes with North African influences and a cocktail-forward bar.
The 34-ounce USDA Prime gold tomahawk ribeye wrapped in 24k gold leaf is the highlight of the menu at Juliet. (Photo by In-House Social)
Juliet
1400 Hi Line Drive, Suite 116
Also celebrating its grand opening on October 1, this Houston-based steakhouse is debuting next door to Delilah in the Dallas Design District (bold move). It’s known for its Old Hollywood movie theme, $325 34-ounce gold-crusted tomahawk ribeye, and celebrity visits — Drake, Lizzo, and Megan Thee Stallion have all stopped by the original spot, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Dallas location will screen classic films and feature cinematic elements throughout the space.
Min’s Prime Cut Korean Steakhouse
634 W. Davis Street
From Nuri Steakhouse culinary director and Michelin-recognized chef Minji Kim and her husband, Ben Lee, this new Korean steakhouse will debut in the former Berkley’s Market space in Bishop Arts this fall. As first reported by CultureMap, the couple has partnered with Chef Roy Ahn (who opened nearby Otaru, as well as Mizu Sushi in Lower Greenville). The menu will focus on table-served meats like ribeye, New York strip, sirloin, filet, and beyond. For non-red-meat-eaters, there will also be Chilean sea bass, prawns, ceviche, and more.