Despite Multiple Closings, Restaurants America Will Forge Ahead With Central Standard

Much ado was made in the Dallas food media sphere recently about a certain string of closings: Chicago-based hospitality group Restaurants America, which swiftly invaded Dallas with five different restaurant concepts starting in mid-2011, shuttered three of them (Mockingbird Taproom, Townhouse Kitchen & Bar, and Boca Chica) in as many months.

Despite the closings — which were all reportedly due to non-payment of rent — and the fact that the group is fielding some lawsuits from pissed-off vendors, it appears that they will bravely (?) forge ahead to open Central Standard, a gastropub concept planned for the new 23-story building at 1400 Hi Line Drive in the Design District; they've posted a help wanted ad for restaurant staffers as recently as last Thursday.

There's already a Central Standard in Chicago; based on the website, it looks like an slightly more upscale version of Park Tavern, the still-open RA concept in the Shops at Park Lane, with a menu that includes dishes from chicken-fried alligator to poutine with foie gras gravy. (Then again, it also kind of looks like the other RA concept still standing, Primebar on Cedar Springs. Come to think of it, all the Restaurants America concepts are sort of indistinguishable from one another.)

Eater Dallas has reached out to Restaurants America for comment, and will update when/if we hear back.

· Restaurants America [Official]
· More Restaurants America coverage [-EDFW-]

We're guessing this is probably what the Central Standard in Dallas will look like. [Photo credit: Central Standard/Chicago]