Bishop Arts Has a New Seafood Spot Called Pier 247

Oak Cliff has a brand new seafood restaurant called Pier 247, and contrary to say, Driftwood, this one's menu runs more toward the chicken-fried, Creole sauce-smothered side of things.

According to SideDish, owner Cecilia Lopez (who's also behind nearby hangout Bar 303) has spent the past six months rehabbing an old gas station on the edge of the Bishop Arts District, and tonight she'll open the doors for Pier 247's grand opening.

The restaurant's signature dish is a Texafied spin on surf and turf, "a chicken fried steak smothered with creamy Creole shrimp and served with a side of fried shrimp, grilled asparagus, and smashed potatoes." There's also fried oyster and crawfish nachos, po'boys, catfish sloppy joes, a unique-sounding Oysters Rockefeller soup, shrimp and bacon mac and cheese and classic fried seafood baskets — and if you'd rather your meal not take a turn in the deep-fryer, there's also some lighter fare like pan-seared cod and grilled salmon. (Scope out the full menu here; the website also hints at weekend brunch service.)

The New Orleans-esque seafood theme is continued with frozen drinks, including hurricanes, but as SideDish's Rick Lopez points out, "There's none of the Mardi Gras kitsch that you'd expect from such inspiration" — rather, Pier 247 has gone with more modern, clean decor including "open ceilings, blonde wood, and huge windows." There's also a large patio (which probably won't see much action tonight, given the current weather) and a bike rack, because hey, this is Oak Cliff.

· Fried and True: Pier 247 Brings Seafood to Bishop Arts District [SideDish]
· Pier 247 [Official]

[Image: Pier 247/Facebook]