Stephan Pyles Hires New Chef, Prepares to 'Reimagine' Restaurant

Changes are on the horizon for Stephan Pyles' namesake restaurant: As the Dallas Morning News reported late yesterday, J Chastain has been appointed as SP's new executive chef. Chastain most recently worked as executive sous under chef Bruno Davaillon at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, and prior to that was executive chef at The 2nd Floor under Scott and Gina Gottlich.

In addition to a new chef, Chef Pyles has lots more in store for the restaurant as it prepares to move locations to the new Hall Arts building (currently being built across from the Meyerson Symphony Center) in 2015. He tells the Morning News he'll be taking cues from his fondly remembered 1980's hot spot, Routh Street Cafe:

"I want to pay homage to Routh Street Cafe in terms of its modern, sleek decor and smaller footprint," says Pyles. "By having half the seating of the current S.P., I can focus on a more precise and personal dining experience. The menu will feature almost exclusively Texas product, and I will call the style of cooking there ‘elevated Texas cooking.’ The wine list will be expanded from 300 bottles currently to 450 bottles."