A Massive Guide to DFW's Spring & Summer Openings

The sun is shining and those freak snow flurries are but a distant memory: Spring is here and with it, a whole cavalcade of impending restaurant openings. On the horizon are not just huge new projects from chefs Stephan Pyles and John Tesar, but also a whole host of bars, barbecue joints, pizzerias, coffee shops and of course, plenty more action at Trinity Groves.

BellaTrino
Where It's At: Uptown (McKinney Avenue)
What We Know: The Neapolitan pizzeria-on-wheels is going brick and mortar; this will be the first of three planned locations for the Dallas area. Expect charred, chewy-crusted pies topped with everything from Jimmy's sausage to kale.
Projected Opening: Within 90 days
[All BellaTrino coverage]
Cake Bar
Where It's At: Trinity Groves
What We Know: Simply put, it's a bar with cake instead of booze. Veteran baker Tracy German will serve Southern-style cakes (and ice cream) in a modern setting; they'll be available by the slice or as whole cakes.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Cake Bar coverage]
Ceviche
Where It's At: Oak Cliff
What We Know: Raul Reyes of Jefferson Boulevard gem Mesa is opening a more casual, seafood-focused spot in an old mechanic's shop on Davis Street.
Projected Opening: Late summer
[Photo: SideDish]
Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar
Where It's At: West Plano
What We Know: Del Frisco's co-founder Dee Lincoln is hoping to replicate the success she's found in Uptown by opening a second location of her steak and burger spot in the old Nosh space.
Projected Opening: Originally slated for mid-April
[All Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar Plano coverage]
EZ Dude BBQ
Where It's At: Deep Ellum
What We Know: Friends Rob Eichelberger and Buster O'Keefe are turning their mobile barbecue operation into a brick-and-mortar spot on Elm Street. They'll specialize in ribs, chicken, sausage, smoked chicken wings and smoked burgers.
Projected Opening: Originally stated as mid-April
[All EZ Dude BBQ coverage]
The Ginger Man Lakewood
Where It's At: Lakewood
What We Know: The extremely popular pub known for its killer beer selection is preparing to open its seventh location in the old Angelo's space. Two floors will include a "semi-outdoor" porch that can be used year-round.
Projected Opening: Spring
Green Door Public House
Where It's At: Downtown
What We Know: The owners of Deep Ellum "sammich" shop Uncle Uber's are opening a new place at the Dallas Farmers Market. Instead of building from the ground up, they moved a two-story historic bank building from a few blocks over and are transforming it into a laid-back restaurant with plans to feature grass-fed burgers, steaks, seafood, craft cocktails and beer, with ingredients sourced from the market, naturally.
Projected Opening: Summer
[All Green Door coverage]
Houndstooth Coffee
Where It's At: Henderson Avenue
What We Know: Austin-based Houndstooth is bringing its fancy coffee to the former Pearl Cup space. Expect professionally trained baristas, "a carefully curated coffee selection" that will include beans from its own local roastery called Tweed, pastries and craft beer and wine.
Projected Opening: Late summer
[All Houndstooth Coffee coverage]
Hypnotic Donuts
Where It's At: Denton
What We Know: The White Rock-area bizarro doughnut purveyors are taking their show on the road to downtown Denton. The new location, which is currently under construction, will include a Cultivar Coffee inside, plus a patio.
Projected Opening: Unknown
[All Hypnotic Donuts coverage]
[Image via We Do It Denton]
Kate Weiser Chocolates
Where It's At: Trinity Groves
What We Know: Chocolate wunderkind Kate Weiser, formerly of Oak Lawn's Chocolate Secrets, is opening her own chocolate shop to showcase her gorgeous hand-painted bonbons and other confections. (Stalk her on Facebook to see what she's currently working on — donut ganache, anyone?)
Projected Opening: By end of summer
[All Kate Weiser coverage]
Knife
Where It's At: Mockingbird Lane
What We Know: John Tesar has big plans for this modern steakhouse replacing Central 214 at the Hotel Palomar — think 240-day dry-aged steaks, whole pig's heads, exotic meats, a cocktail program designed by Michael Martensen, and a late-night scene.
Projected Opening: End of April
[All Knife coverage]

Melt Ice Creams
Where It's At: Near Southside (Fort Worth)
What We Know: Local photographer Kari Crowe Seher will offer "farm-to-cone" ice cream in seasonally-rotating flavors and housemade cones in a bright, modern atmosphere. Expect flavors like lavender-honey and Dude, Sweet Chocolate.
Projected Opening: April 19
[All Melt Ice Creams coverage]
Mesero
Where It's At: Inwood Village
What We Know: Mico Rodriguez will add a third restuarant to his mini-empire that also includes Uptown's Mr. Mesero and Henderson Avenue's Mesero Miguel.
Projected Opening: May 14
Method: Caffeination & Fare
Where It's At: East Dallas
What We Know: Coffee nerd Louie Corwin is opening a coffeehouse at the corner of Ross and Hall (next to Joyce & Gigi's). It will feature a Slayer espresso machine (said to be the first of its kind in the city), beans from local roaster Novel, a variety of brewing methods including Chemex and Aero Press, and an industry night for fellow coffee enthusiasts.
Projected Opening: End of April
[All Method coverage]
P1.E 3.14
Where It's At: Lewisville
What We Know: Former Whiskey Cake bar manager Sean Conner is opening a pizzeria in the golf-centric Castle Hills development. Expect pies with "a thick, doughy crust," plus "shareable plates, pizza rolls, cool sandwiches, craft cocktails, beer and wine on tap."
Projected Opening: Early May
[All P1.E 3.14 coverage]
Pecan Lodge
Where It's At: Deep Ellum
What We Know: The best damn barbecue in Dallas is relocating from the recently-privatized Dallas Farmers Market just down the road to Main Street. The new location will have more room for folks to queue up, plus beer and a patio.
Projected Opening: Mid-May
[All Pecan Lodge coverage]
Potato Flats
Where It's At: Trinity Groves
What We Know: Think Chipotle, but with baked potatoes. This fast-casual concept is the brainchild of TG overlord Phil Romano and will offer baked potatoes that are pressed flat before being loaded up with a variety of toppings.
Projected Opening: Originally estimated for March
[All Potato Flats coverage]
Proof & Pantry
Where It's At: One Arts Plaza
What We Know: New hospitality group Misery Loves Co. (that's Michael Martensen and Sal Jafar II) is working on their first original concept at One Arts, a restaurant/bar featuring "progressive, yet approachable American fare" and "a diverse and original bar program." Expect a menu that will change with the seasons and of course, amazing cocktails.
Projected Opening: Early summer
[All Proof & Pantry coverage]
Rodeo Goat
Where It's At: Design District
What We Know: The burger-centric Fort Worth bar/restaurant from father-son team Shannon and Sam Wynne is coming to Dallas to take up residence near its sibling the Meddlesome Moth. Expect house-ground burgers doctored up with unusual ingredients likebrisket chili, grilled peaches, bourbon-candied bacon and mole mustard.
Projected Opening: Before the end of summer
[All Rodeo Goat coverage]
San Salvaje
Where It's At: Downtown
What We Know: Stephan Pyles' pan-Latin restaurant is taking over the former Samar space with a menu influenced by his travels to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. There will be an open kitchen, a patio with a bocce ball court, and live music on the weekends (think salsa, samba and merengue).
Projected Opening: April 28
[All San Salvaje coverage]
So & So's
Where It's At: Uptown
What We Know: The Sfuzzi team is taking over the old Primo's space on McKinney Avenue with a new concept cheffed by Ian Tate (formerly of Salum and Komali). Expect pizza, frozen drinks, cocktails on tap, craft beer, pool tables and a patio.
Projected Opening: April 18
[All So & So's coverage]
Stock & Barrel
Where It's At: Bishop Arts District
What We Know: Former Nosh chef Jon Stevens is outfitting the old Safety Glass building with a wood-burning grill and a rotisserie. Expect plenty of meat, housemade pastas, and a whole menu section dedicated to fried potatoes, plus an open kitchen and dog-friendly patio.
Projected Opening: April
[All Stock & Barrel coverage]
Stonedeck Pizza Pub
Where It's At: Deep Ellum
What We Know: Currently under construction on Main Street, Stonedeck will offer "old-school, American-style pies" with a variety of toppings including kale, chicken tikka masala, and yes, beets. As for the "pub" part of the equation, expect all-American craft brews including plenty of local selections.
Projected Opening: June
[All Stonedeck Pizza Pub coverage]
Sushi Bayashi
Where It's At: Trinity Groves
What We Know: Phil Romano's mega-development already has everything from hot dogs to Moroccan food, so a sushi joint seems perfectly logical. Bayashi will be "an every day kind of sushi bar" headed up by sushi chef Yuki Hirabayashi, formerly of Kenichi in Victory Park.
Projected Opening: Estimated May or June
[All Sushi Bayashi coverage]
Ten 50 BBQ
Where It's At: Richardson
What We Know: Chili's founder Larry Lavine is opening a massive (10,000 square foot) barbecue restaurant inspired by authentic Central Texas-style smoked meats. Everything will be smoked with real wood — no gas-powered BS here — and sides will all be made from scratch, including house-smoked bacon, house-brined pickles and butter-crust pies.
Projected Opening: Summer
[All Ten 50 BBQ coverage]
Top Pot Doughnuts
Where It's At: University Park
What We Know: Seattle doughnut chain Top Pot is opening its first location outside Washington right here in Dallas. Expect classic old-fashioned doughnuts, apple fritters, bacon-maple rings, seasonal cake doughnut flavors and cold-brew coffee.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Top Pot coverage]
The Whistling Pig
Where It's At: White Rock area
What We Know: The owners of beloved bar Cock & Bull are opening a sister pub. C&B chef Asher Stevens is designing the all-new menu, which will include items like pork belly corn dogs.
Projected Opening: Any day now
[All Whistling Pig coverage]