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Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.
El Fenix on Lemmon Avenue closes after six decades
The longtime location of Mexican restaurant El Fenix on Lemmon Avenue has closed for good, The Dallas Morning News reports. The chain, founded in Dallas in 1918, operated the Lemmon Avenue location, near Love Field, for 60 years. Mike Karns, CEO of El Fenix’s parent company, cited “current conditions” in the closure, presumably a reference to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic downturn. The restaurant closed on September 25, but 14 other El Fenix locations are still in operation throughout the Metroplex.
Bavette Grill debuts at Granite Park
A new restaurant focused on modern American dishes with ingredients grown in a hydroponic garden on-site has opened in Granite Park in Plano. Bavette Grill promises an even fresher take on farm-to-table cuisine, with what it calls “patio to plate” meals, including 50-day wet-aged steak served with herbs sourced directly from the onsite garden, alongside chili-glazed Brussel sprouts, burgers topped with lettuce and tomatoes from the garden, and cocktails named after musical hits from the ‘80s. The restaurant also offers a weekday happy hours from 4-7 p.m. in which small bites like sliders, loaded fries and bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños are available for $7 each.
Brasão Brazilian Steakhouse to open in Plano this spring
A Brazilian steakhouse known for its all-you-can-eat tableside service has plans to open in the former Henry’s Tavern space at the Shops at Legacy in Plano. The ambitious plan calls for Brasão Brazilian Steakhouse to take over more than 15,000 square feet at the Shops by spring, leaving plenty of room for socially-distant tables. CultureMap reports that the chain, which was founded in San Antonio last year, will join an ever-growing list of Brazilian-style steakhouses in the DFW area, including Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazil, 12 Cuts, Villas Grill, and Palmas Brasil, which is opening in Addison in the fall.
