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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.
Depp Ellum’s Serious Pizza will reopen later this year with lots of extra seating
Serious Pizza, the dive-y Elm Street restaurant that closed in early 2020 for renovations, will reopen later this year with an “enhanced dining experience”, according to a press release. The late-night spot, which served huge New York-style pizzas to club-goers of Deep Ellum, will reopen with more than 150 extra seats, a revamped dining room, and DJs spinning tunes on the weekend, the Dallas Observer reports. The restaurant originally closed pre-pandemic for renovation, but has remained closed eve after restaurants in Texas were allowed to reopen. In the meantime, Milkshake Concepts, which also owns Stirr across the street, as well as Citizen and Vidorra, had taken over the restaurant. Milkshake has further expansion plans for Serious Pizza, including a second location already in the works in Fort Worth.
Old Monk reopens with parklet seating
As part of its reopening plan, Henderson Avenue pub The Old Monk has added a parklet to expand outdoor seating, and “snugs”, enclosed booths reminiscent of classic Irish pubs. The snug-like booths serve the same function as the plexiglass dividers other restaurants have installed to help control the spread of coronavirus, but these booths make use of stained glass windows that once decorated the interior of Uptown pub Idle Rich. Old Monk reopened September 16 after being closed for six months due to the pandemic, D Magazine reported.
Lounge Here reopens in East Dallas after six-month hiatus
West Texas-inspired eatery and bar Lounge Here is finally open again after a six-month hiatus, according to D Magazine. The cozy hotspot, one of the best bars in Dallas, closed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and decided not to reopen until last weekend. The new Lounge Here experience includes QR-code menus and checks, plexiglass dividers, and limited hours — for now, the spot is only open 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. As the space is small, reservations are recommended.
