Cowboy Amari Cooper Refuses to Be Hand-Fed By Salt Bae

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.

Cowboy Amari Cooper orders massive 24 karat gold steak from Salt Bae’s new steakhouse

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper is the latest local celebrity to make an appearance at the newly-opened steakhouse from social media star Nusret “Salt Bae” Gökçe. Cooper and an entourage of friends appeared at the steakhouse last weekend, according to BroBible. A widely-viewed video posted to Twitter shows them watching in awe as Salt Bae elaborately slices and chops a massive gold flake-covered hunk of meat. The group erupts into cheers as Salt Bae sprinkled salt off his elbow onto the meat in his signature move. Cooper then demurs when the restaurateur tries to feed him by hand. Instead, Instagram personality Pio sweeps in to devour the piece of meat.

Denton restaurant’s pro-masking sign makes waves online

The owners of a retro-style diner in Denton don’t want to hear any arguments about the effectiveness of masks in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Wayne and Kat LaCombe, who own Legends Diner at 508 S. Elm Street, have placed a sign on the door of their business that reads “Our new surcharge — $50 if I have to explain why masks are mandatory, $75 if I have to hear why you disagree...” The sign has gotten some attention on social media, with customers posing and taking pictures beside it, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Wayne LaCombe, whose wife is a former nurse, told the paper that most of his clientele are aged 60 and up, and that he’s requiring masks to protect both his customers and employees. He’s not alone. After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced an end to statewide masking requirements last week, several metroplex restaurants said they would continue to require masks for customers and employees. So far, LaCombe says, he hasn’t had to charge anyone.

Seattle-based restaurant-slash-car-club to open in Dallas in April

Derby, a unique restaurant inside an auto shop, is set to make its debut in Dallas in April, according to CultureMap. The business, which was founded in Seattle in 2017, doubles as a private workshop and club for gearheads, alongside a public restaurant where diners can sit with a view of the vehicles, many of which are collectible or in various forms of restoration. Membership to the car club, called the Shop, will cost about $150, and comes with perks like vehicle storage, workspace and tools. The restaurant will be open to non-members, and will include standard bar food like sandwiches, burgers, salads, pasta, alongside pool tables and other games. A spokesperson told Culturemap the company has been eying Dallas since 2019. Derby and the Shop will be located at 9100 John Carpenter Freeway.