Luke Rogers has been keeping his latest restaurant under wraps. But the buzz is slowly getting out as folks take to Facebook to rave about the garlic knots with umami butter, rigatoni and wagyu bolognese, and the veal osso buco.

Snowboarder turned Michelin star awarded chef Akira Back opened an outpost of his Japanese and Korean-influenced sushi restaurants at Grandscape — bringing one of the most pedigreed spots in this new development. That includes a private dining room, a “mystery box” of sushi for adventurous diners, and whimsical dishes such as the Pop Rockin’, which embeds Pop Rocks in a sushi roll — but hear us out, it’s delicious. Go there to order sushi with a presentation and ingredients not found anywhere else in the Metroplex.

The combo of a relaxed neighborhood restaurant with a bar that takes up the center of the room and better than casual food with a sommelier on hand to help with your wine and whiskey selection from their massive library is unusual. That’s precisely what District brings to the extremely popular Addison restaurant district it landed in. Try brussels sprouts, ahi tuna poke, and the duck-filled beggar’s purses to start. District also recently added a brunch service. 

Hugo’s Invitados opens in the spot Mi Cocina vacated in the West Village, assuring the locals that their access to Mexican food will remain uninterrupted. This is the second location after its debut in Las Colinas, and on the menu are adventurous dishes, from Spanish octopus hummus to duck confit chile relleno.

Carbone Dallas may still be impossible to get into, but its sister restaurant, Vino, saves space for walk-ins. If a lighter atmosphere and fare sounds good, grab an outside table or just belly up to the Rococo bar and enjoy a classic cocktail. 

Tasting menus are becoming a trend at Dallas sushi restaurants. This one, off Deep Ellum, offers a $170 per person service in a 10-person venue. With two services running Tuesday through Sunday, that means a minimal number of reservations. 

Sassetta brings fine Italian dining to the Joule hotel downtown. Don’t miss the burrata panzanella salad, made with toasted bread crumbs, burrata, heirloom tomatoes, and sourdough vinaigrette. The pork parmesan, which finds a nice cut of meat crusted in cheese, is also a delight. Lunch service is a newly added feature, with a few specially crafted menu items not available in the evenings.

Trinity Groves welcomed its first new restaurant under its new CEO Julian Rodarte — and the concept is kind of a mood board based on his wife and Trinity Groves Director of Marketing Alexa “Lexy” Rodarte. The energy is highly pink, and the menu is positively delicious. Drop in for “high” tea service infused with CBD or order the red snapper, one of the menu’s most outstanding and over-the-top dishes.

The next special event that comes up in life is begging to be celebrated with a reservation at Don Artemio — but the place keeps it casual enough that there is a brunch and lunch menu for a more relaxed experience. This location is the group’s first in the U.S. to serve its noteworthy and inventive Northern Mexican food.