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The December Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

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Pondering where you should eat today, tonight, this weekend? Eater is back to answer that very question with our newest addition of the Heatmap—a guide to what's new, what's hot, and where folks in the know are lining up to dine.

New additions to this month's Heatmap include the new tapas venture from the chef and owner of Driftwood and a neighboring craft beer-centric spot with hearty fare perfect for cold weather. (Lower Greenville's bustling Truck Yard has come off the list, if only because the current Arctic temperatures aren't exactly ideal for dining al fresco.)

Got a suggestion for a restaurant you think deserves to be added to next month's Heatmap? Drop us a line or leave a comment and stay tuned for the next edition of the Heatmap, dropping the first Thursday of May.

Added: Casa Rubia, LUCK
Removed: Pakpao Thai, Truck Yard


Heatmap History

January
Added: Meso Maya, Outpost American Tavern, Sakhuu
Removed: Monica's Nueva Cocina

February
Added: Ellen's Southern Kitchen, Joyce and Gigi's, La Ventana, Kenny's Smoke House, Pop Diner
Removed: Boulevardier, Meso Maya, Bowl & Barrel, Jack's Southern Comfort Food, Meddlesome Moth

March
Added: 20 Feet Seafood Joint, Belly & Trumpet, The Lot, Village Marquee
Removed: Ellen's Southern Kitchen, Joyce & Gigi's, La Ventana

April
Added: Lark on the Park, Double Wide, FM Smoke House, Yama Sushi, Battuto
Removed: TJ's Seafood Market, Outpost, Kenny's Smoke House, Village Marquee, Hopdoddy, Pop Diner

May
Added: Cane Rosso White Rock, Full Circle Tavern, Mot Hai Ba, The Slow Bone
Removed: Double Wide, Sakhuu, The Lot, Yama Sushi

June
Added: Haystack Burgers & Barley, HG Sply Co., Hospitality Sweet
Removed: Battuto, FM Smokehouse, Stampede 66

July
Added: Mercat, Mutts, Pakpao Thai, WORK
Removed: Full Circle Tavern, Haystack Burgers & Barley, Hospitality Sweet

August
Added: Boxwood T&G, Cock & Bull, Dallas Beer Kitchen
Removed: HG Sply Co., Lark on the Park, Mercat Bistro

September
Added: Glazed Donut Works, Village Kitchen, Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern
Removed: 20 Feet, Cane Rosso White Rock, WORK.

October
Added: Kitchen LTO, Mesero Miguel, Monkey King Noodle Co., Savor, Tanoshii Ramen, Truck Yard
Removed: Boxwood Tap & Grill, Cock and Bull, Dallas Beer Kitchen, FT33, Mutts, Spoon Bar & Kitchen

November
Added: CBD Provisions, Dee Lincoln's Steak & Burger Bar, The Rustic, Toko V
Removed: Belly & Trumpet, Kitchen LTO, Mot Hai Ba, The Slow Bone

Read More

Casa Rubia

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The brand new Spanish tapas spot from Driftwood's Jonn Baudoin and Omar Flores is drawing droves of curious diners, and the raves are already beginning to pour in. Word on the street is the uni and egg yolk toast is not to be missed.

CBD Provisions

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The stunning new restaurant at the Joule Hotel has people asking "Charlie Palmer who?" with uniquely rustic dishes like the whole pig's head carnitas served with tortillas and radish salad and arguably one of the finest burgers in town, plus fantastic cocktails.

Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar

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If there's one thing Del Frisco's co-founder Dee Lincoln knows well, it's red meat, and she's showing off her know-how at her new Uptown spot with perfectly seared steaks and burgers topped with everything from chorizo chili to fried green tomatoes.

Glazed Donut Works

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This Deep Ellum doughnut shop is still hot, hot, hot, serving long lines of early birds with donuts like The Elvis Killer, Achocolypse Now and a killer vegan banana-pecan cake doughnut. Grab a cold-brew coffee for the perfect (if not most healthy) breakfast.

LUCK (Local Urban Craft Kitchen)

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The weather is just right for sipping on darker, heavier beers, and LUCK has plenty of those -- all brewed within 75 miles of the restaurant -- along with hearty fare like pot roast and soft, warm pretzels.

Mesero Miguel

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Mico Rodriguez brings his flair for tasty Mexican fare and strong drinks to Henderson Avenue with this stylish new spot offering a "1960s Palm Springs" vibe and everything from Tex-Mex combo plates to dry-aged steaks. Be sure to visit the upstairs bar, The Pedro, for a pre-dinner drink.

Monkey King Noodle Company

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This Deep Ellum walk-up window is only open for lunch right now, but it's more than worth the drive on your lunch hour to sample the spicy beef soup with incredible hand-pulled noodles or the juicy soup dumplings.

The Rustic

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While it's currently a bit too cold to enjoy al fresco dining at the newest venture from FreeRange Concepts, there's plenty of room to cozy up inside the bar with a big juicy burger, chorizo empanadas or some calf fries and a local draft or cocktail made with Texas-born spirits.
Klyde Warren Park's new gastropub has arrived to give Lark on the Park a run for its money with shareable plates like lobster puffs, flatbreads, and roasted okra, a keg wall with plenty of beer and wine, and 360 degree views of the surrounding park.

Tanoshii Ramen

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The city's very first dedicated ramen restaurant has been packing crowds in since it flung open its Deep Ellum doors last month for tonkotsu ramen, steamed buns, craft cocktails and more. Fans of spice shouldn't miss the vibrant curry ramen with perfectly fried tempura shrimp.

Toko V

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Unlike many other pan-Asian restaurants, this new upstairs counterpart to Village Kitchen overseen by chef Andre Natera does everything pretty well, including solid sushi rolls by sushi chef Daniel Chau, stunning raw dishes, a top-notch green papaya salad with miniscule dried shrimp, perfectly spicy gochujang-glazed ribs, and some of the finest potstickers around.

Village Kitchen

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This Village Marquee replacement is more casual and family-friendly (and less expensive), with a wide-ranging menu that includes everything from Pecan Lodge brisket flatbread to tuna tartare, plus nightly specials like chicken and waffles. Finish off your meal with a Fruity Pebbles milkshake.

Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern

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This newest addition to Jay Jerrier's pizza empire couldn't be more different than Cane Rosso, but it might be just as good. Grab a slice of Grandma, Sicilian or classic New York-style pie, and don't forget to try the zucchini fries with housemade jalapeno ranch.

Casa Rubia

The brand new Spanish tapas spot from Driftwood's Jonn Baudoin and Omar Flores is drawing droves of curious diners, and the raves are already beginning to pour in. Word on the street is the uni and egg yolk toast is not to be missed.

CBD Provisions

The stunning new restaurant at the Joule Hotel has people asking "Charlie Palmer who?" with uniquely rustic dishes like the whole pig's head carnitas served with tortillas and radish salad and arguably one of the finest burgers in town, plus fantastic cocktails.

Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar

If there's one thing Del Frisco's co-founder Dee Lincoln knows well, it's red meat, and she's showing off her know-how at her new Uptown spot with perfectly seared steaks and burgers topped with everything from chorizo chili to fried green tomatoes.

Glazed Donut Works

This Deep Ellum doughnut shop is still hot, hot, hot, serving long lines of early birds with donuts like The Elvis Killer, Achocolypse Now and a killer vegan banana-pecan cake doughnut. Grab a cold-brew coffee for the perfect (if not most healthy) breakfast.

LUCK (Local Urban Craft Kitchen)

The weather is just right for sipping on darker, heavier beers, and LUCK has plenty of those -- all brewed within 75 miles of the restaurant -- along with hearty fare like pot roast and soft, warm pretzels.

Mesero Miguel

Mico Rodriguez brings his flair for tasty Mexican fare and strong drinks to Henderson Avenue with this stylish new spot offering a "1960s Palm Springs" vibe and everything from Tex-Mex combo plates to dry-aged steaks. Be sure to visit the upstairs bar, The Pedro, for a pre-dinner drink.

Monkey King Noodle Company

This Deep Ellum walk-up window is only open for lunch right now, but it's more than worth the drive on your lunch hour to sample the spicy beef soup with incredible hand-pulled noodles or the juicy soup dumplings.

The Rustic

While it's currently a bit too cold to enjoy al fresco dining at the newest venture from FreeRange Concepts, there's plenty of room to cozy up inside the bar with a big juicy burger, chorizo empanadas or some calf fries and a local draft or cocktail made with Texas-born spirits.

Savor

Klyde Warren Park's new gastropub has arrived to give Lark on the Park a run for its money with shareable plates like lobster puffs, flatbreads, and roasted okra, a keg wall with plenty of beer and wine, and 360 degree views of the surrounding park.

Tanoshii Ramen

The city's very first dedicated ramen restaurant has been packing crowds in since it flung open its Deep Ellum doors last month for tonkotsu ramen, steamed buns, craft cocktails and more. Fans of spice shouldn't miss the vibrant curry ramen with perfectly fried tempura shrimp.

Toko V

Unlike many other pan-Asian restaurants, this new upstairs counterpart to Village Kitchen overseen by chef Andre Natera does everything pretty well, including solid sushi rolls by sushi chef Daniel Chau, stunning raw dishes, a top-notch green papaya salad with miniscule dried shrimp, perfectly spicy gochujang-glazed ribs, and some of the finest potstickers around.

Village Kitchen

This Village Marquee replacement is more casual and family-friendly (and less expensive), with a wide-ranging menu that includes everything from Pecan Lodge brisket flatbread to tuna tartare, plus nightly specials like chicken and waffles. Finish off your meal with a Fruity Pebbles milkshake.

Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern

This newest addition to Jay Jerrier's pizza empire couldn't be more different than Cane Rosso, but it might be just as good. Grab a slice of Grandma, Sicilian or classic New York-style pie, and don't forget to try the zucchini fries with housemade jalapeno ranch.

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