Monthly Archives: September 2012

by Steven Doyle | September 7, 2012 · 10:25 am

The Mecca Opens Today

by Steven Doyle

If you were saddened by the closure of the original Mecca on Harry Hines, now is your chance to bring on a smile. The new Mecca will swing open its doors with little fanfare at 4pm today. You will find The Mecca in its new digs at 5815 Live Oak in East Dallas.

This is not the first move for the iconic restaurant. The first location was opened in 1938 and eventually moved to its location you might be most familiar with on Harry Hines in a house where the sisters who ran the restaurant actually resided just above the dining room. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Crave, restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Steven Doyle

Tagged as Dallas, Harry Hines, Opening Live Oak, The Mecca

by Steven Doyle | September 6, 2012 · 2:20 pm

Bacon Tour 2012

by Steven Doyle

It’s no secret that I am a wandering tour guide for the city’s best restaurants. I feel it is my role at craveDFW and I am an actual food guide on weekends with Dallas by Chocolate. But I have done this for years. Weekends I would take my friends on tiny excursions around Dallas on warm Saturday afternoons, showing them my favorite spots to hang out for a cold beer or a savory bite.

Our impromptu tours might have included grabbing a bottle of wine and a sandwich at Jimmy’s Food Store, only to enjoy on Tom Spicer’s back patio next door which during a conversation might lead to the best mussel battle and we would be off to enjoy a shared batch at Vickery Tavern. This would lead to tacos at Cool and Hot in Oak Cliff, followed by cocktails at Bolsa and a late pizza and a beer at Nova on Davis. Continue reading →

Jack’s Southern Comfort Opens October 1

by Steven Doyle

We were out tooling around this morning and stumbled upon something new and exciting in the old Ali Baba location at 1906 Greenville Avenue. As a matter of fact we spotted Scott Jones from street level and turned the craveMOBILE around to get a chat and a photo. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under restaurant news, Restaurant Opening, Steven Doyle

Tagged as Dallas, Greenville Avenue, Jack's Southern Comfort, Scott Jones, Screen Door

by Steven Doyle | September 6, 2012 · 8:06 am

Bailey’s In Fairview Will Close (And Cedar Hill)

by Steven Doyle

Yesterday rumors sparked that Bailey’s Prime Plus in Fairview was closed and later in the day the rumor was squelched. The restaurant did close for the Labor Day holiday leading some to believe that there was indeed a closure. We went to the source to do a little discovery. What we found was more than interesting.

“We are investigating closing down the Cedar Hill and Fairview locations for Bailey’s Prime Plus,” said Ken Kuczwaj, a Bailey’s management representative. “We have a national tenant wanting to take over the location in Fairview. To accommodate the landlord we will most likely bow out.” Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under restaurant news, Steven Doyle

Tagged as Bailey's Prime Plus, Cedar Hill, Dallas, Fairview, Ken Kuczwaj, Patrizio

by Steven Doyle | September 5, 2012 · 4:58 pm

Del Frisco Italian Wine Dinner

by Steven Doyle

Last week we attended the latest wine dinner hosted by sommelier Jennifer Jaco at Del Frisco Double Eagle Steakhouse. This was one of her more imaginative dinners and executive chef David Holben was totally on his game with the menu. Holben’s background, besides training at Michelin 3-star restaurants in France, includes The Riviera, for almost a decade one of the city’s premier restaurants. He also ran the kitchen at Mediterraneo and Toscana, a few of the more compelling Italian restaurants in Dallas history.

This was an interesting evening witnessing Holben’s departure from his typical Del Frisco menu.

While Jaco worked the room ensuring the comfort of her guests, we were guided through Italy vicariously through the fascinating stories and anecdotes of Italian wine expert Dan Rosenberg. By the end of the spirited evening most of the guests were chomping to book a flight to Italy. It is always a joy to see stand back and watch Jaco in action with her over-the-top wine knowledge and eagerness to share. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under chefs, Dallas, Sommelier, Steven Doyle, Wine

Tagged as Dallas, David Holben, Del Frisco Double Eagle Steakhouse, Italian Wine, Jennifer Jaco

by Steven Doyle | September 5, 2012 · 12:36 pm

Chefs Grieb And Bowden Collaborate On Antinori Wine Dinner

by Steven Doyle

One of our favorite chefs is not in Dallas, but in Rockwall. Actually, there are a mass of great chefs working the streets of the sleepy burb across the lake just 20 minutes away from Dallas. Two of those chefs will be collaborating on a special win Italian wine dinner featuring Antinori wines.

Culpepper Steakhouse chef Chad Bowden and chef-owner of The Fatted Calf, Ted Grieb will partner up to serve dishes that include fresh fish, braised lamb, handmade pastas and house-made cheese Thursday, September 13, 2012 7pm at Culpepper’s in Rockwall. The wine dinners at Culpepper’s are always at capacity and sold out to a very happy crowd. We have attended many of these and always had a fantastic evening. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under chefs, restaurant news, Steven Doyle, Wine

Tagged as Antinori, Chef Chad Bowden, Culpepper Steakhouse, Gabe Chiocca, Italy, Ted Grieb, The Fatted Calf, wine