il Bracco, the much-anticipated Italian inspired neighborhood restaurant and bar has opened their doors to the public as of today.
Located at 8416 Preston Center Plaza inside the burgeoning The Plaza at Preston Center, il Bracco is the culmination of Robert Quick’s (CEO) and Matt Gottlieb’s (COO) twenty-five years of restaurant industry experience.
Quick, who worked for Thomas Keller as a Chef de Partie at Ad Hoc and Bouchon before working as a Kitchen Manager with Hillstone Restaurant Group explains, “il Bracco offers a fresh take on classic Italian dishes with everything made from scratch including breads, pastas and sauces. Fresh fish is delivered daily and all proteins are butchered on-site.”
The duo has created an impressively high quality, crave-able and everyday accessible menu in a chic but comfortable environment with excellent service and hospitality as a core emphasis.
THE FOOD MENU
The menu includes: House made Focaccia with whipped ricotta, roasted garlic and thyme; Crispy Artichokes made with baby artichokes and olive aioli; Meatballs with a blend of beef, lamb and pork topped with a house tomato gravy and Reggiano and more for starters.
Salads and sandwiches include refreshing options from the Burrata Salad with fresh burrata cheese and dressed market vegetables; The Plaza with roasted chicken, golden beets, pancetta, marcona almonds, goat cheese and honey vinaigrette to the Fried Chicken Sandwich with an Italian twist using sundried tomato, provolone and dressed arugula with fennel and the Classic Italian Combo with artisan charcuterie, mozzarella, hot pepper relish, oil and vin.
Pastas made in-house include: Spicy Gemelli – gemelli, spicy vodka sauce, basil and reggiano; Marsala Trumpets with trompetti, trumpet mushrooms, garlic and marsala with several more to choose. For Entrees: Seafood lovers can indulge in the Mediterranean Sea Bass pan roasted, topped with mint gremolata, served with snap beans. Diners craving a more traditional Italian dish will enjoy the Porchetta thick cut over whole grain mustard sauce and topped with herb salad or a Chicken Piccata with lemony chicken served with a kale salad. Roasted Chicken, Center Cut Tenderloin, Eggplant Parm and more are also available for entrée choices.
THE BAR MENU
A meticulously selected wine list is a mix of interesting Italian varietals and approachable New World wines. Guests should feel comfortable in either exploring Italy if they so desire or tuck into a booth with a bottle of their favorite domestic. Signature cocktails such as The Bracco made with New Amsterdam, Aperol and Fresh Grapefruit and Asti 76 made with Tito’s Lemon, Moscato D’Asti and Cucumber are a take on classics with an Italian twist and made to complement the food.
THE DESIGN
Designed by Dallas-based architects, Zero3 Design, the 3,200 square foot restaurant comfortably seats 74 in its dining room, 18 seats at the full-service bar and another 46 on the patio. A full-service outdoor experience is home to large umbrellas fortified with hedges to offer an intimate, relaxed dining experience. The carefully planned interior design pulls from many different time periods and uses luxury neutrals such as wood, brass, terrazzo and leather creating a sophisticated setting.
THE WHO
“We are excited to open our doors to the Dallas community and have them experience what we have been perfecting over the past few months,” says owner Robert Quick of his newly formed restaurant group, Western Addition. “We have been diligent and careful about ensuring our kitchen and staff are delivering what we feel is the best experience prior to opening to the public. We are now ready to welcome our valued guests!”
After graduating from SMU where he played football, Quick followed his true passion and attended the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California. He then worked for Thomas Keller as a Chef de Partie at Ad Hoc and Bouchon before working as a Kitchen Manager with Hillstone Restaurant Group. Afterwards, as President and co-owner of Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Quick helped grow the chain from 30th largest national pizza chain to 19th over his 5 years of leadership. Upon moving back to Dallas with his wife, Quick founded his company Western Addition. il Bracco is the first concept to open in this portfolio.
Gottlieb was a 10+ year general manager with Hillstone Restaurant Group, with experience at 9 locations nationally. After spending the last 8 years in the Dallas market running Hillstone, R+D Kitchen and Houston’s, Matt has become a very familiar personality.
Quick and Gottlieb are thrilled to bring their shared vision of hospitality to Dallas.
