JAXON Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden– a new concept featuring modern Texas fare and 34 beers on tap – is projected to open at the developing Discovery District in downtown Dallas this March.
Hospitality Alliance – a nationally-acclaimed hospitality management, development and consulting firm headquartered in Dallas – is working with AT&T on this project (as well as the anticipated food hall).
Located at 311 S. Akard Street, JAXON will feature 4,400 square feet of interior dining space with seating for 165 guests, as well as a sprawling 10,000 square-foot patio with seating for over 300. Additionally, the patio area boasts a view of AT&T Discovery District’s 104-foot-tall, 6,000-resolution media wall, which will show movies, sports, curated digital art and more throughout the year.
Chef David Gilbert, a James Beard Foundation Award nominee (2013 Best Chef Southwest),is serving as executive chef for JAXON. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu touches on classic Texas fare inspired by surrounding geographic neighbors, including Mexico, Louisiana and New Mexico. Sample menu items will include:
- Tamarindo Pork Ribs– fried shallot, cilantro
- Green Chili-Brisket Mac & Cheese Balls
- Smoked Chicken “Pot Pie” Pozole– hominy, salsa Verde, flaky pie crust
- Whole Fried Snapper– Tamarindo sauce
- Jaxon Burger– Texas Wagyu, smoked mortadella, cheddar, candied jalapeno, served with fries
- Impossible Burger– vegan-friendly alternative
- B.L.T. Torta– smoked mortadella, bibb, slaw, sundried tomato mayo on Torta bread
- Cast Iron Chocolate Chip Cookie– vanilla ice cream
- Truck Stop Banana Pudding– vanilla wafers and toasted coconut
Additionally, a section devoted to Texas BBQ will play an important role on the menu. JAXON’s beverage program – led by Alex Fletcher, beverage director of Hospitality Alliance – will feature a diverse and vast category of beer in the Texas market, while also exploring cocktail flavors that are influenced by Texas and the South. In addition to the 34 beers on tap, JAXON will serve wines on tap, as well as a variety of cocktails – including ones on tap, craft and frozen.
Designed by Studio 11, JAXON offers a warm and welcoming indoor/outdoor environment with a thoughtful approach and a few cheeky Texas twists. Design elements include a mixed media collage of Texas stars and movie stars from Warner Brother films, antlers at the beer taps, as well as deep banquette seating in Texas earth tones. Cactus terrariums and artwork created from locally sourced vintage bricks ground the new space in the city’s storied past.
“Our goal at JAXON is to combine the best elements of a traditional Texas beer garden with exceptional food, service, and above all, hospitality,” says Hospitality Alliance CEO, Kevin Lillis. “The Discovery District is a dynamic project representing a real evolution and transformation for downtown Dallas.We’re thrilled to be working with AT&T and look forward to providing our guests with an extraordinary experience this spring.”
More About Chef David Gilbert
Gilbert began his career working at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Vermeer in Amsterdam. He also served as executive chef of The Beverly Hilton’s landmark restaurant, where he was the lead chef for the International Golden Globe Awards. In 2011, Gilbert was chosen by Chef Stephan Pyles to head the state-of-the-art kitchen at Sustenio at Elian Hotel Resort & Spa in San Antonio. This is where Gilbert was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a 2013 Best Chef Southwest nominee. Gilbert has spent the past several years consulting for clients on concept development, kitchen design, streamlining food and beverage programs and more
