Toussaint Brasserie, the approachably chic French-inspired restaurant and bar, will open in the Renaissance Saint Elm Dallas Downtown Hotel on Friday, February 25th.
Located in the historic Tower Petroleum Building at 1907 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75201, the property previously operated as Cambria Downtown Dallas but recently underwent major renovations and is reopening as the Renaissance Saint Elm Dallas Downtown Hotel, coinciding with the restaurant opening.
Toussaint Brasserie will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, with weekend brunch launching in the coming weeks. The brasserie promises to be a relaxed dining destination serving thoughtfully planned and well executed food and drink rooted in the storied culinary techniques of French and Asian flavors.
Dallas-based owner and creator John Kirtland says, “Our goal was to create a place that we’d actually like to visit with friends, for a date night or to pop in for a quick lunch. Toussaint is an approachable, modern interpretation of French brasserie cuisine that adorned Paris and Vietnam at the turn of the century and pays homage to the traditional cooking of these famed culinary destinations.”
The ingredient-driven menu includes hors d’oeuvres such as Raclette – cured meat, cornichons, moustard, toast point; Poisson Cru – Ahi tuna, piquillo peppers, chili flakes, Asian pear, coconut milk, sea salt, lime, green onion, tomato; East Coast Oysters – mignonette, Saigon sauce; Steak Tartare – carrot coulis, shallots, egg yolk, pea tendrils, toast points, fines herbs.
Featured entrees include decadent dishes such as Moules Frites – PEI mussels green curry, tomato, Thai basil; Poulet Roti – potato puree, leeks, apple, mushroom, apple brandy cream; Boeuf Bourguignon – braised beef, lardons, potato puree, mushrooms, carrots, toasted baguette; Lobster Red Curry “Thermidor” – coconut milk, lime, Thai basil, calrose rice, green onion, snap peas, pickled Fresno peppers; Steak Frites – 12oz New York strip, garlic butter, salsa persillade, truffle frites; Cassoulet Fruits de Terre – cannellini beans, tomato, mirepoix, vegetable broth, herbs.
Toussaint will also offer weekly plats du jour such as Chicken Truffle Pot Pie (Sunday) – shredded chicken, celery root, truffle essence, puff pastry; Pork Belly Ramen (Wednesday) – pork and chicken broth, pork belly, soft boiled egg, tahini, cilantro, chili sauce, radish; Coq au Vin (Thursday) – braised chicken thighs, rich wine sauce, cipollini onion, mushrooms, fines herbs; and more.
Additionally, the menu includes a selection of sandwiches such as Banh Mi – pork belly, sweet chili aioli, namasu, baguette, frites; Po Boy – fried shrimp, cajun remoulade, slaw, yuzu vinaigrette, frites; Jambon Beurre – softened plugra, dijon, shaved ham, gruyère, cornichons, baguette, frites; and the Toussaint Burger – Rosewood Ranch wagyu, brioche bun, tomato jam, butter lettuce, house burger sauce, crisp onions, frites. Soups and salads are also available including a French Onion Soup Gratinée and Tuna Niçoise salad.
Complementing the food menu, the robust beverage program will offer Parisian-steeped cocktails with classics such as the Nola-Groni – Euphrosine #9 Gin, Peychaud’s Apertivo and Plymouth Sloe Gin; Lapse in Judgement – Aperol, crème de peche, rosemary, lemon, wheat beer; and Vieux Carre – Rye, cognac, house sweet vermouth, benedictine. The wine program will allow guests to explore with a rotating list featuring wines from France and nearby regions along with domestic selections from California and the Pacific Northwest.
Kirtland says, “We are excited to offer Dallas, and visitors alike, a spirited Downtown destination for French comfort food made with high quality ingredients, a lively soundtrack, and well-crafted cocktails in a comfortable setting.”
The restaurant boasts 3,200 square feet with seating for 78 indoors and 28 outside (weather permitting) and a full-service bar with seating for 16 to include an intimate bottle service table with banquette seating for 6.
Toussaint Brasserie and Renaissance Saint Elm Dallas Downtown Hotel is owned by Dallas resident and entrepreneur John Kirtland and managed by award-winning Azul Hospitality Group.
