Restaurateurs Christopher Zielke, Christopher Jeffers and Executive Chef Tim Byres will join the Plano hospitality community the last week of December. The group, who has received national acclaim for their Oak Cliff neighborhood restaurants and bars (SMOKE, Bar Belmont in The Belmont Hotel, Chicken Scratch and The Foundry), will open an extension of SMOKE, their flagship restaurant the last week of December.
The original SMOKE opened in 2009 on the campus of The Belmont Hotel. Located in the Preston Towne Crossing development at the former Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar location, SMOKE in Plano will initially open for dinner only, Sunday – Thursday 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Now finished with summer-long renovations, the 5,800 square-foot building boasts four private dining areas, a heavily-landscaped outdoor patio, a large sit-down bar and an insulated patio off of the main dining room for year-round use. The interior embodies the same atmosphere and vibe of the original, with a small fireplace, campy-yet-nostalgic Texas artwork and raw, reclaimed wood throughout. Diners have a clear view into the kitchen, with nothing separating them from the action but a low countertop, crafted out of maple planking that once served as a roller rink in Seagoville, Texas. Behind the counter is the crown jewel of the restaurant, a 10-foot custom-designed hearth. Continue reading
