H-E-B is bringing a whole new level of excitement to Rockwall with the grand opening of its sprawling 131,000-square-foot store, marking the retailer’s 10th location in the DFW Metroplex. Located at 1600 E Interstate 30, at the southwest corner of I-30 and S. John King Blvd., this vibrant new store opens its doors seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., ready to welcome neighbors from east of Dallas and beyond.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
North Texans have another reason to cheer this fall as H-E-B continues its expansion across the region. On Wednesday, October 29 at 6 a.m., the beloved Texas grocer will officially open its brand-new Rockwall location at 1600 I-30, on the southwest corner of I-30 and South John King Boulevard.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
HG Sply Co, the award-winning neighborhood restaurant and bar from UNCO, is set to bring its signature wholesome and thoughtfully-crafted menu and rooftop dining experience to Rockwall in Q4 of 2026.
Located at 2651 Sunset Ridge Dr, Rockwall, TX 75032, this new outpost will be built on land UNCO has owned since 2016. The rooftop at HG was planned for this site since acquisition, but UNCO decided to wait until the surrounding development was complete to ensure the rooftop maintained a clear view of Lake Ray Hubbard. In an exciting opportunity, HG Sply Co. is inviting guests and supporters to become owners in both the restaurant and the real estate it occupies – something traditionally only available to private investors.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
In the heart of Rockwall, Texas, Boots Burgers has been a cornerstone of local culinary tradition since its inception in 1968. David Mooney, the current owner and son of the founder, Clarence “Boots” Mooney, says they say Boots Burgers was founded in 1968 because “that’s as far back as we can remember.” The house that is the restaurant remains a beloved destination for both residents and visitors, celebrated for its commitment to quality and tradition.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Culpepper Cattle Co., the third iteration of the iconic restaurant located in Rockwall, is set to open Friday, September 29. This version of the concept comes from UNCO, the hospitality company behind popular DFW concepts such as HG Sply Co., Leela’s Wine Bar, and HERO by HG Sply Co. Co-CEO of UNCO, Elias Pope, frequented the Culpepper growing up nearby and once the second iteration of the restaurant closed it became a passion project to give it new life.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Few are as passionate as chef Chad Bowden at Culpepper’s in Rockwall. Sure, it is a little bit of a drive for those of us deep in Dallas, but the actually short and easy drive is well worthwhile. The steakhouse itself is an amalgam of add-ons to the building, and is interesting, and with plenty of character, much like the chef himself. Chef Bowden started culinary training in Colorado working at Four star rated country clubs and restaurants. He then relocated to Texas where he became Sous Chef at the The Grape before moving on to be exec sous at 2900 Restaurant where they were nominated for a James Beard Award, one of the nations top culinary honors. He also won the 2006 Rising Star Chefs award. In 2007 he became the Executive Chef of Culpepper Steakhouse.
It is here where we pick up on one of the many wine dinners the chef hosts at his restaurant. Often Bowden will bring in friends who own wineries that he meets during his travels to California. Some top names in the industry have made the trek to Rockwall to spend time with the chef and his guests. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
It is always inspiring to catch one of the many wine dinners at Rockwall’s Culpepper Steakhouse. Chef Chad Bowden sincerely goes to great lengths to find interesting winemakers to make the trek to Dallas, and then drive another 20 minutes east to Rockwall to host a fantastic evening celebrating wine and food.
This past week was another shining example when Bowden invited a few of his cheffy friends over to play, including Eric Black from Tony C’s, Randall Copeland from Ava, Ted grieb from the Fatted Calf, Pete Harrison from Dakota’s, and Dan Landsberg from ZaZa’s Dragonfly. I always enjoy watching a gaggle of chefs collaborate in the kitchen. You hear some fantastic war stories, some which cannot be repeated, and you hear plenty of laughter. There is a sense of synergism watching them assist with each other’s plating. There is also a healthy dose of unwritten competition. Continue reading
Filed under chefs, Steven Doyle, Wine
by Bryan Coonrod
In our search for the perfect bowl of red, we asked contributor Bryan Coonrod to chime in on one of his favorite chili bowls in the DFW area. Bryan is one of the area’s hottest DJ’s in Dallas and has a voracious appetite.
One of my favorite suburban cities to dine in is Rockwall just east of Dallas on I-30 . You can find several of the top restaurants in the area here such as Ava, Zanata, Culpepper’s and The Fatted Calf where we end up today to try their Texas Red Chili. Chef-Owner Ted Grieb runs this establishment and delivers some awesome food time and time again, which you can tell by the full dining room we saw today. The chili here is quite the serving; a large bowl that you can call Texas-sized. Continue reading
Filed under Bryan Coonrod, Hunt for a Bowl of red
