9 January 8-14, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Dallas Dining in 2026 Here are the most- anticipated restaurant openings of this year. BY AAREN PRODY T his year was the precursor to a fruitful next year for dining in Dallas. We feel like we’re up to our necks in restaurants we still have not taken a bite out of, but nevertheless, the chefs and hospitality groups persist. Things are getting exciting. Last year felt like we were plopped on every other major city’s radar, but now our local talent is com- ing out to play. These are the most anticipated restau- rant openings in Dallas for 2026 . Winter Openings AM/FM 1950 Market Center Blvd., Design District Ferris Wheeler’s Backyard and BBQ is be- ing turned into AM/FM, a new late-night and early morning concept, as we speak. It’s designed to serve both musicians com- ing off late nights and workers heading into early morning shifts. Chef Anastacia Qui- ñones-Pittman is leading the culinary di- rection, and we see the vision: the 3 a.m. stack of masa pancakes or the 2 p.m. pot roast recovery. Opening date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 Cafe Lucca 4445 Travis St., Knox-Henderson Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett is partnering with Julian Barsotti, who is be- hind Michelin-recognized Nonna and other lcoal concepts. The restaurant is named af- ter former NFL quarterback Babe Laufen- berg’s late son, Luke, who passed away from lymphoma in 2019. It will serve a menu with Mediterranean, Moroccan, Greek and Ital- ian influences, and will open right across the street from Cafe Madrid. Expected opening: January 2026 Seegar’s Deli 1910 S Harwood St., Harwood District Seegar’s Deli has been anticipated for more than two years. Progress has been so slow that owner Olivia Genthe (behind Fount Board & Table) opened Little Blue Bistro first. When it opens next month, it will be a nondenominational deli serving a kingdom of sandwiches on freshly baked bread in an all-day cafe setting. You should be stoked about this one. We all are. Expected opening: January 2026 Shyboy 1313 Main St., Downtown State-of-the-art listening sessions are about to appear in downtown Dallas early next year. Shyboy is a new hi-fi bar that’s being built inside an old bank vault be- neath the Drakestone Apartments. It’s in- spired by Japanese kissas, listening cafes that post-war Japan flocked to to hear ex- pensive and curated records. They’re usu- ally owned by one person and feature their private collection of records. Shyboy will imbibe that by focusing on the music, but will also balance a tasteful nightlife cul- ture into it. Expected opening: mid-January 2026 Toca Madera 2203 Commerce St., Downtown, East Quarter Toca Madera is a modern Mexican steak- house set to open in Dallas’ East Quarter in 2026. The concept is from global hospi- tality group Noble 33, which is known for its award-winning and high-energy res- taurant concepts like Meduza Mediterra- nia, Sparrow Italia and Casa Madera. Toca Madera already has three other locations in Vegas, Scottsdale and Houston, and the new Dallas location will span over 13,000 square feet and feature indoor and out- door seating, two full-service bars, a lounge, a private members’ speakeasy and a private dining room. Expected opening: early 2026 Molino Olōyō 4422 Gaston Ave., East Dallas It’s quite the year for local Chef Olivia López and her partner Jonathan Percival. For years, they’ve been testing, tweaking and connecting to fine-tune what will be the new Molino Olōyō tasting room next year. They started as a ghost kitchen selling tama- les, tortillas, salsas and other items. Af- ter that, they began hosting casual pop-ups at Wayward Coffee Co., where they sold breakfast tacos recognized by Texas Monthly, and other pop-ups featured tasting menu experiences with contemporary takes on Mexican cuisine. It’s an exciting year for them, and for Dallas, to taste the duo’s fullest expression of Mexico. Expected opening: February 2026 Docent Steak 2801 N. Harwood St., Harwood District Harwood Hospitality has been teasing this new Japanese steakhouse and lounge for over a year now. It was anticipated to open in the fall of 2024, but we’re still waiting. When it opens, Docent Steak will celebrate the rich heritage of the samurai, featuring armor and other motifs to be enjoyed alongside Japan’s finest cuts of steak and pours of whisky. Expected opening: not specified Serritella Prime Italian 1904 Skillman St., East Dallas After many hurdles, as reported by The Dal- las Morning News, Serritella will be opening in the first quarter of 2026 in East Dallas, in the same area as Mot Hai Ba, Lakewood Landing and The Wine Therapist. It will be a massive, 16,000 square foot space with a 250-seat dining room, Italian market and a hidden bar in the back called Cosa. Expected opening: early 2026. Night Rooster 1000 N Riverfront Blvd., Design District Night Rooster’s opening has been delayed by over a year, but a grand opening is near. On the restaurant’s Instagram page, they an- nounced on Monday, Nov. 24, that training for the team had begun. When it opens in Jan. 2026, it will be an upscale Asian fusion restaurant and lounge. Expected opening: January 2026 Delilah 1616 Hi Line Drive, Design District Delilah is at the top of everyone’s new-res- taurant radars. This supper club or “club- staurant” is famous at all its other outposts in L.A., Vegas and Miami for spotting A- listers, but not without its no-photo policy. Every location has a slightly different menu, but there’s no doubt Delilah Dallas will sport a classic steakhouse menu with staples we’re all familiar with. All locations have a vegan truffle risotto crowning the entrees section, which is where everyone’s curiosity peaks when glancing at the menu. In addition to dinner service, Delilah will also do bottle service, and if we’re lucky, jazz nights. Expected opening: early 2026 Spring Openings Maroma 1333 Oak Lawn Ave., Design District Coastal Mexican cuisine is making a splash in the Design District next year with the opening of Maroma. Celebrated chef Omar Flores (Whistle Britches, Muchacho and Even Coast) is behind the concept that takes culinary inspiration from the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa, which make up a bit of the country’s west- ern edge. It seems like details are still being finalized, but we do know that the menu is meant to be enjoyed communally, and will feature dishes like ceviche, aqua chiles and specialty seafood dishes. Expected opening: spring 2026 Punk Noir 139 Turtle Creek Blvd., Design District Punk Noir is an avant-garde new restaurant coming to the Design District next year. It will serve a 20+ course tasting menu in an immersive space with a multi-room design. Its kitchen is backed by James Beard Award- winning chef RJ Cooper and general man- ager and Level II Sommelier John D’Alexander. Expected opening: Spring 2026. Corsaire 3525 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville The Dallas Morning News first reported on the opening of Corsaire, the latest behind the owners of Goodwins. It’s taking up the old Pizzeria Testa spot, and will take influ- ence from North Africa, Spain, France, Tur- key, Morocco and any place that travelers found themselves during the spice trade. When completed, it aims to be a little oasis along Lower Greenville that can accommo- date any party size in its sprawling space. Expected opening: sspring Neighborhood Sushi 4216 Oak Lawn Ave., Uptown The former Tulum space at The Shops at Highland Park will be a new casual Japa- nese restaurant, Neighborhood Sushi, by the turn of the season next year. It’s from Austin- based restaurant group MML Harwood Hospitality Docent Steak’s second floor dining room. | CITY OF ATE | t Dish >> p10
