This holiday season, many of us in Dallas-Fort Worth are looking for ways to save money. That’s why our December 2025 Hot List includes stylish coffee shops, low-cost lunch spots and chill cocktail bars. If it’s a flashy, new restaurant you seek? We have a few of those, as well.
Two restaurants — Adelmo’s Ristorante in Dallas and Campo Verde near Arlington — will serve their last meals at their current locations this month. Go support them if you’re able.
Two others — AllGood Cafe in Deep Ellum and Ari’s Pantry in downtown Dallas — were saved.
During a season of hustle and bustle, we hope you find a happy spot to dine, wherever you are in D-FW.
Restaurant News
Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.
Adelmo’s Ristorante in Dallas
Adelmo Banchetti wants to welcome you back to his restaurant between now and Dec. 31, 2025.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
The Dallas Morning News confirmed it one more time: The 36-year-old Adelmo’s Ristorante will, indeed, serve its last plates of Italian food on W. Lovers Lane on Dec. 31, 2025. The owners tell The News they are working on a new location, but it won’t be ready in early January 2026 as they’d hoped. Go see ‘em one last time in 2025 for cheery service in a cozy dining room.
Adelmo’s Ristorante is at 5450 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas. Its last dinner at this location is Dec. 31, 2025.
Al Biernat’s in Dallas
Next time you’re at Al Biernat’s in Dallas, take a sneaky look around for a celeb.
Kye R. Lee – Staff Photographer
If it’s good enough for Tom Brady, it’s good enough for us. The former NFL quarterback stopped in to Al Biernat’s on Oak Lawn Avenue the day before the Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles game. It was his second time at Al Biernat’s in two consecutive football seasons. That’s high praise from the G.O.A.T., in a city full of good steakhouses.
Al Biernat’s is at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. The company has a second location in Far North Dallas, at 5251 Spring Valley Road.
AllGood Cafe in Deep Ellum
New AllGood Cafe co-owners John Pedigo and Robin Gill are taking over the 25 year-old restaurant, bar and live music cafe in Deep Ellum.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
Deep Ellum’s homey AllGood Cafe, now 25 years old, is under new management. A younger generation — he, a musician; she, a chef — plan to make a few small changes to the live music venue known for its chicken-fried steak.
“It’s a place for people to go who don’t necessarily want to go to all the fancy restaurants,” said Robin Gill, the new co-owner alongside John Pedigo. Consider this “laid back and calm” spot if you need a break from the holiday frenzy.
AllGood Cafe is at 2934 Main St., Dallas.
Related
Andreas Prime Steaks and Seafood in Uptown Dallas and Allen
Executive chef and owner Andreas Kotsifos has opened his second Andreas Prime Steaks and Seafood in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Jason Janik / Special Contributor
It’s a celebratory season, and Andreas arrived just in time. The brand-new restaurant serves steak and seafood in a refreshed dining room — the former Morton’s The Steakhouse, which closed in late 2024 on Dallas’ McKinney Avenue. New operator Andreas Kotsifos was once the executive chef at power lunch spot The Palm. He first opened an Andreas steakhouse in Allen in 2023. This second location, in Uptown Dallas, brings him closer to the city center.
Andreas Prime Steaks and Seafood is at 2222 McKinney Ave., Dallas. Another Andreas remains open at 610 W. Bethany Drive, Allen. Reservations recommended.
Ari’s Pantry — 3 Dallas locations
Owner Ari Lowenstein shares his recipe cards at Ari’s Pantry in downtown Dallas. It’s an easy way to make dinner during a busy season.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
As you entertain this holiday season, or as you are being entertained and need a hostess gift, stop into Ari’s Pantry in Dallas. At its three locations, customers will find Italian staples like house-made tomato sauce, pastas, olive oils and tiramisu. Shop owner Ari Lowenstein bops from shop to shop, stocking shelves and handing out samples. One of the unsung heroes of the store is a carousel of recipes, where nearly every ingredient can be purchased in the shop. Dinner: done.
Ari’s Pantry is at 1800 Main St., in downtown Dallas; 1307 1/2 W. Davis St. in Oak Cliff; and 3011 Gulden Lane in Trinity Groves. A fourth is expected to open in early 2026 at Cypress Waters.
Related
Cache in Uptown Dallas
Cache in Dallas is a scant 600 square feet. Cozy up.
Samantha Marie
If it’s a date-night drink you seek, tuck into new cocktail bar Cache, above S&D Oyster Co. in Uptown Dallas. The New Orleans-inflected bar feels familiar even though it’s new. Many of the drinks here are worthy of a sip, but it’s this salty cocktail that made our recent list of great martinis in town. Just don’t bring a crowd, as Cache is better for a small group.
Cache is at 2701 McKinney Ave., Dallas.
Related
Campo Verde in Dalworthington Gardens
Campo Verde, the Christmas-themed Tex-Mex restaurant, was saved from closure earlier this year. But it’ll close permanently on Dec. 24, 2025.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
You’ve got until Dec. 24, 2025, to see some seriously decked halls at Campo Verde, the Tex-Mex restaurant near Arlington where it’s Christmas year-round. The restaurant will close permanently after service on Christmas Eve. Then, Campo Verde will become a new restaurant, and the new owners haven’t announced what kind it will be. (Just a guess, but 365 days of Christmas seems unlikely.) Go see the 50,000 Christmas lights, classic toy trains and Santa Claus appearances before it’s too late.
Campo Verde is at 2918 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Dalworthington Gardens.
Related
Dos Mares in Fort Worth
Rodrigo Cárdenas, a chef from Mexico, helped create the seafood-inspired menu at Dos Mares in Fort Worth.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
If you find yourself in Fort Worth this month, don’t miss Dos Mares, a new seafood restaurant from the owners of Don Artemio, a contemporary Mexican restaurant nearby. Dos Mares combines “the flavors of Mexico’s two coastlines — the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean — to the table,” writes our Imelda García. I haven’t been yet, but it tops my list for new restaurants to try.
Dos Mares is at 3260 W. 7th St., Fort Worth.
Georgie in Dallas’ Knox District
Out these windows, Georgie has a front-row seat to the high-profile development of the Knox Hotel. It will be Dallas’ first Auberge property.
Ben Torres / Special Contributor
Dallas restaurant Georgie has been making news for months. First, chef RJ Yoakum — “one of Dallas’ best,” we said — left the restaurant mid-year. Then, chef Wes Whitsell was hired, then left Georgie after less than two months. This just in: French-born, Dallas-based chef Bruno Davaillon will now take over the Georgie kitchen. He was the top toque at the Mansion on Turtle Creek and Bullion in Dallas, and he’s been with the Georgie family of restaurants (Knox Bistro, Le PasSage and others) for several years.
You’re probably thinking, Can’t we talk about the food? Yes, though it isn’t clear yet what Davaillon will do with Georgie. We’ll be watching — and eating.
Georgie is at 4514 Travis St., Dallas.
Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar in Fort Worth
Paulina Chávez said Fort Worth is “very chill.” She likes handroll bar Hatusyuki.
Jason Janik / Special Contributor
On the red carpet with actors from the oil and gas TV show Landman, several said their favorite restaurant in Fort Worth is Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar. It was named the ninth best sushi restaurant in the United States by Yelp in 2024, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. And it’s near the Durty Crow, a billiards bar the Landman cast also loves. Look for someone famous next time you go.
Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar is at 907 Foch St., Fort Worth.
Related
Jashan in Plano
The tasting menu at Jashan in Plano includes small, beautiful bites.
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
One of the most ambitious restaurants I’ve seen in Dallas-Fort Worth this year is Jashan. It’s an Indian restaurant in Plano, where part of the room serves a 13-course fixed menu for $175 per person. Diners will find bites of mango butter barramundi, chicken biryani, smoked goat and more. The owner is a tech guy whose new passion is serving food from his home country of India. “This is the story I want to tell for the rest of my life,” said Prasanna Singaraju.
Jashan is at 7401 Lone Star Drive, Plano. Reservations required.
Jo’Seon in Dallas Design District
JP Park, general manager and beverage director at Jo’Seon Wagyu Omakase, makes a cocktail called Saturn.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Where’s the beef? It’s at Jo’Seon Wagyu Omakase, a tasting-menu restaurant in the Dallas Design District. Diners choose either 12 or 18 courses, and many of them include bites of rich Wagyu beef. (Note: The restaurant is not vegetarian- or vegan-friendly.) The over-the-top menu is complemented by cocktails served with flair, like one called Saturn poured from a rocketship-shaped shaker steaming with dry ice.
Jo’Seon Wagyu Omakase is at 1628 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. It opens Dec. 3, 2025. Reservations recommended.
Maman in University Park
The Pumpkin Pie Croissant Cube at Maman is oh so cute.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Instagram is going wild for Maman, the all-day French cafe that’s new in University Park. It’s the first Maman in Texas, though the company has catapulted to 50 locations since the first one opened in New York City in 2014. What to order? “Maman’s calling card is the nutty chocolate chip cookies that drew lines out the door in the cafe’s earlier days and were featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things list,” wrote our Claire Ballor on opening day. We’ve also got our eyes on the brisket-cheddar croissant, Martha Stewart’s chicken salad sandwich and the vegan sesame tahini dark chocolate cookie. Actually, maybe just one of everything.
Maman is at 4004 Villanova St., Dallas.
La Parisienne French Bistro in Addison and Frisco
In addition to tea, La Parisienne in Frisco is selling holiday-themed cocktails and mocktails.
Kathy Tran
If you’re looking for a reasonably-priced holiday tea this month, those are hard to find. Consider La Parisienne’s $59 option offered year-round, Thursday through Sunday. Afternoon tea includes bites of a petit lobster roll, fig-brie tartine, scones with clotted cream and more. Happily, kids are welcome, and their tea costs just $32.50.
The new La Parisienne French Bistro, which opened in early November 2025, is at 5100 Belt Line Road, Addison. A second location is at the Star in Frisco, at 6740 Winning Drive.
Pizzana in Dallas
Chef Daniele Uditi and co-founder Candace Nelson are behind Pizzana, the Los Angeles pizza company expanding in Dallas.
Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer
So you need a spot this holiday for a quick, reliable pizza — but not delivery. Pizzana just opened its second Dallas location at Preston Road and Forest Lane, following the first one on Knox Street. Both are co-owned by Candace Nelson, the former Cupcake Wars judge and founder of Sprinkles. Nelson’s now focused on pizza, and her growing Pizzana company is worth a try.
Pizzana is at 11700 Preston Road, Dallas. A second location is at 3219 Knox St., Dallas.
Starship Bagel — 3 D-FW locations
At Starship Bagel’s downtown Dallas shop, customers buy breakfast from a stand near “The Eye,” a well-known sculpture.
Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer
Best is a big word. And Starship earned it, with a “Best Bagel” award at BagelFest this month. This Dallas-Fort Worth company even beat out the competition in New York. The big winner was the plain bagel, but we can attest the others are great, too.
Starship Bagel has locations at 6859 Arapaho Road, in Far North Dallas; 1520 Elm St., in downtown Dallas; and 1108 W. Main St., Lewisville.
La Stella Italian Steakhouse and Music Lounge in Addison and downtown Dallas
Here’s a peek inside La Stella in Addison.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
It’s barely three days old, but we’ve been inside La Stella in Addison several times, touring and tasting as it came together. You knew this address as Lawry’s The Prime Rib, open for 40 years. Now with an Italian makeover, La Stella is serving pastas and steaks in a romantic room. Live music — which can be tough to find Dallas’ high end restaurants — is in the adjacent bar.
La Stella Italian Steakhouse and Music Lounge is at 14655 Dallas Parkway, Dallas. Another La Stella remains, at 2330 Flora St, in downtown Dallas.
Tejas Brisket Co. in Dallas
In a recent Eat Drink D-FW podcast interview with Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, he turned us on to a barbecue breakfast spot called Tejas Brisket Co. Just sayin’: You could be the office hero if you turn up to work with a bag of brisket biscuits and beef fajita breakfast tacos.
Tejas Brisket Co. is at 1318 N. Peak St., Dallas.
Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice in Plano
CJ and Sabrina Henley serve halal barbecue in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Give them a little bit of time to get used to their new digs, but Yearby’s opened quietly in Plano on Nov. 29, 2025. This halal barbecue spot made Texas Monthly’s 50 Best list when it served smoked beef and chicken in Pilot Point, Texas. They moved to Plano to be closer to customers, owners CJ and Sabrina Henley told Ballor. We’re excited to try it.
Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice is at 3201 Alma Drive, Plano.
Check out past Hot Lists