The Dallas Voice is about to have some new neighbors in the Double Ds.
Hooper Hospitality Concepts’ (HHC) modern Italian steakhouse The Saint announced on Monday it’s relocation from Deep Ellum to the Dallas Design District with Executive Chef Sergio Esquivel. The restaurant will open its new location on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 1000 N. Riverfront Blvd.
The new location will feature a golden-tiled stairway leading to the restaurant’s landing, crowned by an 18th-century gilt chandelier and counterbalanced with a graffitied antique oil portrait hand-tagged by Design District artist Kelly O’Neal.
Interior features of the 1,800-square-foot, 85-seat dining room include custom wallpaper, saints-and-sinners iconography with scalloped upholstered booths under an antique 1920s Parisian glass-domed chandelier. From its second-story perch, nearly every seat captures a view of the downtown Dallas skyline. The restaurant also features artwork by Zach Grear.
The Saint’s new dining room looks onto the Downtown Dallas skyline. (Courtesy photos)
The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Sergio Esquivel, a Dallas-born chef who blends steakhouse tradition with Italian technique, Peruvian brightness, American comfort, and Korean depth, with a commitment to crafting everything in-house.
Esquivel mentioned in the release, “What sets us apart is our commitment to Texas ingredients and our ability to elevate Italian classics with a uniquely local perspective. We focus on refinement without losing the warmth that comfort food should deliver.”
The new menu is expected to be posted soon on the website.
The Saint’s new location will operate Sunday through Thursday from 5–10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 5–11 p.m.
Pappalecco Plano will debut this month with a half-off menu its first weekend
Italian cafe Pappalecco opens in Plano January 2026.
In other Italian restaurant news, Pappalecco will have its grand opening on Saturday, January 10 beginning at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. To mark the occasion, guests are invited to enjoy 50 percent off all menu items (excluding alcoholic beverages) throughout Jan. 10 and 11.
Menu favorites of the cafe include the Marocchino (espresso, Nutella, and frothy milk), the Caffè Freddo (cold brew blended with gelato of your choice), the Affogato (gelato topped with a hot shot of espresso), and croissants filled with gelato.
Pappalecco Plano will be located at 1009 14th St., Unit 600 and will be open Sunday – Thursday from 7 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., and Friday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Two Mediterranean concepts open in DFW
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, a popular fast-casual restaurant, has opened its newest location at 1079 W. Round Grove Road, Suite 140 in Lewisville. The restaurant will mark its debut with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 2–7 p.m., with 20 percent of the day’s net sales being donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
Top menu selections include The Great Greek Gyro, along with Souvlaki Plates and Rice Bowls that can be customized with protein choices like lamb, steak, chicken, shrimp and more. They pair perfectly with the restaurant’s crisp Greek salads and four signature house-made dips, including Hummus, Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip) and Tirokafteri (spicy roasted red pepper). For more indulgent options, guests can order unique Feta Fries or sweet desserts, like Baklava, Rice Pudding and Baklava Ice Cream, made in-house. Sanjay recommends the Steak Souvlaki, Greek Salad and Tirokafteri.
The grill is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Hospitality group Yela Concepts opened Zon Zon, a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant located at 5455 Belt Line Rd., Suite 130, on Dec. 22. From restaurateur Yaser Khalaf, known for Darna in Legacy West and Baboush in West Village, this marks his first restaurant collab with his son Mak Khalef.
The space showcases a refined take on Mediterranean dining, rooted in tradition but refreshed with modern influences offering casual lunches and unforgettable dinners.
Mezze favorites include Classic Hummus topped with green shatta and extra-virgin olive oil; Baba Ghanoush with charred eggplant, tahini, dukka and pomegranate; Crispy Cauliflower with saffron labneh; the Tuna Neya with tahini, mixed pickles and Aleppo pepper; and the Baked Kibbeh made with ground lamb, onions, pine nuts, and dill labneh.
Seasonal ingredients highlight the Seared Tuna Salad with freekeh and golden beets; the Tahini Caesar with tahini–Caesar dressing and za’atar croutons; and the Roasted Beets paired with burrata, oranges, and pistachios.
Entrées feature the Chicken Shish Kebab over saffron rice with almonds and raisins; the savory Hanger Steak Shawarma Frites with pickled vegetables and hand-cut fries and Apricot Lamb Couscous featuring braised lamb with apricot and cinnamon, sesame seeds, roasted pepper couscous.
The interior of the new Mediterranean spot Zon Zon which opened in Deember 2025.
The 2,130-square-foot interior and 735-square-foot patio seats 76 guests, with total occupancy near 100. The restaurant blends clean, contemporary lines with warm Mediterranean undertones. An open kitchen adds intimacy, while finishes such as modern woodwork, rich textures, and Middle Eastern-inspired details create a stylish yet inviting setting that feels like home.
Zon Zon is open Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Music promoters Spune Productions announce the new Dallas diner and lounge concept AM/FM
Back in the Design District, Spune Productions, known mostly for its concert promotions, has announced a dining concept with a distinct spirit. Opening in January, AM/FM will open early to serve musicians after a late night, morning shift workers and neighbors for a comfy breakfast spot — and, everybody else.
“This place is for the people who make Dallas what it is. Independent artists. Independent fans. People who show up for each other. AM/FM is meant to belong to them, first and always,” Spune’s Matthew Harber said in a press release.
From Spune:
Inside, there are cozy corners, a new bar, banquets that wrap the room in warmth, and tables designed for conversation and company.
The AM/FM backyard becomes the counterweight to the intimacy inside. Big stages, big crowds, and evenings that stretch out naturally.
Spune’s Annette Marin stated, “The backyard gives people room to gather in a way that’s relaxed and open. It’s built for outdoor shows that breathe. Easy, laid back, and just a good vibe.” Alongside the renovations inside, the set-up outdoors will evolve over the coming weeks, with extra care given to the concert experience for both attendees and the neighborhood as a whole.
AM/FM is multiple frequencies on the same dial: the early-morning diner with a steady hum, the nighttime lounge with a heartbeat of its own, the backyard with a different sort of magic. Quiet moments, deep grooves, and vibrant celebrations, all connected through people who make Dallas’ independent culture feel alive. Nothing about AM/FM is grand. Somehow that makes it exactly right.
The menu is influenced by Mexican-American kitchens and Nuevo Southern traditions. Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) leads the diner’s culinary direction.
“We wanted the menu to feel like home. Honest, warm, and created with care. From the first 7 a.m. breakfast to the last plate before close, the food is here to actually take care of people, not perform for them,” she said in the release.
When it comes to the beverage program, AM/FM aims for accessibility and Victor Rojas (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) oversees the beverage menu that will feature coffee, cocktails and craft beer.
“One of our favorite things about this diner concept is that it allows us to carve out clear lanes for the restaurant and live music to work together in harmony,” Marin added. “Opening early also enables us to conveniently embrace our passion for the beautiful game.”
The soft opening of the Lounge is set for Jan. 8 which will air the Arsenal vs. Liverpool match at 2 p.m. The full opening of the Diner is on Jan. 20. The public is encouraged to follow AM/FM Dallas social media channels for frequent updates.
AM/FM will be located at 1950 Market Center. Blvd.
–Compiled by Rich Lopez
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