The Dallas Openings and Events We’re Excited About This Year

From buzzy new restaurants to star-studded concerts, there’s a lot to get excited about in 2023.

Outside of Toca Social
Toca Social | Toca Social
Toca Social | Toca Social

If you’re the resolution-making type, we hope you resolved to spend a lot of time outside the house this year, because 2023’s collective calendar is jam-packed with exciting restaurant and hotel openings, concerts, and other reasons to get dressed and out the door. These next few months will see several homegrown talents expanding their empires and others entering the Dallas market for the first time, bringing some out-of-town energy into the fray. Here’s a rundown of what we’re looking forward to in 2023.

Inside of La Neta
La Neta | La Neta

Deep Ellum
Opening soon at the Epic building on the edge of Deep Ellum, La Neta hails from Las Vegas and promises a Tulum-inspired design, with lush greenery and a living wall art installation. The menu is modern Mexican and includes dishes like Chorizo Sopes, Shrimp Ceviche, Lobster Enchiladas, and a Pastor Pork Chop.
Anticipated opening date: February 20

Barstotti’s Fine Foods & Liqueurs

Oak Lawn
The battle between Carbone’s (the OG Dallas original) and Carbone (the New York import) is over, and the Oak Lawn Italian joint is reopening soon with a new name—Barsotti’s. The redesigned digs will feature a bar, and the menu will complement its lineup of fan favorites, including that delicious Sunday Gravy, with a handful of new items from chef and owner Julian Barsotti.
Anticipated opening date: Spring 2023

Outside of Hotel Swexan
Hotel Swexan | Wade Griffith

Hardwood District
Over the past decade the Harwood District has transformed itself from a quiet, underdeveloped neighborhood to one of the most bustling areas of Dallas. That trend will only continue with Hotel Swexan, a 22-story, 134-room boutique hotel that’s slated to open this summer. The interior channels 19th-century Parisian sensibilities, and art will be incorporated into the design. The seventh floor will bring a steakhouse and private social club to the party, while the rooftop is where you’ll find another restaurant, plus a bar and an infinity pool looking out over the city.
Anticipated opening date: Summer 2023

Star-Studded Concerts

Various locations
After a couple years of delays and canceled tours, 2022 brought some serious entertainment to DFW, and that’s not slowing down this year. We’re starting strong with Bruce Springsteen in February, and Taylor Swift takes the stage in Arlington for three nights, March 31 - April 2. Then it’s Billy Joel joined by Stevie Nicks in April, Blink 182 in July, Metallica in August, and plenty more headliners coming to venues all over town.

Graham Elliott Comes to Fort Worth

Various locations
Celebrity chef Graham Elliot earned Michelin stars in Chicago and national recognition on TV as a MasterChef judge. Now he’s turning his attention to Fort Worth by teaming up with Felipe Armenta to expand Armenta’s growing restaurant group, which includes Pacific Table, Press Cafe, and Maria’s. Together the duo will open a French brasserie called Le Margot and a steakhouse in Mule Alley called The Duke, with hints that more restaurants will follow.
Anticipated opening date: Spring 2023 and beyond

Crown Block Rendering
Crown Block | Crown Block

Downtown
The iconic Reunion Tower has been conspicuously missing a restaurant since Wolfgang Puck’s Five Sixty closed at the start of the pandemic. Soon it’s getting new life via Las Vegas restaurateurs Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla. Crown Block won’t spin like its predecessor, but it will serve steaks, seafood, and cocktails with top-notch views of the city.
Anticipated opening date: Spring 2023

Kaiyo

Lower Greenville
The omakase experience at Shoyo on Lower Greenville is one of the hottest tickets in town. This year, Shoyo chef Jimmy Park will open another Japanese restaurant just down the street in the former Teppo space. It’ll be more casual, with an izakaya-style concept and a menu centered around sushi, shared plates, and drinks.
Anticipated opening date: June 2023

Komodo Rendering
Komodo | iCrave

Deep Ellum
Hospitality veteran David Grutman is bringing Komodo—a Miami restaurant known for Pan-Asian food, its high-energy scene, and treehouse-like “floating birds nest” seating—to a two-story space at Deep Ellum’s Epic building. It’s Groot Hospitality’s first concept in Dallas, and it promises an indoor/outdoor setting with illuminated bamboo columns, duck display windows, and a menu serving Peking Duck, Miso Chilean Sea Bass, and Salmon Tacos.
Anticipated opening date: March 2023

Royal Bastard

Design District
Nick Badovinus has been busy, opening National Anthem in 2021 and Brass Ram last year, both in Dallas’s East Quarter neighborhood. This year he’s planning another ambitious venture, Royal Bastard, which will bring high-end continental cuisine to the former Kings Cabaret strip club. Not much has been unveiled yet, but the restaurant has been in the works for a while, and diners know by now to expect any Badovinus operation to serve good food in a memorable setting.
Anticipated opening date: Summer 2023

Ramble Room Rendering
Ramble Room | Ramble Room

A Couple New Jon Alexis Joints

Snider Plaza and East Dallas
TJ’s Seafood owner Jon Alexis expanded his purview in 2022 with Escondido, a Tex-Mex joint with a killer patio. This year, he’s planning two new concepts. First up is Ramble Room, an American restaurant with a 25-seat bar that’s coming soon to Snider Plaza. He’s also taking over the old Luby’s on East Mockingbird and turning it into a massive Austin-style beer garden. Expect casual neighborhood vibes, burgers, sandwiches, and lots of beer.
Anticipated opening dates: Spring and fall 2023

Grapevine
This massively popular immersive art experience got its start in Sante Fe and has since expanded into Denver and Las Vegas. Now the group is bringing its surreal installations to Grapevine, turning an old Bed Bath & Beyond into a permanent exhibit with 30 unique rooms spread across 29,000 square feet. The new space will also host local vendors and feature a live performance venue for local and up-and-coming musicians.
Anticipated opening date: Summer 2023

Game at Toca Social
Toca Social | Toca Social

Design District
TOCA Social is a London import that’s like Top Golf, but for soccer. It’s rehabbing a Design District building into a three-story venue that merges all the trappings of a restaurant and bar (food, drink, a sprawling patio) with “soccer boxes” featuring artificial turf and smart screens. Players choose from multiple game options, kicking the ball at targets on the screen to score points.
Anticipated opening date: Sometime in 2023

Arts District
If you want to dance around to music that outside observers can’t hear, these are the parties for you. The AT&T Performing Arts Center is hosting three silent discos, each with a unique theme. First up is ‘90s Spring Break, followed by Cinco de Mayo Festival, and then Summer Beach Party. Each event will include live DJs and music piped in through headphones, plus beer, wine, and themed cocktails.
Opening dates: March 10, May 5, July 7

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Kevin Gray is a freelance writer and editor covering all things food, drinks, and travel. He’s written for The Dallas Morning News, Forbes, Liquor.com, Men’s Health, and Wine Enthusiast, and his extensive home bar is turning into a realHoarders situation.