Opening News

East-Coast-style restaurant from Dallas opens first outpost in Fort Worth

Hudson House burger and martini, said to be very icy.

Photo by Kathy Tran

A prolific Dallas-based restaurant group is opening a new restaurant in Fort Worth: Called Hudson House, it's an East-Coast-inspired concept opening at 4600 Dexter Ave. in Arlington Heights, at the corner of Hulen Street and Camp Bowie Boulevard, near River Crest Country Club. So you golf a round, then stop in for oysters and a martini, ba-da-bing ba-da-boom.

It's going into the very prominent space "on the bricks" that was previously occupied for decades by Into the Garden (which moved to Clearfork in January 2022), and according to a release, it'll open on December 22.

Hudson House is from Vandelay Hospitality Group, whose other concepts include East Hampton Sandwich and Drake's Hollywood. While this is the first Hudson House to open in Fort Worth, it's not the first time Vandelay has opened a restaurant. In 2014, it opened a location of East Hampton Sandwich Co. at 1605 S. University Dr. near TCU, but that closed in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The restaurant is described as having a polished, casual Americana design and cuisine, serving an all-American lunch and dinner menu alongside a raw bar specializing in East Coast oysters and sushi.

It'll also host weekend brunch and happy hour on weekdays from 3-6 pm.

Menu highlights include

The Cheeseburger
Chicken Parm
French Chicken
Lobster Roll
Fish Tacos
Steak Frites

Their other big thing is their martins, said to be extra-icy and served in a frozen glass.

The restaurant comprises 6,200 square feet, featuring an airy dining room with natural light, warm wood, plush navy leather booths, brass and opal glass light fixtures, and greenery they say is reminiscent of New England style and architecture, while the raw bar and brunch program are inspired by the West Village neighborhood joints in New York City.

The first Hudson House opened in Dallas’ Highland Park in 2017, and has since opened locations in Dallas’ Lakewood, Addison, and Las Colinas. Outside of Dallas, they've opened locations in Houston, and a location on the West Coast on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

Other Vandelay Hospitality Group concepts include Drake’s Hollywood (Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston coming soon), Anchor Sushi Bar, D.L. Mack’s, Brentwood, East Hampton, and Slider & Blues.

Forthcoming concepts include Jack & Harry’s, Montecito’s, and Bar Sardine —each opening in Dallas.

burgers openings

Doughnut News

Luscious doughnut shop Duck Donuts makes Fort Worth debut

Photo courtesy of Visit Addison

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A decadent new doughnut shop is coming to Fort Worth: Duck Donuts, a North Carolina-based chain known for serving doughnuts made to order, will open a shop at 6387 Camp Bowie Blvd. #A within the Ridglea Plaza Shopping Center in Fort Worth.

According to a release, the shop will open on Saturday December 21 at 7 am.

Duck Donuts opened its first locations in 2007 in the beach resort towns of Duck and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with the intention to create an oasis for vacationers. They're now headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and began franchising in 2013, with more than 150 locally owned and operated shops across 26 states and international locations. There was previously a DFW location in Addison on Belt Line Road that opened in 2020 but it did not survive the pandemic.

The Fort Worth shop is owned and operated by husband-and-wife Justin and Morgan Thomas.

“We are delighted to be opening in Fort Worth,” Justin says in a statement. “The community has been patiently waiting for us to open our doors, and now we cannot wait to sprinkle happiness to all with our warm, delicious and made-to-order doubhnuts.”

The 1,035-square-foot shop reflects the franchise’s reimagined design which gives a modern twist on their iconic beach theme and family-friendly atmosphere. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by the aroma of warm, light vanilla cake doughnuts.

Customers can create their own combination by choosing from coatings, toppings, and drizzles, including traditional favorites such as chocolate icing with sprinkles and more adventurous creations such as maple icing with bacon.

Key to their appeal is the viewing area where children and adults alike can watch their doughnuts being made.

Many of their flavors have a beachy theme such as the Beach, a cake doughnut with vanilla icing dusted with cinnamon sugar; the Sunrise with lemon icing and raspberry drizzle; and the Beach Ball with vanilla icing, rainbow sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle.

They rotate in seasonal offerings such as the current lineup of mint-flavored flavors including chocolate icing with mint buttercream. The doughnuts themselves are limited to vanilla and chocolate cake; the flavors come primarily from icing.

In addition to doughnuts, the Fort Worth location will serve coffee, doughnut breakfast sandwiches, doughnut sundaes — in which a doughnut is topped with ice cream and syrup — plus frozen beverages and milkshakes.

doughnuts openings