Lena Pope
Celebrating its 29th anniversary, DFW Restaurant Week is upon us. The annual dining event kicks off July 31-August 3 with a preview weekend, followed by the main course that runs through August 31. This year, 37 Tarrant County restaurants are participating, offering multi-course prix fixe menus at a discount rate for a good cause: Twenty percent of the cost of each meal goes to Lena Pope, the Fort Worth-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families through education, counseling, and behavioral health services. Since 1998, Restaurant Week has raised more than $3 mil for Lena Pope. This year’s participating restaurants include Wicked Butcher, Ellerbe Fine Foods, Don Artemio, Rise, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, newly opened Duchess, Toro Toro, Tinie’s Mexican Cuisine, Quince, Terra Mediterranean and Plank Seafood Provisions. Prices range from $49 to $59 for dinner and $29 for lunch or brunch. Reservations are recommended. lenapope.org/dfwrestaurantweek
The old Fireside Pies location in West 7th will soon have a new and similar tenant: Partenope Ristorante, an upscale pizza place specializing in Neapolitan pizza. The restaurant comes from couple Dino and Megan Santonicola, who’ve opened two other Partenope locations — one in downtown Dallas, the other in Richardson. Dino is well-known in pizza circles near and far: The native of Italy helped found the local Cane Rosso pizza chain and, according to CultureMap, Partenope has received Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) certification, meaning it meets the standard of true Naples-style pizza. Look for it later this year. 2949 Crockett St., partenopedallas.com
Fort Worth’s Old Neighborhood Grill, which last month I reported was going to close, received a stay of execution. The mom and pop diner, opened in 1998, has been taken over by restaurateur Mazen Haddad, who also owns the similar Moe’s Cafes and Ginger Brown’s in Lake Worth. Haddad has been a frequent guest throughout these pages. The Grill is in good hands. According to a Facebook post, Haddad is hoping to reopen the restaurant by the end of July/early August. 1633 Park Place.
Blue Flag Distillery is set to open this fall in the old Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. digs on the South Side. According to a release, Blue Flag will be the first North Texas distillery to focus on American single malt whiskey. The expansive 37,000-square-foot facility will not only house distillery and brewing operations but also feature a private tasting room, retail space, and a special events area, according to a press release. The company says its new location will be home to two of the largest pot stills in the nation. While their American single malt whiskey is anticipated to age for three years, Blue Flag will also be producing artisanal gin and beer on-site. 701 Galveston Ave.
