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Allen is a Rocking Town

Posted on August 18th, 2008 2:34pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Openings, Restaurant News

When I was attempting to grow up in Dallas, Allen was literally in the sticks. LBJ and Preston was a giant prairie and I rode horses down where Spring Valley Road runs today. At that time, Allen was wild with Caddo and Comanche Indians running around. OK, so I exaggerate a bit, but the fact remains that this outpost to the north has recently exploded with eateries. Like Grimaldi’s, Uncle Julio’s, Naan, and now, Cru. Yep, that’s right–a fancy wine bar featuring wines by-the-glass, flights, and pairings. Cru in Allen marks owner Patrick Colombo’s eighth location. The others are in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Denver.

9 Comments to “Allen is a Rocking Town”

Stacy @ August 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Uncle Julio’s? I live in Allen, and that one’s new to me. Where is it?
DTD @ August 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Don’t come a-knockin’.
Suzanne @ August 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Uncle Julio’s will open in Allen on
October 6. It is located in The Village at Allen, 190 E. Stacy Rd. at the southeast corner of U.S. 75.
Nancy Nichols @ August 18th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Whoopsie, jumped the gun. Thanks, Suzanne.
Jay Jerrier @ August 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

Village at Allen and Village at Fairview look to be pretty nice. Minor League hockey team will also call Village at Allen home. I believe there will also be a Nate’s Seafood in Allen too. The cool new Borders just opened in Watters Creek near Grimaldis and Naan. Woodland’s Grill is supposed to open there too by Sep 1.

I will tell you that Cru looks mighty quiet…remains to be seen if Allen is a flight of wine kind of town. Although the Brio in Watters has the highest alcohol sales of any restaurant in the Allen area…
Gastronome @ August 19th, 2008 at 9:17 am

Allen is exploding with new eateries – Cheesecake just opened as did Mi Cocina about a month ago.
Jane @ August 19th, 2008 at 11:00 am

When I married my husband 2 years ago, he dragged me kicking and screaming from Highland Park to uh, shudder, Allen, Texas. After I recovered from my nosebleeds from venturing above the High Five I realized that it is a wonderful suburb that is slowly seducing me into liking it. On weekends, I walk my dog to the Escape Coffee Shop and walk back along the creek to let my puppy play, then spend a full day doing fun things within 5 miles of my home- shopping at Market Street, a movie at the Legacy, a wonderful library, shopping at the outlet mal… not to mention the great school system, a community college close by and a future mall. Sayanara ‘The Bubble’ sucka’s!
brian @ August 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Is Cru worth going to if you’re just a foodie (who is interested in wine), or do you need to be more interested in conspicuous consumption and fat-stacked to get anything out of it?
Stacy @ August 20th, 2008 at 8:37 am

My husband and I went to Cru over in Plano all the time, and were very excited one was opening in Allen. But, we’ve been somewhat disappointed so far. The wait-staff and bartenders aren’t nearly as friendly (and trust me, we’re low-maintenance), and there are a lot more families. Who brings their kids to a wine bar…especially one that is so tight on space? Oh, I forget…I live in Allen.

Every time we’ve been to Cru in Allen (four times so far), it has been very busy…both on weekend and weekday nights.

For me though, Samui Thai is still the best restaurant in Allen.