Dakota’s in Downtown Dallas is About to Get Groovy

Posted on January 31st, 2011 4:21pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Celebrity Chefs, cocktails, Restaurant News

Lincoln Properties has always been the force behind Dakota’s, the subterranean restaurant on Akard. They still are but they’ve hired NL Group, a restaurant management group run by Tim McEneny to poof up the place. You know Tim. He’s given us such hot spots as Dragonfly, Obar, Lift Lounge, and Dish. Now, he’s going to wave a magic wand over Dakota’s and make it sing.

“We are going to do some unique things to the space,” says McEneny. “The outdoor patio with the waterfall will be enhanced with a tent and live music.” They also plan to create a private dining space and reconfigure some of the indoor seating. The menu will be simplified by chef Doug Brown. There will still be steaks but other items will be updated and the two-page list of options reduced to one. “We aren’t going to close the restaurant for construction,” says McEneny. “But you will see changes by April 1.”

The biggest change will come in the bar. Happy hour will feature sexy cocktails and a sophisticated wine-by-the glass program. And there will be music. And wonderful roses. Good news for downtowners.

15 comments

  1. Excited about this. Have always loved Dakota’s. Lots of great memorable dinners there. And the historic fact of why it is located underground.

    @ 5:04 pm on January 31, 2011

  2. Very good news!! I love that patio with the waterfall.

    @ 5:41 pm on January 31, 2011

  3. Great news!! But, thinking if LPC and McEneny don’t hire solid PR people like Bill Armstrong (Saint Anne & Toulouse) or Lindsey Miller (Bolsa & Smoke) or Andrea Alcorn, if she’s still around, then I’m afraid the message will just get lost.

    @ 9:15 pm on January 31, 2011

  4. @foodiesnob- who needs PR people when one can have Sidedish for free?

    @ 9:52 pm on January 31, 2011

  5. Why do people keep hiring Tim M to run restaurants? He is a terrible, terrible human being with a horrible reputation and bad business sense. Doesn’t pay vendors, staff, etc…why anyone would hire him to run something is beyond me.

    @ 11:27 pm on January 31, 2011

  6. Lindsey is no longer associated with Smoke or Bolsa.

    @ 1:10 am on February 1, 2011

  7. Dear Foodiesnob,

    Have you eaten at Saint Anne? To hire anyone associated with that operation would be the kiss of death – the food is horrendous.

    @ 5:08 am on February 1, 2011

  8. @ dbc – He’ll be perfect for Lincoln. This makes me sad.

    @ 9:12 am on February 1, 2011

  9. Dish is dead the food is horrible and the restaurant decor is cheaply made. Dakota’s has been dead for years I doubt that they will be able to turn it around when their own restaurant is dead.@foodiesnob, a restaurant’s success does not depend on the PR people.

    @ 9:52 am on February 1, 2011

  10. Tim M is a great operator with a lengthy background. He may be insensitive and LOUD but somehow he remains to be successful!

    @ 10:36 am on February 1, 2011

  11. sexy cocktails? gimme a break. stick with the overused hand crafted.

    @ 2:37 pm on February 1, 2011

  12. Thanks for the shout-out foodiesnob. However, I have never handled Saint Anne.

    @ 5:16 pm on February 1, 2011

  13. @foodiesnob – Very gracious of you to mention my name among two of The Greats in Dallas – Bill & Andrea. I am humbled. One correction @knows, I am still associated with SMOKE & Bolsa.

    @ 10:29 pm on February 1, 2011

  14. All I can say is “If you want your restaurant to close down, hire Tim McEneny” It’s not about helping you, it’s about using you to benefit himself. Is it worth losing it all??????

    @ 4:05 am on February 13, 2011

  15. well I live a block away, lets just hope something good comes out of it.

    @ 10:37 am on February 13, 2011