UP FRONT

Thailand, Norway and New Zealand within 48 hours. Some options only make an appearance once a year. Staudenmaier was so excited when Copper River salmon arrived that he waltzed with one to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

“We eat the hell out of them while they’re here, and then we wait until next year,” he says.

The inconsistency gives Staudenmaier room for creativity, and it adds just the right amount of the pressure he craves.

“One of the challenges of dealing with people at that level is the expectation becomes your greatest enemy,” Staudenmaier says. “You can’t just open a restaurant that’s pretty good. You have to open a restaurant as good or better than anything you’ve ever done.”

Modeled after New England seafood shacks, the Lovers Lane restaurant mixes popular faire — like Maine-style lobster rolls and salmon cakes — with more modern flavors like uni.

“There’s a line between fun and interesting and unique and not wanting to scare the hell out of people,” Staudenmaier says.

He relies on seafood brokers across the globe for its endlessly rotating menu. Fish is shipped to the eatery from

DRINK

Paloma Cocktail LOVERS SEAFOOD AND

“When the restaurant’s packed and crazy, and we start questioning if we’re going to make it through, I love that moment.”

1 ½ ounces Don Julio Reposado Tequila

½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1 teaspoon smoked salt

Jarritos Grapefruit Soda

Grapefruit wedge

Combine tequila and lime juice into a glass filled with ice.

Top with grapefruit soda. Stir.

Garnish with smoked salt and grapefruit wedge.

Dining Spotlight

Restaurant & Bakery

Celebrating 27 years serving the community. Southern-style comfort food and New York style deli favorites ready for you every day.

Open 7 days.

If you know a fashionable Preston Hollow neighbor, nominate them! Email: echarrier@advocatemag.com.