LIVE LIKE A LOCAL: TRINITY GROVES

ART AND CUISINE STAR IN GROWING TRINITY GROVES

By David Muscari

WITH DRAMATIC VIEWS OF THE DALLAS SKYLINE FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE TRINITY RIVER, THE LIVE-WORK-PLAY ZONE IS AN ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION

Friends are up for dinner, but where to go? A juicy burger with fries? Something a bit more colorful? And what about dessert?

Here’s an intriguing option: a Dallas theme park, of sorts, designed especially for foodies.

Welcome to Trinity Groves.

Speckled with specialty food and restaurant incubators, the complex is the brainchild of a group of noted Texas businesspeople, including hard-charging trailblazer Phil Romano, who’s nationally known for dreaming up Macaroni Grill, Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse, Fuddruckers, and Eatzi’s.

The investors sank millions into Trinity Groves, which is designed, among other things, as a place where enterprising chefs can open and test new restaurant concepts and guage if they are successful enough to expand nationally.

The multiphase redevelopment transformed a 1920s warehouse and industrial district on about 10 acres into a fresh destination for locals and visitors alike.

The first restaurant was Babb Bros. BBQ and Blues, which opened in 2012 on Singleton Boulevard and was soon followed by Hofmann Hots and its gourmet hot dogs.

Trinity Groves’ grand opening lit things up in 2013, winning lots of national press and local fanfare.

Much has transpired in the area since those early days as the buzz continues to roll.

The popular live-work-play region has become a landmark offering a diverse array of restaurants, culture, and regularly scheduled happenings. It sits on the west bank of Dallas’s Trinity River near the soaring landmark Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Trinity Groves is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in West Dallas and offers ample parking in five large lots. The area is home to upscale apartment complex Cypress at Trinity Groves and is within a five-minute drive of the Virgin Hotel, Thompson Hotel, and Fairmount Dallas.

The development overlooks the Dallas shimmering skyline, offering spectacular visuals both day and night. With over a dozen restaurants and dessert shops, foodies and families alike are all drawn to its ever-growing list of options.

ArtPark

Saint Rocco’s New York Italian

Sum Dang Good Chinese

Holy Crust

Top spots include:

ARTPARK

ArtPark Trinity Groves debuted in July, a colorful outdoor graffiti garden serving cocktails, beer, and various frozen concoctions.

ArtPark features works from renowned local art institutions and nearby Dallas Tin District, a once industrial area that now houses galleries, studios, and art spaces that attract leading contemporary artists as well as emerging talent.

Guests can pick up food from any of the adjoining restaurants and walk a few steps to relax and enjoy it in a vibrant park that’s drawn rave reviews.

And, since Dallas is repeatedly recognized as one of America’s top destinations for foodies, Trinity Groves is well stocked with places to eat, drink, and be merry.

SAINT ROCCO’S NEW YORK ITALIAN

With a red, white, and black New York vibe, the restaurant occupies three floors. The first floor is the main dining room, and the second level is an ideal event space topped by a partially enclosed third floor. Specialties include pasta Bolognese, lasagna (there is a vegan version, too), and cavatappi with sausage. Sip wines on tap, a smoked espresso martini, or Saint Rocco’s signature Holy Water, a concoction of Absolut Vodka, rum, and blue Curacao that’s the bar’s official rooftop drink.

SUM DANG GOOD CHINESE

Opened in 2020, the restaurant has regulars raving about its soup dumplings, crab rangoon, crispy spicy beef, pepper beef, and fresh pulled noodles paired with craft cocktails like frosé all day, prosecco pop, and sake bombs. Dining in is a relaxing treat, and there are also take out and delivery options.

HOLY CRUST

Pizza isn’t exclusively for Italians. For centuries people around the globe have loved the flavors and texture of a well-constructed pie. Opened in 2020, the pizza prophets here have added unique combos like beef and blue cheese and taken the cuisine to lofty new levels, including a bold 28-inch pie, one of the city’s largest pizzas.

BETO & SON

Opened in 2016 by the father-and-son chef team of Beto and Julian Rodarte, this exciting, award-winning “new generation of Mexican food” is a joy, particularly in a metropolitan area peppered with old-school Tex-Mex. The pair’s unique take on standard fare includes fire-roasted guacamole mixed table side, inventive salad towers, broth, bowls, and more. Be sure and sample the Avion tequila liquid nitrogen margarita, shaken table side with fresh-squeezed lime and agave.

Avion tequila liquid nitrogen margarita at Beto & Son

High tea at Lexy’s Dallas

LEXY’S DALLAS

Local New American cuisine is the focus of the restaurant, which opened in August, and is a stunning new dining spot with whimsical touches designed for picturesque moments. Singer LeeAnn Rimes was spotted at Lexy’s this summer. Dishes include wagyu and produce sourced from Profound Foods, and the menu is influenced by the experiences and travels of husband- and-wife team Alexa (Lexy) and Julian Rodarte. High Tea at Lexy’s is made with dry ice and premium Altos tequila, hibiscus, and CBD. It’s sensational.

THE CAKE BAR

Georgia-reared baker Tracy German calls her products the “cakes you grew up with” with a Southern flair. “Making food for people is a very personal thing, and it connects you to every person,” she says. That’s evident in her confections: Carrot, red velvet, chocolate, coconut, hummingbird (pecan, pineapple, banana and cinnamon with cream cheese frosting), key lime, Neapolitan, and more are delicious cakes made with love.

KATE WEISER CHOCOLATE

Crowned Best Boxed Bonbons by Forbes and featured on Oprah’s 2018 Favorite Things, Kate Weiser Chocolate is where art and chocolate combine for the perfect pairing. With multiple locations throughout DFW and a partnership with Neiman Marcus, Kate’s hand-painted, creative gourmet chocolates are a go-to for edible gifts. The brand quickly became a local favorite after its Trinity Groves debut in 2014.

Kate Weiser Chocolate bar

HAPPENINGS

According to Trinity Groves marketing director Alexa Rodarte, the development keeps a finger on the pulse of the community with events that tie into many of the biggest local and national occasions. Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, for instance, restaurants serve pink drinks with a portion of proceeds going to the nonprofit Breast Cancer Can Stick It.

The Texas-Oklahoma football game on Oct. 8 at the State Fair of Texas, Trinity Groves has its own watch party with themed cocktails and plenty of fun. Next up is Halloween in the Park on Oct. 29 with holiday cocktails, a lively costume contest, a DJ, and candy-themed drinks. Throughout November, look for pumpkin- and fall-themed decorations in ArtPark offering plenty of photo and Instagram opportunities. There are ugly sweater showcases in December and a New Year’s Eve fun fest with fireworks galore that can be enjoyed from Saint Rocco’s rooftop and ArtPark. Another pair of concept restaurants is due to open in the fourth quarter at Trinity Groves, says Julian Rodarte, with plans for another three in 2023.

More is on the drawing board beyond.

As a buoyant Rodarte puts it, “Trinity Groves has plans to be completely revamped with more living and working spaces.” Further expansion of the nearby Tin District is also expected, he says.

“We are on track to fill all restaurants and have the area at 100 percent capacity by early 2024, if not sooner,” he explains. “We also have plans for a few bars and potentially, even a hotel.” — D.M.

Neapolitan cake at the Cake Bar