The Spread.

Dallas Welcomes Oodles Of Noodle Joints, and Rumors Of Expo Park's Demise Have Been Exaggerated

Welcome to The Spread, our weekly feature that aims to share all the area restaurant, food and beverage industry news that's fit to print. Except, this is the Internet, so space isn't a concern. Also: Good thing, because this is Dallas and this town always has breaking restaurant news going down like whoa.

To the best of our knowledge, it isn't National Noodle Week or anything like that. But here in North Texas, it might as well be.

Specifically, this week is for the noodle lovers among us. It's time for us to celebrate, y'all. That's right: Somehow, even more ramen joints are making their way to Dallas-Fort Worth.

First on the list is a restaurant called Wabi House that's coming to Lower Greenville. The izakaya-style (casual) set-up here will feature the lessons learned when owner Dien Nguyen(Piranha Killer Sushi) traveled to North America's top ramen destinations. Look for this spot to take over the former World Piece Cafe space at some point in May.

Next up, chef Justin Holt (Lucia) is bringing back his ramen pop-ups for the late night crowd. For $10 (cash only), you can pick up traditional chicken and pork shoyu ramen at Time Out Tavern on Saturday, March 14, and duck ramen at The Dubliner on Saturday, March 28. Noodles will be dished out from midnight to 2 a.m. — or until supplies run out.

Meanwhile, Irving's fast-casual Fast Furious Japanese is expanding to Addison along with an outpost of Illinois-based Naf Naf Grill, which will be adding yet more variety to the area's litany of food options.

Even the classics are getting an upgrade: Lucky's is working on a new farm-to-table menu. Options still focus on the breakfast and diner fare trademark to the brand, but will now also incorporate local and regional farm offerings like eggs from Vital Farms and Coombs Maple Syrup. The menu is still in the testing process, but look for a final product to be rolled out by the end of this month.

Those looking for somehow fresher goods can head to the launch of the new White Rock Local Market under its updated management and moniker: Good Local Markets takes its bow on Saturday, March 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the original Green Spot location.

Over in Oak Cliff, the Sylvan Thirty development will soon be home to an Italian market called Cibo Divino, where customers will be able to chose from an array of prepared takeout dishes, made-to-order paninis and pizzas, as well as pizza delivery to the surrounding area. There will also be a wide selection of wines sold by the glass and the bottle, plys craft beer on tap, an espresso bar and more. The market is slated to open by the beginning of next month.

Meanwhile, following Amsterdam Bar's closing after nearly two decades in business in Expo Park, news broke this week that the owners of Oak Cliff's Ten Bells Tavern are set to take over the space, which they'll dub Eight Bells. Along those same lines, the former operators of the Lakewood Theater will also soon take over the recently shuttered Meridian Room space just around the corner.

So perhaps rumors of that neighborhood's demise were a bit rash.

Over in Oak Lawn, on the other hand, the neighborhood is welcoming more Tex-Mex with the opening of Quesa. Fresh corn tortillas are the main draw here, as they can be filled with a variety of taco options or stuffed and fried into the (empanada-like) signature quesas. There's also plenty of alcohol, including a list of specialty tequilas and flan for the sweeter side of things.

Speaking of sweets: The newly opened hot dog joint Luscher's Red Hots has partnered with Lake Highlands Creamery for a line of ice cream bars to be sold at the Deep Ellum spot. One of the flavors to choose from is called the Mother Lode, which is made with bourbon vanilla bean ice cream and placed into a house-made chocolate shell topped with pretzels, potato chips, toffee, peanuts, pecans and sprinkles. The bars run at $4 apiece.

In craft beer news: Rabbit Hole Brewing has announced its next seasonal release, a strawberry Hefeweizen called Tweedleyum. The 5.5-percent ABV brew is the first of the brewery's series of wheat beers, and will be available April through June on draft only. Also: Community Beer Co., which began construction on a new cellar this week, will release a pair of specialty brews for St. Patrick's Day — a Dry Irish Stout and an Irish Red Ale — that will be available at the brewery's regular open house this Saturday, March 14.

Cover photo via The Amsterdam Bar's Facebook page. Got a tip for The Spread? Email us!