Setting
The Design
The 160-seat restaurant employs architecture and design that salutes the arts of fine cooking and dining. It sensually melds ultra-modern geometric shapes in metal and wood with vivid regional accents - Southwestern sunset and desert colors, stacked Texas flagstone and terra-cotta brick.
The Entry
The entry pays homage to the Arts District by creating a showcase for art.
Drive right up to the convenience of valet parking. Lush, native Texas plants line the geometric-patterned glass and metal windows, while mature Texas live oaks stand sentry on the streetscape.
As guests enter the restaurant, a glass-boxed antechamber is framed by a metal grid of random geometric patterns. More art greets them at the hostess stand, which is made of African tamo wood and covered in a backlit glass panel etched with a desert cactus motif by Dallas artist Polly Gissell. And separating this area from the rest of the restaurant - a four-foot-high wall of copper bands woven through steel verticals.
The Bar
Hip and always hospitable. An architectural concrete wall holds a framed, lit showcase displaying the array of tequilas and spirits. On one side of the wall, patrons see light pulsating softly and slowly; diners on the other side see only a glow. And beyond the bar, a dramatic, see-through fire pit leads to the alfresco terrace patio.
The Glass-Enclosed Kitchen
Being a chef-driven restaurant, having a glass kitchen is like theater-in-the-round. The culinary staff is on center stage. Every table has a view of the action.
It's the focal point of the restaurant, visible from almost every vantage point. The 1500-square-foot glass-enclosed jewel box display kitchen is shaped by a metallic geometric frame. Inside, a wood-burning grill, rotisserie, and smoker turn out Chef Pyles' creative menu offerings.
The Lighting
It's drama in the details. Lighting, set into the ceiling, is programmed to change color and intensity throughout the evening. And faux-flicker sconces, mounted on the restaurant's stone walls, wrap sculpted stone in metal for additional impact. Further enhancing the mood - rich amber lighted insets, juxtaposed with flagstone and terra-cotta brick.
Design Collaboration
Michel Borg - Senior Project Architect, The Beck Group Brian Miller - Project Designer & Associate, The Beck Group Marco French - Interior Design, Marco French Studio Craig Roberts - Lighting Design, Craig Roberts & Associates Sharon C. Leeber - Fine Art Consultation, Architectural Arts, Inc.