December stands out as the peak season for nearly all restaurants. Families and offices organize holiday parties, creating a festive atmosphere. This month also witnesses the opening of numerous new restaurants to capitalize on this spirit.

Uncover the Delights of December's Restaurant Scene

News of the Month: Be Home Soon's Unconventional Business Model

The new East Dallas neighborhood spot, Be Home Soon, follows a unique menu format. Every week or so, the cooks decide on their culinary creations and write a menu on butcher paper. The menus are short, featuring a couple of salads, three sandwiches at lunch, a few meats at dinner, sides, and a blue plate special. And the best part? It's very affordable, with nothing on the opening dinner menu costing $20. Building trust with the chefs is crucial for this super fun way of eating. However, Dallas is known for being slow to trust chefs, and many Dallasites expect the same old dishes. Will Be Home Soon face resistance or be embraced? We can't wait to find out. 841 Exposition Ave.

Best Meal of the Month: Sliders at Rayo

The new Expo Park bar, Rayo, offers a curated menu of sliders by chef Josh Harmon. The lamb slider with whipped feta and pickled red onion is intensely gamey, and the fried fish slider with government cheese is crispy. Rayo fits perfectly into a Fair Park bar crawl between Las Almas Rotas and Whiskeys. It's a great addition to the area. 841 Exposition Ave.

Worst Meal of the Month: Lockhart Smokehouse Plano

Lockhart Smokehouse has a solid reputation, but our experience in Plano in mid-November was disappointing. All the meats were a lifeless gray-brown. The beef rib was undercooked, with unrendered fat layers remaining. The brisket, on the other hand, was overcooked and resembled pot roast. The restaurant smelled like it was on fire from the outside. It was a shock compared to its Bishop Arts location. 9540 Garland Rd., Ste. 407

December's New Restaurants and Bars to Watch

MiYa Chinese started serving dumplings and noodles on Nov. 25 at 9540 Garland Rd., Ste. 383. Valle, the new Mexican wine and cocktail bar in Bishop Arts from the Vinito team, opened on Nov. 24 at 509 N. Bishop Ave., Ste. C. On Dec. 12, Thomas Avenue Beverage Company will become the newest Uptown bar from Eddie “Lucky” Campbell at 2901 Thomas Ave. Gonzalez moved to 416 W. Jefferson in Oak Cliff. Pillar, the new bistro from chef Peja Krstic, will open in Bishop Arts this week or next at 408 N. Bishop Ave., Ste. 108. Jesús Carmona is opening Pesca at Trinity Groves, and Ari’s Pantry has a new, bigger location with an onsite bakery at 3011 Gulden Ln. The former Bun Kabab on Royal Lane is now Everest Momo and Kabab, adding Nepal's signature dumplings at 2527 Royal Ln., Ste. 140. Gyro Rice and Spice is bringing quick gyros and wraps to North Dallas at 7722 Forest Ln. Chef Victor Hugo is back at Bucket and Rope near the Dallas Farmers Market at 600 S. Harwood St. with a diverse menu.

One Big Ol’ Bummer: Manic Sports Bar in Deep Ellum

Manic, the new sports bar in Deep Ellum, closed its doors barely six months after opening. Owner Peter Novotny attributes the closure to various issues, including the Canton Street construction project with a port-a-potty placed outside the door. The Cowboys didn't help either. Despite the challenges, it was a labor of love.

Three Teasers for Upcoming Restaurants

The former Carte Blanche space on Greenville Avenue will become Ocean Ranch, serving steak and seafood. We might get news about Claremont, the new restaurant from Greg Katz, and Hugo's Bar in Bishop Arts, which will combine cocktails by Hugo Osorio with seafood by Hugo Galván in December.

Four One-Sentence Restaurant Reviews

Zoli's Pizza's "Yankee Stadium" garlic bread with cheese is as indulgent as expected. Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen's new papaya salad is average until you add the whole cup of chili sauce. The perfectly fried plantains at The Charlotte are a must-try. Las Almas Rotas' salsa cruda with the guacamole appetizer remains the best salsa in Dallas.

Required Reading

There haven't been many good analyses on the Michelin Guide results for the Dallas area. Texas Monthly's José Ralat's column on Michelin shortchanging Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines is worth reading. It details the snubs in Hispanic cooking across the state. The Dallas Morning News' coverage focused on specific restaurants and their reactions. Desiree Gutierrez's list of the city's best chilaquiles in the Dallas Observer is legit. Brett Grega's interview with Pam Eudaric at the Observer is a treat. Imelda García's in-depth series on Mexican food in the Morning News is comprehensive. The Morning News' Claire Ballor's story on Eatzi's business strategy is fascinating.

The Michelin Guide is Terrible at Throwing Parties

Michelin revealed its 2024 Texas Guide at a live ceremony in Houston on Nov. 11. Everyone was excited but had one question: would they feed us? Doors opened at 6 p.m. and the ceremony began at 7, but all we got were some cruddy canapes. The duck "taquito" was made with egg roll wrappers, and the house red wine was unimpressive. The ceremony itself had more guests than chairs, and they played a single eight-bar piece of music repeatedly. After the ceremony, we were rushed out, and only later did a Houston chef bring cheap Chinese takeout for a late dinner.

Spaghetti Squash: Why and the Delight of Delicata

Spaghetti squash is a mystery. Does anyone really love it? Groceries struggle to stock the prettier and easier-to-eat delicata squash. You don't need to peel delicata, and it's not a horror inside. It's a much better option.

What's Coming on SideDish in December

The 2024 Best New Restaurants list along with bonus lists of the best things eaten and drunk this year. Maybe even the worst things if you're in the mood for negativity. We'll also visit some of this month's new restaurants for quick previews.