Urban Bistro changing name, menu, and direction

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Urban Bistro, the mini chain-let conceived by Avner Samuel, chef at Aurora, is changing its direction and identity.

According to manager Tim Granger, there's a new chef, James Rowland, whose prior employers included Beau Nash (now Nobu). Rowland is expanding the menu, giving it a broader Mediterranean theme than that established by Samuel.
Starting August 12, the restaurant will change its name to In.
The second branch, which had been closed since April, is currently being renovated with a targeted re-opening date of September 1.

Samuel is no longer involved with the concept. "He's decided to focus 100% on Aurora," says a spokeswoman, and in fact, he's closing the restaurant for a week, from July 23-28, so that the entire staff can take a one-week sabbatical. Samuel and his family will go to France to sniff out new food trends.

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Gary Cohen says:

I guess the plan to roll out Urban Bistros across the country didn't quite work out. I'm shocked! Absolutely shocked!

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2 years, 4 months ago
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Billusa99 says:

Avner already changed the dining concept just before New Year's Eve this past December. The new chef expanded the menu, removed a lot of the favs, and upped the prices about 25% at the same time.

So, the great Mediterranean dinner we had in mid-Nov became a decidedly mundane, Muddleterranean dinner in late December. As a result, we've never been back! Avner will just never learn to leave well enough alone.

I don't see us treading upon the steps of the new one, either, as we can do without hanging with the "In crowd."

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2 years, 4 months ago
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Blackcrowe says:

Last time I ate there it was awful. Boring kinda chain hotel food. I am pretty sure In won't be In business for very long. They need to put a Trader Joe's there.