Best Bites: Dining out in Dallas-Fort Worth December 12

by Teresa Gubbins

I-Orchid is a combination fine-dining-restaurant-bar-cigar-lounge-Bollywood-spot that opened two months ago in Carrollton. The Web site describes the menu as "a unique collection of culinary treasures from the Tropics", but one with Indian overtones, according to manager Lucy.

"We have a tandoori oven, and a majority of the items have an Indian-type feel," she says.

That said, no regular Indian restaurant offers hummus, ceviche, or chips & salsa -- nor fresh orchids at every table, nor a VIP lounge with champagne, nor Bollywood nights featuring DJ Sameer, go-go dancers, and a fashion show. But owner Muizz Waljee has some experience with Vegas-style entertainment from his dancing spot on US 75 in Richardson, called Mehfil Bar & Grill.

I-Orchid's signature item is kebobs but there's also a "margherita naan" with mozzarella cheese and sliced tomatoes; a "Mexican-Indian fusion" stuffed jalapeno with tandoori chicken and cheese; and muhogo or French-fried yucca done in an East African manner with cayenne citrus spices and garlic sauce.

More burgers, oh boy

* Kenny Bowers, proprietor of Kenny's Wood-Fired Grill in Addison and a one-time player with Daddy Jack's and Rockfish Seafood Grill, is giving in to the irresistible call of the hamburger patty with Kenny's Burger Joint, yet another place that wants to refashion burgers in a more "upscale" "gourmet" yada yada way.

Opening next week on Legacy at 121 in Frisco, it'll have salmon and salads on the menu, a premium bar, and fine-dining-style service, says manager Jennifer Harris, a former Chili's manager who worked with Bowers while both toiled for Brinker.

"We're coaching the staff on things like changing out the martini glasses halfway through -- little extras," she says. "No one has ever done anything like this."

* Meanwhile, JC's Burger House is expanding like crazy: In addition to the two original outlets in Plano and Allen, they've started franchising with branches in McKinney, Frisco, Rockwall, and the latest, on George Bush Turnpike in Richardson.

* Finally, this story says that California-based burger chain Carl's Jr plans to open 160 branches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That seems like a lot of Carl's. There's one free-standing branch already in Rockwall that's been there about five years.

Sticks and seeds

Chito's is a small new authentic-Mexican restaurant on Legacy Drive in Plano that Luniz says (on another site, aww) has good, not-too-greasy tacos for $1 apiece. ... The place that Maguire's owner Mark Maguire is opening in the space vacated by BLT Steak will be an "upscale Mexican" called Maximo; wow, Mexican, really? ... Kim reports that Abbey Grill in Frisco is closed.

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