Monday, March 10, 2008
Dallas tapas bar Hola closed
DALLAS — As scooped by Sarah at Frontburner, Hola, the tapas bar on McKinney Avenue just north of the Knox-Henderson district, has closed after eight years.
Owner Ildefonso Jimenez shut it down almost two weeks ago because he was having a problem with the landlord, he says.
"We did not have a lease anymore, and I've been paying month to month," he says. "We were trying to re-negotiate but it's really gotten hard there, especially in the last six months. The city took away the right to park on Monticello and the landlord has not been able to help us, so right now, we're trying to regroup and possibly find another location."
Meanwhile, he and his wife Susie continue to operate Brut, their champagne bar at Hotel Palomar, which he says "is going great."
luniz says:
never even heard of it?
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
It wasn't ever as good as Cafe Madrid, but it was a fine alternative. I noticed it looked closed a couple weeks ago, but assumed it was just that they weren't serving lunch.
Staff
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
kirk says:
I have to disagree with you, Mike. Hola was far more authentic and had better food than Cafe Madrid from the beginning. Plus, they never charged for bread.
I am sad to see the restaurant go, but glad Alfonso and Susie are doing well at Brut.
It would be nice to have a really good Spanish restaurant in Dallas, but I am afraid that the audience is limited. Seeing the look of confusion on people's faces when they ordered queso manchego and got sheepsmilk cheese instead of chips and dip was proof to me that good Spanish food would have limited appeal in Dallas.
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
geoffreyley says:
I'm sure that competition didn't help either. Hola did okay with Cafe Madrid just down the street, but the steady crowds at the more recently opened Sangria (also just down the street) must have been detrimental to Hola's business too.
With 3 Spanish restaurants (and the only 3 inside of LBJ for that matter) being located within a half mile of one another, it was only a matter of time before one closed shop. Hola had the least desireable location, so it's not surprising that it was the one to go.
The same thing claimed Il Sole last week ... too many Italian restaurants, too close together, vying for the same customers. Unfortunately, in that case, the (undisputably) superior restaurant was the one to go.
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Dallasman says:
Oh man!! This was the BEST and MOST authentic tapas restaurant in Knox-Henderson. I hope they re-open soon!!!
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Lisa Lawrence Merritt says:
It would have been great if they were open for lunch. I work across the street and it would have been a nice alternative to TJs or Two Sisters.
Yikes! I thought the food was good and they had a nice wine selection.
Bummer!
Verified
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Anderson says:
Kirk, believe it or not, I agree with you (and I told you these things came in threes). I don't know if this is a sign of the apocalypse or what (watch out for dogs and cats living together!).
Hola was, for my money, the most authentic Spanish place in town. I really liked their pappas fritas and the white anchovies were delish. The patio also gave it a real advantage even though the parking was a pain. It's too bad it fell victim to landlords and competition.
And Geoffrey, I couldn't agree more that we lost a superior Italian restaurant in Il Sole. Hopefully it will resurface in a new location soon, although I am interested to see what the organic pasta at Villa-O is all about.
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1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Lisa Lawrence Merritt says:
Michael, I hate to tell you this but my cat and dog sleep together on my couch.
Head for the bunker....
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1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
kirk says:
I think he meant "lion and lamb," LLM. I also think he meant patatas bravas, rather than "pappas fritas" (which might be the Pappas Brothers' new place specializing in everything fried.) Details don't appear to be the Law Reviewers' strong point, a curious trait for attorneys.
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Anderson says:
You say patatas, I say pappas, let's call the whole thing off! Anyhoo, if these are your pets, Lisa, then I am officially concerned:
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1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
winter says:
Hey geoffreyley, Don't forget about Cafe Madrid in Bishop Arts; it's well inside LBJ and pretty good to boot.
Anonymous
1 year, 8 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal