Grill 400, in ill-fated location in Dallas’ Bishop Arts district, closed

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Grill 400, an ill-focused restaurant in the Bishop Arts district of Oak Cliff, closed down last week. While the number still rings, no one answers, and workmen could be seen moving furniture out of the place over the weekend.

The restaurant, which was originally opened by the owners of Vitto, changed hands a number of times and was earning increasingly downbeat reviews.

Is the location doomed? It's the former site of the Twilight Cafe, which burned to the ground a few years ago. Despite its ideal location right at the corner of Davis and Bishop, the site hasn't hardly ever been successful.

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It is a shame the West Nile virus has struck again in the Bishop Arts District, while it has to have some kind of proving ground,such as repoduction fame, poor old bishop street, once humble and kind,it has become so mumbled it has lost its charm, while the developer gropes to sell that cool and moment now, why cant it just be its plain only self, well....then it wouldnt be what we see it has become today, a shame the recent 400 grill has shut down, which was another place in 2003 that burned to the ground and so the West Nile virus strikes again in the Bishop Arts District.until then. Alexander Troup. Historian and once residence.

alexander troup Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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What did Grill 400 offer that you couldn't get at Vitto's or Hattie's or the pizza place down the block or Cafe Brasil across the street? I mean, really.

JW Richard Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Burning down (1) and mediocre food underscored by poor service (2) shouldn't be the basis for suggesting the presence of a curse. If the second closing was due to fire, plague, pestilence or some other natural (or supernatural) occurrence, I'd vote for a curse.

(see Bice for an example of a real cursed location) http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/...

But Grill 400 took a spot that could be great and just didn't make it work. No curse there.

david denney Verified

1 year, 2 months ago
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Maybe it was just me but the food seemed just ok. Many times, it was bland and lacked seasoning. I made comments to that degree to servers but they seemed uninterested. Like some have said, nothing really stuck out to differentiate it from other restaurants in the area. What a shame. Maybe the next owners or who ever takes over the old Nodding Dog will bring something needed in the area, a good sandwich/light meals shop that is not a major chain with just passable food. Maybe coffee as well. Too bad the owner of the space the Nodding Dog occupied jacked her rates and forced them out of business.