Russell Hayward and Lazare restaurant in Dallas’ West Village break up for good

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Lazare, the tortured restaurant in Dallas' West Village complex, has parted ways with operating partner Russell Hayward and chef Ryan Carbery, and will transform itself into more of a pub/sports bar-type entity, confirmed general manager/chef Tim McLaughlin.

"The quality of the food won't come down but the prices will," McLaughlin said. "In this area, that's what the market's calling for. Everybody loves the flat breads and the lower cost items. We are going to cut down the menu a litle bit and offer a few less items -- about 18 items as opposed to 32."

The website now says "Lazare World Pub."

In its brief four-month lifespan since taking over the location vacated by Ferre, the restaurant has been beset by drama, starting with the rapid departure of chef David Gilbert on the same day that Nancy Nichols' review appeared in D (followed by the bizarre decision by Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner to knowingly publish a review of a restaurant in which the chef had left).

McLaughlin moved here from St. Louis two years ago and was previously corporate chef for Food, Friends and company.

Part of the changes will be a greater focus on the bar business by ramping up the staff and installing more big-screen TVs.

"We're installing two today," McLaughlin said.