Looking for a place your entire family can agree on for dinner, including Rover and Fifi?
SoCal-based Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar has chosen Plano for their second location in Texas (their 21st location overall), located at new development Village 121 on Preston Road. The whopping 9,356 square-foot space feels like a Rocky Mountain lodge, filled with log cabin-inspired furnishings, multiple TVs, a welcoming fireplace and an open kitchen in the back. The dog-friendly outdoor patio is built around a cozy fire-pit–the perfect spot for warming both paws and hands by the fire with friends over the holidays.
Founder and CEO Chris Simms explained that the inspiration for his restaurant came from his childhood. “I wanted to take people away, take them on an escape from their daily life. Having spent a lot of time up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming as a kid, I chose Jackson Hole and the Rocky Mountains as that escape–that place where people could go and really experience mountain life.”
While some diners may feel like just a number when dining out, Chris wants his guests to feel special: “It’s something that we talk about constantly. We want to make sure that we treat all our teammates like family. Then the teammates turn around and they treat our guests like family. [That creates a] really nice warmth in the restaurant and truly caring service.”
Chris describes Lazy Dog as the next generation of polished casual dining, which comes as a response to rising customer expectations for taste and quality. “Guests were starting to watch the Food Channel and starting to shop at Whole Foods. They were starting to care about what they were putting in their bodies.” That’s why Chris and his team have created a concept where everything is made from scratch.
Crafted by Lazy Dog’s Executive Chef Gabe Caliendo, the menu can be summed up in three parts: Craveable Classics (the comfort foods you know and love), Approachable Innovation (new trends introduced in an approachable manner), and Bold Innovation (edgy, fun food that takes chances). There is truly something for everyone when foodies and non-foodies dine together around the table at Lazy Dog.
Starters and small plates offer a plethora of options for diners to share. The delicious Wok-Fired Calamari is perfectly tender and coated in a sweet soy plum sauce. Other favorites like the Spinach and Sundried Tomato Cheese Dip, Ahi Poke Jar, Hatch Chile & Bacon Mac and Cheese and the Caramelized Brussel Sprouts offer a little something for every type of palate.
The newest menu items are comfort foods that will warm you, body and soul. A Bone-in Pork Schnitzel is hand-breaded with crushed pretzels and served with red potato and bacon salad, apple cider cabbage slaw and creamy mustard sauce on the side. They’ve also recently added a Slow-Braised Lamb Shank, Lamb Ragu and Simms Family S’more–dishes that all beg to be eaten near their cozy fireplace.
To wash down these scratch-kitchen creations, diners can choose from an array of handcrafted cocktails like their Juniper Lemonade, a hand-shaken Pineapple Mojito or a Whiskey Berry Bang. Beer lovers will rejoice over their impressive craft beer selection.
The four-legged members of your family will also feel at home on Lazy Dog’s 1,300 square-foot pooch-friendly patio. “I’ve grown up with dogs,” says Chris. “I’ve had dogs all of my life. They’re like my furry children.”
Lazy Dog Plano is now open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. A special lunch menu will be available daily until 4:00 p.m. Happiest Hours (featuring a plethora of favorite sips and bites from $3-$8) will be available Monday – Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday – Thursday from 9:00 p.m. to close.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar Website >
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