Loft 610 preview
Although it's been open barely three days - the plexiglass enclosure around the top of the swanky bar isn't even finished - Loft 610 is slowly, gently getting up to speed. The S.O. and I dropped by for drinks because we'd gotten word about what cool space it was.
Uber-true. It's got that techo-industrial edge, with cement floors and bar as well as four hi-def TV screens lined up in perfect synchrony. But there's a softness, evidenced by comfy modern sofas and seats, and an Asian touch seen in opaque panels that help to separate the kitchen, bar and dining areas. Dunno what to call the artsy chair in the foyer that looks like a jumble of red ratan, but it's definitely a converstion starter.
In the main dining room, there's the requisite sweep of velvet drape that cloistures successively more exclusive inner sanctums of dining, ending in the library, which actually has some books on the shelves. The main room is tall and uplifting, with a backlit wall of wine, open kitchen and a banquette at the center doesn't stop at the ends, evoking a luxury luggage carousel. You'll find another bar and dining area upstairs - the loft - where the more exclusive spirits are poured.
Colors: Black, white, carmine and brown, which we're seeing a lot of. The staff is rolling the menu out slowly but you can see the whole thing online, including lunch. You'd expect to find a place like this in the West Village. But no, Loft 610 is at the tollway and U.S. 121 (southeast corner). If the food lives up to the dramatic and fun ambiance, this will be a watering hole to watch.
Comments
Note to Christopher Wynn:
The call 'em flatbreads up there @ Loft 610....go check 'em out.
Posted by: Alfonso | December 24, 2007 8:21 AM
This is the best looking restaurant i have seen open in Dallas (and Plano). It has four different options when you come there- the bar ,the loft, the library, and the main dinning room. layout is awesome and it has the only menu i have seen that i really want to try each offering.
Posted by: Delbert hosemann | December 29, 2007 1:53 PM
I've been to hot spots from NYC to Paris and this place is on par with the best of them. The decor is super sexy as well as the menu to the ever so attractive staff. Definitely a spot to go see.
Posted by: Diego Plaza | January 2, 2008 8:06 PM
Have to agree with the others on the decor. The food is superb also. The service was not up to par for this kind of restaurant. Our waiter was not knowledgeable about the menu and forgot many basics including two items we ordered. The waiter knew nothing of the wine. he did call over an expert who only knew that the bottle looked cool. That's not enough for me to order an $82 bottle of wine. Two different staff members mentioned comments to the effect that the restaurant will have to wait to earn back some of the investment before they can make some improvements, or to do a planned expansion in Southlake. That may also explain why a restaurant that bills their wine list of 300 different bottles of wine was out of the first two I asked about. Also a restaurant that bills itself as a great wine destination should always put the vintages of their wines on a list if they hope to sell their more expensive wines. I hope the place makes it but I wouldn't bet on it.....
Posted by: Bill Dwyer | January 24, 2008 10:16 PM
We had dinner at Loft 610 last night. Amazing. My server experience was different that the post above. Our waiter, Abe, was excellent -- very informative and made great recommendations throughout the night. The scallops were the best I have ever had. The only complaint from my table was that the women's restrooms were out of toilet paper -- twice! Regardless, I love this place.
Posted by: Dan English | January 27, 2008 3:48 PM
i agree
Posted by: mark dwindle | February 14, 2008 2:17 PM
My experience was very similar to the Jan 27 post. Our waiter was extremely educated on the menu and all component parts of the food items; his suggestions were dead on and he cogently responded to any food input/concerns we had. The venison was the best I've ever had.
The waiter had a passing knowledge of the wine list, which had reasonable markups for a restaurant in this ambiance/price range. He offered to bring over a sommelier, but it wasn't necessary - there were plenty of solid to excellent choices across all price ranges and varietals. That being said, I know what I generally like and I'm not into playing stump the waiter/sommelier...if that's your thing or you need big-time wine guidance, the Jan 24 post seems to indicate you should go elsewhere (Pyles is great for this).
Worth noting - this place has the largest scotch selection I've ever seen in Dallas, and the second largest I've ever seen period (including some limited releases/special batches from familiar distilleries).
My wife and I really enjoyed our meal here and hope the place thrives so we can go back again and again. Ambiance was killer, food was killer, prices aren't tiny, but we felt like we easily got our monies worth in the experience. It's the sort of place the burbs really needs but seems to have in very short supply.
Posted by: B R | February 26, 2008 6:05 PM