Escondido Tex-Mex Patio, the restaurant from Jon Alexis is set to open to the public on Monday, November 14.
Located at 5950 Royal Lane A, Dallas, TX 75230 in the southwest corner previously occupied by Ruggeri’s, Alexis and his new restaurant group, Imperial Fizz, are bringing Tex-Mex back to Preston Royal for the first time since the 2019 tornado. Escondido will open for dinner seven days a week with lunch and weekend brunch coming soon.
Alexis said in a statement, “We are always focused on providing our diners with high-quality, delicious food along with warm hospitality. Escondido will do just that. TJ’s has served Preston Royal and Preston Hollow since 1989. We have long-standing relationships with so many neighbors. We look forward to creating so many new relationships at Escondido and providing a neighborhood destination for any night of the week.”
The Escondido menu features family-friendly Tex-Mex classics with a focus on ingredient details and quality to create the perfect version of guests’ favorites such as nachos, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas. Flour and corn tortillas are handmade by local tortilleria La Norteña and delivered fresh daily.
Guests can enjoy dips along with Escondido’s crispy tortilla chips such as Guacamole – fresh avocado, roasted garlic, red onion, cotija, pico; Queso Perfecto – brisket, guacamole, salsa verde, pico; and El Trio – guacamole, queso and cilantro ranch dip. Appetizers include Nachos Escondidos – refried beans, cheddar, guacamole, jalapeño, sour cream, pico with an option to add ground beef, fajita steak, chicken or brisket for an additional charge; Chicken Flautas – chicken tinga, queso, salsa verde; Elote Fritters – fried corn, lime crema; and the Tex-Mex Pizza – ground beef, flour tortilla, three cheese blend, ranchero sauce and lime crema.
Entrees offered include Ancho Butter Fajitas with choice of chicken, steak, shrimp, or portobello, served with warm tortillas, cheddar, sour cream, guacamole, pico, grilled jalapeño, roasted garlic, spiced lime, rice and refried beans. Tacos options include Crispy Ground Beef Tacos topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and lime crema; Brisket Tacos, cooked for 24 hours with pico, melted asadero and oaxaca cheese; Chicken Tinga Tacos with queso fresco, pico, lime crema and the Spiced Salmon Tacos topped with slaw, pico and lime crema. Another classic Tex-Mex option on the menu is Enchiladas with a choice of cheese, chicken, ground beef, brisket, and spinach and portobello. Guests can also choose to create a combo plate with any taco or enchilada on the menu. Other entrees include the Chile Relleno – battered and fried poblano, oaxaca cheese, salsa roja; Carne Asada – papas bravas and salsa roja; Guajillo Glazed Shrimp served with Mexican Fried Rice; Roasted Pork Chop – avocado a la plancha, spinach, portobello; Huevos Rancheros are also served all day.
For those looking for a lighter option, Escondido features fresh salads such as the Shrimp & Roasted Corn Chopped Salad – arugula, cucumber, pinto, pico, tortilla strips, apple cider vinegar; Hola Caesar – romaine, parmesan, jalapeño crouton with choice to add grilled chicken, grilled steak or grilled shrimp; and the Mexican “Caprese” Salad – arugula, tomato, queso fresco, cilantro vinegar.
The restaurant offers a cocktail menu featuring 12 varieties of margaritas, both frozen and on the rocks, 7 Mexican-inspired cocktails, select Mexican beers on draft and bottled as well as a small but curated wine menu. All drinks are made with 100% blue agave tequila and fresh citrus. On the rocks margaritas to sip on are House, Jalapeño Cucumber, Skinny, Mango, Top Shelf – Patron reposado, jalisco orange; and Mexican Martini – Lunazul reposado, jalisco orange liquor, thyme, cotija stuffed olive. Frozen margaritas include the House, Guava, Mango, Weekend in Cabo – mango frozen, spicy chili rum and chipotle sugar; Tango Uber – house frozen with a blackberry sangria swirl; Cadillac – house frozen and jalisco orange liquor. Gallons of margaritas are also available to-go.
Cocktail include the Ranch Water – Socorro, lime, Richard’s Rainwater; Paloma – Hornitos, fresh grapefruit, lime, agave, soda, lava salt; Mezcal Mule – Ojo de tigre, lime, guava, pressed orange, spiced ginger beer, tajin; Hibiscus Vodka Spritz – Lockwood hibiscus vodka, aloe, prickly pear, soda and mint; Carajillo Martini – Escondido’s take on an espresso martini with Licor 43, copa de oro, 100% blue agave, and jalisco orange.
Escondido will also feature “$6 Happy Hour” Sunday through Thursday with house margaritas, draft beer and select wine by the glass for $6 from 4-6pm (3-6 when open for lunch).
The 2,900 square foot space offers interior seating for 75 while the patio has seating for an additional 75, making it the largest patio in Preston Hollow. The interior features booths, floral elements, black and white tiles, wrought iron light fixtures, string lights and otomi artwork. Escondido features a resort-style indoor/outdoor bar connected to the patio which features Mexican tile and landscaping.
Alexis says, “Nothing like this patio exists in Preston Hollow. Even diners who aren’t craving Tex-Mex now have a ‘neighborhood vacation’ destination.”
A dedicated to-go window is located directly off Royal Lane, making for easy pick-ups. The restaurant will also launch on-site catering shortly after opening for those hosting a larger party.
Escondido Tex-Mex Patio will open Monday, November 14 for dinner seven days a week with lunch and weekend brunch coming soon.
