The Wine Fairy

New Dallas wine bar: Palate by Lekka

North Dallas has a stylish new watering hole for wine lovers: Palate by Lekka. It’s right next door to the home-and-gift shop, Lekka Retail Concepts. (Both storefronts share a shopping center with veteran Preston Road restaurants Banana Leaf Thai and La Hacienda Ranch.)

Palate actually opened right before the holidays, but it emerged on my restaurant radar earlier this month. My wife and I stopped by last Saturday afternoon for a drink and a snack. We were warmly greeted by the bartender and offered laminated menus to look over.

Palate offers a globally-inspired list of tapas, flatbreads, and sandwiches (I can’t call them “handhelds,” y’all–I just can’t do it). The “Sips” and “Bites” menus are curated by the CIA-educated chef and certified sommelier Eddie Ledesma-Porter. The food and beverage selections are concise but varied, offering plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and non-alcoholic choices.

Cucumber Lime Luxe at Palate. It counts as a vegetable, right?

We were not observing any January resolutions and so we opted to start with drinks and the duck-fat fried Patatas Bravas. I chose a dry Viognier from the “Substantial Whites” section of the menu. Sarah ordered the Cucumber Lime Lux ($12). It was fresh and veggie-licious with white vermouth, jalapeño salt, and a handful of muddled cucumber. Our favorite dish was the Merido Flatbread ($14), generously topped with herb-rubbed chicken, crumbled cheese, and olives.

We’ve been going to Lekka Concepts restaurants for nearly 20 years (anybody remember Obzeet, with their koi pond and gigantic slices of cheesecake?). Lekka has always focused on art and design, and the new wine bar space is no exception.

The bar is lit with large skylights and vibrant with its citron-green walls. Paintings by local artists, serenely lit faux trees, and blown-glass light fixtures give the dining area a gallery-like vibe. The glass-fronted, walk-in wine cooler is fully stocked with trendy sips like Albariño and Sancerre.

The new owners seem to be both passionate and hands-on. Co-owner Tom Burt stopped by our seats to check on us as we were gobbling up the last bits of pizza crust and smoky bravas sauce.

Another hallmark of Lekka restaurants has always been their live music. Palate regularly hosts performers including jazz combos and pianists. (Check out their event schedule for the latest.) The cost and hassle of going out to concerts in Dallas continues to increase–and so neighborhood restaurants with musical guests are rare gems to treasure. Their intimate atmosphere, abundant parking, and inviting music lineup would make Palate an ideal spot for a pre-dinner drink.

As The Wine Fairy has shared recently, we’re bummed out by the spate of recent closures of wine-centric spots in DFW. Palate by Lekka is in our corner of North Dallas and we’re happy to welcome them to Preston Trail Plaza. Cheers to Palate as they settle into the new space!

Where: Palate by Lekka,17390 Preston Road, Suite 246, Dallas, TX

When:

Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday – Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 3 PM

How much: Wine by the glass $10-$16, small plates $6-$16, main dishes $11-17.