Foodie 411: Restaurant power outages, Mattito’s and Stoneleigh P

Recent severe weather has caused widespread power outages across North Texas, impacting the restaurant industry in various ways. Oncor aims to restore power by Friday or Saturday, but the outages have created both challenges and opportunities for restaurants.

Some restaurants are still without power, reminiscent of the initial days of the pandemic when even a brief closure could severely impact revenue. However, in areas where residential power remained out but businesses had electricity, restaurants experienced a surge in sales. For example, Tuesday night saw long queues at several eateries as neighbors sought a safe dining option.

The power outages have resulted in significant food waste for restaurants without electricity, compounding the financial strain caused by reduced sales. Despite these challenges, there’s optimism that the worst is over. Consumers can support their favorite neighborhood restaurants by dining in or ordering takeout.

In other restaurant news, Mattito’s Tex-Mex restaurant closed its Oak Lawn Avenue location in Dallas this week after 32 years of operation. Named after the late Tex-Mex legend Matt Martinez Jr., the closure marks the end of an era for the restaurant, although two other Mattito’s locations remain open in North Dallas and Frisco.

Meanwhile, Stoneleigh P, a beloved Dallas establishment known for its burgers and beers, has relocated from Maple Avenue to Lemmon Avenue after 51 years. The new space retains the familiar charm of the previous location while offering more seating capacity.