“[My mother] said they would just drive by and go, ‘Oh, to have a house like that,’” Pardo said. “And then, here we are.”
For years, Lisa and her husband, Paul Pardo, drove past the home—which at that point was a beauty salon—on their way to church. They thought it would make the perfect restaurant and suggested the location to a friend who was looking for a place to open one. He turned down the idea, and the Pardos could not resist taking it over.
On Aug. 1, 2019, the couple signed the lease for the home-turned-restaurant and opened for business on Sept. 28, 2020.
Paul had always been in the restaurant business, starting out as a kid washing dishes before opening restaurants in San Antonio, Lisa said. He then went to Iraq and worked as a civilian in the food service. When he got back, the couple bought Coal Vines Pizza and Wine Bar in Southlake and owned it for three years.
The Pardos thought they were done with the restaurant business when the opportunity to buy Stone House happened.
“We really thought we were retired,” Lisa said. “God just had a different plan.”
Lisa said the restaurant is known for dishes such as the blue crab empanadas, stuffed salmon, Texas redfish and hand-cut steaks.
After Paul died in September 2021, Lisa said her goal now is to carry on his vision, as she is immensely proud of what he created.
On top of the food, Lisa said what sets the restaurant apart is that the Pardos made it so customers feel like they are eating at a family home.
“We opened [Stone House Restaurant] with the thought and the joy of knowing that people are gonna come here to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and good news and bad news,” Lisa said.
Stone House Restaurant, 5201 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. 817-576-2626. www.stonehouse-restaurant.com Hours: Mon.-Wed. 4:30-9 p.m., Thu. 4:30-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m., Sun. closed
