The restaurant held a friend and family event Jan. 10 in preparation for the opening, which is pending a final inspect from the city, according to operating partner Marlon Tapanes. He said the restaurant will serve "new American cuisine with a European twist."
The kitchen will be run by Carla Pellegrino, a Brazilian-born chef that also lived in Italy. She’s appeared in Bravo’s "Top Chef" and Food Network’s "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" and "Beat Bobby Flay," which is mentioned inside the menu at Teatro.
Pellegrino was behind Rao’s inside Caesars Palace and Bacio by Carla inside Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, and Baldoria Restaurant in New York City, Tapanes said.
The background
Tapanes, a native of Cuba, moved to Las Vegas in 1996. He entered the hospitality business, which then led to a move to San Antonio, then to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine in 2011 and then a stop in Mexico.
Tapanes returned to Grapevine with plans to open a restaurant that mirrors the city, he said.
“I want to enhance what Grapevine is doing, I don’t want to pioneer something new," Tapanes said. "I know what this town is about, and I want my concept to embrace Grapevine."
A closer look
The menu features appetizers, salads, entrees, sides and drinks. Entrees include pasta, shrimp, Chilean sea bass, Australian lamb, steak and short ribs. The restaurant will also serve Spanish octopus and Mexican calamari.
The dessert menu includes New York-style cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, tiramisu, gelati and sorbet.
What else?
The former Tap-in Bar and Grill has been renovated, and a small stage was installed near the entrance, where live music was will be played. The decor features plenty of black-and-white photos from former music and movie stars from the 1940s and 1950s. Tapanes says his time in Las Vegas and the nostalgia of the Rat Pack played a part in the concept for this Grapevine restaurant.
The restaurant will open at 4 p.m. daily.
“If you look at this, I want it to be an inspiration of what America is all about,” Tapanes said. “It is all about energy, the history and all those elements come together like you are back in the 1940s or 1950s. You can have great conversation, a great bottle of wine and listen to great music.”
Tapanes said the hospitality group that is behind Teatro is also working on other concepts in the Victory Park area of Dallas and Las Colinas.
- Opening Feb. 16
- 120 S. Main St., Ste. 50, Grapevine
- Website coming soon
