The Spread.

Hot Dogs Finally Come To Deep Ellum and A Banh Mi Concept Opens by SMU.

Welcome to The Spread, our weekly feature that aims to share all the area restaurant, food and beverage industry news that's fit to print. Except, this is the Internet, so space isn't a concern. Also: Good thing, because this is Dallas and this town always has breaking restaurant news going down like whoa.

With the Dallas food scene starting to embrace the fast-casual trend, yet another newcomer with this model — this one called Banh Shop — is set to open this Friday.

The restaurant, the brainchild of fast-food giant Yum! Brands, is the latest in the company's series of test concepts along with SuperChix in Arlington. But don't think of Banh Shop as your run-of-the-mill fast food banh mi spot: The menu was overseen by locals Braden and Yasmin Wages of Malai Kitchen. So you can expect to find a variety of banh mi — such as coconut chicken breast and grilled steak and egg, and a Southeast Asian take on elotes. The shop is located on SMU Boulevard and will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

In far-less-foreign-food news, Grape owner Brian Luscher plans to open his newest venture, Luscher's Chicago Style Hot Dog Joint in Deep Ellum this fall. Fans of the White Rock Local Market favorite can look forward to the brick and mortar setup having Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches made with wagyu beef, and gyros made on the spot in addition to the famous Post Oak Red Hots. There will also be a decent beer selection, including local craft varieties and draft options.

Speaking of booze: Over in Uptown, the new bar Parliament is combining an old-school speakeasy vibe with a new, creative take on drinks thanks to Eddy “Lucky” Campbell. With an extensive cocktail menu that might be better fitted to a library's periodic section, you can find DIY martinis made with a choice of stuffed olives, champagne cocktails, house specialties and more. There's no food in the binder-sized menu, though. This is a place for the serious drinker. The bar will be open Monday through Saturday at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, East Hampton Sandwich Co. is celebrating its two-year anniversary with drink and lobster specials. At any of its three locations, you can get $1 sangria, mimosa and Hampton Bloody Mary specials, and $2 lobster rolls (limit two per guests). The specials run Friday, September 12, through Saturday, September 13.

Not all ventures are meant to last, though: Uptown spot The Establishment only opened this past March, but its chef Brett Hammer has left the restaurant. His new gig will be in Lewisville, where he'll be heading the kitchen at Pie 3.14 Everyday Eatery. A name has not yet been released for the Establishment's replacement chef.

One thing that never changes around these parts, though, is that State Fair season means that it's official fried food season. And, in honor of this time, restaurants at the Galleria Dallas have joined forces to feature new fried desserts on their menus. One of the new desserts featured is the fried banana with peanut butter and maple bacon sauce at the Oceanaire Seafood Room that's served with a scoop of strawberry ice cream and pieces of blue and pink cotton candy. Other desserts include a fried peach hand pie with vanilla ice cream at Grand Lux Cafe, and the chocolate, peanut butter and banana-stuffed wontons at the Second Floor by Scott Gottlich.

Speaking of big dates coming up on the horizon: The barbecue-slingers at Slow Bone will be serving free lunch on Thanksgiving. Vendors will donate food, with Slow Bone employees cooking to provide meal services for the less fortunate in the neighborhood. The restaurant will also be taking donations for the North Texas Food Bank from people with money to spare.

Speaking of fortunes: Fireside Pies has a change of one recently as the pizza restaurant has been dropped from Consilient Restaurants (Hibiscus, the Porch, AF+B) and sold to the Chalak Mitra Group (Genghis Grill). What's the reason? Well, Consilient plans to open two new locations of The Porch throughout the region in the near future.

In brew news: Franconia is welcoming the beginning of fall with its Oktoberfest release. This year's brew is dark red, with tastes of toffee and roasted nuts, and a five percent ABV. It will be made available during September and October for the German festival season.

Finally, we close this week with some closing news: Union Bear shut its doors in West Village and Belly and Trumpet closed in Uptown. Bon voyage. We hardly knew ye.

Cover image via Luscher's Post Oak Red Hots' Facebook page. Got a tip for The Spread? Email us!