Dave Orr from Australia has built a cafe that share the same atmosphere as his home back in Melbourne, Australia and it is serving cocktails according to a Dallas Morning News article which reports,
“Isla & Co., a bright, all-day cafe serving coffee, cocktails and food, has opened in Dallas’ Bishop Arts District in place of the beloved longtime Italian restaurant Lucia.
The restaurant is owned by Dave Orr, an Australian from a small town about three hours northeast of Melbourne. “This feels a lot like home,” he says of the Bishop Arts District. He notes that Texans, like Australians, are friendly, and that Oak Cliff seems to have a vibrant food scene.
Isla’s Australian fare is something we have not seen much of in Dallas-Fort Worth. Orr describes it as “European cuisine with Southeast Asian profiles.”
“Australia is a lot like America,” he says. “There have been a lot of waves of immigration,” and the menu reflects that.
Their specialties, although Australian, resemble European cuisine but integrated with Southeast-Asian spices and profiles as indicated in their menu from their website. It lists,
- Isla & Co Burger
- Spicy Shrimp Vodka Rigatoni
- Quinoa Grain bowl
- Grilled Chicken Sandy
- Brekkie Roll
- Mushroom Toast
- Crispy Halloumi
- Spicy Thai Green Curry
- Roasted Half Chicken
- Braised Lamb Shoulder
- Spiced Apple Crumble
- Sticky Date Pudding
Accordingly, Lucia is still around in the neighborhood after moving to an Oak Cliff address which can accommodate more people.
