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Firebirds expands with 1st unit in TexasFirebirds expands with 1st unit in Texas

Casual-dining brand emphasizes “Wood Fired Grill” in signage

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

February 28, 2022

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Firebirds Wood Fired Grill opened its first restaurant in Texas in mid-February and has a second planned in Plano, Texas, later this year.

With slightly modified exterior signage to enhance its “Wood Fired Grill” heritage, the 22-year-old Charlotte, N.C.-based casual-dining brand’s latest restaurant is in Alliance Town Center in Keller, Texas, north of Fort Worth.

A second Texas unit will open later this year in Plano, said Stephen Loftis, Firebirds’ vice president of marketing, during an interview at the new unit.

“We're super excited to be here in the Dallas-Fort Worth market,” Loftis said. “This is No. 55 for us.”

Firebirds is offering a slight change in design, emphasizing the “Wood Fired Grill” part of its name in exterior signage, said Steve Kislow, Firebirds CEO. “We wanted to distinguish Firebirds’ specialty,” he said of the modification.

“We're pretty happy about where we've evolved,” Loftis added. “We’ve got some really unique kind of trendy contemporary colors.”

With the Texas opening, Firebirds, founded in 2000, has locations in 20 states.

The menu features 21-day-aged steaks, cut in the restaurant, and seafood that are cooked on a wood-fired grill (a combination of hickory, oak or pecan, depending on the area) in an exposed kitchen. Signature items include a popular Lobster Spinach Queso, prime rib, a BLT Salad and shareable Creme Brulée Cheescake.

Related:Firebirds Wood Fired Grill acquired by J.H. Whitney Capital Partners

Signature cocktails and specially priced mimosas and Bloody Mary’s are featured on the brunch menu, part of a beverage program that features the “Firebar,” special wine training for staff members and pineapple-infused vodka.

A “bar bites” menu in the Firebar and on the patio are available Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Wine Down Mondays, full glasses and select bottles of wine are offered at half price.

The Fort Worth Firebirds’ new Alliance Town Center restaurant is near a Chuy’s and sports a media-connected private dining area for small groups. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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