Duro Hospitality Opens Mister Charles in Summer 2023

Duro Hospitality, Dallas’ Most Dynamic Luxury Restaurant Group, Opens Mister Charles, an Exuberant and Sophisticated Restaurant and Bar in Summer 2023

Located in Dallas’ Landmarked Former Highland Park Soda Fountain Building, It Boasts 38-Ft. Ceilings, Irreverent Globally-Inspired Plays on French and Italian Cuisine, Perfected Classic Cocktails and Exceptional Wines

Duro Hospitality, one of Dallas’ most dynamic and fastest-growing hospitality groups, announces the opening of Mister Charles, an exuberant and sophisticated restaurant and bar. Opening in Summer 2023, Mister Charles will offer an unforgettable experience with irreverent globally-inspired plays on luxurious French and Italian dishes, an open kitchen, soaring 38-ft. ceilings, iconoclastic design, perfected classic cocktails and rare wines. Mister Charles is located at 3219 Knox St. in the landmarked former Highland Park Soda Fountain Building.

“Mister Charles is our most exuberant, ambitious and high energy restaurant to date, and we are excited to share it with our neighbors and visitors to our wonderful city,” says Chas Martin, Duro Hospitality’s Co-Founding Partner. “We believe that when guests dine out, they want to be transported out of their daily lives and routines. Our culinary and bar teams have pulled out all stops to create a joyous, multi-sensory experience that will create soulful and unforgettable memories for guests.”

An Indirect Homage to Chas Martin, Co-Founding Partner of Duro Hospitality

Mister Charles pays indirect homage to Chas Martin, who lent his name to The Charles, the group’s first restaurant. Serving “Italian-ish” cuisine in a high-style setting, The Charles became an overnight success. Since then, the name has morphed into more of a fictional character and was further played on for the group’s recent El Carlos Elegante, the Latin “brother” of The Charles. Mister Charles, in turn, conjures up a more sophisticated and well-traveled relative who has enjoyed a lifetime savoring the finest continental cuisines and luxuriating in Europe’s most elegant hotels, restaurants and bars.

Chas’ journey in hospitality began as a Kitchen Intern at the iconic Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse in Dallas. Over the course of four years, he excelled in his role and eventually took charge of all front-of-house operations. Building on his experience, Chas then ventured into wine sales before assuming the position of Food & Beverage Director at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas.

A Landmarked Space in a Special Location

Mister Charles is located in the former Highland Park Soda Fountain Building. The Soda Fountain operated there for more than 100 years and holds a special place in the hearts of Dallas residents. The landmarked space has been fully renovated and also incorporates new construction in a connected adjacent space. Mister Charles seats 98 in its dining room, 12 at the bar, 26 in its private dining room and 24 outside.

A Soaring Experience Extends Over Three Stories

Guests enter the main entrance on the soda fountain side. They pass through an arched vestibule of Venetian plaster. The space opens to a cathedral-like experience with three-story columns ending in Corinthian capitals. These capitals line a coffered ceiling wallpapered with trompe l’oeil medallions.

On the main floor, to the left and under the stairwell, is the darker and sensuous “new” dining room in the newest addition to the building. Here, there is a small secondary bar and an open kitchen. This room’s ceiling is much lower, making the space less imposing. It is warmer and more romantic, but no less impressive as it is paneled in tall antique beveled mirrors with beautiful old bronze sconces with evocative black silk shades.

To the right, there is a long marble bar top with a huge brass back bar in front of two-story windows. To the left is a beautiful switchback stairway sheathed in Venetian plaster that leads past the exposed plate glass-windowed wine cellar to the private dining room on the mezzanine floor.

Reimagined Luxurious French and Italian Dishes & Reinterpreted Classic Cocktails

The culinary team at Mister Charles has created irreverent takes on opulent dishes from France and Italy, with globally-sourced accenting ingredients.

The drinks program spans finely-tuned classic cocktails, along with whimsical creations, like the Turnover Sour.

The wine selection, which also focuses on France, Italy and Spain, along with Napa Valley, Sonoma and Washington State, includes limited production bottlings, rare vintages and extensive sparkling options.

• Photo Credit:
  • Interiors Photography: Douglas Friedman
  • Food & Beverage Photography: Evan Sung

Dining Canapés

• Egg Salad Sandwich & Caviar, $9
• Cured Salmon Tart, Crème Fraîche, $8
• Oysters, Green Tomato Mignonette, $6
• Foie Gras Croquette, Pistachio, Orange, $8
• A5 Striploin, Brioche, Wasabi, $14

Appetizers

• Corn and Truffle Beignets, Chive Crème Fraîche, $18
• Blue Fin Crudo, Thai Passion Fruit Dressing, $26
• Beef Carpaccio, Horseradish, Calabrian Chili, $26
• Crab Cake Vadouvan, Avocado, Jalapeño $32
• Little Gem Caesar, Anchovy Caper Vinaigrette, $18

Pastas

• Truffle Duck Berlingot, Artichoke, Tomato, $38
• Uni Shells Carbonara, Pancetta, Bottarga, $32
• Lumache Arrabbiata, Broccolini, Tomato Conserva, $28

Fish

• Seared Diver Scallops, Caviar Sauce, Potato Fondant, $58
• Whole Dover Sole, Sauce Meunière (Filleted Tableside), $98
• Lobster Thermidor, Calabrian Tarragon Butter, $86
• Striped Bass, Sauce Vierge, Haricots Verts, $56

Steak

• 16 oz. A Bar N Ranch Wagyu New York Strip, Sauce Au Poivre, $94
• 26 oz. Prime Beef Ribeye, Sauce Diane, Wild Mushrooms, $98
• Lamb Loin Wellington for Two, Foie Gras, Fennel Sausage, $91
• 8 oz. Snake River Farms Filet, Sticky Shallots, Sauce Bordelaise, $79
• Japanese A5 Striploin by the Ounce (4 oz. Minimum), $36/oz.

Sides

• Creamed Spinach, Black Garlic, $14
• Pommes Aligote, $14
• Tandoori Cauliflower, Celery Pistachio Salad, $14
• Sesame Ginger Broccolini, Togarashi, $14

Dessert

●     Banana Pudding Baked Alaska, $15
●       The Soda Fountain Sundae, $15

• Coconut Cream Cake, Lemon Sorbet, $15
• Chocolate Espresso Pot Au Crème, Salted Cream, $15

Cocktails Mister Aperitivo

• The Bougie Spritz, Aperol, Bugey-Cerdon, $18
• The Hugo, St-Germain, Prosecco, Mint, $17

Classic-ish Cocktails

• Mr. Charles Classic Gin Martini, Hayman’s Dry Gin, Cocchi Extra Dry Vermouth, Orange Bitters, $19
• Mr. Charles Classic Vodka Martini, Castle and Key Vodka, Japanese Vermouth, Yuzu Bitters, $19
• Airmail (1930s French 75), Probitas Rum, Honey, Lime, Prosecco, $17
• Boulevardier, Wathen’s Single Barrel Bourbon, Cocchi Sweet Vermouth, Gran Classico,

$19

Not-So Classic Cocktails

• Crime of Passion, Arette Tequila, Aperol, Lime, Passion Fruit, Habanero, $19
• Highland Park Pharmacy Penicillin, Highland Park 12-Year-Old Scotch Whisky, Ginger, Honey, $21
• King Charles II, Barr Hill Gin, Italicus, Cointreau, Lemon, $21

• Turnover Sour, Calvados, Old Grand Dad 114 Bourbon, Amaretto, $18

Designed by Sees Design’s Ross See and Corbin See

Mister Charles was designed by Sees Design’s Ross See and Corbin See, two brothers who are partners in Duro Hospitality, an arrangement that is fairly unique in the hospitality world. Ross serves as the Interior Architect and Designer, responsible for creating unique and innovative designs that elevate the overall aesthetic of the group’s spaces. Meanwhile, Corbin brings his expertise in fabric, materials and design direction to ensure that every detail is perfectly executed. The two trained in residential design and bring Mister Charles a comforting homey element not typically found in restaurants.

Design That Contrasts Old & Airy with New & Moody

The concept was to have two contrasting designs represented by the “old” soda fountain space and the new addition to the building. The personalities are contrasting as well. One being light and airy and the other dark, moody and sexy. This was also the inspiration for and represented by the angel and devil in the Mister Charles logo. The design of both combines classical elements but with a bit of tongue in cheek. The palette is bold, complex and has lots of color and tension in a mix of patterns and fabrics. Wallpapers are custom interpretations of classical designs interpreted through a Duro Hospitality lens. The light fixtures are classical and opulent, as are the architectural elements.

About Mister Charles

Located in the landmarked former Highland Park Soda Fountain Building in Dallas, Mister Charles is Duro Hospitality’s most ambitious restaurant and bar. With irreverent takes on indulgent French and Italian dishes, elevated cocktails, rare wines, opulent over the top design and soaring 38-ft. ceilings, Mister Charles is redefining Dallas’ dining and tippling scene.

Located at 3219 Knox St., Mister Charles is open for dinner seven days a week, Sunday to Thursday, 5pm to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5pm to 11pm. For more information and reservations, please visit www.themistercharles.com.

About Duro Hospitality

Duro Hospitality, a hospitality firm specializing in operations, concepting, development, and design focused on restaurants, bars, hotels, and multi-family projects, was founded in 2020 by Benji Homsey, Chas Martin, Corbin See, Ross See and J Chastain as a collective approach to creating unique and inspiring brands and experiences. Each one of the founding partners brings a specific expertise to the process. Their collaborative style has positioned Duro Hospitality as one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing luxury hospitality groups in Texas. For more information, please visit durohospitality.com.

(This PhilanthropyLifestyles eBuzz courtesy Duro Hospitality.)