THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Belly & Trumpet Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Belly & Trumpet Restaurant Review:

Chef Brian Zenner, formerly of haute Design District destination Oak, turns out carefully plated dishes at this McKinney Avenue cottage-turned-restaurant. From the sexy dining room bedecked with vivid shades of rose and violet to the dramatic black-and-white graphic prints and animal-themed settees, one would never guess the previous tenant was an ultra-casual hot dog joint. Zenner, who once cooked under Bruno Davaillon at the tony Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, shows off his pedigree with a globe­trotting menu of stylish shared plates. Envelope-pushing selections include tender beef tongue steamed buns and antelope heart tartare, plus somewhat more conventional offerings of eggplant involtini and pork belly with kimchi for those who aren't offal-inclined. Killer cocktails designed by mixologist Matt Perry showcases underutilized spirits like crème de violette, Chartreuse and mezcal, while a compact but thoughtfully curated wine list goes heavy on the California and Oregon options, with labels both familiar and lesser-known and well over a dozen bottles under $50, along with some fun sips such as a sparkling rosé-Syrah blend from France.