Cedars Social, a "cocktail den and comfort food kitchen," opened last month in Dallas' sophisticated, urban Cedars neighborhood. The brainchild of owner Brian Williams blends indoor and outdoor spaces and mid-century, antiquated architecture with reclaimed industrial materials for a classic-meets-contemporary feel. In the dining room, a circular fireplace in the center of the room warms up the space both physically and aesthetically, while the "cocktail den" continues that cozy feel with vintage furniture and a repertoire of classic cocktails from the Prohibition era developed by renowned mixologist Michael Martensen. The bar menu also includes a tribute list of drinks from other famed cocktail lounges around the country, including Death and Company in New York City, Violet Hour in Chicago and Rick House in San Francisco.

With an emphasis on the bar program, Cedars resembles a host of operations around the country looking to capitalize on the growing trend among consumers to spend more on alcohol while remaining frugal in the dining room. Chef John Tesar looks to meet this value-seeking trend with nostalgia and comfort food dishes teamed up with modern twists and high-quality, seasonal ingredients from farmers, fisherman and ranchers throughout Texas. A lunch and dinner menu offers a range of small plates and other larger ones for sharing family-style.