A new dining room is making a play for star status in the Dallas Arts District. Astra Kitchen + Lounge quietly opened earlier this month inside the HALL Arts Hotel, turning the main restaurant space at 1717 Leonard St. into an art-soaked hangout for hotel guests and locals. The newcomer takes over where Ellie’s once stood and leans into the building’s artsy DNA with a gallery-minded makeover and a menu aimed at lingering nights out.
According to The Dallas Morning News, executive chef Miguel Antonio has stacked the menu with elevated comfort food built for sharing. Diners will find French onion deviled eggs, three different takes on beef Wellington, pressed sushi and an 8‑ounce filet mignon, capped off with chocolate bread pudding for dessert. The bar program leans theatrical, with a signature Astra cocktail that mixes tequila, blackberries and edible glitter, plus a martini flight served with caviar. “Astra is really about bringing people together,” HALL Group CEO Craig Hall said in a news release shared with the paper.
Art at the center
The restaurant’s name is a nod to “Asteroid,” an immersive light installation by New York artist Spencer Finch, as reported by CultureMap Dallas. Roughly 360 bulbs dangle overhead in a configuration meant to evoke the molecular structure of an asteroid. The glowing piece anchors the dining room and gives Astra a starry, gallery-like feel that connects the food to the hotel’s contemporary art focus.
Chef and the menu
Executive chef Miguel Antonio, whose résumé includes time at Fearing’s, Five Sixty and most recently JW Steakhouse, is steering Astra toward refined but shareable plates, according to Dallas Voice. The Wellington trio and other dishes are designed to be ordered for the table, balancing classic technique with approachable flavors that aim to appeal to both hotel guests and neighborhood diners looking for a polished night out.
What to expect
Astra lists daily service for breakfast, brunch and dinner on the hotel’s dining page, positioning it as a convenient pre- or post-show stop for visitors to the nearby AT&T Performing Arts Center, per the hotel listing on Marriott Bonvoy. Reservations and full menu details are available through the restaurant’s website and standard booking platforms; check Astra Kitchen + Lounge for specifics and to book a table.
