An upscale Italian restaurant called Little Dutch has opened at 1285 S. Main St. in Grapevine, taking over the space once occupied by the now-closed Fireside Pies chain. The new spot serves steak, pastas and drinks from a full bar inside a dining room built around chandeliers, ceramic tile and a terrazzo-floored lobby leading to a glass atrium patio.
Little Dutch was founded by Noti Krasniqi, who has been involved in the DFW Italian food scene for more than a decade, according to CultureMap Fort Worth. Krasniqi opened his own concept, Mio Nonna Trattoria, in Allen in 2014, then added a second location in Flower Mound in 2017. Before moving to the DFW area, he owned a restaurant in the Hamptons called Andrra, and the outlet reports he describes Little Dutch as his next-level, more ambitious concept that was in development for more than a year.
From Fireside Pies to a Glass Atrium
The South Main Street address previously housed Fireside Pies, which closed on August 31, 2024, per earlier reporting from Community Impact. Community Impact reported that as of October 27, a new Italian eatery offering an upscale, distinctive dining experience was now open in Grapevine, describing a glass atrium with crystal chandeliers and a green glass bar. The outlet's report also notes a private dining room for up to 12 guests. The project had previously been reported under the working name The Dutch before opening as Little Dutch.
Inside, the kitchen centers on a Josper combination indoor charcoal oven and grill, which the article notes cooks food at high heat in an enclosed chamber, creating a juicy center and a smoky crust. That approach shows up on a menu that includes Wagyu beef skewers alongside New York strip and filet mignon steaks from purveyor Allen Brothers.
Steaks, Pastas and a Long Bar Menu
Starters run from calamari and oysters to steak tartare, focaccia, meatballs, a wedge salad and a caesar salad, while mains add branzino, veal milanese, lamb lollipops and roasted half chicken to the steak lineup. The pasta list covers bolognese, rigatoni a la vodka, cacio e pepe and short rib capelletti, and the rigatoni a la vodka can be ordered vegetarian. For something less formal, there is a burger served with beef-tallow fries and a gourmet focaccia sandwich loaded with deli meats and pistachio pesto. Dessert options include cheesecake and tiramisu.
The bar program features cocktails priced from $16 to $19, including a negroni, a frozen peach bellini and a drink called the Mata Hari made with brandy, pomegranate and chai vermouth. An extensive wine list rounds things out with labels from the West Coast, France, Italy and Spain.
A Name Rooted in Kosovo
The restaurant's name carries a personal history. Krasniqi is a native of Kosovo, formerly part of Yugoslavia, and as a child he was nicknamed Reagan, after U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who in turn carried the nickname Dutch. According to the City of Grapevine, the name commemorates that childhood nickname and represents Krasniqi's journey to the American dream. Community Impact frames the restaurant similarly, tying the Little Dutch name to Krasniqi's childhood in Kosovo and describing it as a tribute to that upbringing and the path that led him to the United States.
