I’ll admit, I thought I’d sipped my last glass at Urbano Café years ago. I remember that final meal: the clink of glasses, the swirl of a favorite burgundy, and the bittersweet feeling that Dallas was about to lose its best BYOB wine restaurant. Urbano wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a living room for the city’s wine lovers — each bottle celebrated for the story it brought.
When word spread that Urbano was closing, it felt like the end of an era. For those of us who live and breathe wine, it was going to leave a gaping hole in the DFW wine scene. Urbano was where collectors, sommeliers, and casual enthusiasts gathered for importer lunches, spontaneous tastings, and the kind of conviviality you just can’t manufacture. It was where I once hosted a dinner with my wine group and Pedroncelli Winery—an evening that turned into a night of hospitality and community, thanks to the people who attended and the staff who made every guest feel like a regular.
But here’s the plot twist every wine lover dreams about. At the last minute, Urbano Café was acquired by Black Marble Hospitality, a group that owns several restaurants and bars in Dallas, including St. Martin’s Wine Bar, Bowen House, Las Palmas Tex-Mex, and Mike’s Gemini Twin Lounge. It’s thriving with new ownership. The Heidari brothers, seasoned East Dallas restaurateurs, have stepped in with a promise to preserve everything that made Urbano a Dallas institution. That means the entire front-of-house and kitchen team, including longtime favorites, have stayed led now by the ever-gracious Kevan LaTorre, who’s been promoted to general manager after more than a decade of making guests feel at home.
Most importantly, the sacred BYOB policy remains untouched. In Dallas, where such freedoms are rare, Urbano continues to be a haven for those who want to bring their treasures or discover new favorites from a curated list priced just above retail – an appealing alternative to the typical restaurant markup. This means guests can discover quality wines, including rare and distinctive finds, without feeling priced out. General manager Kevan LaTorre has described Urbano’s ambition to become a true “wine destination,” with plans for an even more extensive and rare wine list in the works.
The wine list itself is a nod to the community: thoughtfully selected, frequently updated, and designed to appeal to the seasoned collector and the curious newcomer. But the combo of a thoughtfully curated wine list with its beloved BYOB policy makes this a win for wine drinkers. This dual approach caters to both casual wine drinkers and serious collectors, making it a unique destination for the city’s wine community.
And the food. Well, I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves. But I’d reserve a table soon.
Yes, there are fresh linens, new dishes, no more chalkboard, and a subtly refreshed interior, but what makes Urbano special remains unchanged — good food, wine and a sense of community.
