Top Canadian Restaurant Adjusts to Texas with Ease

Plano’s mega development, Legacy West, is still very much a “development” — in other words, under construction — but that hasn’t stopped people from flocking to its hot new shops and restaurants. The ever-busy dining room at the new Earl’s Kitchen + Bar is proof of that.

The Canadian-born restaurant chain opened its first Texas location at Legacy West a few weeks ago. Earl’s Kitchen is known for its made-from-scratch, globally influenced cuisine and thoughtful design.

You have to question the culinary commitment of a restaurant that serves everything from tacos to Korean wings to steaks to cajun chicken – but then again, it is the perfect place for the indecisive diner, and a safe answer to the perennial question, “What are you in the mood for?”

The menu comes with a list of “Daily Rituals” to work into your weekly schedule. For example, Margarita Monday (when you can snag $5 margs) and Sushi Wednesday (when all sushi rolls are $4 off).

The drink menu includes local and not-so-local beers, a variety of wines, and a range of specialty cocktails. There are also virgin cocktails and crisp house-made sodas on tap for a refreshing pick me up.

Although it has an empire of 69 restaurants across North America, each Earl’s Kitchen location is tailored specifically for the region, steeped in local flavors and local culture. That comes through loud and clear in Plano with the restaurant’s 14 ounce ribeye coming from Texas’ 44 Farms, a nod to the Lone Star State’s penchant for beef, but even more so in the fantastic assortment of local art on display.

Most prominently an eye-catching black, white, and gold mural by artist Kyle Steed across the back wall of the lounge. You may recognize the artwork if you’re one of Steed’s 150,000 followers on Instagram. Modern, sophisticated, and fun, the mural perfectly matches the tone of the stylish restaurant.