It was a busy year for restaurant openings in Lake Highlands. Fresh concepts like Waters Edge Winery and Bistro and Pan Asian Kitchen brought new flavors to the neighborhood, while things remained relatively quiet on the closure front.

Waters Edge Winery and Bistro. Photography by Kathy Tran.

After Lake Highlands lost a local institution with the closure of Bo Bo China in 2024, neighbors were likely glad to see fewer restaurant closings in the neighborhood this year. At least four new restaurants debuted in local shopping centers, while established eateries, for the most part, seemed to fare well in 2025.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of what Lake Highlands diners gained and lost in 2025.

Waters Edge Winery and Bistro | Opened in March

Chris and Kate Vahdani gave neighborhood wine connoisseurs a victory in March with the launch of Waters Edge Winery and Bistro in the former Fireside Pies space in Creekside Plaza. Part of a wider franchise model, Waters Edge Dallas imports grapes from countries like Italy and Armenia before processing and bottling in Lake Highlands.

Aside from a wine list advertising tempranillo and grenache, Waters Edge offers a wide selection of small plates, shared appetizers and mains crafted by Executive Chef Jace Leggitt. Customers can also bottle their own wine or join one of its several tiered wine clubs.

Pan Asian Kitchen and Bistro | Opened in January

Pan Asian menu items, including the house special claypot served with a lid. Photography by Kathy Tran

After the closure of Bo Bo China left a void in Chinese options in the neighborhood, Pan Asian Kitchen opened in early 2025 in the space formerly occupied by Atomic Pie and Hei Hei. The menu pays tribute to owner Jarren Wang’s mixed roots, with Chinese, Korean and Japanese represented in the offering.

Menu highlights include jjajangmyeon ($15), a dish made with Chinese-style wheat noodles and Korean black bean paste, and the house clay pot ($20), served with a savory brown sauce.

Juicy Seafood and Bar | Opened in October

Many longtime neighbors may remember when Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden stood side by side with Cheddar’s nearby on Vantage Point Drive. At the beginning of 2025, only Olive Garden remained.

Fortunately, the strip has bounced back and regained a seafood destination with the October opening of Juicy Seafood and Bar. The concept specializes in seafood boils, with crab, lobster, mussels, scallops, clams, shrimp and crawfish all available by the pound with varying spice levels. Diners looking for neater fare can look to po’ boys, fried fish baskets and a selection of Southern-style appetizers. The restaurant also has a full bar and happy hour specials.

Tailgater’s Sports Bar and Grill | Kingsley Square location closed in October

The sports bar replaced Jake’s Gameday following an ownership change in September 2024. Despite respectable Yelp reviews, the watering hole closed earlier this fall after just over a year in business. While it is unclear if the Northwest Highway location off Plano Road will continue to operate long-term, it has remained open since the Kingsley Square closure.