In what surely seems like the worst timing ever for New Year’s resolutions, a healthy restaurant in one of Dallas’ most prominent malls has closed: Seasons 52, the successful concept from Darden Restaurants whereby many menu items were 500 calories or less, closed its location at NorthPark Center.
According to a mall spokesperson, their last day was January 2. The space is now boarded up with cruel signs that say “permanently closed.”
A spokesperson for Seasons 52 said that the closure was brought on by “lease problems,” but offered no more details, other than to note that the restaurant had been consistently successful in that location since it first opened in November 2012, a tenure of 10 years.
For fervent Seasons 52 fans, the news is not all bad: The Plano location at the Shops at Legacy, at 7300 Lone Star Dr. #C100, remains open. There are also two locations in Houston, and the chain is opening another location in Texas in San Antonio, on March 30.
Darden Restaurants debuted the concept back in 2003, well ahead of its time in proving that “healthy” restaurants could be a win, with a menu orchestrated by award-winning chef Clifford Pleau that was inspired by the seasons and the fresh appeal of the farmers’ market, 52 weeks a year.
It boasts a broad and inventive menu, ambitious wine program, and sophisticated atmosphere. Calories are discreetly marked on each dish, be it a roasted half chicken with vegetables and Yukon gold mashed potatoes at 460 calories or a 220-calorie watercress salad with Gorgonzola cheese and pine nuts.
Developed by Master Sommelier George Miliotes, the wine list earns praise for its diverse international selection of 100 wines, including more than 52 offered by the glass.
The restaurant is also beloved for its “miniature indulgences” dessert program, with mini servings that offered just a taste of decadence without excess.
Seasons 52 has made a number of CultureMap lists including Where to Take Holiday Visitors , Best Wine Program, and 10 Restaurants Worth The Wait, wherein we said, “Expect 45-minute waits on the weekend, but that’s no problem: Its bar has a sexy atmosphere that’s catnip for Plano’s slightly older singles scene.”
