Élephante, a coastal Southern Italian restaurant concept from Wish You Were Here Group, will open its first Dallas location on September 1, 2026, at 2701 Maple Avenue in Uptown. The sprawling two-story restaurant features the cuisine of southern Italy with house made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, seafood, and an aperitivo-driven cocktail program.
Originally launched in Los Angeles in 2018, Élephante was inspired by travels through Pantelleria and the Aeolian Islands. The menu will showcase a mix of Italian favorites and coastal-inspired dishes, such as Whipped Eggplant with puccia bread and olive oil, Ragu Bianco pairing cavatelli with Italian sausage, pecorino, broccolini and fennel pollen, and Grilled Octopus with hearts of palm, olives, capers, tangerine and red onion. Diners can also try the classic Margherita Pizza topped with house made mozzarella, tomato and basil, Branzino finished with salsa verde butter, sea beans and lemon, and a spicy Vodka Sauce Pasta with Calabrian chile, basil, and Parmigiano.
The bar will embrace Italy’s aperitivo tradition with spritzes and house cocktails that complement the delicious menu. Wine will be another major focus, with a selection inspired by Italy’s growing regions, as well as harder-to-find vintages and exclusive private-label bottles produced for Wish You Were Here Group.
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Élephante is going big for its Texas debut. The Maple Avenue restaurant encompasses approximately 9,800 square feet across two stories, plus a 1,250-square-foot patio. It will have room for roughly 270 guests indoors and another 78 outside.
At the center of the indoor space will be a dramatic bar constructed from white oak and honed stone, topped by a suspended installation of illuminated wine bottles. The overall design is intended to feel polished and welcoming, creating a space that can transition from lunch and afternoon aperitivo to dinner and late-night drinks.
Vitals
- Address: 2701 Maple Avenue, Dallas
- Website: https://www.elephanterestaurants.com/
- Hours: Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Map to Élephante
Featured image from Élephante’s website
