Mark S. Mednansky, CEO of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, is pleased to announce that the company’s newest offering, Del Frisco’s Grille (which opened locally June 9th at the Camelback Esplanade) has been named one of this year’s “Hot Concepts” by Nation’s Restaurant News.  Del Frisco’s Grille serves contemporary American cuisine and features an approachable menu, a vibrant atmosphere, an expansive wine list, hand-crafted cocktails and genuine hospitality.  Nation’s Restaurant News’ 18th annual Hot Concepts Awards recognize four emerging companies showing innovation, bold tactics and tremendous potential for growth.  Local favorite True Food Kitchen took home the award in 2011.

“We are thrilled to be honored as a Hot Concept by Nation’s Restaurant News, an award we deem very prestigious in the foodservice industry,” said Mednansky.  “We built Del Frisco’s Grille to feel modern, inviting, stylish and fun for our guests, and I think the editors at Nation’s Restaurant News saw those qualities come together in a unique way at our restaurant.  This award is a tremendous honor and a strong validation of the Del Frisco’s Grille concept, and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum.”

Del Frisco’s Grille is rapidly expanding, opening at The Esplanade in Phoenix on June 9, preceded by the first two Grilles last year in Manhattan at Rockefeller Center and in Dallas’ Uptown neighborhood.  Hot on the heels of the success in Phoenix, the Grille also opened July 14 on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. and the next Grille will open in October in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood.    At approximately 7,500 square feet, Del Frisco’s Grille works well as a stand-alone restaurant and also has potential as a restaurant within a hotel.

Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group — the leading steakhouse company in the country — owns and operates more than 30 restaurants across the country, including the Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House and Sullivan’s Steakhouse brands.  The Del Frisco’s team created Del Frisco’s Grille as a nimble third brand for the company, presenting a varied menu of easy-to-share dishes such as wood oven-baked flatbreads and hearty salads, while carrying over the Del Frisco’s hallmarks of quality foods, excellent preparations and a lively, fun environment marked by genuine hospitality.

For guests, the varied menu means digging into signature dishes such as Ahi Tacos and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls.  For traditionalists, the Grille serves prime steak, and the diverse, 500-selection wine list is much more extensive than those found in the typical bar and grill.  Other favorites at the Grille include imaginative and memorable cocktails like The Kilt Lifter, Apt. 5D, and shots on tap.  Guests can enjoy these at the restaurant’s energetic bar, a destination its own right.