Restaurant Review
Discover Lockwood Distillery
“We’re just all one big family, now.”
Those words, scrolled in gold letters on the wall, perfectly describes this new neighborhood distillery-eatery in Richardson.
Owned by distiller Evan Batt and his wife, Sally, and named for the street located near North Central Expressway at West Belt Line Road, Lockwood Distilling Co. joins 10 other local distillers in the DFW area, with more coming shortly.
This family-friendly distillery-eatery has a modern industrial atmosphere with exposed brick, natural wood, and dark metals throughout its space. There is a glass-enclosed distillery, with 100-gallon vats and a private seating area for eight. And, in addition to seating in the restaurant, you will find bar seating and patio seating, as well.
Chef Justin Box has created an elevated comfort food experience with seasonal and sustainable ingredients to complement the spirits. I chose the Lockwood Muffaletta, a hearty combination of salami, pit ham, bologna, provolone, smoked olive tapenade, and Texas olive oil, all on Italian sesame bread.
Other sandwich selections include smoked bologna, smoked chicken, a tuna melt, a house burger, and the pressed ham-and-cheese. The Big Vegan sandwich features a delectable mix of smoked carrots, baby kale, hothouse tomato, pickles, house hummus, caramelized onion, and lemon garlic dressing.
There are two entrees: the southern chicken dinner, with steak Frites; and the 8-oz. citrus-chili marinated flat iron steak, with chimichurri and shoe-string fries. You will find two innovative salads and five small plate starters, like poblano pimento cheese with toast points or chicharrones.
Seven spirits are available on the cocktail menu: four rums, silver, vanilla, pineapple, and cinnamon; vodka and hibiscus vodka; and local Texas bourbon, outsourced, for now, while the house bourbon ages. Order the Richardson Mule, a choice of hibiscus or original Lockwood vodka mixed with ginger beer and lime, served in a copper mug; or the Wacko, a mixutre of Dr. Pepper and Lockwood Cinnamon Rum.
Evan Batt’s distillery experience begain in 2010, when he and a partner created Western Son Vodka in a 5,000 square-foot building in Carrollton. They built the company to what it is today: a 45,000 square-foot building in Pilot Point, selling award-winning vodka in more than 30 states. Batt sold his ownership, but his former partner remains the president and CEO today.
“Currently, Lockwood Bourbon is aging in barrels along the wall,” Batt said. It will age for about three years.
Besides vodka and rum, Batt has added a brandy, a whiskey cream (similar to Bailey’s), and a batch of gin.
The sign on the door posted soft opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11 AM-9 PM; Friday and Saturday, 11AM-10PM; and Sunday, 11AM-4PM. An official grand opening is planned for early 2020.
But rest assured: The friendly staff at Lockwood Distilling Co. will make you feel like one of the family.
Lockwood Distilling Co. is located at 506 Lockwood Drive in Richardson.
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Writer/Photographer Janie Pace is a native Texan covering restaurants, wineries, breweries, travel destinations, cruises and much more. A member of the ITWPA, International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance and USPA United States Press Agency; she’s a retired advertising and sales professional.
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