Mark Wahlberg has launched a casual-dining chain and other notable restaurant openings

It has been a while since we caught up with the notable restaurant opening across the country, but some exciting concepts have made their debuts.

This spring and summer bring a new concept from actor Mark Wahlberg; a wine pub in a historic building in New Orleans; elevated Lebanese cuisine in the Washington, D.C. area; and chef and restaurateur Drew Deckman is planning his U.S. debut this summer after building a career in Europe and Mexico.

Here’s a look at what’s new and notable from coast to coast.

Scheduled to open July 2, recent “Top Chef” winner Charbel Hayek is behind this restaurant, which is the latest from Sunset Entertainment Group (Sunset Room, Lure, White Lotus, Le Jardin, Green Door and more).

Hayek, who won “Top Chef: Middle East & North Africa” in 2021 and competed in “Top Chef: World All Stars,” is originally from Lebanon and will bring a taste of the Middle East, flavored by California, to the menu. Look for innovative skewers with octopus and wagyu beef, for example, but also larger plates like Grilled Red Seabream with green mojo tahini and pomegranate molasses; and Braised Beef Cheeks.

The Hotel Bel-Air has been reworking its food-and-beverage offerings under the new direction of Joe Garcia (Manzke, Bicyclette Bistro, The French Laundry) as culinary director. He brings a new menu to The Restaurant, the signature venue, but coming in July are the new concepts The Living Room, which is a lobby lounge, and Patisserie, a French-inspired bakery café. Executive Chef Christophe Rull, a U.S. Chocolate Master, will create the patisserie menu.

An 11-room inn is scheduled to open in July in the circa-1800s home that was once the Creole institution Maylie’s for more than a century. Just a few blocks from the Superdome, the venue has been converted to Copper Vine, a inn that will join the existing restaurant and wine pub with more than 30 wines on tap or in the cellar.

Chef Amy Mehrtens is in the kitchen and offering dishes like Smoked Duck & Andouille Gumbo with a duck fat roux; or Shrimp Risotto with sherry sabayon, arborio rice, pine nuts and bottarga.

UPDATE: This has been updated to clarify the wine pub is already open.

Coming in July (hopefully) is this Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman (Deckman’s en el Mogor; Enso Omakase; Conchas de Piedra) from Mexico’s first U.S. venture. It was previously named Watershed and it was supposed to open in May, but the concept is a few more weeks out.

Deckman, who spent a decade working in Europe with chefs like Paul Bocuse, Jacques Maximin and Madeleine Kamman before settling in Mexico, is also known for his focus on ethical farming and slow-food culture, and the new 31ThirtyOne will prioritize sustainable sourcing. The chef and restaurateur is also hosting a docuseries on Amazon Prime about indigenous ingredients around the globe, called “Ingrediente Mexico.”

Opened in mid-June, this classic steak and seafood concept is the latest from the Neighborhood Dining Group (Husk, Delaney Oyster House, Minero, The James). Look for touches of luxury, like the Caviar Tart with lobster and tarragon; and Wagyu Fried Rice. Of course there are specialty cuts of steak and sauces like Armagnac Au Poivre or Mushroom Cognac. A signature is the surf-and-turf for two with a 28-ounce porterhouse, whole lobster, Robuchon potato puree and jumbo asparagus.

Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder, both chefs who worked previously at the acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant Trois Mec, launched this sandwich concept on June 15. The bread is designed specifically for the sandwiches, and is baked fresh in house daily.

It started as a popup and has already won acclaim from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and Time Out.  Also involved are Michael Pasternak (Night + Market) and Greg Willsey (founder of Joolies, Kinderfarms and more).

Actor Mark Wahlberg and his brothers (also behind Wahlburgers) are shifting focus to casual dining with the debut of Flecha (arrow, in Spanish), an elevated Mexican restaurant that will also showcase the family’s tequila brand by the same name. A second Flecha location is scheduled to open in Las Vegas this year, and more are planned.

Open June 12, this breakfast-and-lunch concept in The Gant resort is a collaboration with The Farmer & Chef’s husband-and-wife team Tiffany Pineda and Joey Scarlett, along with business partner and Origin’s executive chef David Leiva.

The goal is to showcase Western Colorado’s local farmers and ranchers who practice small-scale, regenerative agriculture. The menu is seasonal, but look for huevos rancheros, gazpacho and a grass-fed burger from Rock Bottom Ranch. “We want to use our platform as chefs to empower and educate people on how we can eat in a more climate-friendly way,” Pineda said in a statement.

Lebanese with some Greek and Turkish flavors woven in, Layli opened in early June in the Washington, D.C. area. The menu is crafted by chef Samer Zeitoun with dishes like kibbeh, nayeh, roasted eggplant and fattoush alongside more elevated offerings, such as beef tenderloin shawarma, hummus with duck confit, and grilled whole branzino.

This all-day restaurant opened in late May in Savannah’s Starland District. During the day, there are baked goods, fresh bread and pastries, and at night the concept shifts into a supper club, starting with a prix fixe dinner format with a seasonally rotating menu.

It’s the latest from Farm Hospitality Group (Common Thread, Wildflower Café, Strange Bird) led by partner Brandon Carter with executive chef Annie Coleman and chef de cuisine Tyler Kenny.

Brothers Sujan Sarkar and Pujan Sarkar joined forces for their first solo venture, an Indian restaurant in the city’s Market District. Sujan Sarkar is known for the Chicago restaurant Indienne, and he has spent seven years in San Francisco as head chef of Rooh.

Tiya is described as casual fine dining, offering two experiences: a four-course tasting menu for $90 and an a la carte option with large and small plates, like Goat Ghee Roast Taco (sort of an Indian take on birria); the Goan-style Tiger Shrimp Xec Xec cooked over charcoal with gooseberry chutney and pickled kohlrabi; and Paneer Polichattu, which is cheese wrapped in banana leaf and cooked over charcoal.

This is the latest from chef Tiffany Derry at T2D Concepts (Roots Southern Table, Roots Chicken Shak) and co-founder Tom Foley, which opened in May.

Here, they take a culinary journey through Italy with house-made pastas, Fiorentina-style ribeye and pistachio olive oil cake. Look for risotto croquette with pork sausage, chicken liver, pomodoro and smoked mozzarella; or Modena-style lasagna with white Bolognese, sage, spinach pasta, parmesan and nutmeg.