The story of Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar in Dallas is all over the map. It starts at home, in Texas, says Greg Katz, who co-created Green Point with his brother Nik Katz.
The two were born in Cape Town, South Africa. Their new Knox Street restaurant in Dallas is named for the South African seaside town where their grandparents lived. On the beach, they’d snack on granadilla lollies, a passion-fruit-flavored popsicle that inspired the vinaigrette Greg created for the restaurant’s red snapper and shrimp ceviche ($17).
Follow the map from Cape Town to Dallas, where the Katz brothers were raised. Then, drive through New Orleans and into Destin, Fla., where the Katz kids would go deep-sea fishing during hot summers with family. Then and now, the Katzes say they’ve “fallen in love with the Gulf.” Much of the crab, shrimp, grouper, snapper and mahi mahi at Green Point comes from our Southern shores.
The story of Green Point then flies over to Europe, which inspired the restaurant’s design. It’s an oceanic mix of seafoam and emerald greens, and pretty like a French brasserie. Those who have been to Greg’s first restaurant, Beverley’s, will find a similarly comfortable dining room at Green Point.
Even though the restaurants and shops on Dallas’ Knox Street are fancier than ever, Greg wants Green Point to be a casual, all-day stop for those working or shopping. We’re picturing friends popping in for a glass of white wine and a half-dozen oysters in between boutiques. There’s plenty of room at the 22-seat horseshoe-shaped bar.
For a chuckle, look at the walls near the restrooms: This seafood restaurant has Jaws themed wallpaper!
All of the menu items have some kind of tie to the Katzes life. The seafood gumbo ($15) — not common on Dallas restaurant menus — is in honor of their brother-in-law, a Louisiana native who loves to cook. The fish and chips ($25) are a personal favorite of Nik’s, who has memories of eating it on Hout Bay in Cape Town. His wife loves a lobster roll, so a mayo-based version ($36) made the menu.
Other notable menu items include oysters dressed with Champagne vinaigrette and a bite of horseradish creme ($25); a lovely chilled crudo, where ribbons of salmon and tuna are topped with shallots, capers and lemon vinaigrette ($23); three little fried grouper sandwiches with coleslaw ($21); and fried calamari ($21). Smoked whitefish dip ($15) is on the menu at Green Point, Beverley’s and Greg’s Dallas cocktail bar Clifton Club. It’s inspired by their Jewish upbringing but also feels “very Texas,” he says. It’s the only menu item at all three spots.
One of the healthiest ways to eat at Green Point is to pick from the rotating list of fish, served pan-roasted and with a salad on the side.
A cheeseburger ($19), lobster bucatini ($45) and steak au poivre ($47) are three of the more decadent options.
The drinks menu is strong on bubbles, rosé and white wine, though cocktails would be a fun way to begin. Nik says he and his brother used to drink guava juice like it was OJ. They snacked on lychees, beachside. Both make their way into adults-only drinks, in a Guava Mama cocktail with mezcal and in the Lychee Spritz with St. Germain and prosecco.
Greg and Nik grew up with parents who loved to host dinner parties, and each naturally made their way into food. Nik most recently spent the past four years as the general manager of food and beverage for the Adolphus hotel in Dallas. Green Point is the first time the two have worked together full-time, though Nik says they’ve been “inseparable” since they were teens.
“This is something Nik and I have been talking about our entire lives,” Greg says.
Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar is at 3219 Knox St., Dallas. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Expected to open Sept. 26, 2023. Reservations not required but recommended, via Resy. Complimentary valet at Travis and Knox Street.
