Dry-aged steaks, local ranchers, cocktail bar, sommelier

























"A separate steakhouse concept in Plano that remains open amid changes to the Highland Dallas operation." - Courtney E. Smith

"Of course, Plano needs a good steakhouse, and chef John Tesar obliged. His spot in The Shops at Willow Bend has all the trappings of the Dallas location: the new and old-school steak cuts, including his signature dry-aged steaks. And it’s got an exotic steaks section to be shared between the two. It also has a hefty list of seafood options and a cauliflower steak for vegetarians." - Courtney E. Smith

"I attended a wagyu-and-wine pairing featuring meat from Cowboy Wagyu that included five stellar courses, and two blew me away: first, an oxtail ravioli stuffed with wagyu in a parmesan‑truffle sauce with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar; and then a 72‑hour sous‑vide short rib that was melt‑in‑your‑mouth soft, served on polenta with baby carrots and peas and topped with a bordelaise. Get on Knife Plano’s mailing list for events like these." - Courtney E. Smith

"This modern steakhouse in Plano’s Shops at Willow Bend is the brainchild of Texas superstar chef John Tesar. Gone are the oak-paneled walls and moody lighting one might come to expect from a steakhouse serving 32-ounce, dry-aged rib-eyes. Instead, Tesar’s created a quirky, modern space that offers pristine cuts of Texas beef from Cameron’s 44 Farms, served alongside a menu of creative and refreshing cocktails. Take the Botanist Fever cocktail: It’s made with The Botanist gin, Fever Tree tonic, ice, grapefruit oil, and lemon, lime, or rosemary to top." - Vox Creative


"I'm looking forward to John Tesar's upcoming second outpost of his award-winning steakhouse Knife, set to open at The Shops At Willow Bend in Plano. Tesar has revealed artwork for the new restaurant that will honor his longtime friend Anthony Bourdain — even posting a portrait on Instagram with the caption “Ready to be framed #tributes @knifesteakhouse #art installation #anthonybourdain more to come,” and the portrait appears to have been drawn from life, middle finger and all. Tesar and Bourdain go way back: they began their careers cooking in New York City and worked together nearly 40 years ago at the Supper Club, where, as Tesar recalls, “for three years, we ran a pirate ship on 47th Street in Times Square” and lived a wild, formative life together; Tesar says their friendship was in a good place at the end of Bourdain’s life. With Knife, the three-time James Beard–nominated, Top Chef contestant John Tesar brings a fresh steakhouse dining experience (already established at The Highland Dallas) that emphasizes all-natural born-and-raised Texas meats and old-school classics like 45-day dry-aged sirloin and bone-in..." - Adele Chapin