Santa's Workshop: Popup Christmas Bar & Restaurant

I try to give out 5 star reviews sparingly because few restaurants truly wow - but this one hit the mark on everything from service, atmosphere, and of course the actual food. Wow. Unique, varied, delicious (obviously), and most surprisingly quite affordable considering the quality. My favorites were the Forest Floor (mushroom dish), the Salmon (forgot the full name), the Shortrib, and the chili chocolate cake. Wonderful stuff and the staff all knew the menu well which is lovely. Will be coming back again very soon. Props to the chef and service staff. One thing is that they did have to push our reservation back 35min due to how busy they were - but that’s quite understandable for a restaurant this small + good. No biggie since it’s in downtown McKinney which is fun to have a stroll around.

We were in the area for the McKinney holiday festival and this was a perfect place to stop in for a quick drink. The atmosphere is very rustic and feels like you’re in a 90s-2000s Hallmark holiday movie. There’s different themed sections of the bar like a Grinch themed area. The drinks are simple and cute. There’s no reservations, you just walk in, order at the front and find a table. They do have a limited food menu, the cheese curds and chicken tenders were great to snack on. They also have a kid friendly menu.

We had an amazing time here! I’m not sure what the other reviewer was expecting from a temporary restaurant that had only just opened. Should they invest in all new furniture and dish ware for 8 weeks of service? We didn’t see a single plastic cup either. All of our glasses were adorable. It’s located in the space where The Pantry used to be and they have done a great job decorating and providing photo backdrops. I was so sad about the fire at Rye but thrilled this group is staying in McKinney and coming back with a new theme. The pop up is temporary but they went all out decorating. The drinks were all creative and tasty, served in adorable cups and glasses. The chicken tenders were fantastic and the sauces also great. We were there on a slower night so the staff provided some off-menu items to sample. Everything was amazing! But honestly it was the service and staff that were above and beyond and really made the night special. They were checking on us constantly, making sure everything was perfect. If you are out shopping in McKinney or looking for a fun holiday evening, I whole heartedly recommend you pop in Santa’s Workshop, grab a cocktail, and take some Christmas photos.

We arrived at a full restaurant with only a couple seats at the bar. We decided to eat there rather than wait for a table. We were so glad we did. The bartender, Heather took such great care of us the whole night. She helped us feel at home and treated us like we were regulars there. She explained the small plate format and gave us her recommendations which was appreciated. Each plate was a delightful surprise of complex and mouthwatering sauces and seasonings with fresh ingredients. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and plan to return again real soon.

Such a lovely and cozy atmosphere. The food was beyond anything I had expected. So delicious and unique. The staff and owner were so very kind and took such great care of us. I can't wait to take everyone here. Save room for dessert too....just wow. New favorite.

We love Rye! Food was always phenomenal with thoughtful presentations: Pork Belly Lollipops - 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- melts in your mouth perfection! Salmon Gow - 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- flour wrapper can be thinner Vaca Frita Tacos - 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- delicious! Release the Quack-en - 6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- best duck ever! Three French Hens - 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- full of flavours To Peach Their Own 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- unique dessert Benedict, chicken and grit at brunch were yummy too. Jadzia was always cordial and she would answer all of our questions with great patience. She's also very knowledgeable of their menu. High marks for that. There'd be a $10 deposit per guest on reservation in case of no show, it's fair and not a deal breaker for us. Can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu and we would definitely start every meal with pork lollipop. It's that good!

Rye is very, very popular. I was in McKinney for an unrelated reason and decided to stop by, on a Saturday night. There was a 2 hour wait. I proceeded to go somewhere else (without putting in my name) and come back at 9pm, where my friend and I were seated. Our drinks were great. We people watched and everyone was ordering the meat lollipops. Next time I am in the area, I'll make a reservation before hand. Can't wait to try more!

Wow, wow, WOW! My husband and I have been waiting for RYE to reopen, and it was worth the wait. We came for a low key date night and were greeted at the door by a very friendly gentleman, who escorted us to our table, pulling out my chair for me upon arrival. Later into our meal, after talking for about 10 minutes with this gentleman, we find out he is the owner. From the small town feel, charm and intimate setting created, all worries and stress that may be tagging along with you are washed away as your sink into your meal. My husband ordered a local beer, and after receiving feedback from our waiter regarding each cocktail, I went with the Giggle Juice, very refreshing! Rye has reinvented themselves with a "small plate" concept and from what we experienced, it's working flawlessly. We ordered the Russian Roulette Peppers, Pork Belly Lollipops, Gouda Mac N Cheese, and Smores for dessert. Each plate was brought out in succession, not all at once allowing us to really savor each plate. The strategic thought that went into each dish was well organized, clever and purposeful. The peppers are called "Russian Roulette" because one of the peppers is hotter than the rest- but they don't tell you which one! We loved that idea. The mac n cheese was superb- my husband and I both agreed we should have gotten the larger portion! The pork belly lollipops were so incredibly tender and the Swiss and rainbow chard garnishment that went along with those were just as delicious. When the smores came out, staff came out with a small torch and lit cedar (I believe it was cedar?) chips on fire in a miniature Dutch oven to create an aroma you would find at a campfire, roasting marshmallows. It was fantastic. One last final thought- I am a bit of snob with bathrooms, I attached a few pictures from their bathroom. It was pretty clean, although there is only one bathroom for both men and women, so I think constant attention to maintaining it will be necessary to ensure cleanliness. They are doing a great job! We cannot wait to come back, and have shared with our friends and family as a MUST TRY on repeat! Thanks RYE!