Like delicious food? Great cocktails? What about vinyl records and retro vibes? The just-opened Seager & Sons check all those boxes with its effortlessly cool debut at The Boardwalk at Granite Park in Plano.
Seager & Sons is delicious and fun — but so are numerous restaurants in Collin County. What makes this place unique is just that: It's different. How many places in North Texas can you order potato skins, fried chicken, pizza AND lobster thermidor OR a shrimp cocktail while listening to "More Than A Feeling" on vinyl? (If you're in former teenybop dreamboat Leif Garrett, they've got one of his records, too.)
What Is It: A Fancy Take On A Retro Restaurant
Seager & Sons is a 1970s — and early 80s — themed joint. The interior, with its wood paneling and avocado green seats, evoke a time past. This restaurant is the latest from 33 Restaurant Group, the folks behind favorites like Suburban Yacht Club, The Yard, Union Bear and Heritage, among others — and, according to Jena Wisniewski of 33 Restaurant Group, it's one of their most ambitious restaurants yet.
How so? The concept is "highbrow eats and Lo-Fi eats," and is based on a fictional person named Jack Seager, a former high school football star with a flair for the guitar, who took over the family restaurant, turning it into his dream establishment. To help bring the world of Seager & Sons to life, 33 Restaurant Group even created a Seagar-branded beer (brewed at their Union Bear Brewing Co.). You can tell that Jack loves music: Just look at all the vinyl throughout the restaurant. And you can tell he loves food, because Seagar & Sons serves elevated versions of comfort classics like pizza and fried chicken as well as fancy favs like the previously-mentioned lobster thermidor. Even the typical cheer and bacon potato skins are done up, with smoked gouda, creme fraiche and lobster.
Plus, the service is great, and the staff are really, really friendly. It's not only the music that is providing the wonderful vibes.
A Great Sounding Restaurant
It's always neat to see a vinyl copy of Blondie's 1978 Parallel Lines, and it's even neater to hear the pop and crackles from a spinning record. While most of the music playing during our visit was piped in digital, the Crosley C8 turntable and the Panasonic 4-channel amp are fully operational. The amp can also play 8-track tapes. Remember those? Sure you do.
33 Restaurant Group even brought in the audio technician who does sound for the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center to balance the sound at Seagers & Sons. The result is one of the best-sounding restaurants in Plano. Typically, restaurant music can sound tinny or too loud, and just make the eating experience unpleasant. You can hear your date or your family, and the sound doesn't add to the mood. That isn't the case here. Thank goodness.
How Are The Drinks?
If you have a 1970s-themed restaurant, you need retro classics like sex on the beach. There are also an array of martinis, frozens and whisky-based classics. Pizza, burgers and fried chicken go great with beer, so Seager & Sons has ice-cold craft pours on tap, including the Seagar-branded brew, or in cans and bottles. Wine and sparkling wine are also served. If you don't drink, there are mocktails. Try the pina nada colada.
What To Order
Everything, and I mean, everything we had was great. There were some standouts, so let's talk about those:
- S&S fried chicken: Probably some of the best fried chicken we've had recently. The chefs at 33 Restaurant Group tested over 7 or so different batters to find the best one. The idea was that they wanted to make crispy and juicy fried chicken that still held up the next day after you've brought it home to eat cold. I tried it in the restaurant. I tried it at home cold. I tried it at home, heated up. It was fantastic every single time. So order a full bird, take the rest home and feast. This is based on a Seagar family recipe after all.
- Lobster Thermidor: This dish amazed me. The last thing I was expecting was lobster thermidor at a pizza, burger and fried chicken joint. "We like to surprise people," Wisniewski of 33 Restaurant Group told me. Mission accomplished. But the best thing isn't that the French dish is on the menu — the best thing is that it's good. Real good.
- Boogie nights: Okay, you can order the pepperoni pizza, dubbed "all pep'd up," and it's great — just what you want from a pepperoni pizza: a double cup of pepperoni on house mozzarella and red sauce. But if you want something different, try this chopped fried chicken pizza on smoked gouda and pickles, with alfredo ranch and hot honey drizzle. Pickles and fried chicken go together great: It was like if Chick-fil-a had been turned into a pizza. And the result was delicious.
- Fancy potato skins: As a kid in the early 1980s, potato skins were the appetizer. Whether we went to any of the ubiquitous Dallas-based chains, Chili's, Bennigan's or TGI Fridays, the potato skins were a must. At Seager & Sons, the potato skins go beyond cheddar, sour cream and chives, with smoked gouda and lobster. Fancy and delicious, 6-year-old Brian would have absolutely loved these just as much as much-older Brian does.
- Eggplant Parm Milanese: The eggplant parm milanese is yet another delicious surprise — a dish I'd expect on a menu at another restaurant, but thankfully, shows up here. This isn't just an option if you don't eat meat, order it even if you do.
And For Our Readers With Dietary Restrictions
Plenty of gluten-friendly options: Cauliflower crust for pizza, lettuce bun for the burger and sandwiches, veggies can be substituted for the house-made chips, grilled chicken can be substituted for chicken tenders, and other menu items, such as the grilled and basted Texas redfish, are gluten-free. The restaurant offers gluten-free options, but those with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance should inquire about preparation practices.
Is This A Date-Night Restaurant? Family Friendly? A Hangout Place?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Seagers & Son makes a terrific date night: there is fancy food, but also fun, comfort eats in a cool, yet relaxing setting. The retro stylings make it a fun night out.
But, if you want to take the kids, the place is definitely family-friendly. Or, if you're looking for a new place to become a regular, Seagers & Sons is more than happy to become your regular go-to spot.
All the details throughout the restaurant, from the Hotel California-inspired Chateau Marmont wallpaper in the restroom to the retro fonts, give Seager & Sons cool cred. But as important as vibe is, you can’t eat cool. The food, the drinks and the service are what will keep us coming back.
Hours And Location
Seager & Sons is located at The Boardwalk at Granite Park. As of writing, the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m., Monday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, it's open until midnight, but closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday.
We thank Seager & Sons for hosting and treating us.
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