Southlake wine bar is a glass act

Southlake might become Winelake.

The Wine Loft, an upscale "scene" wine bar with a menu of soups and salads, has opened. It's on the east edge of Southlake Town Square.

The Wine Loft is a Louisiana-based chain, so it serves New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp and corn-shrimp bisque on a short menu.

But the most interesting offering might be the 75 wines by the glass.

It's at 1512 E. Southlake Blvd., 800-306-8680.

The Chicken Ranch is open in the Stockyards.

And it's not what you think.

It's a new Southwestern grill featuring Oklahoma-style sweet fried chicken. It also serves Kobe burgers, rib-eyes and family fun.

The Chicken Ranch is at 301 W. Exchange Ave., up the hill where there's more parking. It's open Mondays through Saturdays for lunch and dinner; 817-378-0818, find it at fortworthstockyards.org.

Speaking of chicken, Babe's Chicken Dinner House is still coming to Arlington. But not until 2010.

Owner Paul Vinyard says the Arlington Babe's will open after a Cedar Hill location.

A cousin restaurant, Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes in Decatur, has added catfish and chicken fingers. It's meant as a Babe's-like steakhouse, but the menu is growing.

Sweetie Pie's is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner; 112 W. Walnut St., 940-626-4555, www.decaturmainstreet.com/ribeyes.html.

Also open in Cedar Hill: a new Matt's Rancho Martinez, a spinoff from the location in Dallas and the family's better-known Matt's El Rancho in Austin.

The new Matt's -- closest yet to Tarrant County -- is at 305 W. Farm Road 1382 in Uptown Village Center, near U.S. 67. It's open seven days a week for lunch and dinner; 469-523-0450, www.thetexmexchef.com.

After delays, The Vault will open next week for dinner.

It's a Mediterranean restaurant from owner Jean-Michel Sakouhi and former Kalamatas chef Gabe Ochoa.

A martini bar called V Lounge will be added; Fourth and Taylor streets, 817-348-9828.