Restaurants have been sprouting in Dallas even faster than usual, fueled by burgeoning development, lively entrepreneurship and residents' passion for new scenes and fresh cuisine. Here are five of the newest eateries in town.

Villa-O: Longtime restaurateur Robert Colombo (Cru, Ferré, Victory Tavern) has a hit with an Italian menu of almost entirely organic ingredients and a cherrywood, cream and indigo decor inspired by luxe sailing yachts.

The Mansion Restaurant at The Mansion at Turtle Creek: A sleek contemporary interior and innovative fusion menu (vanilla-impaled foie gras, anyone?) have rejuvenated dining at the venerable Mansion hotel, a longtime favorite of visiting celebrities.

Cubanita: This casual Havana-inspired eatery with its colorful front porch, fresh-squeezed mango mojitos and crisp yucca fries is a popular hangout from breakfast to the wee hour of 3 a.m. on weekends. Credit goes to impresario Alberto Lombardi, who also created popular neighboring restaurants Toulouse, Taverna and Sangria.

Charlie Palmer at the Joule: Downtown's long-awaited Joule hotel has yet to open, but celebrated New York chef Charlie Palmer is already serving his artful "progressive American" cuisine — a diverse menu with French, Italian, Asian and Moroccan influences. Adam D. Tihany, who designed Le Cirque and other upscale restaurants, fashioned its elegant earth-toned environment.

La Condesa Comida y Tequila: The newest restaurant at Victory Park is a young, casual and stylish affair specializing in authentic Mexican cuisine — not Tex-Mex — with an array of tequilas and exotic cocktails to boot. Hours are billed as "Every day from 11 a.m. until late."