A popular West Dallas cocktail lounge is back in business: Jettison, the intimate bar located at 1878 Sylvan Ave. in the Sylvan Thirty complex, has come back to life with a new more open vibe.
The bar closed in October 2024, at the time offering little information other than “after 8 years we’ve done a ton. But alas — it’s time for a rest.”
Now they’ve reopened with a new bar team, a no-reservations policy, and a new summer series of chef pop-up dinners.
Jettison was founded by Sean Henry in 2016, as a cocktail offshoot of Houndstooth, the coffee chain Henry also owns, which opened a location at Sylvan Thirty; the two businesses are connected by a hallway.
The bar became best known as a platform for mixologist George Kaiho, who developed a following for his innovative drinks. Over the years, Kaiho also juggled many side ventures including Ka-Tip Thai Street Food at the Dallas Farmers Market, and Ookuma Burger, a temporary concept serving Japanese style burgers he opened in 2024.
Henry says the closure was a “winter hiatus,” and for its resuscitation has appointed veteran Dallas bartender Jonathan Maslyk (Swizzle, Industry Alley Bar) to lead a bar program with drinks such as the Concrete Jungle with Balcones TX Rye, Black Sesame Paste, Benedictine, orgeat, and egg white, plus a bigger selection of low ABV options and mocktails.
Atmosphere-wise, they’ve added a hi-fi stereo which they describe as being “in the style of a jazz kissa,” inspired by Japanese jazz listening cafes with a strong emphasis on music. Patrons are advised to enjoy their beverage and the music simultaneously.
One plus: Reservations are no longer required.
Another plus: They’ve added a daily happy hour from 5-6 pm with discounted drinks, and themed nights Tuesday through Thursday such as “vinyl and sherry night” or “tropical drinks and music.”
Last but not least, they’ve introduced a summer supper club with the first dinner on August 7, starring Meridian chefs Eduardo Osorio and Rogelio Chavez, alongside Elephant East chef Oscar Gonzales, who will prepare a 5-course “taste of summer” dinner, plus appetizer and dessert, paired with 3-4 drinks drinks crafted by the Jettison bar team.
Dishes include a crab tater tot, tomato jam with whipped mozzarella and caviar, lamb belly, sturgeon with saffron aji puree, 90-day aged strip steak, bucatini carbonara with guanciale & sous-vide egg yolk, and citrus pavlova. There are two seatings, at 5 and 8 pm, and tickets are $165.
“At Jettison, we aim to be a cozy, classy neighborhood spot,” Henry says. “We invite folks to relax, breathe easy and leave whatever ails you at the door.”
