Good, Clean Fun
HG Sply Co. Opens Its Biggest Location Yet In Trophy Club.
It’s hard to miss the sleek eatery that recently opened on Highway 114. With an exterior mural, bright red details and modern architectural elements, HG Sply. Co.’s new 25,000-square-foot location in Trophy Club beckons those interested in trying something out of their comfort zone.
After walking into the spacious covered patio, guests will automatically feel this dining destination is different from anything else in the area. That’s because HG Sply Co. doesn’t see other restaurants as competition. Rather, it measures itself against what locals expect when diving into a home-cooked meal.
“[HG Sply Co.’s founder] Elias Pope would be the first one to tell you, we don’t compete against other restaurants,” Trophy Club general manager Stephen Arrant explains. “We compete against your kitchen, your home.”
HG Sply Co. focuses on clean dishes that are built to accommodate all its customers’ tastes and dietary restrictions. A majority of the menu, which includes everything from soups and salads to tacos and bowls, can be made dairy and gluten free, providing the same flexibility you have when crafting a meal at home.
“You could go to HG, receive that same result, and you don’t have to cook and you don’t have to clean. That’s the difference,” Stephen says.
The Trophy Club HG is unique as it blends the restaurant’s typical offerings with the company’s sister concept: HERO, a modern sports bar that opened in Dallas in May. The menu will sport an indulge selection for items that include butter, sugar or dairy in the foundation of their recipes.
“It doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily not good for you,” Stephen shares. “It just means I cannot remove that product.”
But part of the greatness of HG’s menu is that often those elements aren’t necessary to create bold, unique dishes. HG Chips & Queso, a spicy vegan dip topped with guacamole, green onion, salsa and cilantro that’s served with crispy corn tortilla chips, doesn’t contain a drop of dairy. And thanks to its creamy base and vivid flavors, guests won’t miss it.
“People fight me on the fact that it is vegan,” Stephen says. “They do not believe us. We make it with a cashew and coconut milk base, so when you cook it down it makes a natural rue. That first scoop tells you all you need to know.”
HG offers an array of American classics including Frito pie, burgers and pasta, but by using cleaner ingredients, each of these traditional plates comes out with a fresh twist. Guests may not typically order spiralized zucchini in place of noodles, but when paired with garlic, tomato, Eggland’s Best eggs, chard, caramelized onion, pickled sweet peppers and green olives, these zoodles, as they are called, are anything but bland.
For those who enjoy building their own entrees with substitutions and ingredient alterations, HG’s signature hunted and gathered bowls put the power in diners’ hands. After selecting a hunted protein — like grilled chicken breast, jalapeno bratwurst and lamb meatballs — guests can choose different gathered bases and toppings to make their own customized creation. With gathered options like smoked almond romesco, honey-garlic Brussels sprouts and chile-braised black beans, each of these clean items elevates the dish’s flavor profile.
If that amount of choice leaves you anxious, rest assured HG’s trained staff stand ready with recommendations. It’s easy to choose something on the menu that fits your typical taste, but HG wants to encourage its diners to get out of their comfort zone and try dishes that expand their palate.
“I coach my staff from day one: you cannot be an order taker and work for me,” Stephen shares. “You’ve got to get me out of my comfort zone.”
This is HG’s third location in the Metroplex, and Stephen says that it’s at least three times the size as their Dallas flagship restaurant. On top of an exceptional menu, fresh drinks and an awesome ambiance, HG also has arcade-style games, giant lawn games and plenty of TVs for those looking to catch the game. Overall, the space is a huge get for this side of the Metroplex, and it’s safe to say HG is soon to become a leader in the local dining community.
Emilee Prado