Chef Joel Harloff recently took charge of the menu at Coconut Island Bar & Grill on the island causeway between Gun Barrel City and Seven points.
Harloff previously served as head chef at elite restaurants in Dallas, including Mi Paci, Landmark at the Melrose Hotel, Battuto, Ocho Kitchen, Dali Wine Bar and Cellar, the Green Room and the Second Floor Bistro and Bar Floor.
The Dallas entertainment media chronicled Harloff's career in Dallas. He cooked professionally in Milwaukee before moving to Dallas. He studied at the Culinary Institute of Ameica before managing the kitchens of several high-rated restaurants in Wisconsin.
He spent a decade in Dallas before coming to Cedar Creek Lake.
Coconut announced Harloff would be planning special events for the rest of the year that will include tapas and wine night, sushi, wine dinner, steak nights, BBQ, New Year's dinner and weekend brunch.
Home cooking aleady in place include spaghetti and meatballs, gumbo, buttermilk fried chicken.
Coconut hosts a happy hour Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring half-price tap beer and appetizers.
Live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights.
Coconut is the only public bistro operating on the waterfront at Cedar Creek Lake. It opened in May after a massive renovation inside and outdoors at the old Bejing Gardens Restaurant building.
Visitors to the restaurant and nightclub can arrive by boat or car.
