Desert Racer opened in December 2019, featuring Off-Site Kitchen’s famous burger and Tex-Mex dishes. Despite a COVID shutdown, it reopened in May 2020, only to close permanently amidst changing restaurant trends, according to a Microsoft Start article. As per the report,

“Desert Racer opened in December 2019, just before Badovinus closed Off-Site Kitchen at Trinity Groves and moved its famous burger to Desert Racer’s menu along with an array of Tex-Mex dishes and margaritas. It lasted two months before COVID shut it down, only to return, along with all of his other restaurants, in May 2020. The space was positioned to be an excellent option during the height of the COVID pandemic, with a massive 8,000-square-foot patio. “Whatever comes out for the restaurant business on the back side of it is going to be completely different from what it was before,” Badovinus told D magazine. And that was true; his more expensive restaurants appear to be flourishing and most of his fast casual spots, from pizza to burgers to Tex-Mex patios, have vanished.

Desert Racer, part of Nick Badovinus’ portfolio, closed after a short-lived run in late 2019. The company confirmed the closure without providing specific reasons, according to a Dallas Morning News article. In it they say,

“The restaurant had been selling burgers, loaded tater tots and margaritas since late 2019. It was one of the more casual concepts in Dallas restaurateur Nick Badovinus’ portfolio, which also includes glitzy steakhouse Town Hearth, prime rib den Brass Ram, seafood spot Montlake Cut and American haunt Neighborhood Services.

“Well, it’s been a great run, but we have reached the finish line,” the Desert Racer website states. The company confirmed the closure with The Dallas Morning News. A rep didn’t give an explicit reason and said it was time to move on.”

Desert Racer employees were offered positions at Surf Camp, Badovinus’ downtown Dallas restaurant, which reopens March 27 for the spring season, aiming to attract former Desert Racer patrons.