Photography by Kathy Tran
Photography by Kathy Tran
Photography by Kathy Tran
Photography by Kathy Tran
Photography by Kathy Tran
Photography by Kathy Tran
After years of uncertainty, a restaurant opened in the historic Mayor’s House on Zang at the end of 2023.
A restaurant was rumored to be opening in the building since early 2017. The Mayor’s House by Selda, a spinoff of Selda Mediterranean on Belt Line Road, has been open for business for just over a year now.
The building is the former home of 1935-1937 Dallas Mayor George Sergeant. Believed to be built in 1910, it received a parking variance in 2017 that allowed property owner Jim Lake to renovate it for restaurant use.
Sergeant is said to have served lemonade on the home’s front porch to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when they were in town for the Texas Centennial.
In 2019, it was announced that Chef Graham Dodds would spearhead the restaurant opening, but he left the project later that year due to construction delays and timing conflicts.
The Mayor’s House by Selda has a similar menu to the flagship location with Turkish-style Mediterranean cuisine, a pizza oven and a hookah lounge.
“We were thinking about opening a second location, most likely in the Far North Dallas area, but I was going to come and see my friend here in Bishop Arts. I was just passing by, and I saw the sign that this is for lease,” Tezkol says. “I’m from Turkey, so when you go there all these places are very historical. So we have this kind of concept in Turkey, like having an old house and turning it into a restaurant.”
When he was passing by the building, Tezkol had the vision to do the same concept here in Dallas. He called the landlord and set up a meeting.
“We just want to bring that Turkish culture, Turkish welcoming, because I don’t believe that we have that much Turkish culture in the North Texas area, unfortunately,” Tezkol says. “Even people who work here have the Turkish accent, they know what we have and what we serve.”
The structure has high ceilings, wide doorways and a centerpiece staircase. You can step from room to room, through the wide-open frames, and from upstairs, you can look out the windows and see the full Downtown Dallas skyline.
“To be honest with you, I had some doubt when opening this location because of the location,” Tezkol says. “I assumed that people around this area don’t know as much about Turkish food as those who live in Far North Dallas, or even the East Coast. I thought it was going to be challenging, but from day one, we started very well.”
Tezkol says he believes the historical appeal of the building has helped draw in customers. It helps that the building has a large outdoor seating area complete with decor and string lights. Friendly service and the food also keeps customers coming back, Tezkol says.
“When you go to Turkey or Europe, you have this atmosphere where you can sit outside and have a coffee or cocktail,” Tezkol says. “People love to come and just relax outside. From 5-9 p.m., it’s more like a restaurant, and after 9 o’clock, it becomes more like a lounge.”
The kitchen is open until midnight, and the menu features traditional Turkish food. Turkish pizza, which has a very thin crust and ground beef, is a best seller. The signature adana kebab is also popular and has hand-chopped lamb with red pepper.
Since opening, Tezkol has received plenty of positive feedback, and the restaurant made it on Yelp’s List of Top 100 Places to Eat 2025.
Tezkol is planning to expand to another location in Frisco as well as open a Turkish bakery in Richardson.
“We really want to spread the Turkish culture and make it welcoming to people who live around us,” Tezkol says.
The Mayor’s House by Selda. 635 N. Zang Blvd., 214.940.9137, themayorshousebyselda.com
