418 N. Bishop Ave.
Dallas, TX 75208
Category: Restaurant > Soul Food
Region: Oak Cliff & South Dallas
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4 user reviews
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When I talked to Spence, I described the scene I encountered during my first visit to Hattie's: people on their feet for longer than the trip from the valet to the door, young kids and families walking — walking! — the streets. "That is the marker of this still being a local neighborhood hangout," Spence told me. That's a central element to the appeal of the Bishop Arts District. Through all this expansion and improvement, the neighborhood never abandoned its roots.
Hattie's hasn't abandoned its heritage either. Despite its consistent success, the restaurant remains a singular entity. "We thought about putting a second location in Highland Park," Dantzler said when asked about expansion, "but didn't want to cannibalize from what we have here." Which makes sense. Why drive to them when, for almost a decade now, they've proved they're more willing to drive to you?
Hatties did not help build Bishop Arts. There were many people there that started out and helped the area to build. Hatties has a very snooty reputation. They would not donate to fundraisers and chose to be the outsider of the BAD. I have never, will never and don't spend money at this excuse of a "neighborhood" restaurant.
P>S> I live in the hood and have for 20 years.
I recently moved to Austin from Dallas for a better job. I still drive back to Dallas monthly to eat at Hattie's. Don't let Austin fool you. They have NOTHING that compares to Hattie's.
@MonicaD - great idea, except Jim Lake, Sr passed away. You could certainly talk with Jim Lake, Jr, and he'd tell you much of the same that Spence said. Spence and Lake work together closely to cultivate the amazing atmosphere that you find in Bishop Arts. And both would probably admit that the great shop and restaurant owners (both present and past) are really the ones that deserve the credit. It is their blood, sweat, tears and cash that attract the crowds.
Hattie's is absolutely amazing. The food and.service is consistantly superb. Being able to survive a decade in a city like Dallas says a lot. I agree, who wants to be a John Tesar and start over every 6 months. Keep up the great work Hattie's!!!!
FACT CHECK: It was Tillman's Corner back then and Genie's Bishop Grill served up some of the best home cooking in the city, long before Hattie's arrived on the scene.
I think you have "comfortable" & "stale" confused. Hattie's has a great mix of food, location, service, & price; would you rather they go all John Tesar and start over every 6 months or so?
A good source to speak with would have been Jim Lake, who, before David Spence, bought buildings in the Bishop Arts District in 1984, helped rezone it, and brought in Tillman's, Hattie's, Oddfellows, The Soda Gallery, etc. They still own and manage all of those buildings today and help preserve it as a pedestrian neighborhood.
I was eating at Gennie's Bishop Grill in 1971 until it closed just a few years ago (I believe they opened in 1970). Gennie's was the pioneer of what is now Bishop's Arts District. Your source is wrong when he states that El Jordan was the only place to eat, and that nobody went to Oak Cliff. The lines every day at Gennie's would prove that statement wrong. Although it was only open for lunch, the place was packed five days of week.
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