Food and Cooking

Ascension's Fix: One Man's Obsession Gives Dallas a Whole New Addiction

Restaurant Ava in Rockwall Has Closed

Earlier this week, Scott Reitz reported on the very untimely passing of chef and restaurateur Randall Copeland. Last night, Teresa Gubbins at Culture Map reported that after one last dinner service for friends and family to commemorate Copeland's passing, Restaurant Ava has permanently closed. Co ... More >>

An Open Letter to Mot Hai Ba: The Upcoming East Dallas Vietnamese Restaurant

Dear Mot Hai Ba: You better bring it. There is a massive hole in Dallas' dining scene that you could exploit, and I know if you do this city will be all the better for it. The announcement of your coming existence in a Culture Map blog post was a welcome one, and your creators, Jeana Johnson and Co ... More >>

Shock Top Sent Me $100 Worth of Swag and Two Awful Beers. That Sums Them Up Perfectly.

Yesterday I received a box full of suburban "camping" gear and a couple of sample beers from Shock Top, a package that stands as the perfect symbol of Anheuser-Busch InBev's utter contempt for and cluelessness about the culture of craft beer. Packed inside a shock-resistant SwissGear Synergy laptop ... More >>

Freedom Through Food Event to Be Held at Garden Cafe

Two weeks ago we told you about a guerrilla gardener and his request that we all go out and plant some shit. This week it only seems proper that we point out an event at the Garden Cafe that can help you get started. See also: - The City of Ate Chef Interview: 24-Year-Old Garden Cafe Chef Mark Woo ... More >>

Ten Bells' Black Pudding Is Bloody Delicious

I'm quite certain that an expat straight from England would scoff at this entire blog post, but it needs to be said. Ten Bells has a damn fine full breakfast on its weekend brunch menu. Let's clear up a few things quickly for the sake of discussion. Yes, the tomatoes actually look like real tomatoe ... More >>

Wine Poste Open in Design District for a Unique Wine Experience in Dallas

A new wine venue unlike any other in Dallas, Wine Poste (2001 Irving Blvd., Ste. 145), has opened in the burgeoning Design District. James Jordan, a local wine industry veteran of 30 years, and Matthew Thompson, a certified sommelier and wine writer, are leading the charge in this new concept that s ... More >>

Snuffer's to Rebuild Iconic Greenville Location

The original Snuffer's location at 3526 Greenville Ave. is going away soon. But, not to worry your little cheddar fries-laced arteries. The old spot is coming down so a new spot can go up. Late Sunday night Snuffer's announced via their Facebook page plans to rebuild: "In March 1978 we were buildi ... More >>

Victoria's Mexican Grill Opens, Lemon Bar Closes and More Restaurant Happenings

Another month has come and gone and with it a handful of restaurants have opened and closed. Read on for the full list of restaurants happenings in March, and be sure to share tips about new and/or dead restaurants in the comments section below or at dish@dallasobserver.com. Openings: Victoria's M ... More >>

20 Feet's Midas Touch

A new East Dallas seafood joint uses beer batter like a fabled king.

Texas Rangers Invested in a Plethora of Glorious Gut Bombs This Off Season. Our Top Ten.

The Texas Rangers have been busy this off-season. No, not building a better bullpen. Who cares about that? Instead, they've been building amazing plates of glorious food. While trying to orchestrate the feeding of an estimated 25,000 hot dogs to baseball fans next Friday at Opening Day, Casey Rapp ... More >>

State Senate Passes Craft Brewing Bills That Would Allow Expanded Sales

Earlier this week, the Texas Senate approved a family of bills dear to the heart of Texas craft brewers. The legislation lets brewpubs sell a limited amount of beer through distributors, while craft breweries will get to sell their products to consumers on-site. See also: - Public Hearing Set for C ... More >>

Victoria's Mexican Grill in Oak Cliff Now Open

Victoria's Mexican Grill at 607 Willomet Ave. just off of Davis Street in Oak Cliff has finally opened. Last summer owner Jorge Flores started refurbishing this two-story house and has since transformed it into a quaint spot with two huge patios. I spoke with the manager today, Maria Perez, who sa ... More >>

Brian Zenner of Belly & Trumpet on Dinner in Thailand, Bruno Davaillon, Chef-Driven Dining and the Best Time for Cheap Tacos

Chef Brian Zenner of Belly & Trumpet in Uptown has been around a bit. Born in Bangkok, his family moved to Dubai and London before finally settling in Texas. And while on paper his culinary career started at the Texas Culinary Academy, one might say the cooking wheels started churning on a dock in T ... More >>

The Social House on Routh Is Now Open

The Social House (2708 Routh S.) has opened a second restaurant in the old Arcodoro-Pomodoro space in Uptown. The Social House got its start in the West Village about four years ago, then in 2011 moved north to Addison into much bigger digs and tweaked their concept and focused more on a from-scratc ... More >>

Dallas' Eight Best Pizza Places

As I sit at my desk a sudden craving for pizza has overcome me. This instantly reminded me that it's been sometime since we've updated our list for Best Pizza in Dallas, here on City of Ate. Things have changed a touch since we last updated that list. Even though it's still a little short, there's a ... More >>

The Lemmon Bar on Henderson is Now Closed; Mico Rodriguez Takes Over

Some spaces are just more temperamental than others. We've debated many of the qualms attached to certain parcels of real estate here and there, especially the fickle area known as Knox-Henderson. While some restaurants come and go quickly, others live long and prosper. After Alma closed in late 2 ... More >>

Joyce and Gigi's Warm Up East Dallas

A new restaurant charms with South American flavors

Looking for My Long Lost Salteñas

While dining at Joyce and Gigi's it's impossible not to notice the South American influences on the menu. There are empanadas, fried yucca, churrasco and other dishes from all over the continent. One thing that is missing though, especially considering Gigliola Aguilera hails from Bolivia, is salteà ... More >>

Ji Kang of Samar on What He Learned After Restaurant Ownership and Eating Live Octopus

The first thing you probably should know about chef Ji Kang is that once he ate squiggling octopus tentacles in Korea. That's hard-core dedication to local cuisine, even though he swears he'll never try it again. Kang, who is the executive chef at Samar, began his culinary career before he even kn ... More >>

Redneck Sushi -- A Guide to Triple-Fusion

Now, let's say you want to combine the heavy, meat-based joys of barbecue with the relatively light, raw fish-based delights of sushi. You're clearly having a boring day. Nothing's gone right for you so far. You tried combining Vietnamese and Mexican food. That fell down at the pho burrito. Korean a ... More >>

Craft Brewers Say People Really Like Craft Brews. Especially Canadian People.

Beer-drinkers across the globe are growing ever more thirsty for American craft brews, and more craft breweries are opening as a result, according to two not-remotely-unbiased reports from a craft-brew trade group. On Monday, the Brewers Association, which represents small and independent crafter b ... More >>

Hail, Seitan!! And The Best "Made-To-Order" Mac & Cheese This Side of the Pearly Gates

For the better part of the past five years, chef Rosanne DiLeo worked the kitchen at The Libertine Bar on Lower Greenville. As she heard regular customers beginning to ask for more vegan dishes, DiLeo says she decided to incorporate more options on the menu and in the kitchen. And, for the past few ... More >>

Hitting the Streets of Bombay for Spring Break -- Well, Actually, Just Hitting the Food Truck

I tracked down the Bombay Street Food food truck yesterday. It's as close as I'll get to any type of interesting travel or cultural experiences this spring break. Not that Port Aransas in the early 1990's was a hotbed of cultural experiences, but you know, we play the hand we're dealt. I was exci ... More >>

This St. Patrick's Day, Eat Some Traditional Irish Food

You want to appear the most Irish out of all your friends, right? That's kind of the point. St Patrick's Day is a "who can tenuously claim the most Irish heritage" festival. Well, my friend, have I got the solution for you. Here is some entirely true traditional Irish food. To be honest I wish I had ... More >>

Interview with Peter and Cheryl Kenny of The Dubliner, Capitol Pub and The Gin Mill

There's something a bit charming about the Irish. Maybe it has to do with the rich, sometimes mystical, elements of their culture. Like leprechauns, a penchant for being a tad hotheaded, folk songs that can bring everyone in a bar to tears, and Jameson, of course. See also: - Your Ten Point Plan ... More >>

Craft Beer Bills On Their Way to Senate Floor, The Good and The Bad

Craft brewers had one week to reach a compromise with the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas (WBDT) regarding five pieces of legislation recently introduced through Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. Senate bills 515, 516, 517 and 518 were a set of bills carefully crafted after a year of w ... More >>

Whole Foods Announces GMO Labeling and Transparency Goal

Austin-based Whole Foods Market has announced that by 2018 all products in U.S. stores must be labeled to indicate if they contain any genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This move by the natural and organic foods retailer marks the biggest step in a growing movement led by consumers and various ... More >>

Oak Owners Plan Pakpao: A Thai Spot For The Design District

If there's one thing Dallas loves more than a popular restaurant, it's a second restaurant by the same owner. Side Dish has a short blog post about Richard and Tiffanee Ellman. The owners of the popular Design District restaurant Oak are bringing us another concept early this summer. Pakpao promis ... More >>

Village Marquee Texas Grill & Bar Has a New Chef and a New Menu

Back in January Tre Wilcox, the Top Chef star who cooked at the Village Marquee, announced his departure from the restaurant. Wilcox stayed on till the end of the month in an attempt to ease the transition during which sous chef Oliver Sitrin bolted to join the Blind Butcher team. Meanwhile, Andre ... More >>

Boca Chica Tapas & Tequila Opens at Park Lane

Boca Chica Tapas & Tequila recently opened above the old Bailey's Prime Plus space at the Shops at Park Lane. Designed by the always-swank Plan B Group, this spot specializes in stiff drinks and modern (yet, sometimes ancient) Mexican fare. This little mouth is the latest footprint from Restaurant ... More >>

If You Haven't Checked Out Sakhuu, Here's The Best Reason Yet

When I reviewed Sakhuu last year, it was the service that stood out the most from my dining experiences (though those stuffed chicken wings come in at a very close second place). Kyla Phomsavanh is one of the nicest chefs I've met since reviewing restaurants in Dallas, and his personality infects th ... More >>

LUCK to Bring Craft Beer and Southern Comfort Food to Trinity Groves

With the recent boom in North Texas craft brewing, a handful of Dallas restaurants have tackled the movement by offering things like beer dinners, tap takeovers and launch parties. Well, now Dallas is about to get its first restaurant that has put craft beer first. LUCK is a craft beer inspired ki ... More >>

For at Least One Night, Garden Café Will Have Booze, but You'll Have to Bring It

My first impression of Garden Café was presented by Alice Laussade. I was reading City of Ate, preparing to be the next critic at the Observer, and came across her short story about enjoying a sandwich out on the back patio. It ended in a dual mockingbird chair shit. I've loved Alice ever since. A ... More >>

Six New Brunch Spots For Your Weekend Recovery

Dallas certainly knows it's way around a brunch. What use to be an occasion-driven affair, has taken on the role of a more casual, sobering three-hour revival. With Dallas' always-expanding restaurant population, here are some new spots you should consider. Jack's Southern Comfort Food There's one ... More >>

The LOT Opens, J. Pepe's Tex Mex Closes and More Restaurant Happenings from February

Another busy month has come and gone and with it a handful of restaurants have opened and closed. Read on for the full list of restaurants happenings in February, and be sure to share tips about new and/or dead restaurants in the comments section below or at dish@dallasobserver.com. Openings: The ... More >>

Outpost in Oak Cliff is Great, But Not Great Enough to Draw Travelers

Reviewing the restaurant that replaced Campo.

The Corner Bar on McKinney Avenue Has New Owners and a Brand New Menu

The Corner Bar is making its attempt to be a gustatory den of the highest order. Skim the menu and you'll see all the buzzwords you expect to see associated with Dallas' fine-dining restaurants. Tom Spicer's greens make multiple appearances, and there are hot dogs from Luscher's Red Hots. The Quer ... More >>

Outpost American Tavern Gives Oak Cliff a Worthy New Bar

Without a doubt, John Paul Valverde and his partner Miguel Vicéns have a knack for design. They opened The Bowery last year, and when things didn't work out they spun the place anew, opening Belly and Trumpet shortly after and completely changing the dining room, menu and concept. See also: - Outp ... More >>

50 Percent of Seafood Sold in Texas Mislabeled, New Oceana Study Reports

Oh, Dallas. Something is fishy at our sushi restaurants. Katharine Shilcutt at the Houston Press has been digging through a new Oceana Study, and it doesn't say very nice things about the sushi we're eating. That snapper you covet, sumptuously draped over carefully seasoned and packed rice, may ve ... More >>

The Mediterranean Diet Is Hip (Again): Here are Five Places to Find Your Tabbouleh

The Mediterranean diet was bolstered by a study recently released by the New England Journal of Medicine. The report concludes not only that a diet based on olive oil, nuts and fish can prevent cardiovascular disease but that it's more effective than the previously recommended low-fat diet. See als ... More >>

Dallas Senator John Carona Files Bill that Would Close a Tap for Craft Brewers

Recently we wrote about four bills Republican state Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler introduced that would open new revenue opportunities for craft breweries around the state. As the law stands now, Texas requires a clear separation between those who make, distribute and retail beer in Texas. None of t ... More >>

Barbecue, Butchery and Corn: This Week In Dallas Dining

As yet another week draws to a close, it's time to start thinking about your food-related weekend plans. Looks like we might have some nice grilling weather in our future, but before you scrub the rust off your grill grates, we have a week to wrap up. This week I reviewed Spoon Bar & Kitchen, the f ... More >>

Style By the Spoonful

John Tesar's newest project is potentially a North Dallas pearl

Ten Bells Tavern Hosts Rescue Me Fundraiser Friday Late Night Ramen on Saturday

Last night when Ten Bells Tavern posted about late night ramen this coming Saturday night, I actually had to clarify exactly what they meant. "Like, real ramen?" Yes, real ramen. See also: - Ten Best Bars Serving the Best Bar Food This could be perfect. Great perhaps. Ten Bells Tavern is alrea ... More >>

Dallas Does Cream Tea? Bad Mistake, Dallas.

Cream Tea. It's very important to British people. That's why I capitalized each of the two delightful words that make it up. It's also extremely straightforward. Upon possession of English Breakfast Tea (which we just call "tea") and acquisition of a scone (I'm not sure what level I need to be descr ... More >>

How to Talk to Strangers

She worked the room with a certain kind of magic. A blonde, tiny slip of a thing, she walked from table to table greeting each guest. Sometimes offering a small token, sometimes complimenting a patron, and generally just being effusively charming. I knew she didn't own the place because she couldn't ... More >>

Rosemont, Tracy Miller's Breakfast and Lunch Joint in Deep Ellum, is Closed

Rosemont, restauranteur Tracy Miller's ode to casual but elegant breakfast and lunch, appears to have closed. A source tells City of Ate that the staff was informed yesterday that the restaurant would cease operations immediately. Miller couldn't be reached for comment this morning, but the restau ... More >>

Since When Did Great Food Have A Curfew?

It started off as a simple idea. Go to a restaurant after 10 p.m. or so, order some food, consume it, and if it's good publish a Late Night Eats post about the place. The first three were actually just that simple. Then it got hard to find additional places. Really hard. See also: - Late-Night Eats ... More >>

The Lot: Sharon Hage Tackles Papadum!

Just when you think there can't possibly be another Sharon Hage designed restaurant, the former York Street chef cranks out another. The next goes by the name The Lot and will open February 25 on a two-acre lot where Gaston Avenue and East Grand Avenue meet up with Garland Road. This time Hage is c ... More >>