At the risk of stirring up bitter memories of the last time the Observer wrote about a chain restaurant serving Mexican-inspired food (for the record, the editor of the Observer is a regular at El Fenix), allow us to tell you about La Nueva de Zacetecas. It’s a chain of…
If you can’t get enough of the aesthetics of the Statler, you now have another excuse to stand in that beautiful elevator lobby. Waterproof, a casual lounge with cocktails, is open, offering a nice view of downtown from the 19th floor. On the inside, tiny lights cover the dark ceiling, creating a…
We’re starting to realize that half the reason people love beach vacations is that they finally can (without being judged harshly) order frozen daiquiris. There’s just something that feels right with one beside a pool or on a cruise or, frankly, when you’re in any other city. Alice, one of…
The plain exterior of the family-owned Candelaria’s Bakery on Gus Thomasson Road in Mesquite doesn’t let on to the magic that happens inside. Even walking into the shop, nestled between an elementary school and an event center, all you’ll find is a modest glass case on the right filled with a handful of sweet…
Make like Oda Nobunaga and head to Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar for an evening of cocktails and samurai education. After you grab a cocktail from the bar, head upstairs for an after-hours tour of The Samurai Collection of Japanese armor. The cost to attend is $10. What it be:…
The bunny is coming! Jesus is risen! Find the eggs! Easter can be so confusing. What isn’t in question: It’s time to hurry and plan that obligatory spring family meal that probably also incorporates copious amounts of ham because it’s not a Passover seder. Whether one celebrates Jesus’ rising or…
Jimmy Niwa turns the knob, and the grill in the center of the table roars to life. Fire licks below the iron grate. A steaming bowl is walked to the table, and Niwa lights up. Buta kakuni, a stew of pork belly that’s been tenderized in rich, sweet-salty soy ginger,…
Urban Alchemy Coffee + Wine Bar is a recent addition to downtown Arlington. It opened in February behind Shipley Do-Nuts, near the University of Texas at Arlington campus. Owner Tony Rutigliano ran the Downtown Arlington Management Corp. for six years, and his work there led him to open Urban Alchemy…
If a restaurant is full, that probably means everyone likes it. If the place is empty, that probably means nobody likes it. This was the basic test my family followed when I was a kid and we went on road trips. Since the internet was not overflowing with opinionated amateur…
As fans of bourbon and barbecue, we like the premise of Barrel & Bones, the new smokehouse and cocktail spot in The Colony. We first spied the restaurant last year when we were checking out The Shacks at Austin Ranch across the street. The food and drink photography on B&B’s…
Host a straw poll that asks what go-to spot Dallas chefs hit for cheeseburgers in the area, and you are likely to hear Off-Site Kitchen as a quick response. At least a handful of chefs in the past year have conveyed this choice in interviews. It makes sense from the standpoint…
For those who just can’t get enough Peeps or Easter spirit, there’s a beer for you. And maybe for others, if you like sweet marshmallows and glitter in your drinks. The Collective Brewing Project is partnering with Taps and Caps, and they’re promising this brew will be more than just…
Nearly 2,000 people made it out in one of the first warmer days of the year for Between the Buns, a Dallas Observer event that had attendees tasting and voting for their favorite sliders from local restaurants. Chef John Tesar was on the griddle for Knife’s pimento cheese burgers, and…
Dallas, feast your eyes and quench your thirst with these six offbeat pairing offerings and flights—from mini martinis to full-on meat meals with beers to wash it down.
A federal judge has called two key laws regulating liquor sales in Texas arbitrary and irrational. One possible result of his ruling? A string of standalone Walmart liquor stores across the state and maybe even package stores from other publicly held chains like Kroger and Target. U.S. District Judge Robert…
Before Anita and Octavio Avila opened their restaurant, there was the bungalow at 4714 Maple Ave. The front of the house was devoted to Anita’s beauty shop, which she ran until 1982. On Sunday mornings, three blocks away from the storefront, granddaughter Katherine Avila and the rest of the family…
With developments like Legacy West in Plano and The Star in Frisco, there’s a lot happening north of Dallas proper these days. If you’re looking to try someplace new north of the Wall (aka Interstate 635), here are a few restaurants to check out. Union Bear Brewing 5880 State Highway…
In this week’s food news round-up, we see a lot more coming to the Dallas suburbs: Plano has a new brewery and restaurant: Union Bear Brewing at The Boardwalk in Granite Park (5880 State Highway 121), owned by {33} Restaurant Group, which also owns Cadillac Pizza Pub in McKinney, Taverna…
It was, unequivocally, one of the best parts of childhood: waking up early while the house was still quiet and pouring a massive bowl of sugary cereal while watching Saturday morning cartoons. Maybe it was the epic cartoons (whatever happened to Captain Planet?) or maybe it was just the sugar,…
Through the end of March, The Standard Pour’s monthly feature, the Fire Dancer, is a drink with a bit of a show for just $10.
There’s a never-ending breeze at the Cold Beer Co. It rolls in through the open bar, lifting menus out of their holders and skating potato chips around on their metal trays. The bar feels open and doorless, like any Dallasite could saunter in the dining room from any point in…
“Did you hate this?” the server asked, picking up the glass containing an alleged bloody mary. It’s not exactly the ringing endorsement you’d like to hear from restaurant staff. You’d think when a place opens for Sunday brunch, it would have a bloody mary on the menu. You wouldn’t expect…
