The much beloved Austin Tex-Mex taqueria, Tacodeli, has grown a loyal fan base since founder Roberto Espinosa opened the first location in 1999. This popularity lead them to eventually expanding into 5 Austin locations before deciding it was time to branch out again, spreading the taco love with sights set…
Dallas is the booziest city in America. We spend more of our income on drinking than any other city, and it’s not just our thriving craft beer and cocktail scenes that are keeping the locals happy. Local restaurants have developed deep, interesting and affordable wine lists to pair with the…
In case you missed it, Intrinsic Brewery and Smokehouse opened a week ago, and there has been much rejoicing over the newest craft brewery in downtown Garland. Our own Brent Nuss gave us the scoop on Intrinsic’s selection of suds, but the food deserves its own mention. Intrinsic’s owners Molly…
There’s a wine called “The Gambler” on offer at Patrizio, Uptown’s newest Italian restaurant. The Gambler isn’t an especially good glass of wine, but it is a good mascot for the eatery, since Patrizio’s food, drinks, service and even the bill are a roll of the dice. One moment you’re…
Less than six months after he opened the upscale Thai spot Kin Kin, chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin has reconcepted and reopened the spot as Bite by Eddy T, a “new American” restaurant with Asian influences. The “freshly bitten” decor is dark and golden in hue, with deep purple uplighting and rich…
Shopping for wine can be an intimidating experience. Since wine is predominantly available in 750ml formats and can sometimes involve a large investment, the risk is higher than purchasing other alcohol. The Observer talked to the experts at Central Market about shopping for wine, and they provided insight on how…
That’s right. We said “Doughnuts,” not “Donuts.” We could argue about this all morning, but by then all the doughnuts would be sold out. We’re not taking that risk. Admittedly, this list is completely unnecessary—ALL doughnuts are the “best,” by their very nature. Would we let that stand in…
There’s a special kind of craving that comes when you see food in a movie. When I was a kid, whenever Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister sat down to bless his big dish of golden macaroni and cheese, the color of melted sunlight, there wasn’t a burglar in the world that could stop…
Does the the lack of rare mushroom-based events really ruffle your feathers? Or should we say, truffle your feathers. Not to worry, our fungi-loving friends, for Kevin Ascolese, chef at Princi Italia, has created three Alba truffle delivery systems in the form of wood fire chanterelle flatbread, tortellini fonduta and…
A little love, a lot of generosity and an offer of free beer later, and Garland has its very own home-grown brewpub downtown. Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery had its grand opening Saturday, to the delight of craft beer fans who kicked in $30,000 through a crowd-funding campaign to help get…
Welcome to “You Like This,” in which we ask chefs two questions: 1) What’s the best-selling dish at your restaurant? and 2) What’s your favorite dish at your restaurant? We hope the answer to the first question will open your eyes to the fan favorites and the Dallas palate, and…
You can drive past Margarita’s only so many times before curiosity gets the best of you. The bright pink door beckons. Open it, and discover a tiny sweet shop that sings “celebration” from ceiling to floor. Stuffed into every corner, treasures like roasted pepitas and crystallized fruit await. Although the…
Have you noticed the giant blue B and G sculptures strategically placed around town? The ones that invite passersby to pose in the center as an “I” so they can feel like they’re part of the super-sized action? If you haven’t, you really should get outside more often. Fourteen or…
Middle Eastern grocery stores can be pretty bewildering places, with tiny aisles, bewildering organization, frantic activity levels and products described in foreign languages. Even if you know what you’re looking for, the experience can feel, well, foreign. It’s useful to visit with the help of a guide. Like, for example,…
Last call! After four-and-a-half years of motoring all over the Dallas/Fort Worth area on a Vespa, I’ve decided to pull up chocks and head to Los Angeles in search of new things to eat. I’m shipping the scooter and traveling in the relatively safe cocoon of a Honda Civic, hauling…
Pink Magnolia, Ida Clair, and Rapscallion were just the beginning. It seems Dallas is under siege by new Southern cuisine. Had legal matters not disrupted Lisa Garza-Selcer’s Shelby Hall, another Southern restaurant might now be open downtown. And Now Tre Wilcox is getting in the game. He’s been named culinary director…
Food, they say, brings the world together. And in the case of grilled cheese, that’s pretty much true. At the eastern end of the Mediterranean, in Greece, Turkey and the Middle East, they even have a cheese meant for the grill. Halloumi has a firm texture and an extremely high…
There’s something about this time of year that makes a well crafted cocktail feel like a special occasion. It’s something like a present you can buy for yourself and not feel like you’re being too selfish about things. Even better when that drink is warming, not just because of brandy…
Dallas most unlikely Vietnamese restaurant is percolating up from the murky depths of an East Dallas dive bar. For years, Cosmo’s Lounge was known for its strong drinks, copious shot consumption and pizza if you needed something to pad your stomach. But over the years, a menu of specials has…
Every restaurant has a best-seller. This is usually the dish the restaurant is “known for” according to your aunt, or the dish that a mountain of food bloggers have called “a must have!!” It’s the dish that is mentioned in the framed Best Ofs on the restaurant’s walls. The one that…
So you’re going to the NorthPark mall. Just like when you go to the airport around the holidays, you’ll need to arrive 36 to 52 hours early to get a parking space. Remember there’s parking available at your house already, so you may just want to walk. (Pro tip: Wear…
The Four Seasons’ Cafe on the Green has two events this weekend. The first, Mixology Mistletoe and Merriment, is a holiday-themed class that will teach participants how to egg a nog, put some cheer in their punch and make cocktails that smack of Santa’s tears. The second event is a…
