Budget Bites: A Good Lunch Deal (for Raw Fish) Is at O Sushi

Our Budget Bites feature normally has a limit of around $10, but I applied for and received an exemption to write about slightly more expensive sushi. My grandmother is fond of saying “never buy the cheapest weenies.” If you don’t want to pay $16 for a complete lunch, sushi isn’t…

You Have to Try These Duck Fat-Chocolate Cookies in Deep Ellum

When Deep Ellum’s Will Call relocated down Main Street to the former Independent Bar and Kitchen spot, they ended up with a new space and a new chef. Josh Farrell (you may know him from Nameless Chefs) has taken over the kitchen here, where he’s already impressing some with nearly…

Goodness Abounds at Good Union Urban BBQ

You’d be forgiven for thinking of fall as that long-awaited party guest who shows up late then leaves early. The start of October still had temps in the high 90s, and Halloween week brought rain and some unseasonably cool weather with it. So when the clouds give way to sun…

Halloween Candy Ranked by Your Dallas Observer Editorial Staff

Happy Halloween, Dallas. As you might be nailing down your costume, or reusing whatever you wore to last weekend’s Halloween party, some of us are throwing candy in bowls. Now, sometimes people get fancy — they may have the super-large candy bars or have some specialty chocolate. But mostly, were we…

Pan de Muerto: What It Is and Where to Get It

Día de Los Muertos starts Thursday, Oct. 31, and lasts for two days, which means it’s a great time to learn a little about a traditional food behind this annual tradition. For a little background, the origins of Día de los Muertos are rooted in the Aztec empire, with a…

Our Favorite Brunches in Dallas Right Now

Dallas has a heck-ton of restaurants, and it seems nearly all of them have people wanting to serve brunch. And that’s fine: It means shorter lines and more options. It also means a lot of crappy ones exist. When we want a place that’s worth our time and money, it’s…

The Texas Veggie Fair Is Back for Its 10th Year

Some of us remember when it was new, and man, it’s hard to believe the Texas Veggie Fair marks its 10th year in Dallas. But here we are, and here it will be this weekend. It was previously in one of our prettiest parks, Reverchon, but they’re moving east to…

This Is Why We Love Nova

When I learned Observer critic Brian Reinhart was heading to Nova for a then-upcoming review, I asked if I could crash a visit. That’s not normally something I’d do, he’s perfectly capable of eating and breaking down meals himself, plus he surely has cooler people to dine with. But he…

With an Italian Brunch, Loveria Caffe Is Worth a Drive

For many Americans, the concept of dining at specific times has dissolved away into a gradient of meals that span the entire day. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, midday snack, happy hour, dinner, after-dinner dessert, midnight snack: It’s enough to make Pippin from Lord of the Rings jealous of how many meals…

We Found an Unsuspecting Happy Hour in Legacy West

One of Legacy West’s most interesting shops is putting the “lit” in literature. Literally. While there are many Barnes & Noble locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, there’s only one Barnes & Noble Kitchen, which is far north of I-635. It’s a smaller version of the still remaining bookstore, with a full-service…

Speranza Brings Hearty Italian Food to Far North Dallas

Among all the chain restaurants in Addison comes a delightful, new family-owned Italian concept. Hidden at the edge of a small shopping center in Far North Dallas, Speranza Italian Restaurant opened in September, serving hearty Italian food from family recipes. Speranza is owned by Mario Mala, along with his two…