Paramount Pictures
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Al Biernat’s, Nick and Sam’s, Terry Black’s Barbecue – when celebrities visit Dallas, there are places you can expect them to show up. More broadly, though, the city’s expansive and diverse culinary scene can be a selling point for film and television productions wanting to shoot here. With everything from great local haunts to restaurants in the Michelin Guide, Dallas has something for every character.
“A lot of stuff matters beyond just your filming location,” says Tony Armer, head of physical production for Talon Entertainment Finance, which operates South Side Studios. “People don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do on their two days off a week that they usually have during a film shoot, especially if it’s a long-form TV series or feature film.”
Armer says that having great restaurants and a great food scene makes a difference when it comes to convincing productions to choose Dallas over other locations.
Dallas’ Diverse Palate
Dallas Film Commissioner Katie Schuck agrees and emphasizes that besides Dallas’ culinary diversity and attractive dining choices for cast and crew, bars and restaurants can also serve as filming locations. This type of exposure can help raise the profile of venues and attract future productions.
“The great thing about the film industry is that there are different ways that film dollars can be spent,” Schuck says. “The first branch, we’re going to say, is called a filming location.”
Schuck says this is essentially whenever a film or TV show goes to a restaurant or bar and uses it as a film setting. In addition to the immediate impact of having the space rented out and used, this can generate film tourism dollars down the road as people visit locations from their favorite movies and shows.
Recent examples include Paramount’s 2024 release Landman, which filmed scenes at The Crescent Club at the Hotel Crescent Court. Cruel Summer, which premiered on Freeform in 2021, filmed scenes at One Nostalgia Tavern and All Good Café. Additionally, Twilite Lounge is expected to be featured in the upcoming television series The Madison.
Restaurateurs can put their hat in the ring for these opportunities by reaching out to Schuck and her team. The Film Commission scouts local venues for possible shooting locations, which it then shares with filmmakers considering Dallas for future projects.
The second version of on-screen exposure comes from “unscripted” series, like Bizarre Foods America or Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
“The great thing about this is that they are talking about the restaurant in a review sense,” says Schuck. “It’s basically like an unpaid ad for these restaurants to be showcased on a national platform.”
Not only does this encourage locals to try new spots, but it also helps spotlight the multitude of options available in Dallas to producers.
Perhaps the most organic way Dallas restaurants make it into the entertainment industry zeitgeist is, of course, when celebrities visit. Whether it’s Kacey Musgraves singing karaoke at the Round-Up Saloon, Billy Bob Thornton dining out at Nick and Sam’s, or Post Malone at the Dallas Cowboys-centric Raising Cane’s, when the rich and famous dine out, people (and paparazzi) notice.
Schuck says each of these is a way to get Dallas and its restaurants more exposure and that it can have an exponential impact. As a newcomer to Dallas herself, Schuck can attest to the efficacy of having a venue showcased in movies and shows. “And I’m always open to recommendations,” she adds.
Keeping It Hyper-Local
Filmmakers can also discover the city’s culinary delights by visiting film festivals like the Oak Cliff Film Festival (OCFF). Ashton Campbell, co-director of OCFF, likes to direct guests toward local restaurants.
“I always try to keep them around Oak Cliff,” says Campbell. “Because I kind of want them to get the full flavor of Oak Cliff.” He often recommends local spots such as Ayahuasca Cantina, Taco y Vino, Sketches of Spain and Veracruz Café.
“When I’m talking to filmmakers from the OCFF, a lot of times it’s more chill and they’re really looking for something authentic, and for that, I’ll try to send them to some places in Oak Cliff [with a] Latino or South American influence to … go along with the whole Oak Cliff vibe.”
If they want to go farther north for more traditional American fare, he shifts gears, saying, “I’m still kind of a Dallas purist … I always tell people to go to Bob’s Steak & Chop House.” He also recommends Goodwins on Greenville Avenue.
Having the opportunity to go out and engage with local cuisine and culture on their own terms can encourage filmmakers to return to Dallas for future projects, provide opportunities for local performers and crew and raise Dallas’ profile.
In actor Sam Neill’s (Jurassic Park, Peaky Blinders) memoir, he shares stories from film sets he has been on over the years. Food, he says, is paramount to a successful production.
“A well-fed crew is a happy crew,” writes Neill. “And a happy crew will do anything for you. Do not ever save money in the budget on food. Ever.”
In Dallas, productions have such a wide variety of affordable and refined options that they can find something that fits their budget and keeps crews happy no matter what they’re in the mood for.
