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volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/7/23 9:03 a.m.

Like the topic says.  Heading to Dallas for a week for a business trip, and looking for tips from the locals.  Mostly looking for good places to eat, and a decent suds joint to have a drink or two.  Nothing fancy, expensive, or wild.  As for food, I'll try anything once.  As far as pubs go, I strongly prefer they contain the following qualities:

a) Mostly locals- not touristy

b) Have a pool table, darts is nice too.  I travel with quarters.

c) Not expensive.  Any place you can still grab a pint for under a fin is A+ in my book.

My hotel is in the Design District, sort-of northwest of downtown, and I'll be working near Mountain Creek.  The closer to those areas the better; I don't want to drive to Ft. Worth and back to my hotel after a long day of work.  

Cheers!

calteg
calteg SuperDork
4/7/23 10:35 a.m.

Having lived there for 18 years, there's a shocking lack of culture in DFW. Pick your favorite strip mall beer dispensary. I will say the Dallas aquarium is absolutely worth a visit, it's very vertical and unique

jharry3
jharry3 GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/7/23 10:57 a.m.

Fort Worth has a lot of cool cowboy stuff.   

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 MegaDork
4/7/23 11:05 a.m.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Ff7%2Ffc%2F76%2Ff7fc76399570606e321b6f7e963dab9b.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=63219e041cbdfaf097e9df3e3ed4dc439802c8c98c2ef53ada06e9a43dc4021f&ipo=images

Slippery
Slippery GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/7/23 11:09 a.m.

Ten or so years ago I had a flight into Dallas and I stopped at a place called "Maple and Motors" for a burger. It was really good. 

Not sure if it survived covid, but maybe worth a check. It was very close to Dallas Love Field iirc. 

That's all I got from my 2 hrs in Dallas. 

bludroptop
bludroptop UltraDork
4/7/23 11:45 a.m.

Not a local, but I've spent some time...

Local cuisine?  lol, but they do know brisket and tex-mex.

6th Floor museum is worth a couple of hours, as is the art museum. 

Uber to downtown Ft. Worth some evening for a vintage neon illuminated nightlife.  If you're baller, go to Peter Brothers Hats and get measured...  

Never had a bad time at a Rangers game.  

The weather may try to kill you.  If it wasn't a tornado it was an ice storm.

 

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) UberDork
4/7/23 6:59 p.m.

You want real Mexican food you need to go to El Ranchito in Oak Cliff just south of you.  The meddlesome moth in the design district has good food.  Mia's for brisket tacos.  Carbones for Italian.  Mamas Daughters cafe for old cafe food  and Market Street diner for breakfast.  Slow Bone is decent BBQ near there.  Maple and Motor is a good burger.  

Flynlow (FS)
Flynlow (FS) Dork
4/7/23 9:33 p.m.

Only firsthand knowledge i have was fort worth, we did a company event here:

Billy Bob's Texas
(817) 624-7117
https://goo.gl/maps/kuc3AySbBmTRzJRY6

Started with beers and pool, and we were there early enough we got to watch it fill up from nearly empty to utterly packed for 2-3 concerts and an indoor rodeo.  I'm not huge on crowds, but i enjoyed myself.  

Flynlow (FS) said:

Only firsthand knowledge i have was fort worth, we did a company event here:

Billy Bob's Texas
(817) 624-7117
https://goo.gl/maps/kuc3AySbBmTRzJRY6

Started with beers and pool, and we were there early enough we got to watch it fill up from nearly empty to utterly packed for 2-3 concerts and an indoor rodeo.  I'm not huge on crowds, but i enjoyed myself.  

World's largest honkey tonk.

Flynlow (FS)
Flynlow (FS) Dork
4/7/23 9:52 p.m.

In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :

And they're not kidding.  That place goes on forever.  

Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter)
Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) Dork
4/7/23 10:08 p.m.

In reply to Flynlow (FS) :

It's local to me. I like that it's safe. Security there is tight and no trouble ever jumps off. You can go see a concert there and know that it will be a nice time. 

Wally (Forum Supporter)
Wally (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/8/23 8:15 a.m.
Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) said:
Flynlow (FS) said:

Only firsthand knowledge i have was fort worth, we did a company event here:

Billy Bob's Texas
(817) 624-7117
https://goo.gl/maps/kuc3AySbBmTRzJRY6

Started with beers and pool, and we were there early enough we got to watch it fill up from nearly empty to utterly packed for 2-3 concerts and an indoor rodeo.  I'm not huge on crowds, but i enjoyed myself.  

World's largest honkey tonk.

I was very disappointed with Billy Bobs. I'd looked forward to going there a few years ago on my way to Austin. I'd heard about how great it was all my life. It was closed at 9pm on a Thursday night. My dentist is open later than that. 

TJL (Forum Supporter)
TJL (Forum Supporter) Dork
4/8/23 8:33 a.m.

Dallas has a few "In-N-Out Burger". Thats something i'd get excited for since im east coast and only get In-N-Out in Utah west. 

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/8/23 8:43 a.m.

In reply to TJL (Forum Supporter) :

I noticed that.  Last time I had an In N Out was probably a decade ago. So that's definitely going to be dinner one night. 

Appreciate all the recommendations, just sitting here watching them all come in. Thank you!

In and Out Burger isn't really thriving here in Texas. Whataburger is king, and for good reason.

 

bludroptop
bludroptop UltraDork
4/8/23 9:34 a.m.

Billy Bob's - somewhere on the internet is a picture of me introducing a Willie Nelson impersonator on Billy Bob's stage.  So I've been there more than once.  It's a big business trying to pretend that it is a country dive bar - which is a little like trying to build a light and nimble roadster that seats 12.  I kept expecting to run into a Disney-like animatronic drunk.  If you like that sort of thing you will have a good time.  If it sounds like a god-forsaken hell hole... it is.

The same could be said for the Ft. Worth Stockyards.... actually most of Texas now that I think of it.

 

 

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) UberDork
4/8/23 12:27 p.m.

In N Out is thriving in Dallas.  Dallafornian's frequent the place.  My daughter loves it too.

If you let me know what kinds of food you like, I can make more detailed recs.  
 

There are some things you just have to experience to get it like Fuel City tacos at 1am if you are out late.  

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/8/23 1:07 p.m.
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:

In N Pit is thriving in Dallas.  Dallafornian's frequent the place.  My daughter loves it too.

If you let me know what kinds of food you like, I can make more detailed recs.  
 

There are some things you just have to experience to get it like Fuel City tacos at 1am if you are out late.  

I'll eat anything, but especially try to find stuff that is local- Tex Mex, for example.  Or big slabs of meat.  

I like real bars- I won't go to anyplace that calls itself a "dive bar".  A good bar is one that has a pool table, cheap beer on tap, and nice folks.  Pretty often they still allow smoking, which I don't really mind.  

I find you get a lot further when traveling if you learn to bend with local customs, rather than trying to make everyone else bend to suit you.  

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) UberDork
4/8/23 10:10 p.m.

If you want Tex Mex,

El Ranchito in Dallas (not the Arlington location) is the best.  You can go for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  If you like eggs, get Jeuvos ala Mexicana.  If you like beef, their Tacos Al Carbon are tough to beat. 

Mariano's is great.  He invented the frozen margarita.  There are locations in Dallas and Arlington. Mariano's has some of the best fajitas in the state.  You can get enchiladas that are good there too.  I usually get fajitas or tacos al carbon at Mariano's too.

Mia's isn't far from the design district and their Brisket Tacos are famous.

Gloria's is also good and it's more Latin american than Tex Mex, but their black bean dip and papusa's are outstanding.  I usually get a Carne Asada steak there.

Rafa's is the best San Antonio style Tex Mex in all of Dallas.  Parking is a nightmare, but they are a real San Antonio family killing it.  I usually just get whatever is the special on the chalkboard when you walk in.  Rafas has the best enchiladas in Dallas according to my wife and the best queso according to kiddo. 

Fuel City Tacos (a couple of locations) are quite good and you can get them 24 hours.  If you like spicy, then get their picadillo tacos and enjoy.  It's ground beef and diced potato in green salsa.  And yes you want cilantro and onions  on your tacos.  These are real Mexican street tacos.  That other garbage people buy and serve, I just don't get it.  I had someone explain other tacos to me once as "white people" tacos...... I was like so they aren't tacos, got it.  

The original Ojeda's is very Tex Mex and okay too.  It is also pretty close to the design district. 

If you like spicy and stews (west TX, New Mexico and Chiuahua desert style) the only place that has it is Gonzalez in Oak Cliff.  If you get Asada de Puerco it is an amazing dish but it will light you up.  They have the thick tortillas some prefer.  I personally prefer thinner tortillas like El Ranchito. I usually make sure I have cash to tip the tortilla makers at El Ranchito.  They have a jar set up at their big flat top.  They also have a tomato based stew Carne Guisada which is one of my all time favorite dishes (not spicy). 

Mexican food in MS is not even close.  The best is probably at our house. 

The only bar burger joint I know that might still allow smoking and probably has a pool table is Addison Point.  My father in law liked it.  A point burger isn't bad, although there are many others I'd prefer.  If you want to go a real unique bar with good food, go to Lee Harvey's.  Yes, that Lee Harvey.  It's super close to where his house was in Dallas. 

If you want to experience something interesting and Italian / American go to the Egyptian..... Yes Campisi's Egyptian Restaurant.  He bought an Egyptian restaurant and never changed the name / sign.  Mr. Campisi is long since passed, but I went to college with his son.  Rumor has it that Jack Ruby went to meet Mr. Campisi before and after shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.  There are new articles on the walls in most Campisi's locations about Kennedy and the assassination.  I like their thin crust pizza with a Peroni. 

Most of the bars the wife and I went to were fancy and didn't have pool tables.  I used to take her out for fancy cocktails or wine. 

When I go to Dallas in June, I will hit Gonzalez and Mariano's most likely since Mariano's is close to the office in Arlington (one of their locations).  I will also go to the Marquez bakery in Arlington.  I may stop at El Ranchito on the way out of town and get my wife's favorite dish to go:  guiso picoso.  It's a spicy stew that is finely diced meat (beef), onions and peppers.  It's amazing.  It's very similar to other mexican / new mexico stews, but it's their own take on it.

If you are going with a group get the Parillada at El Ranchito.  It's every kind of meat they make brought out to you stacked high and on a heated metal stand.  It comes with tons of sides too.  El Ranchito is where I took coworkers from Turkey, Iran and other countries when they wanted to experience real Mexican food. 

 

 

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/8/23 10:34 p.m.

In reply to AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) :

Man, awesome write up, thank you!  Will absolutely try out some of those places. 

I saw one place called The Kennedy or something...bar, near my hotel. Looked like they had pool tables. Ever been there?

Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter)
Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
4/9/23 12:26 a.m.
Slippery said:

Ten or so years ago I had a flight into Dallas and I stopped at a place called "Maple and Motors" for a burger. It was really good. 

Not sure if it survived covid, but maybe worth a check. It was very close to Dallas Love Field iirc. 

That's all I got from my 2 hrs in Dallas. 

Maple and Motor is still there. We were there last weekend...

https://www.mapleandmotor.com/

You might also try Lee Harvey's. They are just south of downtown near the police station. They are a funky Austin type place in Dallas. They have a pool table and cheap beer. They also have a patio behind the place that operates as an unofficial dog park. You can pet the pups there.

https://leeharveys.com/

Sonny Bryans is the place for BBQ. The Inwood location is old and funky and has been there since 1958. It's the only BBQ place open 24/7.

https://sonnybryans.com/

Campisi's Egyptian Restaurant and Lounge is an old school hangout for the Dallas Mafia. Don't tell them you heard that from me. Pizza is great. So is the pasta. They have been there for years...

https://www.campisis.us/locations/mockingbird/

Dunston's Steak House is the penultimate Texas Steakhouse with a great salad bar. If you want to meet a Dallas Millionaire, you might actually meet one eating here. Ross Perot used to eat there. But it isn't as expensive as the suburban chain steakhouses. Another old school place. It has been there since 1955. This is one of my favorites.

https://dunstonssteakhouse.com/

 

 

 

 

Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter)
Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) SuperDork
4/9/23 12:36 a.m.

I recommend the Dallas location of Fuel City if you want weird. It's basically a huge gas station that serves tacos 24/7. One night a shady looking guy with a dog tried to sell me a bag of golf clubs. He then tried to sell me the dog. You sometimes see hookers and bikers lined up to buy tacos. That place gets a really strange vibe after midnight.

Ojala
Ojala GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/9/23 1:04 a.m.

Kennedy room is kinda fancy, but it's perfect if you enjoy deciding between sweet or dry vermouth for your martini. Ozzie Rabbit Lodge is more my speed so take my advice for what you paid for it. Design district to mountain creek will be a beating but Cidercade is by Design district if you like gaming and its$10 all you can play.
 

I'm a Fort Worth guy but Gonzalez, Del Sur, and Maskaras are all solid. Tons of guero places in Bishop Arts like El Jordan that are good for a work thing. Lots of decent Mexican along Jefferson and pretty much all of them have somebody who speaks English.

Dallas bars can be kinda fancy for a Fort Worth dude but I like Kings X, Double Wide, Single Wide, and the Grapevine. 

and I agree with Fuel City recs, not much better than some carne asada tacos, an elote cup from the lady out front, and a canned michelada. Keep in mind tacos and elotes are cash only

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/9/23 12:16 p.m.

Man, now I'm really looking forward to trying some of these places. You guys are great. Thank you. 

I will be traveling with another guy from work, so we may do dinner together.  We'll see how adventurous he is. ;-)

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse UltimaDork
4/9/23 12:23 p.m.

In reply to Ojala :

I had to Google "guero", never heard that term before. Describes me, but not my co-worker.  We're both gearheads, and I've done other work trips with him- good dude, I enjoy working with him. 

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