Downtown Dining News

Downtown Dallas kingpin opens new queso-loving Tex-Mex restaurant

Tex-Mex is their thing.

Photo courtesy of Queso Beso

Downtown Dallas' doting mogul Tim Headington is opening another restaurant: Called Queso Beso, it's a Tex-Mex place and will open at 1525 Main St. on December 13.

The restaurant is going into a historic building on Main Street across from The Joule Dallas hotel, also owned by Headington. The space was previously home to Sol Irlandes, a Tex-Mex place that closed in 2018. Tex-Mex out, Tex-Mex in.

A release calls Queso Beso "an homage to Tex-Mex" that celebrates the cuisine's greatest hits in a playful, casual environment.

Unsurprisingly, queso is a thing. There are two versions:

Queso Blanco, available original style or “compuesta” with chorizo, guacamole, crema, and green onion
Queso Fundido, a more traditional version with Oaxacan and Chihuahua cheeses and roasted peppers, accompanied by fresh corn tortillas

Two is good, two is great, but don't a lot of places have two quesos? Seems like maybe a third and even fourth variety would be called for in this scenario? Just a thought.

Appetizers range from classics such as guacamole, nachos, and flautas, to coastal-inspired "coctel de mariscos" with gulf shrimp or campechana, and tostadas de pulpo.

Classics on the menu include a variety of tacos such as chicken tinga, carne asada, grilled fish, and picadillo beef. There are also enchiladas, pozole, taco salads, and combo plates.

There will also be house specials such as shrimp diablo with roasted sweet peppers, corn pico, and red chili butter; and braised chicken en mole served with house mole and fresh corn tortillas.

The bar features beer, wine, and spirits including an extensive lineup of tequila and mezcal.

Specialty cocktails take inspiration from the flavors of Mexico and the Southwest and include frozen margaritas, ranch water, and an ancho-spiked paloma.

But the cocktail menu also dabbles in the tiki trend with the Frozen Painkiller, made with Bacardi superior rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut. Maybe if that drink sells well, Tim's next thing will be tiki.

The restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner, and drinks seven days a week.

The restaurant features what the release calls an eclectic and colorful design. That includes vinyl diner chairs, piñatas, and a ceiling full of Christmas lights.

On the ground floor, they've enclosed the patio in glass to allow for comfortable dining year-round, with three TVs for sports. Upstairs is a private event space and open-air terrace are available for booking large parties.

The restaurant will overlook the 30-foot-tall sculpture Eye. The Eye is always watching. Do you suppose Tim has a monitoring device inside that thing?

Queso Beso marks the 12th restaurant in Lord Headington's portfolio and includes Americano, CBD Provisions, Weekend Coffee, Midnight Rambler, Mirador, No Aloha, and Commissary downtown; Wheelhouse, Sassetta, and Go Go in the Design District; and The Porch on Knox-Henderson.

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seasonal sips

Top spots to sip holiday tea in Dallas this 2026 Christmas season

The Adolphus

Holiday tea service has arrived at The Adolphus.

Holiday tea has long been a Dallas tradition during the festive season, especially at the city's grand hotels and historic venues. In recent years, it has become a bigger seasonal draw, with restaurants and hotels putting their own wintertime spin on the classic afternoon ritual. Along with traditional finger sandwiches, sugary confections, and fresh-based scones, guests can add Champagne and caviar and enjoy live holiday music, a panoramic view, or even visit with Santa.

Here are the top Dallas-area spots serving holiday tea this holiday season. This year's offerings begin in November, with some continuing through the first days of 2027. The list may grow as more plans are unveiled. All require reservations.

Holiday Tea at the Adolphus' French Room: The holidays would be dim without one of Dallas' most enduring traditions, Holiday Tea in the French Room. Since 1912, the Adolphus Hotel has transforming its elegant interiors into a festive destination drenched in evergreen garlands, twinkling lights, and seasonal décor. The three-course holiday tea includes savory mini sandwiches, freshly baked scones with house-made preserves and English double cream, and an assortment of pastries. Teas are sourced from local purveyor Zakti, which creates special blends for the hotel. A welcome glass of Champagne or French sparkling cider is included, with an optional Petrossian caviar service also available. Weekend piano performances and daily harp music add to the atmosphere. November 4-January 10, daily, 10 am-4:30 pm (last seating). $85 and up.

Holiday Tea at Hotel Swexan's Léonie: Léonie at Hotel Swexan in Dallas' Harwood District provides an intimate setting for holiday teatime, with seasonal décor beneath the restaurant's skylight and signature greenery. The menu features freshly baked scones, savory bites, and dainty holiday pastries. November 27-December 27, Fridays-Sundays, with seatings from 12-2:30 pm. $85 per person and $35 for children 12 and under.

Holiday Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas: Holiday tea at The Ritz-Carlton means an afternoon of seasonal treats in an elegant hotel-restaurant setting. Fearing's, which hosts the tea inside the restaurant, serves loose leaf teas, crustless finger sandwiches, and pastries inspired by the season. November 28-January 2, Saturday-Sundays, with reservations available from 11 am-2 pm. $45-$100 per person.

Holiday Tea with Santa at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas adds a Santa visit to its holiday tea service at Bar Juniper, which gets a seasonal makeover for the occasion. The menu features seasonal savory bites, sweets, and bubbles. Children can visit with Santa, write letters to him, listen to holiday stories, and take home a keepsake gift. December 5-20, Saturdays and Sundays, plus December 22-24, with seatings at 12 noon and 3 pm. $135 for adults, $55 for kids 12 and over, free for kids 5-12.

Holiday Princess Tea at the Hilton Anatole: Princesses of all ages can don their tiara for a royal holiday tea that pairs a traditional three-course tea service with princess performances in the hotel's majestic Wedgwood Ballroom. Young guests can enjoy confections and a decaffeinated tea selection with savory bites, freshly baked scones, delicate sweets. Champagne flows freely (but not free) for the adults. Saturday, November 14, 1-3 pm. $100.19 for adults, $42.42 for children.

Holiday Tea at the Reserve at The Highland: Traditional afternoon tea gets a distinctly Texas treatment. The three-course holiday menu includes pimento cheese and roasted jalapeño tea sandwiches, cucumber ranch-Boursin, and chicken salad with Texas pecans and dried cranberries. Scones arrive in citrus-poppy seed and jalapeño cheddar varieties, followed by seasonal sweets such as mini pecan pie tartlets, macarons, and petit fours. Guests can add a Champagne tea cocktail, including an Earl Grey French 75 or Blueberry Royale. November 19-January 3, Thursday-Sunday, with seatings at 1 and 1:30 pm. $75 per person; optional Champagne or cocktail upgrade, $20 per person.

Modern Holiday Tea at Mirador: Perched atop Forty Five Ten in downtown Dallas, Mirador puts a contemporary spin on the traditional holiday tea. It begins with a chai-spiced scone, followed by savory bites such as beets with strawberry goat cheese, a Wagyu sandwich, and a caviar tartlet. Seasonal sweets include a ginger molasses cookie, pear financier, and cranberry-orange pastry. Teas from The Cultured Cup and Mariage Frères accompany the courses, with optional caviar additions and beverage flights available. The restaurant's wraparound terrace overlooks downtown's Eye sculpture. November 7, 21, and 28, and December 19, 24, and 26, with seatings from 10:30 am-2 pm. $98 per person; children's menu for ages 10 and younger, $35.

Holiday Tea at Restaurant DeGolyer at Dallas Arboretum: The Dallas Arboretum's Restaurant DeGolyer offers a seasonal afternoon tea surrounded by the magnificent Christmas at the Arboretum decorations. The menu includes finger sandwiches sans crust, holiday-inspired soup, freshly baked scones, festive desserts, and specialty teas. It's a particularly appealing option for combining a holiday outing with a visit to the Arboretum's seasonal displays. November 16-January 8, with seatings at 11 am and 2 pm. $65 per person.

Christmas Tea at the Alexander Mansion: The historic C.H. Alexander Mansion on Ross Avenue is transformed into a holiday tearoom with elegant decor, sweets, treats, tea, and champagne. The menu includes cucumber tea sandwich, chicken salad on orange/cranberry bread, egg salad on marble bread, tomato-basil quiche, pimento sandwich, spinach and Gruyere cheese in puff pastry, cranberry and white chocolate scones, red velvet scones, and more. December 2-6 and 9-13, with one seating daily at 12 noon. $75 per person.

Nutcracker Holiday Tea at Hotel Crescent Court: A beloved holiday ballet sautés as the theme of the holiday afternoon tea. Nutcracker-inspired décor, seasonal treats, and live holiday set the stage for the hotel's annual celebration. Guests can also order unlimited Champagne. Saturdays and Sundays in December, with seatings at 11 am, 12 noon, and 1 pm. From $59.75.

Café 43 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center: Holiday Tea at Café 43 offers a festive afternoon in the presidential center's restaurant, with the option to explore the George W. Bush Presidential Museum before or after tea. December 16-17, with seatings at 2:15 and 3:30 pm. Sold out; guests can join the waitlist to request tickets.

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