This Week in Gluttony

Massive margarita bash tops best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Dallasites are likely dusting off their lawn chairs and firing up their grills in preparation for the Memorial Day weekend. They may also be hunting down the brand new Cousins Maine Lobster food truck — recognizable from Shark Tank, The Chew, Food Network and the Today Show — which is serving lobster rolls and more all this week. (Check out full schedule here.)

For those who hate to break tradition, here is your usual roundup of the week’s tastiest food events:

Tuesday, May 19

Deschutes Beer Tasting at Whole Foods Plano
A representative from Oregon brewery Deschutes brings some wonderful goodies to celebrate the end of American Craft Beer Week. He also has a few brews to share. Admission is free, but you have to register. The event kicks off at 7 pm.

Thursday, May 21

Craft Beer and Artisan Cheese Pairing at Community Beer Company
Rare Edibles cheesemonger Ali Morgan continues her quest to bring together our favorite fermentables: cheese and beer. The event features four select craft brews, each paired with complimentary and contrasting cheeses. That’s four beers and eight cheeses for only $30. The event kicks off at 6 pm.

Deep Ellum Wine Walk
Pick up a glass and a passport for $10 outside of Kettle Art Gallery and embark on a sip-and-shop tour of this historic neighborhood. Starting at 5 pm, enjoy wine samplings at each participating venue; get your passport stamped at five or more destinations to be entered for a chance to win gift certificates at the drawing held at the check-in table immediately following the event.

May Dinner at Urban Acres Farmstead
Be a part of this local, organic and sustainable culinary event celebrating spring and the early bounty of local farmers and purveyors. The five-course, BYOB meal costs $85 per person and begins at 6:30 pm.

Raymond Vineyards Wine Dinner at Ser Steak + Spirits
Executive chef (and Tastemaker Rising Star Chef nominee) Anthony Van Camp teams up with French chef Michou Cornu from Raymond Vineyards for a decadent five-course dinner. Courses include day boat sea scallops with cauliflower, lamb tenderloin, Comte tuile and Manchego with endive and beets, and chocolate crème brûlée. Another special guest, Raymond Vineyards winemaking director Stephanie Putnam, shares her passion with guests. Dinner is $149 per person and starts with a 6:30 pm reception. Call 214-761-7479 for reservations.

Friday, May 22

La Marzocco on the Road at Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters
Love good coffee? This event is for you. Your favorite espresso machines and grinders are on display, specifically the Linea Mini and the Lux-D Grinder; baristas are welcome to come and try them out. Guests can also enjoy snacks and beer throughout the night. The event lasts from 6-9 pm, and it is free to attend, but you have to register.

Saturday, May 23

Thai Culture & Food Festival at Buddhist Center of Dallas
Experience Thai culture through authentic cuisine (including vegan options), dance performances, fruit carving and Muay Thai demonstrations, handcrafted Thai arts and gifts, and tours of the temple. Best news ever: Admission and parking are free. The festival runs through Sunday. Hours are Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, 11 am-7 pm.

Sunday, May 24

Dallas Margarita Meltdown at Bishop Arts District
Witness a mixology throwdown between some of the best restaurants and bars in Dallas. Starting at 4 pm, competitors concoct their finest margaritas and offer tastes to the public. Tickets includes samples of more than 20 different libations from more than 30 establishments, and you can vote for your favorite. Participants include El Fenix, Vagabond, Komali, C’Viche, Meso Mayo and more. Tickets start at $25.

Monday, May 25

Nickey’s Week at RA Sushi
During this week of giving, the restaurant plans to donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of special Nicky’s Week menu items to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The menu includes edamame, Tootsy Maki, shrimp nigiri, pork gyoza, sesame garlic chicken, garlic citrus yellowtail and certain beverages. Nicky’s Week was developed in memory of St. Jude patient Nicholas “Nicky” Mailliard, of Scottsdale, Arizona. Nicky, the nephew of RA Sushi’s founder, lost a long battle with brain cancer in 2005 at the age of 13. The menu is available at both the Addison and Plano locations through Sunday, May 31.

Sip on margaritas, like these from Komali, at the Margarita Meltdown on May 24 in the Bishop Arts District.

Komali Facebook

Sip on margaritas, like these from Komali, at the Margarita Meltdown on May 24 in the Bishop Arts District.

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Patio time

5 best restaurant patios in Dallas to hit on a warm spring day in 2026

Taco Y Vino

Award-winning patio at Taco Y Vino

Dallas is facing a sunny and warm spell, and that can only mean one thing: It's time to hit the patio. In a search for the best patio, deciding factors include sunshine, comfortable accommodations, an engaging view, and something good to eat and drink.

You'll find all of that at these five Dallas hotspots — one for every neighborhood, whether you're in Oak Cliff or Uptown Dallas, Plano or Addison, or good old Greenville Avenue.

Here are five patios to check out now that the weather's good:

Libertine Bar
Venerable low-key bar has an impressive selection of beer; great food like their irresistible battered portobello fries with jalapeno ranch; a bountiful brunch; and endless specials including steak night on Tuesdays, trivia night on Thursdays, and a generous happy hour Tuesday-Friday. Their street-facing patio has a fun chill vibe, and there is truly no better ringside seat to the action, sometimes rowdy, on Greenville Avenue.

Rose Cafe
Uptown cafe is an indoor-outdoor restaurant which transitions throughout the day, from pastry and coffee at breakfast to cocktails after work. (They also have some of the best made pastries in town.) The surprising decor features florals and soft pink hues pastry or brunch, and enjoying vibrant cocktails with friends. It's located right off the Katy Trail so the views are a given.

Taco y Vino
The patio at this beloved taco-and-wine restaurant in Oak Cliff is so spectacular, it has won awards: namely, a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best Patio in 2024. For tacos, they have 11 varieties, which you can get in a killer special: A bottle of wine and six tacos for $35, available any time. Or try one of their cool cocktails such as the frozen Kalimoxto, a refreshing combination of red wine and Coca Cola. In 2025, they opened a second location in downtown Garland, bringing their primo patio action to the east side of town.

Far Out
Restaurant in renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park has become known in the past year among the foodie set as the place for whom acclaimed chef Misti Norris has created a new menu with dishes like crispy pig ears and lemongrass duck confit salad. (It has earned two nominations, in fact - for Chef of the Year and Best New Restaurant - in the 2026 Tastemaker Awards.) But Far Out also has a charming patio that runs along the exterior, with a Southwestern/Santa Fe vibe that includes tasteful furniture and a big collection of cacti and other desert-style plants — a serene spot in the middle of the city.

Stix Icehouse
Restaurant-bar in McKinney sitting on a 14-acre spread is really more like a park and event center with a restaurant attached. With their extensive outdoor facilities, they're a family-friendly getaway, with a second-story deck for food and drink, and a sprawling backyard area with a basketball hoop, lawn, and trees. Their menu is quintessential Texas, with burgers, Frito pie, chicken-fried steak, nachos, and loaded fries. Drinks, including a frozen margarita and a salted caramel espresso martini, top out at $12.

weather patio dining