This Week In Gluttony

Barbecue and beer rule best food events in Dallas-Fort Worth this week

Time to fire up the grill and put some beer on ice, because Labor Day weekend 2015 is upon us. Although many people choose to hang out by the pool, brew and burger in hand, there are other options.

Here are some food and drink events for those of you who prefer to think outside the backyard box.

Tuesday, September 1

Ballast Point Beer Dinner at Whole Foods Lakewood
This dinner includes five chef-prepared courses with the best of Ballast Point, with their staff on hand to answer questions and speak about each of the beers. Courses include Mediterranean shrimp cocktail, spicy crab cakes, hoki fish tacos, grilled halibut with angel hair pasta, and Meyer lemon tart. Tickets are $30, and dinner starts at 6 pm.

Thursday, September 3

Whiskey Business at Bird Cafe
Every Thursday in September beginning at 5 pm, Amador Whiskey Company is the star of the Bird Cafe bar. The bar menu pairs one beer and two whiskeys with three small plates crafted by chef David McMillan. The cost is $25. Reservations are not required, but you can make them by calling 817-332-2473.

Craft Beer & Artisan Cheese Pairing at Community Beer Company
The event features four unique craft brews, each paired with a complimentary and contrasting cheese. The discussion includes informative back stories of the styles, descriptions of taste profiles, and talk of the artisanal goods with brewers and industry experts. You get four beers and eight cheeses for a $30 ticket, and the event starts at 6 pm.

Friday, September 4

Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
This festival runs throughout Labor Day weekend, with headliners Delbert McClinton and Buddy Guy leading an all-star lineup playing on two stages at the outdoor venue across from the Bedford City Hall Complex. The other star, of course, is the barbecue. Cooks square off using their skills and mass market grills in the Friday contest. Participants compete in two classes, chicken and ribs, using a modified version of the Kansas City Barbeque Society rules. Gates open at 6 pm on Friday and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Buy your tickets online. Prices start at $7.

Labor Day Party at Capitol Pub
Your favorite Henderson Avenue hot spot celebrates Labor Day during the entire long weekend. From September 4-7, guests can enjoy barbeque brisket sandwiches for $8 and $1 off Texas drafts. The Gary Lee Cox Band kicks off the festivities on Friday from 8 pm-midnight, and DJ Mike D takes the stage Sunday from 10 pm-2 am. There is a $2 Lone Star beer special going on all day Sunday and Monday.

Monday, September 7

GardenFest at Garden Cafe
This event brings together the best of local food, drink, artistry, and entertainment, and it benefits the organization Music Is Our Weapon. You can expect hometown heroes like the House Party Theatre, Common Company, Josh Kumler, and Bar Politics. Tickets are $10 and include two beer tokens along with access to tons of other food and drink for purchase from vendors such as LoveCup Coffee Co., Jessica's Bake Shop, Cross Pecans, and more. The event lasts from 3-9 pm.

The Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival is happening September 4-6.

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Bar News

Rodeo Dallas bar takes party to Uptown Dallas at new location

Rodeo

Rodeo bar is open in Uptown

A bar with Deep Ellum roots is expanding to Uptown Dallas: Called Rodeo Dallas, it'll open at 2922 N. Hall St. in the space previously occupied by Palms Bar. According to co-owner Joseph "JD" Ybanez, it'll open on November 28.

The first Rodeo location in Dallas opened in 2023 at 2724 Elm St. from Ybanez and partner Josh Reagan, a pair of hospitality veterans whose prior venues include Longshots in Dallas, plus two locations of Varsity Tavern, in Fort Worth and in Tempe.

Ybanez' first bar was Trophy Ranch in Fort Worth which had a mechanical bull. "That's where I learned how popular it was," he says. (He also became familiar with Fort Worth's bar scene and went on to open a Rodeo spinoff in 2024.)

In August 2025, the Deep Ellum location became the focal point of neighborhood concerns about crime and was closed via an order from the Dallas city attorney. Ybanez says the city is scapegoating Rodeo for other problems in the neighborhood, and that the Deep Ellum location isn't going anywhere.

“This is not a relocation,” he says. “We maintain an ongoing legal dispute with our landlord Asana Partners regarding the re-opening of our Deep Ellum establishment. The Uptown location represents an expansion of the brand.”

Prior to opening Rodeo in Deep Ellum, they opened a bar in Tempe in 2018 called Rodeo Ranch which served as a template for the concept, featuring an "adult playground" with mechanical bull, bottle service, girls in bikinis, DJs, dancing, and light show.

According to Ybanez, visitors to the Uptown location can expect to take these factors to the next level.

“The Uptown space offers an expansive back patio,” Ybanez says. “This area will feature a massive video wall, optimizing it for communal sports viewing. Furthermore, we have executed a comprehensive refinement of our food menu, which we are confident will elevate the guest experience."

The menu is rendered by Donde Los Tacos, the highly regarded Mexican taqueria in Oak Clifff, with $3 and $4 tacos, like trompo, barbacoa, and suadero. The Uptown location will also serve brunch with dishes such as chilaquiles.

"We have meticulously preserved the core of the Rodeo experience: the unparalleled atmosphere and vibes, our commitment to genuine hospitality, the homegrown character of the brand, and the inclusive spirit that welcomes every member of the community," Ybanez says.

uptown openings

This Week In Gluttony

Barbecue and beer rule best food events in Dallas-Fort Worth this week

The Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival is happening September 4-6.

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