This week in gluttony

Wine dinners, Russians and four kinds of chili: The best food and drink events in Dallas this week

If one of your resolutions is to drink more wine, we've got you covered this week. But say your resolution is to be more adventurous in your cuisine. Well, you're also in luck, because we've got a Mediterranean feast at Samar, a Russian winter festival and a chili fest with four types. Let's dig in.

Wednesday, January 23

Maharaja’s Feast at Samar by Stephan Pyles
Enjoy a shared-plate, four-course meal with dishes such as cashew crusted lamb kebab, short rib dum cook, saffron salmon tikka kebab and spinach pakora for $35 per person. Act quickly, as there were fewer that 12 spots left for their 9:15 pm seating when we called to inquire. For reservations, call 214-922-9922.

Merriman Wine Dinner at TJ’s Seafood
Enjoy paired dishes like seafood paella and rose from Oregon’s Merriman Winery beginning at 7 pm. For $85 you are treated to a five-course meal, and each dish is selected by chef Scott Hoffner to match one of Merriman’s award-winning wines. RSVP at 214-219-3474.

Thursday, January 24

A Sampling From Burgundy at The Grape
Chef de cuisine Danyele McPherson prepares a three-course tasting menu to highlight wines from Burgundy in The Grape’s first Come As You Are wine dinner of the year. For $48, you get a relaxed dinner and a one-on-one wine expert consulting at each table. Reservations are available from 5:30-9 pm and can be made at 214-828-1981 or online.

Friday, January 25

Russian Winter Festival at Hôtel St. Germain
Sure, the weather's nice and warm right now, but by Friday, it could be cold again. Enjoy the infused vodka shots outside before moving indoors for a five-course meal with Russian dishes such as blinis with smoked salmon, piroshky and orange chicken Kiev. The evening includes artwork from St. Petersbrug’s Hermitage Museum and Russian party and card games. The food and fun starts at 7 pm on January 25 and 26 and is $75 per person. For reservations, call 214-871-2516.

Saturday, January 26

Chili Pa Looza at the Holy Grail Pub
It’s safe to say that people have strong opinions on chili. We’ll abstain from sharing our preferences, but the Holy Grail Pub is hosting its second annual cook-off with four different varieties: smoked brisket chili, Indian spiced chicken, seven bean and green chile pork shoulder. We have opinions about several of those just reading them, but we’re chili snobs. Reach your own conclusions from noon to 9 pm.

Monday, January 28

Italian Wine Maker of the Year John Matta at Max’s Wine Dive
Four-time recipient of the Italian Wine Maker of the Year award, John Matta of Castello Vicchiomaggio, will be at Max’s at 7 pm for a complimentary tasting of his Ripa Delle More and Vigna La Prima. The evening includes pairings with Italian cheeses.

January Wine and Food Dinner at Sevy’s Grill
Sevy’s serves wines from Amici Cellars of Napa Valley in a four-course menu that includes dishes such as salt-crusted striped bass with fennel and green olive slaw and beef tenderloin filet with creamed spinach. White wine reception begins at 6:30 pm; dinner starts at 7. It is $69 per person and reservations can be made at 214-265-7389 or by email.

Hôtel St. Germain is hosting a Russian Winter Festival dinner on Friday and Saturday beginning at 7 pm, including infused vodka shots.

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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 Fort Worth's West Seventh district 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 predecessor in Tempe in 2018, called Rodeo Ranch. It served as a template for the concept, with 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