This Week in Gluttony

Tons of tastings and tours top best food and drink events in Dallas this week

We hope you didn't overdo it with champagne and chocolate this past weekend, because there are many food events this week, and it all starts with Fat Tuesday. It continues with tastings, tours and a special meal during which you can learn all about Japanese table manners.

Tuesday, February 17

Places around town offering Fat Tuesday specials:

Capitol Pub. Abita Purple Haze and hurricanes for $4, plus shrimp po' boys and chicken and sausage gumbo.
Hard Rock Cafe. Shrimp po' boys, hurricanes, traditional Mardi Gras king cake, $3 draft beers, $4 house wines and $5 well cocktails.
Henderson Tap House. Live music by Big Mike, plus hand grenades and hurricanes, New Orleans-style gumbo, and free beads.
McFadden's Addison. Crawfish, $5 hurricanes and $10 "McFadden's-style" grenades, and $3 Miller Lite and Coors Light all day long.
Sundown at Granada. Live music from Club Wood and $3 jambalaya all night.

Herradura presents Tequila Appreciation Society Social at 3015 at Trinity Groves
This is your chance to learn everything there is to know about tequila. From 6-8 pm, Casa Herradura global tequila ambassador Ruben Aceves share his knowledge while attendees challenge their palates during this exclusive Herradura tasting. The culinary team at 3015 at Trinity Groves is whipping up savory bites, and proceeds benefit Cafe Momentum. You must be 21 to attend. Tickets are $20, and you can buy them online.

Thursday, February 19

Deep Ellum Wine Walk
During this regular event, the Deep Ellum Community Association and neighborhood merchants combine two great things: wine and shopping. Visitors can purchase a collectible Wine Walk glass for $5, raise it and repeat as they enjoy wine samplings while exploring. The event, which takes place on the third Thursday of every month, features different venues each time. Meet at Kettle One Gallery at 5 pm.

George Dickel Whiskey Tasting at The Library
From 5:30-7:30 pm, The Library is hosting a tasting of George Dickel #12, which is considered to be the gold standard of Tennessee whiskey, plus George Dickel Rye. Samples of these two premium whiskeys are complimentary; cocktails made with either are offered for a special price of $6 each.

Old and New World Small Production Wine Dinner at Grace
For this dinner, chef Blaine Staniford makes dishes such as marinated Dungeness crab, saffron risotto, lacquered duck and egg confit, rib-eye cap, and brioche pain perdu. The event starts at 6:30 pm and costs $145 a person. Call 817-877-3388 to reserve a spot.

Saturday, February 21

Community Beer Company Goes on Tour
Craft beer lovers can get on a bus and head out to explore a handful of establishments that serve Community Beer. Attendees enjoy a beer sample and food at each stop. The $45 ticket includes all samples and food, plus a T-shirt and a glass. Meet at Community Beer Company at noon and explore Cold Beer Company, Nickel & Rye, Scotch & Sausage and Rodeo Goat. The event ends at Community Beer Company around 4 pm. You must reserve in advance because no tickets will be offered at the door the day of.

Taste of Trinity Groves Walking Tour
This walking tour, 11:30 am-3:15 pm, includes nibbles at Trinity Groves eateries such as Souk, Chino Chinatown, Luck, Four Corners Brewery and Kate Weiser Chocolate. Food is included in the $55 ticket price, but drinks are not. A minimum of eight is required to make the event a "go," and the maximum number of walkers is 20. Buy tickets here.

Sunday, February 22

Academy Awards Viewing Party at Messina Hof Winery
Dress up and head to Messina Hof Winery to watch the Academy Awards with friends. Enjoy an open wine bar, endless appetizers and amazing desserts from 5-10 pm. Call 817-442-8463 to reserve a spot.

Japanese Table Manner Brunch at Tei-An
Tei-An welcomes Yasuko Robinson, a master of Japanese high arts (painting, flower arranging and tea ceremony), who is teaching Japanese etiquette at the dining table. The meal starts at 11:45 am and costs $75 a person. RSVP to George Kaiho at 214-220-2828.

Sunday Super at Urban Acres Farmstead
Join Urban Acres for a hearty meal of local, organic and sustainable food served family-style, including turkey pot pie (with turkey pasture-raised at Richardson Farms in Rockdale) winter greens salad and dessert. This event is BYOB, and there are 30 seats available at $30 per person. It lasts from 6-9 pm. Reserve online.

Taste of Bishop Arts Walking Tour
From 1-4:30 pm, visit spots like Dude, Sweet Chocolate; Eno's; Veracruz; and Lockhart Smokehouse. You also learn about the history of Oak Cliff as you stroll past hangouts of Bonnie and Clyde, rekindle memories of Dallas' busiest trolley stop, and slip into the area's many boutiques and galleries. Food samples are included in the $40 ticket price; you're on your own for drinks. A minimum of eight people is required; the maximum number of walkers is 15. Buy tickets here.

Monday, February 23

KidLinks presents Symphony of Chefs at Hilton Anatole
This event starts with a cocktail reception at 6 pm, featuring an intimate performance by members of the Dallas Chamber Symphony. At 7, renowned area chefs — including Mico Rodriguez, Chad Houser, John Franke and Brad Phillips — prepare five-course dinners tableside for tables of 10. Proceeds provide funding of therapeutic music initiatives for critically ill and special needs children across North Texas and the United States. Individual seats start at $1,000; tables of 10 range from $5,000-$15,000.

Learn all about tequila at the Tequila Appreciation Society Social presented by Herradura on February 17.

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Cool new hang

Rollin Joe's coffee shop to open in old New York Sub space by SMU Dallas

Rendering courtesy of Rollin Joes

Rollin Joe's is going into the old New York Sub space across from SMU.

The iconic former New York Sub space across from Southern Methodist University is being amped up as a cool new off-campus hang: Rollin Joe's, an all-day, music-driven, coffee and beverage shop, will open at 3411 Asbury St., Dallas.

It will debut in late summer or early fall 2026, says a release, in time to serve espresso drinks, matcha, smoothies, and teas to a new crop of undergrads who need caffeine.

Rollin Joe's comes from SMU alumnus (and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' nephew) Jerry W. Mooty, Jr. and hospitality veteran Kirk Thompson, who are transforming the longtime campus-area location into an all-day destination "pairing quality beverages with curated music, comfortable spaces and a community-focused atmosphere," the release says.

The location is notable for generations of SMU students and Park Cities residents who loved New York Sub, which had occupied the space since 1974, before closing earlier this year.

According to the release, Rollin Joe's will encompass 1,373 square feet with seating for 45 to 50. Features will include a covered patio, walk-up ordering, and a "Quick Sip" window for customers on the go.

The menu will focus on beverages, including coffee and espresso drinks, matcha beverages, specialty teas, smoothies, protein drinks, refreshers, energy beverages, grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks.

Notably, it will not sell alcohol. This is not a bar, frat boys.

Rollin Joe's will be an all-day coffee spot.Rendering courtesy of Rollin Joe's

Rollin Joe's will operate from morning through late evening, transitioning from coffee runs and study sessions to afternoon meetups and evening gatherings.

Music will also be a priority. According to the release, house music will be part of the daily soundtrack, with live DJs performing several nights per week and occasional guest DJs to help set the vibe.

For Mooty, the location was a key part of the project.

"The former New York Sub location holds a special place in the hearts of generations of SMU students and Park Cities residents," Mooty said in a statement. "When the opportunity arose to bring new life to the space, we saw a chance to honor that legacy while creating a new gathering place built around great drinks, music, community and meaningful connections."

Mooty is CEO and principal of Christie's International Real Estate @properties Lone Star. He says the idea for Rollin Joe's dates back more than a decade.

To clarify, the namesake "Joe" is not necessarily a person, but a concept, and what he's "rollin'" is, well, left to the imagination. As the release explains, "At the center of the brand is 'Joe' - a laid-back, music-loving personality who embodies the culture and spirit of Rollin Joe's. More than a host, Joe represents the welcoming, upbeat experience the founders hope to create for every guest who walks through the door."

Mooty explains, "The Rollin Joe's concept - and Joe's distinctive look and personality - has been a passion project of mine since I left the legal profession in 2012. I always believed in Joe as the focus of a beverage concept, but I knew bringing him to life would require operational expertise I didn't yet have."

Thompson joined the project after moving to Texas in 2024. His background includes owning and operating Panera Bread franchises in Kentucky and Florida, as well as Jimmy John's locations in Austin.

"When Jerry showed me what he had created, I immediately saw the potential," Thompson says. "The beverage category is evolving rapidly, and there was an opportunity to build something different - something that combines exceptional drinks, hospitality, music, and community."

The space was designed by Alexander Quintanilla of Q-ARC. According to the release, the design draws inspiration from music culture, vinyl listening lounges, and modern cafés, with comfortable seating, greenery, and lighting intended to complement the music-focused atmosphere.

coffee shop smu openings coffee