Coronavirus News

These are the best cocktail kits mixed up by Dallas restaurants and bars

All you need is a shaker and some ice.

Photo by Eddie Clarke

The coronavirus pandemic may be keeping Dallas in, but it's not keeping Dallas restaurants down, and cocktail kits are the perfect example.

While restaurants and bars are temporarily shuttered, Texas Governor Greg Abbott — in one of the few good things he has ever done — issued a waiver allowing them to sell alcohol to go. He could've done better by allowing them to sell their actual mixed drinks to go — better for the restaurants, better for customers. But Abbott's rule says that restaurants can only sell alcohol in bottles.

This has spawned a wave of creativity from restaurants who are creating kits where you buy the booze, mixer, garnishes, and any other ingredients to make your cocktails at home.

Note: If you want to purchase alcohol, TABC laws require that you purchase a food item. Good old TABC!

AvoEatery
Avocado-themed restaurant at Trinity Groves, has a slew of kits, with cute "avo" twists on the name: Avopalmer for $30, Avocolado kits for $30, margaritas for $35, Ranch Water kits for $35, and Old Fashioneds for $25. 469-436-7231.

Beto & Son
Tex-Mex restaurant at Trinity Groves, has five kits: Margarita, Ranch Water, Moscow Mule, and Carajillo for curbside pickup or delivery through Favor, plus mimosa kits for Sunday brunch.

Blue Goose Cantina
Tex-Mex fave has numerous cocktail kits including a "Goose-a-Rita" four pack, frozen or on the rocks, for $38; a Ranch Water kit with Lunazul and Topo Chico; a Tito's kit with choice of Zing Zang bloody Mary mix or OJ; and a Blue Goose pitcher that makes 2 gallons, for $14. Order online for curbside pickup at your nearest location.

Bowen House
Uptown hangout has five "DIY" Cocktail Kits, packaged with sealed 375 ml bottle and juices. Options include Old-Fashioned with Maker's Mark bourbon; Herbal Collins with Tito's vodka, lemon, rosemary, basil, and Topo Chico; Daiquiri with Pyrat rum; Immunity Tonic with New Amsterdam gin, lime, ginger, and turmeric Jalapeno Mint Paloma with Camarena Silver Tequila, mint jalapeno, and grapefruit soda. Call ahead at 214-484-1385.

Blue Mesa
The Addison and Fort Worth locations of this Southwestern chain are doing quarts and gallons of margaritas. Call 972-934-0165.

Biscuit Bar
Biscuit concept is offering a dozen batch cocktails including margaritas with Sauza Gold, Herradura Agave, and Grand Marnier for $35; Blackberry Tequila Smash for $30; Brunch Punch, a pineapple-lemon-almond punch with sparkling wine for $19; Low Country Lemonade with Wild Turkey whiskey for $24; Front Porch tea with grapefruit vodka and peach liqueur for $24. Menu here.

Bulla Gastrobar
Spanish restaurant in Legacy West has $25 Red and White Sangria Pitchers.

Cane Rosso
Neapolitan pizza chain has Moscow mule kits including a mix-at-home version of their Pomegranate Mule: You get ginger beer, lime, and pomegranate-hibiscus syrup, ready for mixing with Tito's Vodka, for only $8.

Casa Dragones
Tequila company has Ranch Water Cocktail Kits available at Pogo's for grab-and-go curbside pickup or delivery that include Casa Dragones Blanco 750ml, two Topo Chico, and two limes, for $65.

HG Sply Co
Paleo chain has cocktail kits and bottles of spirits via delivery from an in-house team. Call 877-832-8723.

Hide
Deep Ellum bar has nine kits including Old Fashioned, Margarita, Martini, Jameson Mule, and Southside Vodka. $60. Order online for curbside pickup from 4-8:30 pm.

Il Bracco
Preston Center restaurant has four premium bottled cocktails for curbside pickup or delivery via Alto: Old Fashioned with Knob Creek bourbon, the Aviation with London Dry gin and dry cherry, margarita with Hornitos Plata, and Cosmopolitan with Effen Vodka, all $12. Call 214-361-0100.

Jaxon Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden
Downtown restaurant has cocktails for delivery available in 375ml bottles with seven cocktails per batch order. Flavors include Spicy Pineapple Margarita, Highwest Double Rye Old Fashioned, and Tito’s Raspberry Gimlet. $30-$50. A Mimosa kit has choice of prosecco or sparkling rose with OJ, strawberry-grapefruit juie, and pineapple-upside down mix for $40; a bloody Mary kit has 35ml Tito's vodka and Jaxon's BBQ mix for $45, makes 7 drinks. Delivery available via Grubhub, Caviar, Door Dash and Alto.

Jose
Park Cities Mexican restaurant has margarita kits to go in three options: The Usual with a bottle of Casamigos Tequila 16 ounces of José margarita mix, Topo Chico, and a turbo salt blend for $90; an Avión Margarita Kit with a 375ml bottle of Avión Tequila, 16 ounces of José margarita mix, Topo Chico, turbo salt blend, and an Avión-branded mixing glass, for $45; and Mimosas, with a bottle of Prosecco, OJ, and cranberry juice, for $25. Call 214-891-5673 to order; call in advance to sign up for a time slot to pick up in the valet Monday-Friday 3-8 pm or Saturday 10 am-8 pm.

Las Almas Rotas
Expo Park bar has cool kits where you just add booze, plus special hard-to-find liquors. Their $8 margarita kit has lime juice and orange bitters; pair it with a 375ml bottle of their La Gritona Tequila for $34. Their Gem & Bolt Mezcal Kit comes with a 200ml bottle of Gem & Bolt Damiana infused mezcal, 200ml bottle of Gema de Sangre cocktail mix, two jicaras, a pair of handmade dice, and a handmade gem in a canvas bottle bag, for $45. Order online for curbside pickup from 5-10 pm Tuesday-Friday and 12-10 pm Saturday-Sunday. Call 972-685-5666.

Mariano's Hacienda
Mexican restaurant has a margarita kit to-go with 375ml of Herradura silver tequila, lime juice, triple sec, that makes 8 margaritas, for $45. Call ahead for curbside pickup at their six area locations (including La Hacienda Ranch), Wednesday-Sunday 11:30 am-8:30 pm.

Mesero
Mex chain has three kits: margarita with 12-ounce shaker, 3.75ml bottle of tequila blanco, and 18 ounces of Mesero's citrus mixer, for $50 — makes four with two extra shots; and a bloody Maria kit with tequila, maria mix, and veggie skewers, for $50 — makes four, with two extra shots. They also have a mimosa kit with sparkling brut and OJ, but it comes with disposable plastic flutes, boo don't get that. Call the closest location to pre-order.

Meso Maya
Mex-Mex chain has a Margarita Kit starting at $35, and a Ranch Water Kit starting at $45. Call to order for curbside/takeout from their Lakewood (469-998-1182) or Preston Forest (469-726-4390) locations, Monday-Saturday 11 am-8 pm. They recommend paying over the phone or else bring your own pen.

Mi Cocina
For your Mambo Taxi needs, some locations of this Dallas chain has frozen margarita kits with non-alcoholic frozen margaritas made with sugar-free, non-alcoholic triple sec; add tequila or purchase a margarita kit with a 200 ml bottle of tequila. Call your nearest location.

Mot Hai Ba
East Dallas restaurant has three cocktail kits which serve 4, all boasting Vietnamese twists: Their "Viet Marry" has vodka, tomato juice, soy sauce, and sriracha, for $45. Their Mimosa has Champagne and a choice of juices such as orange/mint or grapefruit/basil, for $40 The Le Sang kit has gin, turmeric, and Thai basil, and is $45. Call ahead at 972-638-7468 or email mothaibadallas@gmail.com.

Perry's
Steakhouse has curbside cocktail kits for $45 with five cocktails, includes pre-portioned mix, small-format liquor, and garnish. Options include Bourbon Bloom, Cucumber Blueberry, Perry Berry Mule, Smoky Rita, and Jameson Mocha Old-Fashioned. To pre-order for curbside pickup, order online or call Uptown 214-855-5151, Grapevine 682-477-2261, or Frisco 214-494-4645.

Primo's MX Kitchen & Lounge
Uptown Tex-Mex has nine cocktail kits including margaritas for four or six, with choice of tequila, plus mix, limes, salt, and plastic cups, in choice of on the rocks or frozen. Other kits include martini with Tito's or Grey Goose vodka, olive juice, and olives for $28; and an Old-Fashioned kit with Wild Turkey or Knob Creek plus an orange, simple syrup, and 6 "fat" ice cubes for $28. Call 214-935-5111 or email hello@primosuptown.com.

Ruins
Deep Ellum bar has six kits including an espresso martini with house-made cold brew for $40; and a tropical daiquiri with Cruzan rum, passionfruit, and lime, $40 for six. They do curbside pickup during limited hours: Friday-Sunday 12-9 pm. Call 972-707-0607 or order online.

Shell Shack
Kits feature single-serving bottles of Fireball, Jameson, Crown, and tequila with your choice of mixer. A Taylormade Adult Cherry Limeade kit has a 375ml bottle with 3/4 gallon of their signature mix for $60. Call 844-588-2722.

Shinsei
Japanese restaurant has four kits including their signature Blood Orange Margarita with Casamigos tequila and fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, for $55; and a mule with Tito's and Fever Tree ginger beer for $45. plus bottles of Sake. Call 214-352-0005 for curbside pickup; they also do free delivery if you're within 4 miles.

Whiskey Cake
Plano restaurant has a variety of kits including the Tennessee Stud Cocktail Kit with Jack Daniel’s, lemon juice, honey syrup, and an orange, enough for 6 cocktails, $30; Guava Gimlet with Tito's Vodka and a pre-mixed guava gimlet mix for $35; Bloody Mary with Tito's Vodka, Zing Zang bloody Mary mix, and Tapatio hot sauce; and Mimosa Kits with two bottles of bubbles and a 16-ounce bottle of fresh squeezed OJ. Follow their Facebook page for updates, and there's no ordering ahead — just show up at the restaurant between 10:30 am-1 pm, and it's kind of a madhouse.

cocktails

Spring Arrival

West Dallas gets new Spanish-Peruvian restaurant with big-name chef

Photo courtesy of Ulloa's

Paella will be on the menu.

A new restaurant with a high-profile culinary director will bring Spanish and Peruvian flavors to West Dallas: Called Ulloa’s, it is coming to 727 Fort Worth Ave., with a projected opening in March 2027.

The concept is from philanthropists Susan and Woodrow Gandy, who were previously investors in the historic Belmont Hotel just around the corner. They've teamed up with Dallas celebrity chef Kent Rathbun as culinary director, along with Christopher Tunnell as general manager to lead the front of the house.

Rathbun is a name Dallas diners know well, with a resume that includes The Mansion on Turtle Creek, the Landmark Restaurant at the historic Melrose Hotel, Seventeen Seventeen at the Dallas Museum of Art, Abacus, Jasper's, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen, and more. He's won numerous awards and made multiple appearances on Food Network. He was most recently behind the launch of On The Rocks, an Italian bistro in Burleson.

Chef Kent Rathbun will be the culinary director of Ulloa's. Photo courtesy of Kent Rathbun

Tunnell’s background spans both culinary direction and front-of-house operations. He worked at Los Angeles hot spots Ketchup, Geisha House, and Les Deux, as well as the Mandalay Bay and The Mirage in Las Vegas, before moving to Dallas to open The Mexican, the upscale restaurant in the Design District.

“I am truly excited to partner with Chef Kent Rathbun, whose reputation is amazing — not only in the DFW Metroplex, but in the culinary world,” Tunnell says. “He has been with this project since the beginning, helping develop it; this will be a very chef-driven, culinary-forward restaurant.”

The team's vision for Ulloa’s is both culinary and urban, with hopes of anchoring the corridor and attracting other businesses to Fort Worth Avenue — a stretch connecting downtown Dallas with Oak Cliff that remains somewhat underdeveloped despite its panoramic skyline views.

The restaurant is named for Spanish explorer, astronomer, and scientist Antonio de Ulloa, who spent extensive time in the Mexican peninsula before becoming Louisiana’s first governor. During his travels, Ulloa documented a fogbow — a circular rainbow formed when sunlight meets mist that causes silhouettes standing between the sun and fog to appear ringed in light, a phenomenon known today as “Ulloa’s Rings.”

That vibrant phenomenon inspired both the restaurant's identity and logo. The concept promises "bold, worldly flavors in a welcoming neighborhood setting inspired by exploration and discovery,” the owners say.

Ulloa's Rendering of Ulloa's.Rendering courtesy of Ulloa's

While the menu remains in development, Tunnell describes the culinary direction as “Spanish soul with a Peruvian heart.” The kitchen will merge the coastal flavors of both traditions — ranging from paellas and ceviches to crafted cocktails and signature adaptations by Rathbun.

The 200-seat, two-story space will feature a downstairs dining room, a large bar, and an outdoor patio. Upstairs, plans call for a secondary bar, a private dining room, a patio, and an expansive balcony patio, offering views of the city's skyline and of the Margaret Hunt Hill and Margaret McDermott bridges.

While the upstairs space will be available for private events, the owners intend for it to operate primarily as an organic extension of the main restaurant. The buildout will include a guest elevator along with ample parking, including both self-parking and valet options.

The team says the restaurant will have have an aesthetic that's “warm, theatrical, generous, elegant but alive, with the energy of a great Spanish tapas bar and the soul of Peruvian hospitality.”

Ulloa’s plans to launch with dinner service first, followed by lunch and weekend brunch.

restaurants bars peruvian flavors west dallas oak cliff kent rathbun