Bar News

2 new companion Dallas high-energy restaurant-bars debut in Deep Ellum

There'll be food, drink, music, and games.

Photo courtesy of So Clutch

Not one but two companion high-energy restaurant-bars are coming to Deep Ellum: Called The Sporting Club and Blüm, they're side-by-side venues that will open at 2516 Florence St., right off Good Latimer Expressway, and according to a release, will make their much anticipated debut on April 15.

The venues are a new concept from SoClutch Group, a hospitality company that owns bars in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and Houston. They'll span 22,000 square feet, with two atmospheres for dining, drinking, and private events:

Blüm will be a Vegas-style day and night club serving Italian, Southern fusion while offering bottle service with a DJ driven high-energy atmosphere.
The Sporting Club will focus on sporting events and outdoor fun games such as corn hole, ping pong and table games. Large format cocktails and shareable bites will be offered.

The space was once home to a Sherwin Williams paint store, which has moved down the block, although its 40-foot-tall sign at the corner of Florence and Good Latimer remains. The location has been lavishly remodeled into an open concept which incorporates an extra-large outdoor space.

All rooms will have sports streaming, food, and DJ, including a lounge area that will blend the vibes of both Sporting Club and Blüm. Unique cocktails and games including vintage-style videogames will be motifs.

"We’re excited to bring The Sporting Club and Blüm to the Deep Ellum area. We’ve created a venue for the everyday sports viewer, girls night out and for people looking to take it up a level and party at our day and night club Blüm,” says Rico Taylor, Owner, SoClutch Group.

The two venues are housed in one venue, which can serve a broad range of times, from lunch to dinner to nightlife to brunch. Guests will be able to move around between spaces and have different social experiences.

Decor
Blüm is a botanical wonderland filled with a refined whimsy vibe featuring white paneled millwork paired with tropical palm wallpaper giving it a garden room feel.

The Sporting Club is a take on nostalgia and athletics with vintage patterns integrated throughout the space providing a comfortable yet energetic vibe.

A few elements have been carried throughout the whole space to provide cohesiveness such as the use of white and green to provide visual unity.

Cocktails
The extensive signature cocktail program features separate menus for both Sporting Club and Blüm inspired by the look and feel of the space.

Blüm’s drink menu includes a blend of unique libations with botanical and herbal highlights, such as the Lavender Bliss made with Gin, Lavender, Lemon, Lime and Egg White or the Night in Bangkok with Vodka, Thai Basil, Vanilla and Hellfire Bitters.

The Sporting Club menu includes four frozen drinks including the Peach Blossom Froze and the Strawberry Sangaree with Cruzan Light Rum, Red Wine, Strawberry, Orange and Nutmeg. Cocktails at the Sporting Club include the Hunting Dog featuring Vodka, Aperol, Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit and Salt, along with the Habanero Fresca made with Tequila, Cucumber, Basil, Lime and Habanero with a Tajin rim.

Additional brunch-inspired drinks will be available Saturday and Sunday. Each venue will feature beer and mimosa “Towers” that serve a minimum of four people. The drink program will also include an extensive wine and beer list.

Food
The dinner menu includes appetizers, such as the Burrata Bruschetta, Caramelized Onion Dip and a Fry Flight featuring an array of dipping sauces. Dinner options include specialty pizzas with house-made crusts, handhelds such as a Cheeseburger, Filet Sandwich or Hot & Spicy Chicken Sandwich. The menu also includes entrée options of Filet Mignon, Chilean Seabass and Double Cut Pork Chop among others. Dessert options include Confetti Cakes from local bakery Daisy Cakes. The Brunch menu includes traditional breakfast fare to include an Omelet, Eggs Benedict and breakfast with sweet options such as Blueberry Almond Buttermilk Pancakes and Italian French Toast.

SoClutch is not stopping here: They're also opening another venue called Vice Park, described as a lively Miami-influenced night club, two blocks away at 2601 Gaston Ave. in winter 2021.

The Sporting Club will be open Monday-Friday 4 pm-2 am, with weekend brunch on Saturdays-Sundays at 10 am. Blüm will be open Thursday-Friday 9 pm-2 am, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-2 am. For info, visit homeoftheplayers.com.

deep-ellum nightlife

Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

deep-ellum tex-mex openings