Social News

New Dallas mega-concept combining food and games debuts in Addison

The Sidecar menu includes this bodacious burger.

Photo courtesy of Sidecar Social

Restaurants attached to mega-entertainment venues have become a hot-hot trend, and now there's a new one opening in Addison. Called Sidecar Social, it'll open at 5100 Belt Line Rd. at the Village on the Parkway complex on the corner of Dallas North Tollway.

A release describes Sidecar Social as a 20,000-square foot "social lounge experience" from Brent Tipps, founder of the BoomerJack's sports-bar chain, that will open in August.

Tipps says in a statement that Sidecar Social — which is no relation to Punch Bowl Social, a similar concept from Denver with a similar name — fills the need for a place to hang out, relax, and connect with friends.

"Everything about Sidecar Social is designed around that," Tipps says. "From shareable plates to free games, we built a place you can bring a friend to and go from dinner and drinks to games and music — you feel like you don't want to leave."

The concept features interactive attractions geared for adults, in a modern industrial setting.

There's food made in a scratch kitchen, craft cocktails, free classic games, private karaoke, live music, and game-watching on 18-foot televisions and on a tree-shaded patio with flat screens.

Food and drink
The menu includes dishes such as adult mac 'n' cheese, grilled cauliflower steak, charred corn guacamole, smoked burnt end nachos, and wood-oven grilled flatbreads.

There are also "artisan salads," grilled kabobs, and sandwiches such as the Nashville hot, short rib French dip, and Akaushi ground beef burger with chimichurri sauce. Entrees include chicken & waffles, lemon dill salmon, and hanger steak.

Two main bars include one horseshoe bar and convivial lounge area off the main dining room with views of the kitchen and guests; and a giant, rectangular bar in the primary two-story "showroom," boasting three 18-foot televisions, two bocce courts, shuffleboard, and generous banquettes with views of the live music stage.

Cocktails include the Elderflower Paloma, the Strawberry Basil Bees Knees, and the Italian 76. Drink specials include $5 craft cocktails on Tuesdays, $5 martinis on Wednesdays, half-price wine and happy hour drinks from open until 6 pm on weekdays.

Entertainment
Free indoor games — "for grownups," they're super into emphasizing the idea that this is adult-driven — include a giant, eight-person foosball table, private ping-pong room, shuffleboard, bocce ball, pop-a-shot, corn hole, and darts.

Live entertainment acts will perform Thursdays-Saturdays on a remote, retractable platform, including acoustic acts, live dance bands, and DJs. Additional staging areas on the patio and main dining room will be available to host DJs and acoustic acts.

Local restaurant and live music industry veteran and General Manager Steve Richardson plans to bring the best acts from the regional music scene to Sidecar Social.

Atmosphere
Décor and atmosphere include high ceilings, an exhibition kitchen, wrought iron, brick, and "genuine handcrafted" wood accents, leaded-glass windows, modern wood and leather furnishings, and industrial lighting.

Private karaoke rooms will overlook the second floor alongside a lounge they describe as "sumptuous," with views of the music stage, dance floor, games, and bar.

To the right of the main entrance will be an elevated dog-friendly patio, with many trees preserved to provide shade. Weatherizing features have been added for humans and their pets.

Sidecar Social is working with Operation Kindness, the largest no-kill shelter in North Texas, as its charity partner, with regular events including fundraisers and adoptions. Proceeds from a doggie entrée bowl menu item for pets will benefit Operation Kindness.

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Wine Bar News

Sultry Mexican wine bar-cocktail lounge to open in Dallas' Bishop Arts

Valle

Valle Bishop Arts

There's an exciting new bar spinoff coming to Dallas' Bishop Arts: Called Valle, it'll open at 509 North Bishop Ave. #C, in the former Bishop Cider Taproom, where it will serve as a sultry Mexican wine bar and cocktail lounge.

Valle is a sibling to Vinito, the Mexican wine and beer shop that opened at 939 W. Jefferson Blvd. in 2023, from partners Arturo Flores and Eduardo Mendoza.

With Vinito focused on retail sales, Flores & Mendoza decided to spread the love for Mexican wine by offering a place where patrons could sit down and enjoy a glass or bottle, plus beer, agaves, and craft cocktails as well.

"We've loved championing Mexican wines at Vinito and thought we could take our customers to the next experience," Flores says.

Vinito offers more than 100 labels of Mexican wine in every varietal: tempranillo, malbec, rose, sparkling, chardonnay, chenin blanc. Prices are reasonable, with many bottles in the $30 range, topping out at $120 for a Monte Xanic Gran Ricardo vintage 2021. They also have all the classic Mexican beers: Modelo, Bohemia, Corona, Dos Equis.

At Valle, they'll offer wines by the bottle plus a dozen wines by the glass, and flights that celebrate regions of Mexico. The menu also has a special category dedicated to "Agaves," with tequilas, mezcales, and sotol; and a handful of craft cocktails such as a margarita, paloma, and a carajillo de olla, a coffee cocktail with tequila, Spanish liqueur Licor 43, and cold brew.

"We know that not everybody drinks wine, and we want people to feel welcome and have options," Mendoza says.

They'll do snacks and finger foods, like chips & salsa and nuts, but the space has no kitchen and the focus will be on the bar. They'll be open daily from 4 pm to midnight, and until 2 am on weekends. They're hoping to launch their soft opening in the next week.

Mendoza has a strong hospitality background, and was previously general manager at Meso Maya, where they met; Flores worked there while pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During the pandemic, they started having conversations over wine and became inspired.

"When people think about Mexico, they think about beer, mezcal, tequila, but not wine, and we wanted to change that," Mendoza says.

The bar is named for Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico, the "Napa Valley of Mexico" and the region where the majority of wine in the country is grown. They're planning to offer a wine club, with exclusive tastings, events, and new bottles available to participants.

They've also partnered with relevant businesses such as Santitos, a syrup company based in Oak Cliff that makes syrups with Mexican-inspired flavors; and Four Corner Brewery, whose Firme Azul beer they'll serve and donate the proceeds to a Hispanic scholarship fund. They're getting coffee beans from Caffetio Co., based in Austin but born in Monterrey, Mexico.

“We are big advocates for the Hispanic community, and our partnerships reflect that," Flores says.

For the location, they were aided by Amanda Moreno-Lake, President of Redevelopment and Partner at Jim Lake Companies, and a big supporter who helped them find their spot for Vinito as well.

"I saw the vision and plans and knew I wanted to help Eduardo and Arturo," she says. "Sometimes small businesses need that chance to grow and succeed."

Flores says they've completely redone the 700-square-foot space, with bar seating for 10, four high-top tables, and a lounge area with leather chairs and coffee table.

"It's intimate," Flores says. "Where Vinito is light and warm, Valle is dark and cozy, with a deep green and gold palette — like the evil sister of Vinito."

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