OSO Coming Soon

Dallas restaurant veteran Michael Cox fulfills dream with Oso Food and Wine

Longtime Dallas restaurateur Michael Cox is about to realize a life-long dream of owning his own place. The new restaurant, called OSO (pronounced "oh so"), will open this fall, at Preston and Forest.

The menu is, loosely, Mediterranean. The restaurant should be open by the end of October.

Cox is the former CEO of MCrowd Restaurant Group, parent of Mi Cocina, but he has been around the Dallas restaurant scene since the '80s, as co-owner with chef Stephan Pyles of iconic Southwestern restaurant Star Canyon. Cox resigned from MCrowd in January 2014, in order to assess what he wants to do with the next 15 years of his career.

"I left MCrowd to do this, to open a small restaurant company," Cox says. "There'll probably be at least one more in the future. I wanted to get back on a more personal level with guests and especially with my staff.

"It's going to be a very personal restaurant for the neighborhood, focusing on people who live in that area," he says. "I hope people will drive to visit it, but it's really a neighborhood restaurant."

He's still looking for a chef and general manager; he emphasizes the personal nature of the venture.

"I just want to have a personal restaurant where I take great care of my staff, and my staff takes great care of the customer," he says."We're not talking about sustainable, no craft bartender, no farm to table; we're going to do that but not talk about it. And I don't think there's a stick of reclaimed wood in America.

"We will be focused on the food, value-driven, since it is a neighborhood place."

Cox says the restaurant is going to open for dinner, and it will be closed on Sundays. "We're not trying to burn the doors down or make every single dime we can."

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Pop-up News

Dallas is one of 5 cities hosting a Mariah Carey holiday pop-up bar

Bucket Listers

Mariah Carey bar

A new celebrity-driven bar is coming to Dallas from the self-styled Queen of Christmas: Called Mariah Carey Black Irish Holiday Bar, it's a holiday pop-up that will camp out at Virgin Dallas Hotel, beginning November 15 and running through December 29.

Black Irish by Mariah Carey is the Irish cream liqueur founded and inspired by the heritage of the global singer-songwriter. The brand is partnering with Virgin Hotels to create a Mariah Carey Black Irish Holiday Bar at select Virgin Hotels, including Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Orleans, and New York City.

Mariah Carey’s Black Irish Holiday Bar at Virgin Hotels will feature a full takeover that transforms various spaces into a holiday-themed winter wonderland.

Interactive features include:

stepping into a magical holiday window photo display adorned with a custom All I Want For Christmas Is You neon sign
sitting on a festive wreath to recreate the iconic album cover from Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special
interactive photo booth
Black Irish Christmas tree
‘letters to Mariah’ station
lyric wall

Menu
These festive Black Irish cocktails can be sipped in this captivating holiday-inspired experience that feels like straight out of a holiday music video

Signature Espresso Martini featuring Black Irish Irish Cream and a candy cane rim
Martini Flight that includes a White Chocolate Martini made with Black Irish White Chocolate Irish Cream and topped with cotton candy and glitter, a Reposado Tequila Espresso Martini with Black Irish Irish Cream garnished with a cinnamon stick, and a Bourbon Martini infused with Salted Caramel Black Irish Irish Cream topped with a chocolate covered pretzel rim
Cocoa Coffee spiked with Black Irish Irish Cream and topped with red and green glitter sprinkles and edible butterflies.

The pop-up’s design is created in partnership with Bucket Listers, the team behind the viral Malibu Barbie Cafe, Diamonds and Rose Experience by Bravo, and Saved by the Max experiences.

Mariah Carey’s Black Irish Holiday Bar is a must-visit for any diehard Mariah fan or holiday lover. No trip through her signature winter wonderland would be complete without a lineup of Carey inspired interactive photo moments and exclusive merchandise.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Mariah Carey’s Black Irish and Bucket Listers to bring this holiday experience to life across select Virgin Hotels,” said James Bermingham, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Hotels Collection. “Born and raised in Ireland, this collaboration is the perfect way to start the holidays. Virgin Hotels has always been synonymous with entertainment and music, and this limited-time pop-up is a direct connection to that legacy.”

“I'm thrilled to partner with Virgin Hotels this holiday season to bring a truly unique experience to life, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s timeless classic, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You.’ This partnership not only highlights the festive spirit we embody at Black Irish but also showcases the incredible synergy between our brand and Mariah's iconic holiday presence. We're excited to offer guests at Virgin Hotels an unforgettable opportunity to enjoy a signature Black Irish cocktail alongside immersive holiday moments inspired by Mariah herself. It's the perfect way to toast to the season and celebrate this special milestone together,” said John Herzog, Black Irish CEO.

“Black irish cream is my new favorite! Especially in the holiday season, you can enjoy it over ice as well and in eggnog,” said Mariah Carey.

Tickets to Mariah Carey’s Black Irish Holiday Bar pop-up at Virgin Hotels includes:

● Virgin Hotels Chicago: Experience is available from Monday to Sunday, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 PM and 9:15 PM. Tickets start at $20 and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.

● Virgin Hotels Dallas: Experience is available from Monday to Sunday, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 PM and 9:15 PM. Tickets start at $20 and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.

● Virgin Hotels Nashville: Experience is available from Monday to Sunday, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 PM and 9:15 PM. Tickets start at $20 and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.

● Virgin Hotels New Orleans: Experience is available from Monday to Sunday, with 90-minute time slots offered between 4 PM and 8:30 PM. Tickets start at $20 and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.

● Virgin Hotels New York City: Experience is available from Monday to Sunday, with 90-minute time slots offered between 5 PM and 10:30 PM. Tickets start at $30 and include a complimentary Black Irish welcome cocktail.

Brunch will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM, priced at $65 per person. Each brunch ticket includes a Black Irish welcome cocktail and an entrée.

Black Irish by Mariah Carey isn’t just another Irish cream — it's a statement. Born from Mariah’s heritage and crafted with aged Irish whiskey, this award-winning liqueur brings indulgence to every pour. Available in three mouthwatering flavors – Original, Salted Caramel, and White Chocolate – each sip is a blend of smooth, rich decadence.

food-trucks holidays celebrities