Downtown Dish

Upscale picnic spot City Park Cafe is ready to roll in Main Street Garden

There's a name and a date for the restaurant concept going into the kiosk at Main Street Garden: City Park Cafe. In bigger news, it's opening this weekend. Owner Joe Groves says the cafe will celebrate a soft opening on Saturday, November 9, as part of the festivities surrounding the erecting of the park's Christmas tree.

"The cranes will be out there, and we'll be serving on the patio," Groves says. From there, he plans to be open for real next week.

This space has had its share of hard times. First it was Lily Pad, then Rusty Taco, which lasted less than a year. "The optimist in me says it's because it hasn't been given the love it needs," he says.

He's also uniquely qualified, because he already has a place downtown, Ellen's Southern Kitchen in the West End.

"The beauty is that the kiosk is designed in a way that you cannot have a working kitchen in there," he says. "Everybody that's tried it has had to cater the food from another location. Ellen's is only eight blocks away."

The food will be prepared in Ellen's kitchen and brought over to the kiosk a few times a day. But the menu by Ellen's chef Russell Mertz won't be the same; City Parks Cafe will serve sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, potato salad and an all-day cereal bar.

"I don't really love this phrase, but we're calling it upscale picnic food," Groves says. "The whole concept is to treat it as a backyard for those of us who live downtown. I live across the street. I get up and look at it every morning. You have people walking through. It has a lot of traffic.

"If you view it as downtown's backyard, what do you do in your backyard? You have cookouts, events, friends over, you drink. We're going to have beer and wine. You have food you can handle, you can hold in your hand, but it's still really good, not processed or from some microwave."

It'll have breakfast too, because it will be open from 7:30 am to 10 pm every night. If it does anywhere near as well as Ellen's, it'll do very well.

"We're having great fun at Ellen's," Groves says. "It started as a little diner concept, and we just welcomed our 100,000th guest as of last Sunday. The popularity we're enjoying has been insane. We're grateful for it."

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Holiday News

Dallas has gone bonkers for 'Brunch With Santa' in 2023

Electric Shuffle

Brunch with Santa at Electric Shuffle

Dallas can't seem to get enough of Santa right now. It's not enough to have him for "Photos With," we want him on our train rides, we want him for breakfast, we want him for brunch.

"Brunch With Santa" (and its earlier "Breakfast With Santa" twin) have become a hot-hot holiday dining trend in 2023, with a host of places offering a perk to Dallas' favorite meal (brunch): the presence of Santa while you sip your mimosa and scarf French toast.

The uptick is part of a Santa boom that started last year, according to Santa-for-hire companies like RentSantaDFW and HireSanta.com, which is based in Southlake and is the largest Santa supplier in the world.

HireSanta.com owner Mitchell Allen, who appeared on Shark Tank in 2018, says that his company has added more than 1,100 new Santas this year to a database that already has thousands around the world. Everyone wants Santa, and it's not just the mall: for company parties, personal parties, bar events, and yes, brunch.

"It's part of the continuing move to get back to normal after COVID," Allen says. "We have Santas in every state, the middle east, China, Dubai, so we have a good perspective on Santa, and it has exploded, for the second year in a row. Bookings for 2023 have jumped by 155 percent from last year, and 2022 was a watershed."

During trying times, people often turn to traditions — which could help explain why we're seeing an almost frenetic embrace of holiday-themed festivities in 2023: more light shows, Hallmark Channel hotel rooms, more Christmas bar pop-ups, more holiday teas, more more more. Consider: An espresso martini toast to Santa might help you forget that you're deeply deeply in debt.

In prior years, Dallas may have seen one Brunch with Santa, maybe two. This year, we've counted nine places bringing in the jolly fellow to hang while you nosh on your hash:

Electric Shuffle: Santa Brunch, December 16 and December 17, 10 am-4 pm
Electric Shuffle was a Santa brunch pioneer - this is their third year hosting their annual Santa Brunch, and they do it up big, with prizes for the ugliest sweater, live DJs, and an appearance from the big man himself. "We think it’s a fun way for adults to get into the Christmas Spirit and feel like a kid again (only this time with booze)," a spokesperson says. Every guest receives a whole bottle of prosecco, with brunch boards and pizza served family-style. 90 minutes of shuffleboard are included in the $50 per person price with reservations open for groups of 4 to 20.

Epic Waters: Breakfast with SantaDecember 9 and December 16, 9 am
Breakfast with Santa features a two-hour magical Christmas Experience. You’ll get a complimentary souvenir photo with Santa, a breakfast buffet, holiday crafts, and all-day holiday splash and play privileges. Doors open at 8:30 am. Buy tickets online to guarantee admission. Tickets are $64 or $29 for kids under 3 years old.

The Finch: Breakfast With SantaDecember 10 and December 17, from 10 am-12 pm
The Finch is hosting its first annual Breakfast with Santa on the next two Sundays in December. Festive morning brunch with delightful surprises includes an Unlimited Hot Cocoa Bar where you can ⁠build-your-own hot cocoa with a variety of toppings. Diners will get a complimentary photo with Santa, but reservations are required.

Fowling Warehouse : Fowling Brunch With SantaDecember 10 from 11 am-1 pm
Have brunch and play at Fowling Warehouse in this family-friendly event. Fowling Warehouse DFW does not normally offer brunch, but they wanted to celebrate the seasonal Santa experience and offer something kid-friendly and new. $15 per child includes pictures with Santa, gingerbread cookie decorating, arts & crafts, a letter to Santa, pancakes, and Fowling play. Adults are $10 with pancakes and mimosas for $3, plus game contest and Fowling play.

Maguire's: Brunch With Santa, December 10, from 10 am-3 pm
Santa photos will be available from 10 am-12 pm. Enjoy dishes unique to Maguire's Bistro brunch menu like Quiche Du Jour, the Three Amigos (with 3 flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, jack & cheddar cheese & chorizo served with guacamole & pico de gallo), and Steak & Eggs with 6-oz filet mignon, two eggs, fruit, and breakfast potatoes. Reserve here.

Renny's: Brunch With Santa, December 9, from 10 am-3 pm
Santa will be available for photos from 10 am-12 pm. Renny's brunch menu features dishes like a Sticky Bun Skillet with three housemade rolls with cinnamon, pecans, and caramel; a Monte Cristo - beer battered stuffed with ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijonnaise, topped with raspberry sauce & powdered sugar; or Renny's Biscuits & Gravy. Renny's also offers cocktails and a Mimosa Mini Bar featuring a bottle of House Prosecco or Champagne + choice of two juices and berries for $29. Reserve here.

Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar: Breakfast with Santa, December 10 and December 17, from 10 am-3 pm
Harwood already has the holiday thing aced: They have one of the largest outdoor Christmas trees in Dallas which has become a destination during the holiday. They wanted to enhance their Christmas programming by adding a holiday event at the historic Saint Ann’s that is family- and kid-friendly. Thus: a lavish holiday breakfast buffet with spinach & sausage strata, sausage kolaches, potato hash, 4 cheese mac & cheese, French toast fingers, waffles, chicken tenders, salads, plus holiday music and a special visit & photos with Santa. $55 or $35 for 12 and under.

Stirr: Santa Brunch, December 9 and December 16, from 10 am-12 pm
Get ready for a ho-ho-whole lot of fun with the real Black Santa who is making Saturday morning stops in Dallas throughout December, bringing his merry vibes and soulful spirit. Festive Santa brunch will include free Santa portraits and a special brunch experience with classic chicken & grits and their giant cinnamon roll, plus holiday drinks like their maple bacon Old Fashioned or Rudolph's Spritzer, in a large format to share with friends. Reservations are required.

Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, Breakfast With Santa, December 9 and December 16 and December 23, from 10 am-12 pm
Frisco resort has been doing Breakfast with Santa for the past two years, as place where families could celebrate together and bring joy to kids' faces, both big and small. They're hosting three dates filled with activities for the kids and special visits from Santa. Indulge in a brunch spread while the kids dive into activity stations such as cookie decorating and crafting their own gingerbread masterpiece to take home, plus an opportunity to engage and take a photo with Santa. The December 23 brunch will feature a visit from Mrs. Claus in addition to Santa. Tickets are $45 for adults, $35 for 12 and under. Reservations: for December 9, for December 16, for December 23.

Downtown Dish

Upscale picnic spot City Park Cafe is ready to roll in Main Street Garden

Holiday News

Dallas has gone bonkers for 'Brunch With Santa' in 2023

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