This November seems to be a time for change, but it also has us demanding a drink (or several). So these five new Dallas restaurants fit the bill, each offering cocktails we haven't encountered before but certainly will be ordering up again.
They're also good to keep in mind for when your out-of-town pals are back in Big D for Thanksgiving. Hit up your nostalgic favorites, then head to these brand-spanking-new spots for something unfamiliar and exciting.
The Cedars Backyard
Dallas seems to have a thing for "kitschy trailer parks," as evidenced by Goat Ranch, Ida Claire's Airstream, and Truck Yard. Travel further south and now you have the Cedars Backyard, a huge shipping container transformed into a bar that sits adjacent to Cedars Social on South Lamar. It might be a little chilly to get excited about a new patio space — and we mean new, it only opened on November 4 — but once spring hits, this could be the less-crowded alternative to Dallas' other patio-happy watering holes. Right now it's only open Friday-Sunday, depending on the weather, so if you want to try a Honeysuckle Shandy or any of the other 15 beers on tap, plan accordingly.
Grayson Social
You gotta have a gimmick, and this new restaurant in the LTV Tower on Elm Street has one in the form of a "club component." That translates to perks such as invites to private events and members-only pricing, which, okay, we all like to feel special by paying less. But whether you're part of the club or not, there's still a hefty cocktail list to go with the Southern menu. The Coffee Bomb (Saint Arnold Santos Black Kolsch, Borghetti espresso liqueur, house-made honey syrup, and China-China bitters) and Pear & Pepper (house-made Anaheim pepper-infused vodka, Combier, house-made honey syrup, and pear puree) are promising, but of course there's also a drink called the Beef & Bourbon, which serves up house-cured beef jerky attached to the side of the glass. Trailer parks and beef drinks: two of Dallas' new favorite things.
Kitchen LTO Deep Ellum
The permanent pop-up restaurant is back, having moved from Trinity Groves into the old Twenty Seven space in Deep Ellum. Josh Harmon is heading up the kitchen for the next six months, and his Southern-ish menu is backed by a handful of cocktails devised by mixologist Byron Crain and boasting some pretty clever names. Take the Basic Spice Girl, for example, which has Cana Bravo rum, allspice dram, pumpkin syrup, and citrus juice, or the Black Thai Optional, featuring Ford’s gin, Lichi-Li, Amaro Montenegro, simple syrup, egg whites, and lemon.
Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar
As the name implies, the bar gets equal weight at this Design District pizzeria. There are more than 35 taps pouring "everything from local beer to specialty wine to crafted cocktails." The beer has a nice Texas vibe while the wine is California-heavy, but the true draw with both is that they're half price when ordered to-go or with delivery. But if you're dining in, seek out the Frozen Ripsaw: roasted rosemary lemonade, vodka, and fresh fruit. The rest of the cocktail list is your typical assortment of smashes, mules, mojitos, and margaritas, but this refreshing libation is dangerously drinkable.
V-Eats
Dallas' newest vegan restaurant doesn't just mean business with the food — the drink menu also features vegan wines, beer, and craft cocktails, the latter of which are fashioned from cold-pressed juices, kombucha, and locally sourced herbs. Though small, the liquid offerings are tasty and include such positives as the Herb Garden, made with house herb-infused gin, lemon tonic, and fresh spinach juice.
