This week in gluttony

These are the 10 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

The Sicilian Butcher will mark one year in Dallas with a party this week.

The Sicilian Butcher/Facebook

A mid-week back-to-school brunch for moms kicks things off, followed by a chef collaboration dinner, a French afternoon tea, and a chance to break an unofficial world record for the largest group to slam a classic Irish cocktail at the same time. Dress up for a red carpet anniversary party on Saturday - Sicilian style - with a celeb chef.

Wednesday, August 12

Bad Moms Brunch at The Revel Patio Grill
With school back in session this week, moms who are officially “off the clock” are invited to this midweek brunch at Frisco’s Revel Patio Grill. Trade the carpool line for a cocktail and enjoy a mimosa and bloody Mary bar, brunch dishes, music bingo, and zero responsibilities – for a couple hours, at least. The brunch will run from 11 am-1 pm.

Chef Collective Series at Meridian
Next up in Meridian’s chef collaboration dinner series is Phillip Halff of the intimate private pop-up dinner concept Halff Culinaire. Halff will join Meridian chef Eduardo Osorio to create a five-course dinner that will progress from inventive bites through seafood, vegetables, meats, and a seasonal dessert. The experience is $185 and seating times run from 4:30-8:45 pm.

Thursday, August 13

Novel-Tea: Book Club & High Tea at Ida Claire
The Addison outlet of Southern-inspired dining destination has launched a monthly book club and tea service. Participants can enjoy a curated menu of tea sandwiches and choice of tea or tea-inspired cocktail while connecting with fellow readers over a shared book selection. First up, A Court of Thorns & Roses. The event will take place every second Thursday of the month from 6-8 pm and reservations are $20.

6th Annual Irish Slammer at Harwood Arms
The Dallas pub will attempt an “unofficial world record” for the largest group to slam an Irish Slammer at the same time. The drink protocol consists of a shot of Irish cream that’s dropped into a pint glass of stout and downed immediately before slamming the empty glass on a table. Reserve your spot in advance for the official slam time of 8:30 pm. Live band karaoke to follow.

Friday, August 14

Breakfast at Tiffany's Afternoon Tea at La Parisienne French Bistro
The Frisco location of La Parisienne French Bistro invites guests to channel their inner Audrey Hepburn for this elegant afternoon tea service. The $59 ticket price includes teas along with delicate finger sandwiches, fresh-baked scones with Devonshire cream and house-made mixed berry compote, and an assortment of handcrafted pastries. Seating times are 12:30 and 5:30 pm.

Saturday, August 15

30th Annual Hatch Chile Festival Brunch at Blue Mesa
The Southwestern-inspired grill will mark 30 years of celebrating New Mexico’s most famous pepper with a special brunch. Features from this year’s menu include fried Hatch strips, Hatch pozole, stacked chicken enchiladas, Hatch cheese relleno, and cajeta swirl Hatch brownies with vanilla ice cream. Brunch is $30 ($15 for kids 6-11). Mimosas are included, and guests can also add a Hatch chile-infused pineapple margarita for $13. Brunch will be served Saturday from 10 am-3 pm and Sunday from 9:30 am-3:30 pm at Blue Mesa’s Addison and Plano locations.

12th Annual Sangria Soirée in Deep Ellum
This sip-and-stroll will take participants through more than a dozen Deep Ellum venues – from restaurants and bars to shops – to experience various sangrias. Tickets are $25 and the event ill run from 4-7 pm. Check in at 2650 Main St.

Brothoholics Ramen Pop-Up at The Statler
Brothoholics, the Dallas-based chef-driven, pork-free, ramen pop-up concept, will take over The Statler’s Overeasy restaurant for a night to serve ramen three ways along with other specials. Menu highlights include smoked shoyu with beef belly and smoked tallow, spicy miso with yakimono chicken, and steak and eggs with koji aged sirloin. Save room for yuzu cheesecake with matcha icing for dessert. The pop-up will run from 5-9 pm or until sell-out.

A Night in Sicily at The Sicilian Butcher
The far North Dallas outlet of The Sicilian Butcher is raising a glass to its first anniversary with a lively Sicilian-style family dinner featuring celeb chef and restaurateur Joey Maggiore himself. Guests can expect stations of cured meats and cheeses, house-made pastas, slow-braised short ribs, Italian sausage and meatballs, chicken Scarpariello, an assortment of pastries, and more during the mix-and-mingle, red carpet event. Tickets are $65 and reservations are recommended.

Sunday, August 16

A Taste of the Amalfi Coast at Monarch
As part of its fifth anniversary celebration, Monarch invites guests to experience a taste of coastal Italy while viewing the Dallas skyline. The three-course prix-fixe menu includes shared starters including warm focaccia with heirloom tomato caprese; choice of lobster Benedict, rigatoni carbonara, lemon ricotta pancakes, and much more. The brunch is $95 ($35 for kids under 12). Handcrafted Italian-inspired cocktails for purchase include Limoncello Spritz, Aperol Spritz, White Negroni, and more. Seating times run from 10 am-1:30 pm. Riviera-inspired attire encouraged.

food events

Closing News

Mediterranean restaurant in Dallas' Deep Ellum to close after 11 years

Zatar

Chicken at Zatar

A restaurant in Deep Ellum will close after more than a decade: Zåtar Lebanese Tapas & Bar, which opened at 2827 Commerce St. in December 2016 as a rare Lebanese restaurant in Dallas, has decided to close.

According to the owners, they're closing due to ongoing construction and other operational challenges, and will be closing by the end of August.

"This wasn’t an easy decision," they say. "Over the last two years, we’ve fought through one challenge after another. We poured everything we had into keeping our doors open because we truly believed things would turn around. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the ongoing construction and other challenges have made it impossible for us to continue."

Zatar was originally opened by partners Marc Mansour and C.K. Khoury, both natives of Lebanon, with a menu that included tapas, specialty dishes, and Lebanese desserts such as the traditional knafeh. The restaurant stood out both for its authentic Lebanese cuisine and its welcoming ambiance.

Mansour and Khoury sold the restaurant in 2019 to restaurant veteran Sam Fawal, who also owns Pokeworks in Uptown Dallas and Addison. (Mansour and Khoury relocated to Atlanta where they are currently wowing diners with Bey Mediterranean, which they opened in Roswell in 2024.)

In recent years, Zatar shifted from its original focus on "authentic Lebanese" and more towards a casual destination with a nightlife component, including the addition of hookah pipes.

Meanwhile, the conversion of Commerce Street in Deep Ellum from one-way to two-way street has dragged on and on through multiple delays. Completion just got pushed back again to 2027 — which Fawal confirms was a factor.

"Yes, the continued delays with Commerce Street construction definitely played a big part in the decision," Fawal says. "It's been a frustrating situation, the project started in June, 2024 and it is still going. Unfortunately, I think we're going to see more businesses impacted by it."

His post gives thanks to the staff and to "everyone who walked through our doors, shared a meal with family and friends, celebrated special occasions, or simply made Zatar part of your life," before inviting fans to come visit before they close.

Fawal says they're finalizing the closing date, but anticipates on or around August 23.

"We still have a few weeks left, and we’d love the opportunity to see our customers one last time," he says. "Come enjoy your favorite dishes, have one more drink, smoke one more hookah, and help us celebrate the memories we’ve created together."

deep-ellum closings