This Week in Gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Mmmmm cheesecake.

Photo courtesy of Cheesecake Factory

It's officially crawfish season and the proof is in two major annual boils happening this week, both expected to draw big crowds. Also on the list: an anniversary dinner and an artist meet-and-greet with bites and a beverage. Lastly, ahead of Monday's total solar eclipse, brush up on your outer space knowledge with a discussion paired with beer at a local brewery. Looking for where to watch the eclipse Monday? Find that list here.

Wednesday, April 3

Meet the Maker at Ellie’s
Hall Arts Hotel restaurant and lounge will host artist Austin Uzor for this meet the maker event, which comes with complimentary light bites and a Maker’s Mark cocktail tasting. Uzor’s work will be showcased at this week’s Dallas Art Fair. The event is free and begins at 5 pm with artist Q&A to start at 5:30 pm.

Nerd Night: A Lesson on The Total Eclipse at Celestial Beerworks
Dallas brewery will host an evening of craft brew and conversation ahead of Monday’s total solar eclipse led by space enthusiast Jack Chang. Complimentary beer will be given out to lucky participants throughout the night. Save room for Tex-Mex from the brewery’s onsite taqueria. The event will run from 7–8:30 pm.

Thursday, April 4

Orin Swift Wine Dinner at Meddlesome Moth
The Moth will commemorate its 14th anniversary with a big wine dinner. Enjoy four courses paired with five Orin Swift wines, including chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet, sirah/grenache, and zinfandel. Menu highlights include roasted beet salad, seared duck, and the ricotta & parmesan fondue "moth ball." Dinner is $125 including gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Friday, April 5

A Taste Around the Village at The Shops at Highland Village
Outdoor shopping center hosts its 6th annual tasting event in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Highland Village. Enjoy all-you-can-eat tastings and entertainment including music bingo, a magician, and a 360-degree photo booth. Beer, wine, and cocktails are for purchase. Participating vendors include Delhi 6, Great American Cookie, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Lambeau’s America, Mt. Fuji Steak House, Shoal Creek Tavern, Sip + Savor, Brass Tap, Cheesecake Factory, Torchy’s Tacos, and Whole Foods Market. Tickets are $50 and proceeds benefit five local nonprofits. 6-10 pm.

Saturday, April 6

2024 Dallas Crawfish Kickoff Festival
More than 2,000 are expected to descend upon downtown for this annual crawfish boil, featuring all-you-can-eat crawfish from a variety of vendors, plus full bar and live music. This year, it's at Pacific Plaza, having outgrown its former location at Ferris Plaza. Folding chairs and blankets are permitted, coolers and tents are not. Tickets are $37 plus tax and a small fee; kids 8-and-under get in free. The event will run from 3-6 pm.

Sunday, April 7

Crawfish Fest at Dodie’s Cajun Diner in Rockwall
Annual all-you-can-eat crawfish festival will take place at the Rockwall Harbor on the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, where guests will gather to partake in mudbugs and live music. The $40 ticket ($20 for kids 6-12) includes crawfish, corn, and potatoes along with red beans & rice and jambalaya. Proceeds will benefit the J.E.R. Chilton’s YMCA Angel Camp, and the event will run from 11 am–4 pm.

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Gumbo News

Celeb-owned sports bar Walk-On's is bringing more gumbo to Dallas

Photo courtesy of Walk-Ons

Walk-On's brings all the fried delights.

A Cajun sports bar-restaurant concept with celebrity ties is opening a new location northeast of Dallas: Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar, the Baton Rouge-based chain founded by Brandon Landry and co-owned by New Orleans Saints superstar Drew Brees, will open in Wylie in a newly constructed space at 906 W. FM 544.

According to a spokesperson, it'll open in summer 2026.

Walk-On's features Louisiana cuisine and a full bar in a game-day atmosphere. Food is made from scratch, with a diverse menu featuring twists on game-day staples and upscale takes on Louisiana mainstays such as crawfish etouffee or duck & Andouille gumbo.

According to the company history, Walk-Ons was concepted on the back of a napkin by LSU walk-on basketball players Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, who opened the first location in Baton Rouge in 2003. Franchise partners include not only co-owner Drew Brees but also celebrity athlete franchisees Dak Prescott, Derrick Brooks, and football coach Dabo Swinney.

The menu has seafood and classic Louisiana dishes: fried seafood platters, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, po'boys, fried oysters, gumbo, fried alligator, and boudin balls. Prices range from $10 to $20.

Starters include waffle cheese fries, fried pickles, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders, spinach-artichoke dip, and venison nachos. They have a bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

This is not Walk-On's first foray into Dallas-Fort Worth. There's a location at 5774 Grandscape Blvd. in the Colony, which opened in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, and is thriving. With many Louisiana transplants and fans living among us, Dallas has a big appetite for this kind of food. Not to mention its family-friendly atmosphere and plentiful selection of beers on tap, margaritas, and other crafty-ish cocktails.

The chain opened two other DFW locations, including the first that opened in the Dallas area in Las Colinas in 2018, followed by Arlington in 2019. Both of those locations have since closed, although Arlington is looking to reopen at a different address, the spokesperson says.

In 2024, the company introduced a new smaller footprint, around 3,600 square feet — about a third the size of an old-school Walk-On's. The Wylie restaurant will come in at about 5,400 square feet.

There are 12 Walk-On's across Texas, including Tyler and San Antonio, and nearly 80 locations total.

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