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.

cocktails event-planner

it's brunch time

3 Dallas eateries make OpenTable list of top brunch spots in U.S.

HP Village

Cafe Pacific

Brunch is a big topic in Dallas and OpenTable has some interesting ideas about who does it best. The online reservation site has a new list of the "Top 100 Brunch Restaurants" for 2025, and three Dallas eateries make the list: Al Biernat's Oak Lawn, Cafe Pacific, and Kenny's Wood Fired Grill.

These three Dallas choices are all quite elegant, adept at turning a casual meal into something more posh. But … brunch?

Released annually in preparation for Mother's Day, the list is determined using over 10 million verified diner reviews and dining metrics (such as reservation demand). Restaurants are not ranked, but arranged in alphabetical order by their state and name.

Al Biernat's is an OpenTable favorite. The steakhouse made it on OpenTable's inaugural Icons list in 2024. The restaurant offers a traditional weekend brunch service with classic staples like a brioche French toast, chicken and waffles, and an "American Breakfast" consisting of all the usual breakfast items (eggs, potatoes, gravy, toast, and a choice of sausage or bacon).

"Packed since it opened in 1998, restaurateur Al Biernat’s Oak Lawn chophouse has made a name for itself for world-class steak, exceptional seafood, and a 700-bottle wine list — one of the city’s largest," OpenTable's editors wrote in the restaurant's profile. "Whether at the lively bar complete with a domed ceiling and glass art-inspired painting or in the opulent dining room outfitted with rich leather booths, every meal here feels like a special occasion."

Cafe Pacific is a Highland Park favorite probably better known for its lunch. The restaurant serves brunch on Sundays only, offering upscale dishes like a crab cake or Rosewood Texas Wagyu benedict, Nova Scotia lobster omelet, and Tex-Mex favorites like huevos rancheros and chorizo migas. They also feature a premium caviar service during brunch, though it costs hundreds of dollars.

Kenny's Wood Fired Grill is described as a "beloved Dallas destination" that combines comfort food with an upscale and sophisticated atmosphere, which shines through its weekend brunch service. In addition to classic brunch meals like chicken and waffles, French toast, and egg Benedicts, Kenny's also serves a hearty bacon and egg burger and chicken fried steak and eggs topped with cream gravy and smoked bacon.

Only two other restaurants in Texas made the list, both located in Austin: Aba and Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar.

brunch bests lists opentable dallas