Events To Eat At

Movie pop-up tops 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Fortune House will host a Freakier Friday-themed pop-up this week.

Fortune House

Fans of the cult classic Freaky Friday flick will want to take part in a Freakier Friday pop-up at a popular Dallas Chinese restaurant this week. (In the movie, the "switch" takes place at a Chinese dive.) There's also a seafood-centric dinner with yacht rock vibes, Pilates paired with brunch, and a dinner benefitting Texas Hill Country flood relief.

Tuesday, August 19

5-Course Tequila Pairing Dinner at Joe Leo Fine Tex-Mex
Maestro Dobel Tequila cocktails and neat pours will be paired with five courses, including dishes like ahi tuna tostadas, stuffed squash blossoms, and al pastor pork ribs. Price is $90 plus tax and gratuity, and dinner begins at 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 20

Third Coast Tasting Dinner at Restaurant Beatrice
Gulf seafood and yacht rock combine for a six-course tasting menu featuring guest chef Josh Harmon and guest sous chef Belal Kittan, who’ll collaborate with Restaurant Beatrice chef and owner Michelle Carpenter. Menu highlights range from tomato pie and cracker salad to Country Captain quail with crawfish and house-made boudin. Dinner is $100 plus tax and gratuity, and seating times are 5–7 pm.

Freakier Friday-Themed Pop-Up at Fortune House
Greenville Avenue Chinese restaurant will host a pop-up themed after the new release, Freakier Friday. (Note the event does not include a screening of the film.) The $25 ticket includes two cocktails by Weber Ranch Vodka and Mom Water, two movie tickets for Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater good through the end of the year, fortune cookies, photo ops, DJ music, and happy hour pricing all night. The party starts at 6 pm.

Friday, August 22

BeKinder Coffee Anniversary
Nonprofit coffee shop founded by first-generation American and former refugee Jane Huong Gow celebrates its one-year anniversary — 12 months of creating jobs for refugees and asylum seekers, and building a welcoming community in Dallas. 1-4 pm. They'll offer free snacks, refreshments, and goodies. And all coffee drinks are $1 off after 1 pm. RSVP here.

Guinness x Van Leeuwen Scoop Shop Pop-Up
Enjoy a new limited-edition ice cream collaboration, consisting of a Guinness stout flavored ice cream with chocolate chunks, at this pop-up at the Van Leeuwen Dallas West Villge store at 3699 McKinney Ave. #1018, one of only three in the U.S. They'll be serving free scoops along with mini pints of Guinness Draught from 5-7 pm.

Saturday, August 23

Mango Joy Ride Tour
The National Mango Board will send its mango bus on a “joy ride” across the Southern U.S., and the only stops in Texas happen this weekend. (New this year is a spicy partnership with Tajin chile-lime seasoning.) Visit H-E-B in Melissa from 9 am–12 pm and H-E-B in McKinney from 2–5 pm for free mango samples, games, swag, recipes, and demos.

Pilates & Brunch at Cane Rosso
Pilates and Cane Rosso brunch? Say less. This 45-minute mat Pilates class will take place at the North Dallas Cane Rosso at 6959 Arapaho Rd. and includes choice of brunch entrée and a brunch cocktail. The event is $45 and check-in begins at 10 am for the 10:15 am class. Bring your own mat.

Monday, August 25

Together at the Table: For Texas at Monarch
Texas Hill Country flood relief benefit dinner will feature a four-course menu by Michelin Star chef Danny Grant. Menu items include Rosewood Wagyu carpaccio, Island Creek oysters, gnocchi with tomato crudo, South Texas Nilgai antelope, and Mystic chocolate mousse. Guests will receive a sweet sendoff of Tweety cookies made from the recipe of Camp Mystic owner, Tweety Eastland. There will also be a silent and live auction, and all proceeds will be donated to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country. Tickets start at $200 plus tax and service fee. Dinner begins at 6 pm.

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Coming attraction

J. Alexander’s to debut in Plano with famed steaks and carrot cake

Courtesy J. Alexander's

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Tennessee-born upscale dining chain J. Alexander’s is set to make its Dallas-Fort Worth debut in Plano, with an extensive menu of hand-cut steaks, sandwiches, Asian-influenced appetizers, and its famous carrot cake.

J. Alexander’s will open the doors at 3980 Dallas Pkwy. on Monday, January 26, marking its first location in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

For those who are unfamiliar with J. Alexander’s, the chain opened its first location in Nashville, Tennessee in 1991, and has since expanded to nearly 40 outposts across the country. It is known for an upscale vibe and classic American cuisine, similar to a spot like Houston’s or Perry’s Steakhouse.

The Plano location is the 39th for the chain, which was acquired in 2021 by SPB Hospitality, which also operates Logan’s Roadhouse and fast-food chain Krystal, among other eateries.

“Bringing J. Alexander's to the Dallas-Fort Worth area is a meaningful step in our continued growth and reflects our confidence in the state,” says G.J. Hart, SPB Hospitality CEO, in a release. Hart added that the chain already has plans to open a second location, in Prosper, later this year.

When it opens in Plano, J. Alexander’s will serve a “polished yet approachable” menu that’s mostly centered around its wood grill. A number of beefy options will be on offer, including teriyaki-marinated Steak Maui and slow-roasted prime rib, along with lighter options that include trout almondine, seared ahi tuna, and a shrimp Louie salad.

Shareable snacks include deviled eggs and the “Avocado Bomb,” a striking dish of hand-cut ahi tuna and crab salad with thin slices of avocado wrapped around it to resemble the whole fruit.

It's also known for its icing-topped carrot cake, which many insist is the best they've ever had — numerous copycat recipes for the treat exist online.

On the boozy side of the menu, J. Alexander’s will serve an extensive list of wines, plus cocktails like the Midnight Margarita, mixed with black cherry jam, reposado tequila, and pink Himalayan salt. A lineup of handcrafted martinis will also be available, including the cheekily-named Red Headed Rita (mixed with pomegranate juice and blanco tequila) and the Fleur-de-Lis, made with sparkling wine, St. Germain, and grapefruit juice.

When it debuts on January 26, J. Alexander’s will be open Monday-Saturday from 11 am-10 pm, and Sunday from 11 am-9 pm. As part of the opening day festivities, J. Alexander’s says that it will make a donation to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, a nonprofit that provides assistance to those impacted by child abuse.

steakhouse openings j. alexander's plano