This Week in Gluttony

These are the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Free pizza is one of the perks of this week's food events.

dallas.culturemap.com

This week in Dallas food events has a varied menu: fancy wine dinners, free pizza, wine, and bourbon, and a Saturday morning that comes with a partial solar eclipse (viewing glasses included). Save room for an all-day vegan festival in Addison.

Monday, October 9

Mr. Black Espresso Martini Fest 2023
More than a dozen DFW bars and restaurants are participating in this week-long festival, which will highlight the classic espresso martini. Sponsored by Mr. Black coffee liqueur, the event will showcase different variations of the cocktail along with innovative cold brew creations. Participating venues include Leela’s Wine Bar, Fitzgerald’s in Fort Worth, Thirsty Lion, and more. Look for specials to run through Sunday.

Wednesday, October 11

Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte Wine Dinner at Mercat Bistro
Harwood District French restaurant will feature wines from the prestigious Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte winery in France during this multi-course pairing dinner. Hear from winery general manager Ludovic Fradin while indulging in strip loin, Texas quail, and seared scallops. The dinner is $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.

Bucking Bull Bourbon Tasting at Bourbon & Banter
Enjoy a complimentary tasting of Bucking Bull Bourbon hosted by brand ambassador Eric Nelson, star of the hit TV series 1883. The event will take place at Bourbon & Banter inside The Statler hotel from 8–11 pm. Those who RSVP in advance will also receive a complimentary specialty cocktail at the event.

Thursday, October 12

Dough Bro’s Grand Opening in Plano
Italian kitchen will celebrate the opening of its third location in Plano (1914 Preston Rd.) with free pizza and wine. Visit from 6–9 pm for a complimentary cheese pizza paired with a free glass of wine, while supplies last. Dough Bro’s, which has locations in Dallas and Bedford, is known for its lengthy menu of apps like pizza fries and bruschetta, and entrees like chicken parmesan, baked ziti, calzones, wings, and more.

Taste of the Trolley
To be held at the Fashion Industry Gallery in downtown Dallas (and not on an actual trolley), this tasting event features bites from restaurants located along the M-Line Trolley route. Nearly a dozen participants this year include Mexican Sugar, Sixty Vines, and Malai Kitchen. The fundraising event, which will benefit the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, will also include live music and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $125 per person and the event will run from 6-10 pm.

Friday, October 13

The French Room Italian Wine Dinner
Foie gras ravioli, crispy duck confit, and prosciutto-wrapped veal medallions are just a few of the highlights from this five-course wine pairing dinner to be held in The French Room at The Adolphus hotel. Indulge and be educated by guest speaker and wine expert Fillipo Lapides, who’s been featured on wine podcasts including Uncorked Corner. Dinner is $180 per person, plus tax and a service fee, and begins at 6 pm. Parking is included.

Saturday, October 14

Solar Eclipse Brunch at The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa
There’s a partial solar eclipse happening Saturday morning, and The Westin Stonebriar is ready to celebrate. Enjoy a brunch buffet on the patio complete with themed mocktails and cocktails along with moon pies, Starburst candy, Milky Way bars, and Mars bars. Menu items will include omelet stations, smoked salmon, and grazing tables. The $29.99 per person price, plus tax, includes solar glasses for eclipse viewing. Pricing for kids 2–5 is $8.99 and kids 5-18 is $17.99. The brunch will run from 6:30–10:30 am.

Vegandale
Addison Circle Park will host more than 100 vegan-friendly vendors during this touring vegan festival, which will run from 11 am–8 pm. Ticket prices range from $10 to $16, depending on what time you enter; it's $10 if you enter after 4 pm. The price includes at least 10 free tasting samples. Pay $25 and get two drink tickets, too. The event will also feature art, live music, and performances.

cocktails 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