Every Edible Event

Pucker up for the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Pickle ice cream at the Dallas Pickle Festival

Dallas Pickle Festival

Memorial Day weekend arrives and with it comes opportunity to partake in American classics like hot dogs, burgers, barbecue, and...pickle ice cream? Save room for an interesting oyster and whiskey pairing dinner, an elaborate sushi and sake dinner, and an around-the-world tasting of bubbly. Start the week with a bar takeover by a Mexico City speakeasy to mark World Paloma Day.

Tuesday, May 20

Hanky Panky at The Tipsy Alchemist
Tequila Enemigo will partner with Hanky Panky, a Mexico City speakeasy ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars, for a takeover of The Tipsy Alchemist where mixologist Adrián López will share his modern take on the grapefruit Paloma made with tequilas from Enemigo, the tequila brand launched in the UK in 2017. The takeover starts at 8 pm.

Wednesday, May 21

Oceans & Oysters at Monarch
The 49th floor restaurant and bar will host a four-course dinner featuring Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon – a spirit matured on the open water. Menu highlights include oysters of all sorts, including crispy oysters topped with caviar, oyster dumplings, and oysters atop an heirloom tomato granita. There’ll also be bourbon glazed short rib with sweet corn risotto, and a Madagascar vanilla mousse with hazelnut sponge cake. Dinner is $175, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, May 22

Wine Tour Around the World at Fearing’s Restaurant
Located inside The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, Fearing’s will host an around-the-world tasting featuring bubbles from France, Italy, Spain, and more. Led by Fearing’s sommelier Paul Botamer, the tasting will come with a five-course menu of paired plates. Tickets are $159, plus tax and gratuity, and the event begins at 7 pm.

Friday, May 23

Cotton Patch Cafe Memorial Day Chicken Fried Steak
Southern chain is serving its weekly $10 Monday special of chicken-fried steak — with hand-battered steak, cream gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, and bacon green beans — throughout Memorial Day weekend, from May 23-26 for dine-in at all locations.

Saturday, May 24

6th Annual Boots & BBQ Fest at Legacy Hall
Plano food hall and entertainment venue will host an all-day barbecue featuring live country music, barbecue plates, whiskey cocktails, and more. Tickets start at $10 for general admission (military and veterans get in free) Or go VIP for $65 and get access to the second floor balcony, whiskey tastings, and great stage views. Doors open at 1 pm and the live music starts at 2 pm with the last band taking the stage at 8 pm.

Corrido Tequila Dinner at Cantina Laredo
Addison outlet of the Mexican chain will host a four-course tequila pairing with Corrido Tequila cocktails. Guests will partake in sope de carnitas, shaved Brussels salad, choice of chile-lime New York strip or shrimp with pineapple guajillo sauce, and Mexican bread pudding for dessert. The dinner is $80, plus tax and gratuity. Arrive by 7 pm for a pre-dinner reception with a Corrido Tequila flight.

Prestige Dinner Collaboration with Heavensake & Sushi by Scratch Restaurants:Dallas
Located inside The Adophus Hotel, Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Dallas will host a 16-course omakase dinner in partnership with Heavensake to celebrate their release of two new renowned Japanese sakes. There are only 9:30 pm seatings left for the event, which is $395 plus tax and gratuity.

Sunday, May 25

Dallas Pickle Festival
Pickle lovers will unite during this all-day pickle fest to be held at Lofty Spaces in Dallas. Vendors will sell their sourest pickle-flavored concoctions, and there’ll pickle eating and pickle juice drinking contests for kids and adults. Tickets are $3 for children 14 and under and $7 for adults, plus a small fee. The event will run from 12–6 pm.

Monday, May 26

Memorial Day Rooftop Pool Party at Waterproof
Located on the 19th floor of The Statler, this rooftop pool and bar welcomes guests to celebrate Memorial Day with upbeat DJ music, classic grab-and-go hot dogs and hamburgers, and festive drinks. Admission is free before 2:30 pm and then start at $25 for general admission thereafter. The party will run until 9 pm.

Downtown Dining

Indian restaurant Gymkhana adds urban touch to downtown Dallas

Gymkhana

A plush new Indian restaurant is now open in the heart of downtown Dallas: Called Gymkhana, it's located at 1408-1410 Main St., in the former Which Wich Sandwich/Birdguesa space, where it's serving a wide range of Indian dishes in an upscale setting.

Gymkhana is from prolific restaurateur Praveen Prasannan, an industry veteran with international experience working at hotels and on cruise ships. Prasannan is also the owner of Shivas Bar and Grill, an elevated Indian concept he owns with his brother Prinu, with outlets in downtown Dallas and in Allen; and Elephant Bar & Grill, another upscale Indian brand with locations in East Dallas and Bishop Arts.

Gymkhana — which is no relation to a London-based concept with the same name — is Prasannan's latest creation, and furthers his mission to champion authentic Indian food — from all parts of India, including Mumbai, where he's from — in a nicer environment than other Indian restaurants in the area.

The menu features traditional Indian dishes but with an occasional contemporary flair. Soups, for example, include a traditional madras tomato soup next to a lobster bisque. There are classics like samosas but also fusion items like hummus with garlic naan, or mussels "Indian style" with velvet tikka sauce.

They offer a number of dishes baked tandoori-style in a clay oven that imparts an irresistible smokiness, in dishes such as lamb and chicken kebabs.

Like most Indian restaurants, Gymkhana is vegetarian-friendly, even offering vegan dishes such as chana masala — chickpeas in a spicy tomato-onion sauce. Prices are relatively low, with entrees averaging about $21.

"I wanted to make sure it was affordable — that was important," Prasannan says.

GymkhanaGymkhana

Decor
The restaurant is inspired by the traditional social clubs of India, celebrating the spirit of togetherness and conversation, designed with intricate details, Prasannan says.

"I brought in antiques from India to create a distinctive atmosphere, to give the restaurant a strong identity," he says.

The facade features centuries-old hand-carved wooden doors, with a row of lights across the top that reflect down on the sidewalk and give the entry a big-city feel.

The interior boasts royal blue banquettes, sparkling chandeliers, and hand-painted murals depicting regal figures, elephants, and intricate patterns — a combination of modern and traditional.

The space combines what was previously two storefronts with seating for up to 150, and that was intentional, Prasannan says.

"One of my priorities was to be able to offer a place for private parties and events — we receive so many requests," he says.

He's also a big believer in bringing Indian food to the center of Dallas. The majority of Indian restaurants are in suburbs like Irving, Plano, Richardson, Frisco — but Prasannan's restaurants are all in inner city areas like East Dallas, Bishop Arts, and downtown Dallas.

Their presence lends a cosmopolitan urban touch to their neighborhoods — and Gymkhana does it one better with late-night hours, staying open until 11 pm on weeknights and 1 am on weekends.

downtown openings