Top Food Events

Check out the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Mirador will host a fall-themed afternoon tea this Saturday.

Dan Padgett

Fall festival season is well underway, and that means three food fests in our Food Events roundup this week. One will celebrate Lebanese culture; two others keep the Oktoberfest party rolling. Look for a Philly cheesesteak pop-up, and a new afternoon tea series debuts on Saturday.

Monday, September 30

Wine Dinner at The Mexican
Upscale Dallas restaurant will welcome guest chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita from Mexico City to collab on a four-course dinner paired with Mexican wines. Menu items include goat cheese-stuffed zucchini blossoms, pork belly with purslane in green sauce, prime filet in Mexican-style chocolate sauce, and strawberry tamale. The event is $195 plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm with cocktail hour before dinner at 7 pm.

Thursday, October 3

Gipsy Danger Cheesesteak Pop-up
One-day-only pop-up from the team at Cane Rosso, Zoli's Pizza, and Thunderbird Pies. Cane Rosso founder, owner, and sandwich enthusiast Jay Jerrier will be cooking an authentic Philly cheesesteak with shaved ribeye, Cooper sharp, onions, fried long hot peppers, and more at at Cane Rosso Lake Highlands, 7150 Skillman St. #190, from 4 pm-10 pm. The sandwich is $19. Pre-order for Thursday pickup at pilfgroup.olo.com/menu/cane-rosso-lake-highlands (be sure to change pickup day to 10/3 and choose your desired time slot) or stop in on the day of the event.

Pizza Pop-Up at La Pizza & La Pasta - Eataly Dallas
Once-a-month pop-up at Eataly Dallas bringing together Dallas' best pizza shops features a guest appearance by Italian restaurant Calabrese Southlake, who will serve their unique Pizza Calabrese, with arrabiatta sauce, Pecorino primo sale, spicy sopressata, and Pomodoraccio tomatoes. Plus La Pizza & La Pasta’s entire menu of authentic Italian dishes, the chance to meet and learn from Il Calabrese's head pizzaiolo, and live music. 5-10 pm.

Friday, October 4

25th Annual Lebanese Food Festival
Three-day festival, held at Our Lady of Maronite Catholic Church, will showcase Lebanese heritage through traditional music, authentic food, and performances. Menu items will feature stuffed grape leaves, kibbi, falafel, tabbouli, kafta, and baklava. There’ll also be raffle prizes, a children’s play area with games, a silent auction, folk dancers, and Lebanese souvenirs. The event will run Friday and Saturday from 11 am–11 pm and Sunday 10:30 am–4 pm. Admission and parking are free.

Oktoberfest at Harwood Arms
The British Isles-inspired restaurant and bar in the Dallas Harwood District will celebrate German culture with an all-day Oktoberfest party. Enjoy $8 beers, German food, stein-holding competitions (5 pm and 8 pm), and live music starting at 6 pm. The specials will run all day from 11 am–10 pm.

Saturday, October 5

Premium Wine and Deviled Egg Co. Brunch Pairing at Lone Star Winery
Downtown McKinney wine bar will partner with Deviled Egg Co. for a four-course wine and brunch-themed deviled egg pairing. Tickets are $39 and include a welcome mimosa before the pairing. The event will run from 11 am–12 pm.

Frisco Oktoberfest
Frisco’s fifth annual rendition of Oktoberfest will feature competitions every half-hour ($25 to participate benefitting Frisco Veterans of Foreign Wars) such as stein-hoisting, brat-eating, keg rolling, stein relays, and dachshund races along with live entertainment. Festival fare will range from pretzels, sauerkraut, and funnel cakes to brats, Bavarian sausages, and baklava. The event will run from 11 am-9 pm.

Afternoon Tea at Mirador
Downtown Dallas rooftop restaurant will launch a fall-inspired afternoon tea service on select dates starting this Saturday. The prix-fixe menu begins with a glass of bubbly and scones and includes three courses with tea pairings. Dishes include salmon rillette with capers, dill, & tarragon, smoked cucumber chevre, and Wagyu with spicy mayo and shiso on milk bread. The tea is $89 plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 2 pm.

wine event-planner

Downtown Dining

Indian restaurant Gymkhana adds an 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 elegant, 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 adventurous 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 detail, 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 sophisticated, big-city feel.

The interior boasts royal blue jewel-toned 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

Top Food Events

Check out the 8 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Downtown Dining

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