Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 bars with St. Patrick's Day specials

Green margarita with a green velvet cake

Velvet Taco

It's that time of year again to gather up all your green for St. Patrick's Day. The holiday, which started in Ireland and was introduced to the U.S. in 1737, has evolved to be very boozy. It's definitely a big deal in Dallas, which comes out for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Greenville Avenue in force.

For the March edition of our monthly Where to Drink column, we go green with restaurants and bars offering St. Patrick's day specials:

Fuzzy's
Taco shop chain will bring the luck of the Irish with the Ginger Irish ’Rita, a limited-time cocktail that gives Fuzzy’s signature frozen margarita an orange kick thanks to a float of Jameson Orange, an orange-flavored version of Jameson Irish Whiskey, topped with spicy Q Ginger Ale for $10. Available March 10-May 5.

Kona Grill
Hawaiian restaurant is offering a swath of lucky specials during happy hour. There will be $3 green beer, sake, and seltzer. Featured bites include $6 corned beef sliders available for dine-in and takeout. Available March 14-March 21.

Logan’s Roadhouse
Laid-back steakhouse chain is featuring green beer for $5.49. They also have a green butter which can be paired with Logan’s rolls. Available at Hurst and Burleson locations March 14–17.

Mexican Bar CompanyMexican Bar Company

Mexican Bar Company
Plano restaurant is celebrating St. Patrick's Day all month long with its drink of the month: Called the Lucky Charm, it's a lively sip featuring basil infused agave, cucumber puree, lime juice, serrano-infused Lalo Blanco Tequila, and a fresh serrano pepper for garnish, if you dare. $17.50.

STK
Uptown steakhouse will offer the Leprechaun Stiletto — made with Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, St. Germain, cucumber, and mint — during happy hour for $9. Food specials include corned beef sliders, $26 for two. Available March 14-March 21 from 3-6 pm.

Thirsty Lion
Pub chain has cocktail and beer specials including an Irish espresso martini and an Irish old-fashioned, both made with Jameson Whiskey. They'll also be pouring Guinness Stout, Smithwick's Red Ale, and the Blacksmith:: Smithwick's layered with Guinness Stout. Bites include Scotch eggs, Reuben sandwich, and Irish Shepherd's pie. Available at Addison, The Colony, Plano, Las Colinas, and Euless through March 17.

Velvet Taco
Taco chain has two Irish specials: A green margarita with Lunazul blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and agave nectar.; and a green twist on their red velvet cake, tinted green and topped with Lucky Charms. The margarita is available in small for $5 and large for $8, and the cake is $4.25. Both available from March 17-21.

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Stir Fry News

Mom-and-pop Asian chain from Austin makes Dallas debut in McKinney

Fire Bowl

A small Asian chain from Austin has entered the Dallas market: Called Fire Bowl Cafe, it's a small chain that has opened its first DFW location in McKinney, at 4060 W. University Dr. #300, in a new shopping center west of US-75.

Fire Bowl Cafe was founded by husband-and-wife Gigi Lee and Daniel Pao in 1996 with a focus on customizable bowls prepared in sizzling woks. They have four locations in Austin and one in Colorado.

Bringing the concept to McKinney is Dallas-based hospitality group DLC Restaurant Holdings (Firo Pizza, Craft Pies Pizza, Desperados), according to a release.

“We are thrilled to bring Fire Bowl Café to McKinney and introduce our unique dining experience to the wonderful community here,” says CEO Mike Daniel in a statement. “Our mission is to ensure that every customer leaves satisfied and happy, and we can’t wait to share our passion for fresh, customizable Asian cuisine with our new neighbors in North Texas."

To give it local flavor, they've partnered with Julian Rodarte, who co-founded Beto & Son, the Mexican restaurant at Trinity Groves in west Dallas, and also served as Trinity Groves' CEO. He was briefly executive chef at COSM at Grandscape and is currently culinary director for Dee Lincoln Concepts.

The menu has a Pei-Wei vibe, featuring a mashup of Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, with favorites like edamame, spring rolls, crab rangoon, pad Thai, pot stickers, and lettuce wraps.

There are noodle and rice bowls, topped with vegetables and choice of protein; and a make-it-your-way stir-fry where you choose from proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, tossed in a wok with vegetables, then combine it with your choice of "carb" — noodles, brown or white rice — and a wide selection of sauces, from teriyaki to spicy peanut to classic Chinese.

Prices are $12-$14. They do not currently serve alcohol, but have plans for it at a future date.

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