Bottoms Up

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 diverse happy hours for October

Columbian Country Club is rolling out a new Tuesday-Thursday happy hour.

Columbian Country Club/Facebook

The busy — and expensive — holiday season is just around the corner, so do your finances a favor now and seek out a new favorite happy hour (or two).

This edition of Where to Drink, our monthly roundup of the best bar specials, spotlights five Dallas-area restaurants and bars that encompass a wide range of experiences, but with all of them serving drinks and deals worth toasting.

Here’s where to drink in Dallas this month:

Columbian Country Club
Premier cocktail lounge on Ross Avenue is now making weeknights even more appealing with a new happy hour, Tuesday-Thursday from 5-7:30 pm. Sip $11 signature cocktails like the Serpiente (Tentador Blanco, pineapple, and St. Germain) or the El Guapo with aromatic bitters and Licor 43. Food steals include half-off sushi rolls, $7 caviar bumps, $12 karaage chicken bites, and crispy rice topped with spicy tuna or salmon for $14, or a trio for $22.

The Fifth
Local favorite in Richardson's Canyon Creek neighborhood known for homey dishes like short ribs and shrimp & grits offers a happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm and Sunday from 3-10 pm — on the patio and bar only — with $8 cocktails and a half dozen bites such as zucchini fries or chips & guac for $4, and Wagyu sliders for $10. Wednesdays are the night for wine lovers: They offer half-off bottles under $69, a deal that covers most of the wine list.

Hooky Entertainment Addison
Restaurant/arcade/movie theater/bowling alley in Addison has a new “Hooky Hour” that makes a strong case for leaving the office early. Running Monday-Thursday from 4-7 pm, it includes half-off draft beers, margaritas, and cocktails like the Day Tripper (Tito’s Vodka, peach, vermouth blanc, lime, yuzu soda) and Off the Clockwork (Arette Tequila Reposado, blood orange, ginger, lime). Snack on discounted shareables — pretzels & queso, elote fritters, and loaded waffle fries — between rounds of duckpin bowling or a movie in one of Hooky’s eight premium cinemas. Bonus: On Tuesdays you can see a movie for only $5.

P.F. Chang's
The national chain is making premium cocktails more affordable with its new $8.99 Cocktail Collection. Think bold, citrus-forward flavors and seasonal specials like the Blood Orange Margarita and Peartini, rotating quarterly to spotlight fresh ingredients. Pair with approachable prices on house wines for a reliably solid chain happy hour. Eight DFW locations — including NorthPark Center, Allen, and The Colony — make it easy to find one near you.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
The swanky hotel is keeping things stylish but chill with happy hour at its newly renovated outdoor bar and lounge, Live Oak Patio. On Monday, Thursday, and Friday (the bar is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from 5-7 pm, enjoy half-off all signature and well cocktails plus half-off the bar menu. Important note: This deal is exclusive to Live Oak Patio, not Rattlesnake Bar.

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Coming soon

Downtown Dallas gets new modern Mexican spot with 'tacokase' twist

Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

Luna Roja translates to "red moon," as depicted in a striking mural in the dining room.

A new "modern" Mexican restaurant is landing in downtown Dallas: Called Luna Roja, it will open at 1525 Elm St., near the AT&T Discovery District.

According to a release, opening day will be Thursday, April 2. Luna Roja takes the space formerly occupied by Elm St. Cask & Kitchen inside the Hilton Garden Inn. A separate restaurant entrance that does not require diners to enter through the hotel is under construction.

Translated as "red moon," Luna Roja promises to bring something fresh and new to the area: namely, a "tacokase" experience led by chef Omar Larson, they say. It's a fun taco-twist on omakase, one of the hottest dining trends in Dallas right now.

Omakase is the dining experience in which the chef prepares a multicourse tasting menu of small bites made to order. While omakase has no set number of dishes, it usually ranges from 10 to 20 courses depending on how excessive the chef/restaurant is.

"Luna Roja will introduce a tacokase experience, a chef-led tasting inspired by traditional Japanese omakase highlighting a curated progression of tacos and complementary flavors," the release says. "The experience is offered as a monthly activation, giving guests an opportunity to explore seasonal ingredients and specialty creations from the culinary team."

A variety of dishes at Luna Roja.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

When diners at Luna Roja are not tacokase-ing, they can enjoy a menu that showcases regional Mexican flavors and fresh ingredients, with many dishes designed for sharing. The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Lunchtime shareables include:

Shrimp and Scallop Aguachile with cucumber-radish salad, avocado purée, and spicy aguachile verde on a crispy tortilla
Street Corn Croquettes with cotija, jalapeño, fresh lime, and Tajín
Torta Luna: Bolillo roll with slow-cooked citrus pork, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and avocado
Taqueria Smash Burger: Beef patties with Oaxaca cheese, poblano rajas, caramelized onions, Maggi burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickle (served with fries)

Larger plates served for dinner include:

Ancho Glazed Short Ribs with sweet potato purée and charred poblano relish
Chipotle Honey Glazed Half Chicken with charred poblano mashed potatoes, roasted carrot, onion escabeche, and charred lime
Carne Asada: 44 Ranch skirt steak with bean purée, enchilada guajillo sauce, and guacamole
Crispy Skin Salmon with black bean purée, salsa verde cruda, radish, lime oil, and microgreens
Seared Scallops with sweet corn purée, salsa macha, and charred scallion relish

Weekend brunch will feature favorites such as Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Tostadas (layered with citrus-soy, chipotle aioli, salsa macha avocado, radish and cilantro); and Huevos en Purgatorio (with poached eggs simmered in chile de árbol tomato sauce and topped with cilantro, queso fresco, pickled red onions and radish, served with corn tortillas).

A dedicated taqueria menu will feature heirloom corn masa tortillas filled with options like Al Pastor, Guajillo Shrimp, and Wild Mushrooms - with all the trimmings.

The beverage program features more than 50 selections of tequila including blancos, reposados, añejos, extra añejos, mezcal, and sotol. Signature cocktails include the Mexican Mule “La Mula” with Milagro Silver tequila, ginger beer and lime; and the Spicy Mango Margarita with El Jimador Blanco Tequila, serrano, agave, mango, lime and tajin.

The bar area, which looks out to the patio.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

Luna Roja's interiors aim to fuse contemporary Mexican design with traditional symbolisms. "Murals by FGIII Fine Art Productions, textured stone accents, and saturated colors evoke the spirit of Mexican heritage," the release says.

There will also be a spacious bar, outdoor patio, and private dining space, they say - "creating a new gathering spot that reflects both the spirit of Mexico and the energy of downtown Dallas.

Upon opening April 2, their entire operating schedule will be:

Breakfast: 6 am-11 am Monday-Friday
Lunch: 11 am-1:30 pm Monday-Friday
Dinner: 4 pm-9 pm Sunday-Thursday / 4 pm-10 pm Friday-Saturday
Brunch: 10 am-3 pm Saturday-Sunday
Bar: Open-11 pm Sunday-Thursday / Open-12 am Friday-Saturday
Happy Hour: 4-6 pm Monday-Friday

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