Go Rangers!

Best Dallas-Fort Worth bars and restaurants to watch the Rangers in the World Series

It’s a “happy fall, y’all” indeed, because our very own Texas Rangers are going to the World freaking Series.

The American League pennant winners will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a best of seven series, with Game 1 set for 7:03 pm Friday, October 27 at Globe Life Field. But with sky-high ticket costs, most fans will be priced-out from attending the game itself. (Standing room only for $350-plus? Yikes.)

Luckily area bars and restaurants have scrambled to plan watch parties, many with cheaper-than-dirt deals on food and drinks to draw crowds. While every sports bar in town will likely have the games on, here are some of the best places offering watch parties and game-time food and drink specials around DFW, including options for dining-in or grabbing food to-go. (The list will be updated as more are announced.)

Whether watching from a barstool or from the comfort of the couch, cheers to the Rangers’ red-hot post season run. Go and take it.

Texas Live
Perhaps the next best thing to being at the actual game at Globe Life Field is watching it from right next door at Texas Live. The food, drink, and entertainment complex is anchored by a 100-foot big screen in the middle of the Shift 4 Arena, surrounded by booth seating, bar-height tables, and views of the multi-level facility. But reservations are required for those coveted seats (with a $250 food and beverage minimum per party of four, plus 20 percent gratuity), and spots are already full for game-time reservations.

There is still limited availability for away game reservations, but perhaps the best bet is to show up early for first-come, first-serve access to the other venues inside Texas Live, including Sports & Social, Rangers Republic, Troy’s, Lockhart Smokehouse, and more. Regardless of final destination once inside, the place is sure to be hopping with excitement. Stay for after parties at PBR Texas and live music in the Backyard.

Live! by Loews
The luxury Arlington hotel next to Globe Life Field will be a hub for game-goers. The hotel’s outdoor lounge Clover Club will host a pre-game barbecue from 3-7 pm on Friday and 2-7 pm on Saturday, weather permitting. Prices range from $16 for a brisket dog and a side to $32 for a barbecue plate with two meats and two sides. They'll also be pouring World Series-themed cocktails. The game will be shown on the big screen here, as well as at Bar Bourbon, the hotel’s 360-degree lobby bar.

Specials at Bar Bourbon during away games next week include 20 wings and a bucket of beer ($50 for domestic, $55 for imported), pizza and a bucket ($45 for domestic, $50 for imported), a party pack of 20 wings, two pizzas, and two buckets ($85 domestic, $90 for imported) and the all-game pack of 40 wings, 4 pizzas, and three buckets of beer ($135 for domestic, $145 imported).

(Now, in alphabetical order across DFW...)

Barrel & Bones
The craft bar and smokehouse, which has locations in Dallas, Carrollton, and The Colony, will give patrons 15 percent off their check during game time. Mention “Texas Rangers” any time, an hour before game time through the final pitch.

B&B Butchers & Restaurant
Every World Series game day there’ll be specials in the bar at B&B, including ballpark-themed bites with an upscale spin. Partake in meatball sliders ($5), mini crab cakes ($12), pigs in a blanket ($9 for a half-dozen), a gourmet hot dog with steak fries ($12), and more.

Birdie’s Social Club
There’ll be $20 buckets of White Claw and High Noon seltzers on special during the games, plus new fall-themed drinks and eats debuting at the indoor-outdoor Fort Worth bar. All ages welcome, as well as dogs on a leash.

Bigs Bar and Grill
Find cheap drinks at this Bedford sports bar during game time, including $3 wells and $3 domestic drafts. Stay fueled with wings, burgers, fajitas, quesadillas, and fried pickles.

Cantina Laredo
The modern Mexican restaurant, which has locations in Addison and Frisco, will offer complimentary Queso Laredo made with ground sirloin and pico de gallo with the purchase of two entrees. The deal is good for both dine-in and carryout.

Community Beer Community
The Dallas brewery will have the game up and the sound on for the World Series. Food specials include $15 burgers or wing bundles, and there’ll be discounts on beer, too.

Dough Bro’s Italian Kitchen & Bar
Fill up with two large pizzas plus a dozen wings for $29.99 at this local pizza and Italian chain. There are locations in Dallas, Plano, and Bedford. The World Series deal is good for dine-in or to-go.

El Chico Rockwall
The Rockwall location of this time-honored Tex-Mex chain will offer complimentary Top Shelf Queso with the purchase of two entrees. Made with chili con queso, spicy taco meat, pico de gallo, and diced tomatoes, the shareable appetizer deal will be available for dine-in or carryout orders. (Excludes purchases made online.) Just mention the Rangers “World Series Special.”

Lava Cantina
Here’s a watch party with plenty of cheap deals, but only for Game 3 of the series, which takes place Monday night. The entertainment venue in The Colony will offer $2 draft beers, $3 house margs, $5 hurricanes, $15 domestic beer buckets, $7 wings, $8 cheese pizza, $10 pepperoni pizza, and $12 supreme pizza. Admission is free. Note that doors open at 6:30 pm, not long before game time.

Luckys
The Oak Lawn home-cooking diner, which does have TVs, will offer 20 percent off your tab during game time, whether dining in or ordering to-go. (Excludes purchases made online.) Just mention the “Rangers World Series Special.” Don’t miss the “Breakfast All Day” menu, which includes sweet potato hash, breakfast tacos, and banana cognac pancakes.

The Mad Hatter Neighborhood Pub
Wings for a dollar each, Fireball shots for $2, and $3 Yuengling Flight drafts are the game time specials at this Richardson pub.

Monument Realty PGA District at Omni PGA Frisco
With the exception of Game 2, the World Series will be broadcast on the 900 square-foot screen outdoor screen at this expansive, golf-themed entertainment district. Find it right next to The Dance Floor, the country’s largest natural grass putting green. Grab food and libations at Ice House restaurant and bar, located within viewing distance.

The Rabbit Hole Pub
This Fort Worth watering hole will harken ballpark vibes with dollar hot dogs for its “1…2…3 Strikes You’re Out Rangers World Series Watch Party.” Patrons can also partake in $2 Fireball shots and $3 Yuengling Flight drafts.

Scout
The sports bar located inside downtown Dallas’ Statler hotel will feature $25 domestic beer buckets, $15 pitchers of beer, and $8 highballs during the World Series. Food specials include brisket sliders ($9), Scout nachos ($16), and the Scout party platter ($24), which comes with one pound of wings, seasoned fries, onion rings, and mac and cheese bites along with ranch dressing and Scout sauce.

Stagecoach Ballroom
Pair line dancing with line drives during this World Series watch party at the Stagecoach Ballroom in Fort Worth, one of Texas’ oldest dance halls. Line dance lessons will start at 7 pm followed by a live country band and a Halloween costume contest. There’ll also be snacks and plenty of cold beer. Admission is $5.

Facebook/Texas Live

Fans will find World Series watch parties all over DFW.

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Burger News

Fun family-owned Big Mike's Bar and Grill from TV star debuts in Plano

Tommy LeBeouf

Big burger from Big Mike's in Plano

A charming family-owned restaurant from a TV star has debuted in Plano. Called Big Mike’s Bar and Grill, it's an elevated sports bar that just opened at 3200 Alma Dr., in a former Pancho's Mexican Buffet where it's serving tasty Angus burgers and beer-battered onion rings, hand-battered in-house.

Big Mike's is from husband-and-wife Mike Cancelmi and Jennie Marie; she gained fame as the star of the 2018 TLC show Mama Medium. The couple is from Rochester, New York, but fell in love with the Dallas area with their four sons after visiting a friend in 2021.

Their signature Big Mike's burger is a biggie: a half-pound patty with cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg on a brioche bun, served with choice of hand-cut fries, tater tots, or sweet potato fries, for $18.

They bring their Northeast influence with dishes such as a Reuben sandwich with corned beef on marble rye, and their own version of poutine, the Canadian specialty, which they make with fries, cheese curds, brown gravy, and thick-cut crumbled bacon.

One dish reflect their hometown pride: Called the Trash Plate, it's inspired by the Garbage Plate, a sloppy comfort food dish created in 1918 at Rochester restaurant Nick Tahou Hots which has become the unofficial signature dish of the city of Rochester.

The traditional Garbage Plate consists of a choice of burger or hot dog from Rochester-based Zweigle’s, Italian sausage, chicken, or grilled cheese, served on top of any combination of starchy items like home fries, french fries, baked beans, or macaroni salad.

Big Mike's Trash Plate features macaroni salad, home fries, and choice of two Zweigle’s hot dogs which they fly from New York, or two smash patties with hot sauce, mustard, and onions.

They also do a few entree items like a NY strip steak, their priciest item at $35, served with garlic mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts; and a chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans for $24. Portions are abundant.

Big Mike'sBig Mike's

“I created the menu based on things I like to eat," Mike says. "Everything we make is made from scratch, the way I would do it if I was cooking for my friends."

They host weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday until 2 pm with a cinnamon roll skillet, frittatas, avocado toast, and a hash version of the Garbage Plate with home fries, mac salad, onions, diced Zweigle's hot dogs, eggs, and meat hot sauce. There are mimosas — they have a full bar — and they also do a daily happy hour from 3-6 pm with appetizer specials and domestic beers for $3.50.

Mike's background as a former contractor can be seen in the restaurant's spiffy remodel. The space sits 270, with enough room to host events that include karaoke every Wednesday, live music during brunch, and a ticketed group psychic event where Jennie Marie draws from her TV show days, performing readings and mediumship, with food and drink.

The restaurant has a wonderful family-oriented atmosphere. Many of their employees are friends of their sons from school or ice hockey, giving the restaurant a comfortable, homey vibe.

“We try to visit every table — that personal touch is important to us," Jennie Marie says. "We want that hometown feel, get people what they want so they come back."

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