happy hour, weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m., makes the most of your dining budget with $10 starters, $8 classic cocktails, and $4 domestics/$5 craft beers. Chet’s Dallas is another West End dining destina- tion: this Irish-American eatery serves up chef-driv- en comfort food for brunch, lunch, breakfast and dinner. Lunch meet-ups can nosh on light salads or heartier selections, like the Irish stew or fish and chips. Burgers, wraps and sandwiches are also available. For dinner, tuck into a shepard’s pie, pas- ta dish, or an expertly grilled steak. On weekends, gather the crew and chat over blueberry flapjacks, Chet’s American Irish breakfast, or a fried chicken sandwich—washed down with a Loch Ness bloody mary (mixed with vodka, spicy bloody mary mix, celery, lime, olive and a Tajín rim). Happy hour dev- otees will find $4 beer, $5 wine and $6 wells from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. RJ’s Mexican Cuisine adds some serious Mex- ican-inspired flavor to the menu: executive chef Ronald Van Hatten serves up unique appetizers, including the quesadilla de la case, with fajita chick- en, spinach, wild mushrooms, pico de gallo, and chihuahua cheese; salads, including a spinach and watermelon combo with raspberry vinaigrette; and main courses like the tilapia margarita (served with shrimp and pico de gallo); blackened steak fajitas cooked with filet mignon; and the picadillo tacos, combining ground chuck, potato, carrot, serrano peppers, and spices. This West End eatery also con- cocts a memorable margarita, including the refresh- ing prickly pear Texas Rita and the RJ Rita, with Silver tequila, orange liqueur, and house-made sweet and sour. The Liam’s Steakhouse, also in the West End, has plenty to savor: try the steak and potato soup, avocado crab salad, Gulf shrimp sambuca, prime cuts of perfectly-cooked steak, ribs (check out the Dino rib), pasta dishes and even Halal options. Save room for dessert: the pound cake tower and blueberry-raisin break pudding are going to haunt your dreams. Toast your night on the town with a Liam’s vodka martini—or choose from a great se- lection of IPAs, ales and lagers. Reservations and private dining are available at theliamssteakhouse. com. Historic West End’s Moak’s Family Texas BBQ was inspired by the story of a Northern girl drawn to Texas by the allure of barbecue (let’s face it, we all know that girl) and it delivers on that promise with true local flavor. From Texas brisket to bar- beque smoked chicken, bacon-wrapped brisket stuffed with jalapenos, coleslaw, fried okra, potato salad, coleslaw, and banana pudding, it’s easy to see the appeal. Order online for pickup at moak- stexasbbq.com or dine in. 18 DALLAS OBSERVER • SUMMER GUIDE 2025
