22 July 18–24, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents OFF THE RECORD CRAFT BEER & VINYL: It all started as a hipster wet dream: a semi-quiet spot in Deep Ellum to browse through vinyl records while drinking beer — exposed brick walls included. But record shop + bar Off the Record became a line-down-the-block, the- doorman-doesn’t-know-you hotspot thanks to a constant nightly rotation of Dallas’ best DJs. The small space found new life after serving for years as Club Dada’s green room. OTR is permanently packed to the rim with people actually dancing and, well, also grinding, but there’s a fairly large patio in the back if you want to talk to friends without someone twerk- ing between you. 2716 Elm St., 214-745-1402, m.facebook.com/OTRDallas. THE OLD CROW: The humble Old Crow is wholly unpretentious, and it’s just the kind of dive bar that you’d make a beeline for directly after getting dumped. No, it’s not the fanciest club in all of Dallas, but it’s still got a certain je ne sais quoi that keeps patrons coming back week after week. Want to down a couple of cheap beers and throw some darts? No problem. Want to order a round of reasonably priced shots to help you forget your terrible day? Well, look no further. With plywood floors and classic Busch Light and Pabst Blue Ribbon neon lights, The Old Crow is a seriously excellent hole-in-the- wall worthy of your hard-earned cash. Every true Dallasite has made some memories there — if they can remember the night, that is. 1911 Greenville Ave., 214-828-2769. THE OLD MONK: The Old Monk opened in 1998 and has been a Dallas staple since. Generations have given this place their days, sipping dark beer through the night, followed by brunch behind big sunglasses in the morning. Their fish and chips are tops in the city. The bar has draft beers from around the world plus 70 bottles to choose from, with a few locals squeezed in. Two sister bars are down the street — The Skellig and Spider Murphy’s — if you’re up for a European dark bar walking tour. During the pandemic, it pivoted to a daytime coffee bar to extend hours for employees. It serves coffee from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2847 N. Henderson Ave., 214-821-1880, oldmonkdallas.com. ONE NOSTALGIA TAVERN: Does the thought of going to a place with “nostalgia” in its name make you quiver as you imagine wait staff pretending to be celebrities from a bygone era and music so old that they don’t even play it in nursing homes? Fear not. One Nostalgia Place celebrates a different kind of memory. It’s a bar that looks like the neighborhood bar you remember your parents making you sit quietly in while they got their “medicine.” This famous Dallas watering hole actually has neon signs and beer that comes in an actual can as well as some on tap and bar staples like shuffleboard and pool tables. The weekly karaoke nights are the stuff of legend, and huge crowds show up to listen to their friends and strangers belt out their favorite tunes. It’s the kind of bar you go to when you just want to go to a good bar. 6521 Abrams Road, 214-348-8407. OPENING BELL COFFEE: Good tunes and bangin’ cups of joe are a given at Opening Bell Coffee. With one of the longest-running open mic nights in DFW, the shop’s stage has seen the likes of Leon Bridges, Charley Crockett and many who have gone on to compete on NBC’s The Voice and American Idol. Patrons who at- tend the shop’s open mic will often catch an early glimpse of the next big thing in the local music scene. Whether it’s during an open mic or a show featuring a national touring act, you can sit back and soak in the music while get- ting cracked out on something off their Java menu. Depending on what you plan to order, you might consider bringing a pair of boxing gloves too. Consisting of a 16-ounce drip coffee mixed with two shots of espresso just for fun, Opening Bell’s Black Eye packs a punch that might knock you on your feet. If you’re not down for coffee, you can always grab a beer or a glass of wine and order something tasty off their food menu, like a sandwich, soup or salad. 1409 Botham Jean Blvd., 214-565-0383, openingbellcoffee.com. PARLIAMENT: Stepping inside Parliament is like traveling back in time to the barrooms and clubs of the early 1900s. With one of the best happy hours in town, Parliament sports a sophisticated selection of craft cocktails, like the Ramos Gin Fizz and over 100 others. Nestled in the State Thomas Historical District, this Uptown spot is brought to us by Dallas’ drink king Eddie “Lucky” Campbell. Parliament went up in the footprint of the old Four Lounge space on Allen Street. Campbell described his vision for Parliament as a “progressive cocktail lounge,” with a mad-scientist style of drink-making. Campbell and his staff have lived up to that vision ever since. 2418 Allen St., 469-804-4321, parliamentdallas.com. THE PEAK INN: When Joe Morales opened this bar in November 2019, he called it his retirement bar, — the kind of place he wants to find a stool to call home later down the road. Many locals and regulars are already doing that. The bar food here is superior; you might not find a better late-night burger in this city. The jukebox has a cultured range from Lizzo to Jerry Jeff Walker. The weekday happy hour lasts until 10 p.m. and the kitchen stays open to 1:30 a.m. every night. The vibe, strong drinks and food make it a big draw for service industry workers after they get off their shifts. The Lil’ Kahuna burger with a house-made Thousand Island dressing is a critic favorite. 132 N. Peak St., 214-377-8828, facebook.com/thepeakinn. PEGASUS CITY BREWERY DOWNTOWN: If you’ve ever wanted to drink beer in an art deco architectural masterpiece, your dreams came true during the pandemic when Pegasus City Brewery opened a second taproom downtown. The space is an old department store, and the chandeliers, among other period details, are 1930s originals. Sit in the display windows and you can look out over both Commerce Street and the simple black-and-white bar, which serves pints of easy-drinking beers like Woofus cream kolsch and Texikaner black lager. This is an ideal place to take tourists on a ramble through downtown, especially when the patio is playing host to food pop-ups. 1508 Commerce St., 972-366-7722, pegasuscitybrewery.com. PETICOLAS BREWING CO.: Peticolas had been putting its beer in cans for only six months when the pandemic arrived and forced its taproom’s closure. Suddenly those four-packs became the brewery’s lifeline, and loyal customers lined up their cars, bikes and running shoes to pick up curbside beer to go. As grateful as we were to pound Velvet Ham- mers in our own homes, it’s wonderful that the split-level taproom is open. There’s no better place in town to catch soccer games; Peticolas shows everything from Champions League to regional Mexican matches, and it’s a semi-official home for FC Dallas fans who don’t want to drive to Frisco. If there aren’t any games on, start your own by playing foosball, pingpong or shuffleboard upstairs. 1301 Pace St., 214-234-7600, peticolasbrewing.com. PRESS BOX GRILL: Located on the ground floor of the iconic Wilson Building, The Press Box Grill is one of the busiest sports bar in downtown. A slew of TVs makes it great for catching a game, and the pup-friendly patio offers an inclusive front-row seat to the down- town scene. It has 36 beers on tap, two dozen of which are Texas brewed, with shelves of Texas-made vodkas, whiskeys and other spirits. Soak all that up with the Press Box Reuben or, a fan-favorite, the jalapeño pork chops. The late-night menu is available until 1 a.m. 1623 Main St., 214-747-8226, pressboxgrill.com. R.L. BLUES PALACE 11: This storied institution offers live blues music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It has come and gone a few times but remains a Dallas staple for blues music. “Pure grown folks fun,” its Facebook page says, and that best describes it. The venue offers genuine blue shows with a lively crowd. It sells beer, but it’s BYOB, and often people bring food as well. Watch its Facebook page for updates. 3100 Grand Ave. 214-421-9867, facebook.com/ RLBluesPalace2. RENO’S CHOP SHOP: You’ll probably hear it before you see it. A longtime favorite for bik- ers, skaters and metal heads, tucked away on Crowdus Street in Deep Ellum, is Reno’s Chop Shop. A bar known for its cheap drinks and absolutely insane live shows, Reno’s is a true rock bar with a lot of street cred. With all of the black clothing and tattoos its patrons are known for, it might be somewhat intimidating to walk into a place like Reno’s, but fear not. Real recognizes real, so head on in for a real good time. 210 N. Crowdus St., 214-744-1200. REVELERS HALL: In a corner of Bishop Arts, Revelers Hall is a time capsule from 1920s New Orleans. The venue’s house band, a big band led by Kevin Butler, entertains patrons with the energy of Mardi Gras, creating a mood so festive it just dares you to take your top off to collect imaginary beads. Don’t try it. Do try the items on the menu, which include flatbreads, cheese boards and charcuterie. The lively, bombastic sounds of brass will invite you to dance well down the street. Revelers Hall is also a favored joint of legends Shelley Carroll and Liz Mikel. It’s not for people looking to enjoy a boring, quiet beer. You can stay home for that. 412 N. Bishop Ave., 972-982-2661, revelershall.com. ROY G’S: Who’s interested in a threesome? Come on, get your mind out of the gutter. We’re talking about the threesome deals at Roy G’s, the gayborhood’s vibrant, rainbow-themed diner bar. For a few bucks, you can get the Taste the Rainbow threesome, which includes a shot of Three Olives, a shot of lemonade and some Skittles. A bolder option is the Needle to the Heart; a shot of Jameson cold brew, a shot of Red Bull and chocolate espresso beans. At Roy G’s, you can decompress with some libations without breaking the bank. Not to mention, food items like the pickle brined chicken sandwich and the Snookie’s burger are pretty damn good. 4001 Cedar Springs Road, 214-272-7127, roygs.com. RUINS: The sister bar of Armoury D.E., Ruins is rooted deep in Latin culture. With original artwork hanging on the wall, an exquisite menu of authentic Latin American dishes and the longest list of tequilas and mezcals we’ve ever seen, Ruins is a great place to meet up with friends for some adventurous bites and classic libations. Ruins also offers a little music venue in the back called The Limbo Room. Small though it may be, the bar has gone to great lengths to ensure that patrons get a full VIP experience with close proximity to the band and world class lighting and sound. 2653 Commerce St., 972-707-0607, ruinsdeepellum.com. THE RUSTIC: “At The Rustic, music is part of our DNA,” The Rustic’s creator Kyle Noonan said in 2020 as the bar and restaurant kicked off its Safe Sounds Music Series, a masked and socially distanced concert series aimed at keep- ing the music playing during the pandemic. And then there’s this: “We hustle together, we party together, we play together, we fight together, but ultimately we get to celebrate the fact that we are creating the place Carley Elsey Ruins is the sister bar to Armoury D.E. Nathan Hunsinger Peticolas has a taproom with soccer games. >> p24 Top 100 Bars from p21
