11 July 30 - August 5, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents July 30–August 5, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER | CONTENTS | UNFAIR PARK | SCHUTZE | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | MOVIES | DISH | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | recently realized we need them in our lives. CLIFTON CLUB BAR & LOUNGE 3333 N Fitzhugh Ave. This is easy: during happy hour at the Clifton Club, you can get a Happy Meal, which comes with one small smash burger, a small order of French fries, a cocktail and one Lucky Strike ciggie for $20. All served in a red box reminiscent of your favorite childhood meal. Every Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., you’ll see these on almost every table. What more do you need to know? DUDLEY’S SPORTS GRILL 2927 N. Henderson Ave. Dudley’s is a new hotspot along Knox-Hen- derson that is often wall-to-wall packed, es- pecially on the weekends. Sports is Dudley’s middle name, and if there’s an event worth placing a wager on, they’ll have it on. The crowd starts on the patio, which spills out onto the sidewalk, and leads all the way to the lounge in the back. Don’t let all the Ultra Lights fool you; this spot has flavor. The kitchen is the ace in the lineup with big dishes like chicken-fried steak (or chicken), big burgers and flatbreads. The weekend brunch is ‘90s country themed. You literally can’t get more Dallas than that. Bet. EASY SLIDER ON EAST SIDE 3905 East Side Ave. Yes, Easy Slider is also a food truck. And yes, they used to have a spot in Deep Ellum (it closed a couple of years ago). This gem on East Side Avenue is like a break-off republic on the outskirts of Deep Ellum where street parking is as free and abundant as kittens. It’s a simple space: a bar side and one wall of seats on the other, with a classy vintage vibe. There are so many nuggets to tell you about here: like the gravy back shot with whiskey they served last winter; the chicken parmesan sandwiches they serve only on Italian Disco night (Thursdays); and the steak dinner nights the first Sundays of the month. Plus, it’s just a great place to hang. We beg you to go take in the space ... breathe it in ... hold it ... hold it ... don’t let it go. KILMAC’S 814 W. Davis St. Kilmac’s is a new bar from Fergal McKinney, who also owns The Old Monk, which is just next door at this new Oak Cliff location. McKinney takes immaculate care in creating his bars, and service is always front and center. Inside, it’s dim and a little sultry, but outside the large courtyard might be Oak Cliff’s newest gathering spot. Pizza master Lee Hunsinger created the menu; the pizza is close to a New York style, but with a bit more chew thanks to a 72-hour fermentation. If the cocktail menu has a mascot, it’s the Santa Muerte made with mezcal, Montenegro, peach, lemon and serrano hot honey. Noooo, you shut up! MANSION BAR 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd. Of course this is a neighborhood bar – as long as you’re in the neighborhood of sev- en-figures. Just kidding! Rest assured, ste- reotypes do not apply at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek’s in-house water- ing hole. (Except that, yes, it is on the pricey side, though no more expensive than any Uptown upstart). Just pick a cozy club chair beneath a bookshelf straight out of the his- toric spot’s 1920s past, or perch at the bar, which is made from a repurposed dance floor. Then, kick back and and enjoy a hand- crafted cocktail and unmatched peo- ple-watching. Is that a Dutton wannabe schmoozing an aspiring supermodel? Good luck to both ‘em. Live music sweetens the deal on Friday and Saturday nights, but ar- rive early to beat the crowd. RISING TIDES 9909 Garland Road It’s not easy to replace a long-running es- tablishment, and it’s really not easy being the new kid in on a close-knit block. Leave it to Dallas bar veteran Alex Fletcher to pull it off. At just under a year old, his Rising Tides lives in the former Lakewood home of the Royal Pour, and he’s taken great care to welcome regulars and newcomers alike. Drinks span old-school to new, as well, with standard beers and wine, as well as cre- ations like the Happy Accidents with Sour Patch Kid-infused rum. Slide in on Satur- days for karaoke, or grab a quick lunch at the bar from the tasty, Asian-accented menu. We can recommend the Sesame Gar- lic Noods. Go ahead and slurp. Whatever you do, it’ll feel just right. There are games throughout the space, including Ms. Pac- Man and Galaga in the back near the dart board. ROSE ROOM AT S4 3911 Cedar Springs Road Despite the quaint name (that sounds like a ‘50s beauty parlor), The Rose Room is an absolutely unabashed and unmatched drag cabaret. Catch a cast of regu- lars strutting onstage, in lights and no-holds-barred every Thursday through Sunday. Order something stiff from bartender Sandy – a legend in his own right — and prepare for a ride. There may be smoke and mirrors, you could be pulled onstage, and there will surely be se- quins caught in some very interesting places come morning. A STEP UP LOUNGE 3720 Walnut Hill Lane Been here? Yeah, we know you haven’t. Last time we were there, an older gentleman an- nounced to his compatriots around the large bar, “I’m tired of my bullshit. >> p12 Photo by Alison McLean B A R S T O P Customers enjoying the bar inside of Cosmo’s in Dallas.
