21 OctOber 5–11, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Picking just 20 patios in Dallas is a real challenge, but we buckled down. Here are 20 restaurants to enjoy al fresco dining and drinks; some beautiful, others offbeat but all worth a visit. BY LAUREN DREWES DANIELS H ere’s the thing: Dallas has long known how to patio. Yes, we sloth through some miserable summers, and winters can get quite dicey, but between those spaces are many lovely days. And for de- cades Dallas restaurateurs have capitalized on al fresco dining, knowing that margaritas and burgers somehow just taste better with the sun shining on your face. We have chosen 20 of Dallas’ finest pa- tios, even though there are so many more worthy of mention.This is a mix of new and old, and if you can’t find one of your favor- ites, check out our rooftop dining list before you throw hands. Dot’s Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard 2645 Commerce St. This 10,000-square-foot pooch-friendly place is one of the premiere spots in Deep Ellum to enjoy a well-crafted cocktail or a cold beer from the 99-tap beer menu. The owners of Dot’s Hop House rescued the grill from the old Club Schmitz near Love Field after it closed in 2014, giving the burgers ex- tra grit and character. Get a side of duck-fat cheese fries to go with that burger. Service is consistently on point and the music (which is a mesh of genres, but generally crowd- pleasing) is loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to drown out the riveting con- versation from your tablemates — the Goldi- locks belt of noise. They host trivia on Mondays, which is nice because Mondays can be so lame. Smoky Rose 8602 Garland Road Smoky Rose has a lot of things going for it, including its Tex-Que-inspired menu (think brisket queso) and its huge courtyard patio that’s always a good time. But the main thing is that you can spend less than $25 for a cou- ple of drinks and appetizers during happy hour (Monday – Friday, 3–6 p.m.). We love that. Draft beers, house wines and favorite cocktails are just $6, as are nachos, brisket queso, wings and sliders. It’s just across the road from the Dallas Arboretum and there’s valet parking (tips only) and live music on occasion. It’s best to snag a reservation. Desert Racer 1520 Greenville Ave. Ever have the urge to peel out on your dirt bike and hit the desert dunes? Neither have we. But you can get an idea of what that might be like at Desert Racer. It’s not a res- taurant as much of a theme, like your quirky uncle’s place. The huge walled-in courtyard has a retro camping days vibe with some lounge-like seating. Happy hour offers $5 drinks and bites, and the cheeseburger is ex- cellent, as is anything with the smoked chicken (like tacos, flautas or nachos). There are TVs all around and some games to play, including foosball, with signs for parents to mind their children. Appreciate that. Truck Yard 5624 Sears St. After a $2 million nip and tuck job earlier this year, the Truck Yard is better than ever: additional weather-friendly patio space, fire pits and new bathrooms. Here you can enjoy a beer from Second Rodeo Brewing, whose brew boss, Dennis Wehrmann, comes from a long line of German brewers. The menu keeps things simple with hot dogs and cheesesteaks (some of the best, mind you) and nachos. There are also some food trucks on site. Tequila Social 3100 McKinnon St. The Katy Trail has a new boozy tenant. Te- quila Social is in the McKinnon Building in the Harwood District; park in the garage and look for signs to the restaurant. The indoor dining room has a full bar, and beyond that is a 10,000-square-foot, West Texas-inspired patio with seating for 200 people and plenty of misters and fans to keep things cool in the warmer months (and surely heaters for the winter). Check out happy hour (as we did, re- cently), Monday through Friday, 3–6 p.m. Escondido TexMex Patio 5950 Royal Lane Patio is part of the name here so they’re re- ally leaning into it. Here you can get large plates of gratifying Tex-Mex and strong drinks, all propped up with the signature spot-on service that all of owner John Alexis’ restaurants offer. Escondido has two different patio spaces, one with bar seating, the real sweet spot. Get a frozen mango mar- garita and let the day drift by. They take res- ervations (you can specify the patio) but also leave tables for walk-ins. Ozona Grill & Bar 4615 Greenville Ave. Ozona’s massive patios are a quintessential Dallas scene. From fans and misters to fire- places, every season is covered. On the week- ends, the bloody mary bar is lush with options. The burgers are great, and don’t miss the house-made onion rings. They recently added a massive new 14-foot LED screen out- doors that we think you might be able to see from an airplane. Happy hour runs Sunday (not a typo) through Friday, 4–7 p.m. Uptown Pub 3605 McKinney Ave. If you’re driving up McKinney Avenue on a nice day and see the patio crowd at Uptown Pub, you’ll get big FOMO. They’re always out there having fun in the sun, while you’re trying to adult. But don’t adult. Stop and have a drink. The vibe at this 100-year-old- house-turned-pub is always chill, the beer is cold and the service is friendly. Start your tab at the bar. Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House 1154 Peavy Road Not only does Goodfriend in East Dallas have one of the best burgers in the city (An- thony Bourdain-inspired with house- ground beef), they also have a great dog-friendly patio. The service is no-non- sense and fast. It’s a little bit divey but also a touch hipster. The music is more than an af- terthought with some surprising deep cuts. The Old Monk 2847 N. Henderson Ave. This small but mighty patio in the Knox- Henderson neighborhood has old bones; it’s been around for more than 25 years. Kathy Tran >> p22 | CITY OF ATE | t Dish 20 of the BEST PATIOS in Dallas Truck Yard in Lower Greenville was recently upgraded.
