v marks the spot

Since being into Eddie V’s, I have heard their advertisements on NPR quite a few times (yes, I am an avid listener and junkie), and each time I hear it, my mouth waters; it has to be a Pavlovian response.  Juicy steaks, ridiculously fresh seafood, fantastic live music, a touch of opulence, and inventive drinks … just a small taste of what the Austin transplant, Eddie V’s, has to offer.  

Two of my man friends and I took an evening off from our hectic lives to relax and enjoy the V Lounge in the newly opened watering hole and eatery on Oak Lawn.  Right out of the gate, we knew we were in for a treat when we walked into the dimly-lit resto and were greeted by three friendly staffers and let into a beautifully decorated dining room with a large wrap-around bar.

We sat in the lounge so we could fully enjoy the live music from the band which boasted covers of my favorite genre: the Rat Pack, Frank, newer pop(py) songs … and they accept requests.  I got a “shout out” and it was definitely a highlight!

The service left nothing to be desired and the wait staff was fun, bantered with the table, and was quick to suggest the best of the best on the menu - both food and bar.  Our table had quite a few drinks and they were all incredibly creative and stout!  Their martini was perfectly dirty and just reading their list of mojitos and margaritas alone is enough to make your taste buds stand at attention - and they don’t disappoint.   As you can see below, the menu offers a plethora of happy hour drinks and half price appetizers at a great price.

As for food … while I am no foodie, my friend who has been to culinary school and makes food to curl your toes was just as impressed with the food as I was.  Their crispy cashew calamari is some of the best I’ve ever had.  The Maryland style all lump crab cake is a force with which to be reckoned and lives up to its name; it doesn’t mess around with its helping of crab.  At the prices during happy hour, try as many as you can fit in your stomach!

Bottom line: try out Eddie V’s.  It’s great for a nicer night when you want to ditch the flip flops and enjoy a more mature group at HH.  Their happy hour is an economical way to try the amazing offerings they have!

Drink strength: 3.8 
Overall: 4

Eddie V’s Dallas
www.eddiev.com | @eddievsdallas
4023 Oak Lawn Ave | (214)890-1500

Specials:
Happy Hour Nightly | 4-7 pm | $5+ drinks below, $0.75-8 select appetizers
Martinis: Original, Jolly Rancher, Passiontini, green apple, mai tai-tini
Mojitos: original, raspberry, orange, citrus, dragon berry
Wines by the glass: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet,
Hand crafted margaritas: Blood orange, passion fruit, pomegranate pink grapefruit

get stone-d with an elephant

For months on the way to my gym, I saw the promise of a new sports bar.  The large sign that stated Stone Elephant would soon open was exciting beyond belief … and I hate to say that it was mostly because I loved the name.  So I ventured in.

The food is pretty darn good and the drinks were alright.  I’d made the decision to give up fried food but seeing the goodies on the menu, I couldn’t pass trying some of the dee fried goodness up.  Definitely try the chips; they are made in-house and delicious.  Sadly, we didn’t venture into any drinks other than wells because … well, it’s a sports bar.  Make sure you specify what drink had when you reorder because, while the waitresses are incredibly nice and efficient, they are spread thin.

There were quite a few happy hour-goers of all types and ages (some are pretty darn attractive at that).  To tell the truth, I wouldn’t have minded meeting a few of my fellow drinkers at Stone Elephant - it seems a whole different group than I have seen around; some were older, some were younger, some had tattoos, some had suits, and some were suited up and bald.

The decor was simple and quirky; there were spots in the walls, ceiling, and bar where we were told the stone elephant ran amuck.  There is a stage for live music, plenty of televisions, and a pool table in the back.  Overall, a typical sports bar with an atypical location and plenty of fun to be had.

Drink strength: 2.86 (sometimes a girl can’t go with a multiple of .5!)
Overall: 4

Stone Elephant
www.stoneelephant.com | @Stone_Elephant
6750 Abrams Rd. #105 | Dallas, TX 75231 
(214)342-9200

Specials:
Happy Hour | Monday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. | $2.50 wells, domestic drafts, and domestic bottles, $4 house wine
Thursday | ladies night | $3 cosmos and appletinis, karaoke
Sunday | all day | $2.50 wells, domestic drafts, and domestic bottles, $4 house wine

drive into the light.

Mondays are my day off.  Monday is my day to clean.  Monday is my day to work out.  Monday is my day to buy healthy food at Central Market.  BUT this Monday somehow turned into a quick (too short) run, a button-bursting dinner at Matt’s Rancho Grande, and drinks drinks drinks at Arcade Bar.

Their recession Mondays are brilliant.  $2 for anything?  YES, PLEASE!  It’s so nice to walk up to the bar with a $5 bill and be able to buy a drink … and a drink for a friend … with tip.

The drinks were strong for $2 a throw.  After our randomly expensive Sunday night at Stan’s, a cheap night was needed and we seemed to get the same buzz for $24 for the two of us (that included dinner at Matt’s) as Sunday’s $98!!

Arcade Bar is a good place to be a regular.  When we walked in, there was a table in the back with an intense poker game going on and two dogs roaming around the tables begging for a sip of beer (yes, it’s dog friendly … and no, we didn’t give them any beer).  The restrooms are delightfully clean, the music was fully of guilty pleasures, Trivial Pursuit cards were on each table for entertainment, and there was fresh popcorn beckoning us from the back of the bar.

To top it off, we got a private tour of the Lakewood Theater which is under the same owners as Arcade Bar.  If you haven’t been inside, get there soon.  Open since 1938, everyone in Dallas knows the bright neon lights of the Lakewood Theater tower.  If you see it … drive into the light.

Drink strength: 4 
Overall: 4.2

Arcade Bar/Lakewood Theater
www.lakewoodtheater.com
1825 Abrams Parkway, Dallas 75214 | (214) 821-7469

Specials:
Monday | Recession Monday | ALL NIGHT | $2 you-call-its
Wednesday | Winnipeg Wednesday | $2.50 wells and domestics
Thursday & Saturday | Karaoke
Friday | live music

library bar

The Warwick Melrose has been a long-time lap of luxury for Dallasites that this girl only just had the chance to experience after 6 years in this city.  I am so glad that I finally found my way over to it.

The milieu was sultry and elegant due to the dim lighting and the live jazz (they have live music most nights).  From the moment we sat down our waiter was eager to serve us whatever we desired - even if it included random bar trivia.

The men got scotch and were served much more than the usual “three fingers.”  The ladies partook in the cosmos which are touted as “world class” for a reason.  They were smooth and not too sweet - though I don’t think I’d have more than one because they were a bit small and, let’s face it, I like my drinks.  Laura usually doesn’t drink “girly drinks” because they are too sweet but she loved the cosmo.

Bottom line: while we enjoyed our time at the Library Bar on Cougar Cosmo Friday, but we didn’t see enough cougars on the prowl to make it worth missing their Wednesday night offering; you will find me there soon!

I wanted to do my first video review from the Library Bar but it was a wee bit too dark to do a decent lighting job - but keep your eyes open for one soon!

The Library Bar
warwickmelrosedallas.com
3015 Oak Lawn Ave
Dallas, TX 75219-4134
(214) 224-3144

Specials:
Sunday-Friday | 7:30–9 p.m. | Domestic Beers and Segura Viudas Champagne by the glass for $3

Monday | 4–9 p.m. | $5 Martinis, $7 specialty martinis
Tuesday | 5-9 p.m. | $6 classic cocktails and wine by the glass, live jazz
Every second Tuesday of the month will feature a wine event from 7-9 p.m. with complimentary tastings of four wines. Reservations not required.
Wednesday | 4–7 p.m. | Free bowl of Five Spice Calamari, $5 house cocktails
Thursday | 4–7 p.m. | $6 Tequila drinks
Fridays | 4–8 p.m. | “Cougar Cosmo Fridays” $7 for The Library’s world class Cosmo
Sunday | all day | $5 Bloody Marys and Mojitos

The Warwick has some great events coming up … click here to see what the Warwick has to offer!

sambuca

On a cool, Fall night there is nothing better than live music and a good drink, and Sambuca is one of Dallas’s prime locations for good live music any given night.  Featuring bands from soul to “hi-nrg”, the restaurant, bar, and outside lounges are flooded with covers of “Use Me” and “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and put you at ease after a long day at work.  Just make sure you sit outside if you want to have a conversation because the music is a bit loud inside.

Lounge on the patio in front of the fireplace or in the canopied “beds”, sip on your strong drinks and nosh on the half price appetizers.  The clientele in the restaurant and on the patios is a bit older; but you can find the younger crowd by the bar.  The girls here are dressed in their best trying to coax drinks out of the lounge lizards … which is always funny to observe.

Make this place a destination on a night you aren’t planning on going out; the chill mood and a full stomach from the great food don’t really evoke enough energy to make a night of it.

Sambuca
www.sambucarestaurant.com
2120 McKinney
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 744-0820

Specials:
Monday-Friday | 4-6:30 p.m. | 1/2 off appetizers and pizzas, wine by the glass, cocktails, and wells