Category Archives: Lower Greenville

Slater’s 50/50 – Burgers, Bacon, Beer

Three of my top ten favorite things: burgers, bacon, and beer. And it happens that there is a new place adding to the renaissance of the Lower Greenville area in Dallas within walking distance of where I live. Their description? “Slater’s 50/50, Burgers, Bacon, Beer”. This is incredibly dangerous to my waistline because, when the opportunity arose to try it out, I loved it.

There are so many great burger joints in Dallas. TBH, when I heard about it, I was like, “Another one? Do we really need it?” My tuned changed after a visit and a meal.

The space is incredibly well designed and the layout flows nicely. I took my wife along for the visit, and, as a healthcare interior designer, she admitted that she liked everything about the space. The large, u-shaped bar offers plenty of seating, and an impressive collection of beer taps. Additionally, there are plenty of TVs so you can sample all their beer offerings while watching the game.

There are some things about Slater’s 50/50 that make it really sizzle. (Pun intended.) First, bacon serves a primary function in everything they do. (As God intended.) From their burger patty made of 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon to bacon cocktails, ketchup, milkshakes, and even a bacon brownie … you get the sense of the theme. This isn’t just any ground beef though. Slater’s 50/50 uses only the freshest and highest quality ingredients—all patties contain premium, natural beef, made without hormones or antibiotics.

We started off with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts with mustard and white balsamic vinaigrette, shaved parmesan, bacon and fried sage. This was a great starter—one, because it is delicious. Two, it wasn’t too filling, which was excellent because I wanted to save room for what was to come next.

The Bison & Bacon Burger made with 100% Durham Ranch bison, thick-cut bacon, swiss, jalapeño bacon jam, tomato, green leaf lettuce, and sage and garlic aioli served on a honey wheat bun. This beautiful beast was incredible and the bison perfectly lean. I know, this isn’t one of their 50/50 beef and bacon patties, but I had to try it.

The wifey ordered the Rosemary Turkey Burger made with ground turkey, rosemary parmesan bacon, smoked gouda, spring mix, tomato, red onions, roasted red peppers, and sage and garlic aioli, served on a honey wheat bun. I highly recommend this one. The flavors of this turkey burger will knock your socks off.

The sides here aren’t just that, they could carry the show themselves. (And one could say we are connoisseurs of Onion Rings.) Sadly, there are very few places in Dallas where you can find top-notch onion rings (I am totally open to suggestions if you have them). However, the side of onion rings we got to share were fantastic. They are served with, wait for it … bacon ketchup! Great job Slater’s 50/50 … we all owe you.

And for dessert? OF COURSE, we got the Bacon Brownie—candied bacon, chocolate ganache, a la mode! I had my doubts—I have had many sweet treats paired with bacon, and I can honestly say, I have only really enjoyed a few of them, and mostly for the novelty. However, since literally everything we had eaten up to this point was served with bacon, our palettes were totally ready for this brownie. It was incredible. Though, after all the food and beer, we couldn’t come anywhere close to finishing it. (Though we made a noble effort.)

Speaking of the brownie, another thing that needs to be mentioned about Slater’s 50/50 is their philanthropy. They have partnered with The Boys & Girl’s Club of Greater Dallas, and for the rest of August 2017, if you purchase their Slider Pops (current Burger of the Month) or Bacon Brownie, a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit this amazing cause.

Aside from their unique signature burgers, you’ll notice their beer pairings that accompany every food item. However, every server in the joint is required to go through Cicerone certification. If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically a beer sommelier. So if a suggested beer doesn’t strike your fancy, or you are looking to try something new, the servers and bartenders can help you find the perfect beer from their 50+ local beers—each served at the correct temperature and in the glass that the beer is supposed to be served. The taps are constantly rotating due to being local and to make room for seasonal offerings. It’s the perfect location to find new beers to love and to see what the local crafts are producing.

If you aren’t a beer person, you won’t be left out. They have a wide range of signature cocktails, bacon and un-bacon. We got to sample a couple of them ourselves. The Peach Basket (whiskey, peach puree, ginger beer, orange squeeze) was wonderful. Also, their Across the Pond (Smirnoff Citrus, St-Germain Elderflower, grapefruit juice, soda) was incredibly refreshing. We agreed that’s great for these stupid hot summer days here in Dallas.

One thing to note: if you like to dine with your favorite pupper in your life, Slater’s 50/50 is dog-friendly on both their ground outdoor and rooftop patios AND offers a Doggie Menu! This menu includes their 50/50 patty, beef patty, turkey patty, chicken breast or 2 strips of bacon! So bring them along with you next time you visit and treat them to their own feast!

Altogether, Slater’s 50/50 should on your list of places to visit; it really is a one-of-a-kind experience. There is a pretty good chance you will see me there stuffing my face and sampling a local beer offering. Just try not to stare.

Slater’s 50/50 Dallas
slaters5050.com/locations/dallas/
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
2817 Greenville Avenue (Lower Greenville)
214-888-0158

Restaurant Hours:
Sun to Wed: 11am – 10pm
Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 11am – 12am

Day Drinking:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 6pm

Snuffer’s Happy-Tizer Happy Hour

Did you know that the Snuffer’s on Lower Greenville is haunted? Well, it sure is. Just ask the servers and they’ll send over one of their staff members that have had a paranormal experience pop by your table and tell you a couple ghost stories. … or they’ll just tell you about the scary good deals they’re now offerings during happy hour on their Happy-Tizer Menu.

Y’all know that I love a good happy hour, so when I was invited in to try out their new options, I didn’t shy away. Monday-Friday, 3-7pm you can now get select mini-apps for as little as $2. That’s right … two buckaroos … a pair of greenbacks … just a couple Washington’s … you get the idea.

As always, the Dallas favorite offers happy hour beers and margs as low as $3 to make your visit truly happy. Think $3 house margaritas (frozen or on the rocks) and drafts (Bud Light, Samuel Adams, & Dos Equis) and $4 house wine and shooters. While I’m not a huge beer drinker, it felt right ordering one to sip … and then a house margarita … and then another beer.

The real excitement as of late is their new happy hour food offering, a.k.a. their Happy-Tizers. Check out the picture below. All that goodness can be yours for $22. And for that price, you can try all of them … and you should. Their fried pickles and mushrooms are legendary* and these small servings are just enough to satisfy your craving but not take over the meal. (Though, really, what’s wrong with a meal of fried pickles and mushrooms?) Their tortilla chips were seasoned just right and the onion rings and buffalo wings were perfectly satisfactory.

If you’re trying to decide what to order on this little menu, skip the burger quesadilla and the queso … save those options for Blue Goose down the street. They’ll get an “E” for effort on those, though.

Stop in and check out the new happy hour serving sizes at any of their locations, but don’t forget the beers and things. Oh … and make sure to order at LEAST the personal-sized Cheddar Fries. (Because it’d be rude to leave without a helping of them. After all, they’ve been around longer than you … if you were born after 1978.)

SNUFFER’S RESTAURANT & BAR
snuffers.com
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
10 locations

*at least to me. For nearly my entire college career, when I was in a bad way the day after a good party, I knew Snuffer’s fried pickles and loaded Cheddar Fries were my saving graces. They never failed.

***Snuffer’s invited me in to enjoy selections from their Happy-Tizers free of charge.***

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company

If there are two things I know for certain: it’s that it’s hot as balls outside and that pizza is the best thing that God made. (Only one of those is constant.)

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company (GAPCo) is the little pizza shop on Lowest Greenville that has supplied drunkards with the perfect late night food generously sprinkled with Pizza Crack (more on that later) since 2007. This food isn’t just any drunk food … it’s good enough to even eat sober. The owner, Sammy Mandell, spent the evening with our group and told us about his baby on Lowest Greenville that has gone from a small pizza shop to a rebranded, refurnished restaurant that was named one of the top 100 highest grossing pizzerias in the U.S. this past year. By which I’m not surprised at all because everything in GAPCo is made by hand–from the dough to their ranch.* The employees, from management to delivery drivers, are 100% behind Sammy and the brand and they support the shop and each other in spades. Like any great fast food restaurant, they ensure that their drivers are covered with the help of insurance companies similar to Insured ASAP (https://www.insuredasap.com/your-guide-to-insurance-for-food-delivery-drivers/) so they can deliver their meals without any worry. It’s part of the support they have pizza shop. this In fact, Sammy’s wife, Molly, not only takes charge of their snarky social media channels, but also rolled GAPCo’s meatballs for years. (They were even dubbed “Mollyballs”!)

BOOZE INFO: GAPCo offers Texas craft beers (uhhh and some wine)–Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Martin House Brewing Company, Cedar Creek, Saint Arnold, Shiner, and Eastciders dry cider. I mean … what’s possibly better than a cold beer and pizza when it’s 100º outside? (Maybe just following it up with a Steel City Pop from across the street.)

We’ll get to the pizza, but we have to chat about some of their other items first. (Because once pizza enters the conversation, that’s all there really is.) If you’ve never branched out past pies here, you’re missing out. The first thing that hit the table was a GIANT meatball and garlic knot. The Meatballs are 81/19 beef (the texture is perfect), lovingly hand-packed, and served with marinara sauce that takes five hours to make.

Their salads are delicious, fresh, crisp, and unique. The Brutus Salad was their take on a Caesar salad without being drenched in heavy dressing or sporting the cliche croutons (take a basic chicken Caesar salad, then add tortilla strips, diced jalapeños, and jalapeño Caesar dressing). The Italian Salad–romaine, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, parmesan, shallot vinaigrette dressing–was quite good, but I’d stick with the Brutus on my next visit.

: Meatballs with Garlic Knots

: Hand-Packed Meatballs

: Brutus Salad

: Italian Salad

Now, a pizza place with salads options … that’s super expected. But … a pizza place with wings good enough to stand on their own is a diamond in the rough. I don’t know if I’d ever attempt these spicy pieces of chicken goodness after a couple drinks, but sober, I’d eat the shit out of these fried Hot Buffalo Wings and would only pause to find a napkin and make sure my lips were still intact. And that aforementioned homemade ranch … it kind of makes these transcendent. The Lemon Pepper Wings had a perfect crisp to them if you’re into that not-as-saucy situation and the lemon flavor in the seasoning is surprisingly refreshing.

No … for the main event: the pizza. I think Bill Murray said it best when he said, “Unless you are a pizza, the answer is ‘yes, I can live without you.'” Amen, brother.

GAPCo’s pizza, like its other menu items, are made with homemade ingredients. You can TASTE the love in these slices. The fresh cheese, delicious meats, veggies, and more come together in a beautiful symphony of flavors and crispiness. Have it drunk and you’ll never ask your Uber driver to take you through the Whataburger drive-though again. The pieces hold up nicely without that sad wilting effect brought on by too much grease and not enough “crusture”. (Crust structure … it’s going to be a thing.)

I think it was all over for me when I had my first bite of the Supreme Pizza–pepperoni, ham, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, bacon, and olives. I mean … the bacon wasn’t just any bacon; it was just thick enough to really stand out in a crowded pizza but not feel like you’re missing a helping of eggs. (And once that Pizza Crack hits the cheese, you know it’s all over.)

Their famous Pizza Crack is made with garlic, salt, and their special mix of spices. Apparently they sell enough of this stuff that they’ve started selling jars of it. Full disclosure: a jar of this was one of the first things in the cabinet at my new condo.

: BBQ Chicken Pizza

: Supreme Pizza

: Veggie Pizza

Stay tuned to GAPCo for more new offerings coming up … they have a great product and are finding more ways to evangelize to the people of Dallas. Recently, GAPCo came out of the cover of night and they’re now open for lunch. The lunch special is $10 for a slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza, caesar salad, and a fountain drink. (And they’ll start offering brunch in August!)

GREENVILLE AVENUE PIZZA COMPANY
www.gapc.co | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
1923 Greenville Ave (Lowest Greenville)
(214) 826-5404

Hours:
open for lunch daily at 11am
open for dine-in and delivery until:
– 1am on Mondays
– 3am Tuesday – Thursday
– 4am on weekends

*Unlike some places … they don’t discriminate against ranch-eaters. (We’re people, too–we just happen to be Texans.)

C’Viche

There’s a new chico in town … and his name is C’Viche. Get your ass into this play ASAP, because it’s f**king delicious.

Their cocktails pack a punch and are a perfect complement to their Mexican and South American food. They have an extensive full bar with some more exotic options, so you can get traditional margaritas or get a little crazy with Pisco drinks. Check out some details of my visit below.

We started with their complimentary chips & salsa while we poured over their menu. Their food options are limited in the most perfect way–they don’t do all that much, but what they do, they do really damn well. Their menu is literally five simple sections … ceviches (obvi.)and crudos, specialties, quesadillas, “snacks”, and tacos.

In the meantime, we ordered a couple drinks with the help of the owner and chef, Randall–Jackie* went with their mojito and I opted for a Pisco Sour … because Pisco. Jackie hadn’t tried Pisco, so we were given small tastes to sip. If you want to know more about Pisco, check out #SDDContributor Brian’s review or mine from ages ago!

Their bar is pretty extensive, offering “100% agave Mexican tequilas & mezcal, Caribbean rums, Brazilian cachaça and Argentinian Pisco”. You can also opt for their local or Mexican & South American beers on tap or some wine. But, when in C’Viche …

: Pisco Sour

: Pisco tasting

Their food is unexpectedly good. Though, they’re owned by the same guy as Clark Food & Wine Company, so I should have known better … because that place is legit.) The food is inspired by Mexican and South American cuisine and makes the food its own in a special and delicious way.

My absolute favorite food item we tried was the Tuna Crudo “Poke Style” (tuna crudo, tamari, ginger, and scallions). Jackie and I had a little fork fight over who got the last piece … I kid you not. We also got into some serious queso business along with their Street Style Corn and Avocado Fries. Not to be missed is their fresh fish, which you can choose which fish you prefer, chopped (ceviche) or sashimi style (crudo), which style you’d like (Baja, Peruvian, island, or Asian), and you can even have them make it into a salad for just $2.

: Chips and Salsa

: Street Style Corn

: Fried Egg Taco

: Queso and Chips

: Avocado Fries

: Ceviche

: Tuna Crudo “Poke Style”

The atmosphere is decided casual thanks to the nice natural light it lets in, red metal bar stools, industrial lights, and cement floors. The music keeps it light and the staff lights to kid around … which just makes things a little more fun.

Stop into C’Viche soon and get you some of their tuna crudo to accompany their new happy hour specials.
C’VICHE & TEQUILA BAR
www.cvicheandtequila.com
1922 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 238-3509

*Jackie is my new friend who happens to be a fellow blogger … check her our at Pretty Petals! You’ll hear about her again.

my main squeeze

The Grape has gotten a lot of attention for its burgers … but it’s sooooo much more than an amazing burger that is so good that it is only sold two days a week and caused the restaurant to hire an extra hand in the kitchen to prepare.

Their happy hour is brilliant; you can get cheap drinks while paying next to nothing for the amazing food they serve (especially compared to their regular prices). We took part in wells, martinis, fries, the cheese plate, the mini brat burgers, and plenty of sunshine. Try the fries, you won’t be sorry … but make sure you have a piece of gum to chew after!

Their drinks were strong enough to give us quite a fun feeling and the need to partake in more rounds of appetizers. The dirty martini could have been been shaken for a few more minutes but was overall superbly mixed. The drinks became successively stronger as we sat.

The patio at The Grape is very nice other than its proximity to the street – it’s slightly loud during “rush hour”. Take a pair of sunglasses and speak a little louder and you’ll be set. Sit in the bar, which has an incredibly cool with an old-timey feel; they keep the doors open so you can still feel the nice breeze without the noise.

The wait staff is incredible. Each and every one of them cater to your any need and in a snappy way … and with a smile. I haven’t ever had anything but an amazing (if not exemplary) customer service experience here. The chef will even walk around and chat when the kitchen isn’t slammed. The best thing about The Grape’s happy hour: they make sure you know when it’s last call.

Their brunch is also quite a pip; the wounded yellowbird is addicting and the food is amazing. It’s worth getting out of bed after a night out to have a meal here.

Drink strength: 4
Overall: 5 (just FYI … I think this is my first 5!)

The Grape Restaurant
www.thegraperestaurant.com
2802 Greenville Ave | (214) 828-1981

Specials:
Monday-Friday | 4:30-7 p.m. | $2 domestics, $3 wells, $5 glasses of wine, select appetizers under $6
Sunday | 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | $6 Wounded Yellowbird and bloody marys, $4 mimosas

libertine bar

Did you know that it’s possible to spend 7 hours in a bar and not realize it? Well, I haven’t done it in 3-1/2 years but Thursday night proved that it isn’t too difficult to do at the right bar. We ate, we drank, we laughed, and we enjoyed the Libertine Bar quite a bit.

Between the two of us, we tried every drink on the classic cocktail menu and then some – and they were good. The Dark n Stormy, Pimm’s Cup, The Bronx, etc. … all were delightfully different and intriguing (and considerably stronger than expected – watch out for the Aviator!). Matt had the pint of the week so he could have a cool pint glass, but in the end he forgot it (bust).

The staff at Libertine contributed to the fun. They were incredibly outgoing and friendly without crowding us or being annoying. The other thing that contributed to the fun was the AMAZING, nay, delicious food. If I could only have one bar’s hot wing’s for the rest of my life, it would be Libertine’s. Ordinary hot wings these were not, they were pork shanks that FELL off the bone, literally. This plate of food was what dreams are made of and I can’t wait to have them again.

When you visit, make sure you clear your schedule because, yes, it is that great!

Drink Strength: 4
Overall: 4.5

Libertine Bar
www.libertinebar.com | @libertinebar
2101 Greenville Ave | Dallas, TX 75206-7125
(214) 824-7900

Hurricane Grill (CLOSED)

Wednesdays are the best days for a happy hour. It’s hump day, the day where you realize you still have two more whole days of work until the weekend. For me on Wednesday, the happy hour to look forward to was at Hurricane Grill.

Walking in the door, a rush of all of the fun nights spent there listening to the live music and playing Big Buck Hunter entered my mind. Snapped back to the present, I joined my party and ordered a $2 well vodka water.

The strong drinks encouraged conversation and a good time. Our waiter, John, was a blast and cracked jokes to entertain. Dinner was ordered and we all agreed that, while it tasted good, all three meals were overpriced.

Overall, a great evening. Try it on a Wednesday for a night out — you won’t regret it (though you may regret some decisions made after having strong drinks!).

Hurricane Grill
hurricane –grill .com
2831 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-6238 | (214) 827-2112

J. Pepe’s (closed)

Here’s the deal … I’d love to write a witty intro for J.Pepe’s, but I’m hungover from all the fun that started there last night! 4 drinks and an enchilada dinner into my evening I was only $13.50 down and somewhat buzzed (which for me rarely happens after only 4 drinks). Pretty fantastic for a Monday evening.

The drinks aren’t too watered down, and the bartender, Asher, was really nice (even though he wouldn’t replace our salsa??). I told him to make me my next drink when it got down to a certain line on the glass … and he did. Quite impressive. He even gave us input on a discussion we were having.

They also have a pool that people can actually use – enough said.

Bottom line: J.Pepe’s has the right idea … cheap drinks, friendly people, and a pool. Done.

J. Pepe’s
www.jpepesgreenville.com
3619 Greenville Ave | (214)821-6431

SusieDrinks

Drink well. Travel often.