Tag Archives: uptown

primo’s tex mex

For a good two years, every Sunday evening you could find me at the same place. It was a tradition that my friend Sam and I would grab a table on the porch of Primo’s and sip meltdowns while observing Dallasites in their natural habitat. You could see families, couples on their first date, and sixty-somethings trying to hit on the sweet young things at the next table.

The varied clientele is there because of the fantastic location, the awesome drinks, and the great food. You can order a yummy salad, tacos, or the very surprising hamburger (try it! really!) along with a meltdown to wash it all down. I guarantee, two meltdowns and you’ll see why everyone loves this place (get the magic trick that is the queso flameado and you’ll never leave!).

Tuesday is the best night to try Primo’s due to the $2 margaritas – make sure you get there somewhat early to get a good table. As for the weekends, it’s a great place to start your night, and for that matter, to end it (Primo’s has saved me many-a-weekend-night if I missed dinner by keeping their kitchen open late).

Enjoy the scenery and the meltdowns … after all, it’s a Dallas tradition!

Drink strength: 3.5
Overall: 4.2

Primo’s Tex Mex Grill
www.primosdallas.com | @primostexmex
3309 McKinney Ave | Dallas
(214) 220-0510

Check out Primo’s new catering offers … perfect for holiday parties! Primo’s Catering Menu

Coal Vines Uptown

Walking into my favorite pizza place in Dallas last week, it felt different … and I liked it. The new menu items sound incredible and the extra seating made me hopeful that I’d never have to face another 45 minute wait for a table!

The pizza at Coal Vines is TO DIE. My best friend from Austin orders a white pizza (not the white special) to take back with her each time she visits. Yes, it’s that delicious.

The mimosa was just ok; they didn’t jump on the bottomless bandwagon as so many brunch destinations have so I don’t know if I’d come here just for their drink specials. Their wine selection is good and they also sell retail if you want to take it home to enjoy.

The people who dine at this establishment are the Uptown see-and-be-seen type. They stop here and gobble a pie and guzzle a bottle before hitting the town. The only problem with that is that every time I eat here, I leave so full that I can’t rally for a fun night out!

Stop in and grab a glass of wine and a pizza; don’t forget to be extra nice to their New York implant, Uncle John at the front door! Everyone in Dallas should try this place once to know what good pizza tastes like.

Coal Vines Pizza
2404 Cedar Springs Rd | Dallas, TX 75201
(214)855-4999‎
www.coalvines.com

Specials:
Sunday | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | $4 mimosas, poinsettias, Pompelmos, and peach lemonade bellinis

sambuca

Sambuca Logo

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

TABC (Closed)

The leaves are about to turn and the weather is cooling down … and in Dallas these things mean that it’s the perfect weather to hang out on a proch, and the one porch you can always count on for a crowd is TABC. NO NO NO, not Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission – that would just be silly, the Thomas Avenue Beverage Company.

The outside section is incredibly large and has quite a bit of seating. The wait staff is somewhat slow and not incredibly reliable but what they actually bring to the table makes up for it. The drinks are somewhat strong and not too expensive and even the smell of the pizza is delightful (served until 1:45 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays!).

Since it’s tucked in the heart of the State and Allen area, you WILL see a faces that you recognize and attractive people whose eyes you will want to catch. This is a great place almost anytime and there are quite a few other bars within walking distance.

Thomas Avenue Beverage Company
www.tabcdallas.com
2901 Thomas Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 979-0452

Specials:
Tuesday | $3 wells and domestics, $4 Cabernet and chardonney (4-7 p.m.), 1/2 price wine by the bottle after 7 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. | $3 wells and domestics, $4 Cabernet and chardonney
Sunday | bottomless mimosas $8

Quarter Bar.

I have finally figured out why it’s called Quarter Bar … it’s not named after the French Quarter (as much as they’ll try to convince you that’s the reason) but because of the quarter life crises inspiring bad decisions with the help of low lighting. …Sadly, the many nights/evenings of bad decisions couldn’t be from the drinks because they aren’t very strong.

I do recommend Quarter if you’re looking for a laid back, chill location for a happy hour; but make sure it’s on a Wednesday because the food is half price and tastes a lot better than the drinks.

For my money: Quarter Bar is better only to be seen after 10 p.m. … but even then it’s more to see the people.

The Quarter Bar
www.breadwinnerscafe.com
3301 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 754-4941

Specials:

Monday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. | $2 wells and domestics

Nick & Sam’s Grill

I had high hopes for Nick & Sam’s Grill when I woke up Sunday morning; I went for a jog, did my laundry, and even took it easy Saturday night so I could enjoy my experience to the fullest and really sate my gluttony … and I’m so glad I did.

Upon walking into the modernly decorated restaurant (formerly Strong’s), we saw many familiar faces that were already seated enjoying the food and drink (and some beautiful faces I didn’t know but would have liked to!) – they recommended the omelette station (apparently it was the first day they had it available). It was a perfectly sunny day, ideal for enjoying a brunch on the patio. The beautifully-mixed blood orange (bottomless) mimosa hit the spot while waiting for our table.

Once seated, Olivia and I ordered our choices with much difficulty – everything on the menu sounded fantastic – and noshed on the sticky breads, pain au chocolate, and croissants while sipping our mimosas. The wait staff was on top of things to say the least. They eagerly stood by to fill our glasses back to the top and were quick to offer advice or a funny remark. I ordered a spicy bloody mary to accompany my meal and it was delightful – honestly the best I’ve had in Dallas.

Our food was out in a snap: Asian chicken salad, breakfast quesadilla, and the best grilled cheese and tomato soup I’ve had in ages – I definitely recommend! This was not your mama’s grilled cheese; the secret ingredient: pear. Brilliant. The bloody mary was the perfect complement to the sandwich.

The meal was a delight and I strongly recommend visiting … just make sure your stomach and the night ahead of you are empty!

Nick & Sam’s Grill
2816 Fairmount St
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 303-1880

Specials:
Tuesday – Friday | free appetizers at the bar (while there are no drink specials, they make up for it with other perks!)
Saturday & Sunday | bottomless mimosas $6

The Hully and Mo Re-review

I’m at Hully and Mo and … I’m feeling the strength of these drinks.
It’s ladies night and the feeling is certainly right (drinks are half off on Thursday for ladies!). This place will be a repeat offender.

More opinions on this amazing place:
1. The drinks are STRONG.
2. The appetizer food is GOOD.
3. Ladies night = amazing.

Read my original review of Hully & Mo with a complete list of specials.

gui

Keyed up with the promise of all-you-can-eat sushi for a mere Jackson, our group of five marched into Gui with high expectations. Martinis, mixed drinks, and rolls were ordered as we surveyed the clientèle. The usual Uptown beautiful people were in attendance sipping their cocktails and bumbling with their chopsticks.

Round two of rolls and drinks were ordered and the snappy service continued. The overall favorites of the 12 rolls our table ordered were the Eel, Crunch, and Spider rolls; the favorite drink was the shot – sake, Goose, and some other yummy nectar with a celery garnish. (Yes, shots on a Tuesday!) Our group followed the rules (pictured below) and had a great time.

While Gui does a quite a few things right, one thing they have a slight problem with is matching the prices on the website to the prices on the menu. Call before you go so when you look at your bill and see double, you’ll know it’s from the strong drinks!

GUI RULES

Gui
www.guirestaurant.com | @GuiUPTOWN
2719 Mckinney Ave | (214) 720-9229

SusieDrinks

Drink well. Travel often.