Dallas Observer • August 13 2026

East Dallas dive bar Strangeways takes its punches, turns 15 on brand

Beloved East Dallas bar Strangeways — and one of our 50 Best Bars in Dallas — is celebrating its 15th anniversary this August. The bar first opened its doors on August 3, 2011, and later this month it will transform its interior to celebrate its crystal anniversary with two unique musical performances. 
On Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, a live string quartet will perform hair metal hits from the 1980s in the round. This is the latest installment of the Concert in Candlelight series at t...

Dallas Observer • October 1 2024

Opening Day With the Fletchers: the State Fair's Iconic Corny Dog Family in Action

Dallas Observer • January 31 2024

Strangeways Gets a Court Date and Reprieve as Owners Contest the Sale of Bar's Home

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Dallas Observer • November 6 2023

Strangeways Fights for its Right to Stay Open

When sibling co-owners Eric Sanchez and Rosie Ildemaro announced they were closing Strangeways in October after 12 years, the news hit many like a 10-ton truck. Since then, countless friends and former regulars have passed through the door for the pleasure and the privilege of saying goodbye to the beloved East Dallas bar. Those farewells may be premature, however.Sanchez and Ildemaro are currently in the process of taking legal action to stop the sale of the building. They cite their first righ

Dallas Observer • September 19 2023

Strangeways, One of Dallas' Best Bars, To Close

Heaven knows Dallas is more miserable now. After 12 years, Strangeways , the eclectic bar on Fitzhugh with its fantastic selection of spirits and rotating craft beer, is closing. Over the weekend, the bar announced via social media its last day will be sometime in October.While the neighborhood around it has changed dramatically over the years, Strangeways largely persevered due to its unwavering simplicity. Good drinks, good food and good company were the tenets. But an arrangement to buy the b

Dallas Observer • July 6 2023

Hey, Mavs' Draft Pick Dereck Lively, Here Are the Best Food Spots in Dallas

Dallas is a dining destination. The city has cuisine from around the world, from high-end restaurants to must-try hole-in-the-wall joints. There’s something for everyone. But with so many options, choosing a place to eat can be daunting, especially for newcomers.Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II finds himself in such a predicament. The 12th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft recently asked his nearly 15,000 Twitter followers for recommendations.The replies poured in, but unfortunately, ma

Dallas Observer • June 30 2023

The Great American Hero is Dead. Again.

After a ballyhooed reopening and rebranding of Great American Hero under the ownership of Jacob Cox and Danny Wilson in September 2022, the beloved Dallas sandwich shop has closed.The lone location in Timber Creek Crossing, at the corner of Northwest Highway and Skillman Street, served its last sandwich in late May.“Our bread maker went out of business right after we opened the new location,” Cox said via text. “With lettuce and turkey and other additional items tripling in cost and volume being

Dallas Observer • January 31 2023

Blackjack Pizza Might Have the Most Underrated Burger in Dallas

More than any other food, Dallas is a city defined by burgers. Ask any North Texan for a burger recommendation — lifelong residents and recent transplants — and they’ll likely rattle off five or six places in quick succession that they swear by unequivocally.A few staple joints usually make people’s lists, guided by personal experience or influenced by publicity from publications like this one. Google the best burgers in Dallas , and recent lists from all the major outlets, including the, rare

Dallas Observer • January 3 2023

First Look: Olivella's Italian Deli in Deep Ellum Pivots to the Lunch Crowd

Everyone knows Olivella’s for its pizza. The Dallas-based franchise has been serving up Neapolitan and Roman-style pies since 2006. Since then, it has branched out from its original location across from Southern Methodist University. Its newest site offers something a bit different, though.Deep Ellum seemed like a sure-fire spot for expansion in September 2022, but it didn’t quite work out that way at first. The late-night crowds clashed with Olivella’s operating hours when it first opened in th

Dallas Observer • October 24 2022

First Look: The Wounded Ostrich in Deep Ellum has Dive-Bar Vibes

Finding a low-key watering hole in Deep Ellum most weekends can be difficult. The vibrant neighborhood pulses from every street corner. In the middle of it all lies a laid-back bar with a quirky name offering a respite from the activity outside. The Wounded Ostrich is a new addition to Main Street, between Crowdus and Malcolm X. Despite being new to the neighborhood, the no-frills venue feels like a well-worn staple. Given its near-dive appeal, it could quickly become a favorite destination on t

Dallas Observer • September 19 2022

First Look: The Great American Hero Reopens in its New Digs

Jacob Cox and Danny Wilson garnered a lot of attention — and praise — when they stepped in to buy Great American Hero last year, keeping the beloved Dallas sandwich shop from closing its doors for good. However, they knew they could not call the colorful building on Lemmon Avenue home forever.Great American Hero served its last sandwich on Lemmon in late August and reopened in its new location near Skillman Street and Northwest Highway in early September. While the yellows, pinks and blues that

Dallas Observer • July 28 2022

In Stores Now: Peticolas Brewing

North Texas beer drinkers rejoice. The long wait is finally over. Peticolas, the beloved Dallas brewery, is making three of its beers available in stores throughout North Texas. This is the first time in its 10-year history that the beerkmaker is branching out and embracing retail distribution of its beer.The decision to sell canned beer beyond the brewery’s walls is something Michael Peticolas, the brewery’s eponymous founder and owner, has always envisioned. But why start now after a decade in

Dallas Observer • January 26 2022

Down The Rabbit Hole for the Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks of Your Childhood Dreams

There’s something comforting about fried mozzarella cheese. Served as an appetizer or standalone dish, it's a staple of Americana and our penchant for fried food. Aside from the delectable gooey interior and crispy, golden-brown coating, fried mozzarella sticks — the good ones at least — also carry a sense of nostalgia.When I was growing up, the local Italian restaurant in my neighborhood served massive, hand-breaded fried mozzarella sticks. I still remember them fondly. Sadly, that attention to

Dallas Observer • January 3 2022

Great American Hero Lives On; New Owners Plan to Expand

Everybody needs a hero. When Dominick Oliverie decided to retire at the end of December after working tirelessly for 47 years, he thought it would be the end of his beloved sandwich shop, The Great American Hero.Oliverie officially closed The Great American Hero’s doors Thursday, Dec. 30, but they will open again. A pair of investors are saving the iconic brand from permanent closure and will keep The Great American Hero going in 2022 and beyond.Jacob Cox and Danny Wilson are the men responsible

Dallas Observer • November 24 2021

One Less Great American Hero; The Iconic Dallas Sandwich Shop to Close After 47 Years

When the calendar rolls over to 2022, Dallas will have lost three of its more iconic restaurants. The first to fall was Wild About Harry’s. The hot dog and frozen custard eatery off Knox Street shuttered in July after 25 years in business. More recently, Cosmic Café, which delighted vegetarian and vegan diners in Oak Lawn since 1992, served its last meal in October. Great American Hero will soon follow them.Great American Hero, one of Dallas’ signature sandwich shops , will close its final locat

Dallas Observer • September 28 2021

First Look: Parry Avenue Barbecue Co.'s Ribs Deliver

Pitmaster Leo Morales boasts that his new barbecue joint, Parry Avenue Barbecue Co. (PABC), serves the best ribs in Texas. His claim comes from a place of confidence — he’s won awards — rather than bravado.On a recent visit to his newly opened restaurant, it was easy to see why he’s so proud of his ribs. They’re worth the hype.The meaty pork ribs are juicy with a flavorful, rich bark with noticeable notes of smoky pepper throughout. A two meat and two sides plate cost $18 — it’s enough to share

Dallas Observer • September 21 2021

Parry Avenue Barbecue Company Readies to Open

Leo Morales is serious about ribs. Not even a thick beard can hide the excitement and toil on his face when he talks about ribs. It comes from a labor of love developed through years of experimentation and cooking. In fact, he’s so proud of his ribs that he's willing to make a bold claim.“I tell everybody around, I feel like our ribs are some of the best you’re going to get in Texas,” Morales says. “I proclaim they’re the best in Texas, but that’s just my confidence. That’s just me.”He doesn’t s

Dallas Observer • July 26 2021

Food Not Bombs Brings Food Pantries to South Dallas Neighborhoods

Free food is now available in a South Dallas food desert. On a recent balmy Saturday afternoon, half a dozen people gathered on the corner of Second Avenue and Scyene Road, a few blocks south of the South Dallas Cultural Center and Fair Park. They were there to set up the second of two free food pantries in the area.The pantry is part of the efforts of the local chapter of Food Not Bombs , an organization that draws its name from a Martin Luther King Jr. quote about military spend outweighing so

Dallas Observer • July 12 2021

The Nine Best Places to Get Boilermakers in Dallas

There are few alcoholic pairings more iconic than a cold beer and a shot. While commonly called a boilermaker, that term technically refers to the process of dropping a shot into a beer and then quickly consuming it. No matter what you call the duo — a shot with a beer back, a two-step, a side-by-side or a boilermaker — it’s an archetypal American “cocktail.”In Dallas, you can order a beer and a shot pretty much anywhere they serve alcohol. What really makes the combination special are the estab

Dallas Observer • June 4 2021

Chubby Dog Farm Changes Hands to Driftwood Meadows

When Karyn and Calvin Medders decided to move closer to family after their fourth grandchild was born last year, it meant putting their farm in East Texas up for sale . Since 2013, the couple has owned and operated Chubby Dog Farm, a renowned supplier of pork to restaurants throughout the state.Multiple inquiries came in when the Medders announced they were selling the farm. Several Dallas chefs contacted them as well as a chicken farmer from New York. However, one potential buyer stood out.Drif

Dallas Observer • December 22 2020

BarNone Aims to Serve Its East Dallas Neighbors

Old Lake Highlands is a sleepy neighborhood. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, it’s known more for its views and proximity to White Rock Lake than anything else. That may be changing.At the intersection of North Buckner Boulevard and Northcliff Drive lies White Rock Center, a small strip mall that sat virtually empty for years. Over time, businesses and restaurants returned, staking out space and filling a void in the community. BarNone is the latest to open its doors, aiming to welcome th

Dallas Observer • November 20 2020

While Trends Continue, Chicken House Remains a Standby

It’s safe to say Nashville-style hot chicken is having a moment in Dallas and the surrounding area. Seemingly every week, a new spot either opens its doors or announces plans to do so.Food trends are nothing new, but they serve as a distraction. With hot chicken garnering so much attention, it can be easy to forget the foundational chicken joints that have sated Dallasites’ craving for crispy yardbird for years.At the intersection of Gaston and North Fitzhugh avenues in Old East Dallas is one of

Dallas Observer • October 15 2020

Dallas City Council Debates, Approves Funding to Get Food Boxes to Residents

On a recent Sunday afternoon, volunteers gathered at Kirkwood Temple CME in the Wolf Creek neighborhood of southern Dallas. They were there with local nonprofit Services of Hope to help register people to vote and deliver 25-pound “Hope Community Food Boxes” filled with healthy food to families in need.Despite the volunteers showing up to work, the organization’s food box program recently found itself at the center of a controversy at Dallas City Hall.How the city of Dallas distributes COVID-19

Dallas Observer • September 14 2020

Restaurateurs Discuss the Hardship of Third-Party Delivery Services

Fed up with his current situation, Omar Yeefoon took to Facebook to express himself. There, the owner of Shoals Sound & Service in Deep Ellum posted his thoughts on what has become a staple industry during the pandemic.“Food delivery apps are pimps,” Yeefoon wrote . “Your favorite restaurants are being trafficked.”Given the ubiquity of food delivery apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, his comments may come as a surprise. In the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, when restaurants closed