the times they are a-changin’

You’ve seen the commercials … “Remember when $1 could buy you a gallon of gas or a good cup of coffee?” Well I have my own “remember when” now … remember when $1 could buy you a margarita at Ozona?

Well, Bob Dylan had it right: the times they are a-changin’. The legend of the $1 Ozona margarita is one to be passed onto our grandchildren when they tell a story about finding a bar by campus that serves $10 margaritas and it being a steal in the year 2062.

Upon walking into the College Station outpost last night, a sign hung on the door alerting the $1-margarita-seeking clientele of SMU summer school students and laid-back 20-somethings that the price would be raised … nay, doubled.

My take: unless they have twice as much bad tequila in them, the novelty for this girl is gone and she is saving her $2 for a rainy day.

Ozona Grill & Bar
www.ozonagrill.com | @ozona
4615 Greenville Ave | (214) 265-9105

Specials:
Monday | all day | $2 house margaritas
Tuesday | all day | $1.50 domestic longnecks
Wednesday | all day | $2 domestic drafts
Thursday | all day | $2 wells and captain drinks – live music @ 9 p.m.
Friday | 4-7 p.m. | happy hour
Sunday | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. | build your own bloody mary bar

La Cubanita – CLOSED

Cuba-neat-a is more like it!!! I love this place and I strongly recommend visiting often and with zeal. The happy hour mojitos are to die for (ESPECIALLY the flavored ones – you can’t go wrong with any of them) and the margaritas are strong enough to impress a seasoned drinker like myself.

The waiters are friendly and quick (the mojitos take a bit to make but they get the order in and it to your table quickly) and they won’t look at you askew if you order two drinks at a time. The food really doesn’t leave much to be desired and the porch is fantastic for sitting and relaxing with a drink under the misters and watching Maseratis and Range Rovers tool down McKinney – and amazingly it’s not too noisy!!

Definitely one of my favorite happy hours in Dallas!

La Cubanita
www.lacubanitadallas.com
4444 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75205-4212
(214) 520-0100

SPECIALS:
$3 Mojitos / Margaritas / Rum Punch – $4 Flavored Mojitos
Everyday (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Sunday – Thursday (9:00 pm – close)
Friday – Saturday (9:30 pm – close) & Live Music
Saturday & Sunday (9am – 3pm): Bottomless Rum Punch & Mimosas $6 w/ an entrée.

Thanks for the help, Brando, Matt, and Trey 🙂

Sangria

The drink sangria comes in many forms: blended, straight up, sparkling, white, red, loaded with fruit, dry … but whomever decided that Sangria the tapas restaurant should exsist is straight up a genius. The drinks are strong enough to make the night worth the somewhat expensive bill that is sure to come from too many orders of mushroom croquettes and pitchers upon pitchers of white, red, or sparkling sangria (all of which are amazing, but the sparkling takes the cake).

Late night inexpensive martinis and cosmopolitains are a little-known feature of this personable restaurant. Your exotic, curly-mopped waiter will hop-to-it and get your drinks to you quickly leaving your with another glass of heaven and a suggestive smile. You can find all types here; there are the young SMU kids out for their splurge dinner of the week sitting next to a table of young professionals next to a cute couple on a date.

Sangria Tapas Y Bar
www.sangriatapasybar.com
4524 Cole Ave Dallas, TX 75205-4129 
(214) 520-4863

SPECIALS:
Monday – Friday 4 p.m.-7 p.m. | $3.00 Happy Hour on Selected Tapas & Drinks (Well drinks, House Wine, Sangrias, Martini of the Day)
Monday – Thursdsay 10 p.m.-11 p.m. & Friday – Saturday 10 p.m.-12 a.m. | $3.00 Happy Hour on Selected Tapas & Drinks (Well drinks, House Wine, Sangrias, Martini of the Day)
Monday | ½ Price Sangria Night (Pitchers Only)
Tuesday | ½ Price Bottle Wine Night
Wednesday | International Night with DJ Tony starting at 8:30pm with Tapas & Drink Specials
Thursday | Tour of Spain: Different Regional Tapas & Wine Specials of Spain Each Week
Friday Late Night | DJ Tony 10:00 pm with Reverse Happy Hour
Saturday Late Night: DJ Tony starting at 10:00 pm with Reverse Happy Hour
Saturday & Sunday Brunch $6.00 Bottomless Sangrias & Agua Valenciana (Spanish Mimosa)

Ladies and gentlmen … so it begins.

Look to me for reviews of Dallas happy hours.  I’ll review drink strength vs. price, service, food, and the crowds.

Enjoy — and I’m always up for a buddy to help me “evaluate” happy hours.  Email me at [email protected] if you want to join me!

I’m a Texas native with a predilection for vodka and cupcakes and an aversion to margaritas on the rocks and repeating myself.  I think that life can’t get better than a great brunch with good friends and a thick bloody mary.

I graduated from SMU in ‘08 with a marketing degree and PR minor and am starting a new career in social media (wish me luck!).  When not freelancing or drinking, I run, shop, swim, attempt to cook, shop, stoke my love for music, and play sports on occasion.

I started this blog in the beginning just to share my huge list of happy hours with friends.  After realizing I didn’t have any hobbies and I was beginning to bore myself, I decided to merge two things that I love to do:  drink and write.  I hope you enjoy reading my random machinations on how to take over the Dallas happy hour scene.  I’d love for you to join me on a review; just email me at [email protected]!

Veritas Wine Bar Beer Menu

FEATURED VERITAS BEERS

Stuff about beer and stuff.

CALIFORNIA

Bear Republic Black Russian Imperial Stout               8.1%                 22oz.    $8.00

Hop Rod Rye American IPA                            8.0%                 12oz.    $5.00

Moylan’s Hopsickle Triple IPA                                  9.2%                 22oz.    $16.00

*Veritas is the only bar in Dallas serving Hopsickle, a deliciously hoppy brew.*

COLORADO

Avery Maharaja American Imperial IPA               10.2%               22oz.    $13.00

Dale’s Pale Ale American Pale Ale                     6.5%                 12oz.    $5.00

Modus Hoperandi American IPA                            6.8%                 12oz.    $5.00

Oak Aged Yeti Russian Imperial Stout               9.5%                 22oz.    $13.00

ILLINOIS

Pabst Blue Ribbon American Adjunct Lager             4.7%                 12oz.    $2.75

NEW YORK

Ommegang Hennepin Saison/Farmhouse                     7.7%                 11.2oz. $5.00

OREGON

Full Sail Wassail Winter Warmer                           7.0%                 12oz.    $5.00

Rogue Hazelnut Brown English Brown Ale                     6.2%                 22oz.    $10.00

PENNSYLVANIA

Hop Wallop American Imperial IPA               8.5%                 12oz.    $5.00

Prima Pils German Style Pilsner                 5.3%                 12oz.    $5.00

TEXAS

Bombshell Blonde American Blonde Ale                  5.0%                 12oz.    $5.00

Shiner Bock Bock                                         4.4%                 12oz.    $4.00

BELGIUM

Chimay Blue Trappist Ale                               9.0%                 11.2oz. $9.00

Duvel Strong Pale Ale                         8.5%                 11.2oz. $6.00

Hoegaarden Witbier                                      4.9%                 11.2oz. $5.00

Lindemans Framboise Fruit Lambic                              4.0%                 12oz.    $10.00

Lindemans Pêche Fruit Lambic                              4.0%                 12oz.    $10.00

Orval Trappist Ale                               6.9%                 11.2oz. $8.00

Stella Artois Euro Pale Lager                         5.2%                 11.2oz. $5.00

Westmalle Trappist Tripel Ale                      9.5%                 11.2oz. $9.00

ENGLAND

Old Speckled Hen English Pale Ale                                    5.2%                 12oz.    $5.00

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout                           5.0%                 12oz.    $5.00

Strongbow Cider                                        5.3%                 16.9oz. $5.00

GERMANY

Paulaner Oktoberfest                               5.8%                 12oz.    $5.00

Schneider Aventinus Weizenbock                              8.2%                 16.9oz. $7.50

Spaten Optimator Doppelbock                               7.2%                 12oz.    $5.00

Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen                            5.3%                 16.9oz. $6.00

IRELAND

Guinness Draught Irish Dry Stout                           4.2%                 14.9oz. $5.00

Harp Euro Pale Lager                         5.0%                 12oz.    $5.00

JAMAICA

Red Stripe American Adjunct Lager             4.7%                 12oz.    $4.00

MEXICO

Modelo Especial American Adjunct Lager             4.2%                 12oz.    $3.50

*Try this with fresh lime, cracked Mediterranean sea salt, and Tabasco.*

Veritas Wine Bar Cheese Menu

FEATURED VERITAS CHEESES & MEATS

*Buy any 5 cheeses and get the 6th free!*

CHEESES

“Cheese – Milk’s leap towards immortality.”  -Clifton Fadiman

TEXAS

BRAZOS VALLEY CHEESE – Marc Kuehl is a member of the Brazos de Dios Community, a group of about 1000 people who practice traditional farming and crafts on 500 acres along the Brazos River near Waco.  Kuehl’s Raw Milk Cheeses are delicious, complex and local.

$5.5      Blue – This is a great ‘starter’ Cheese for those who don’t think they like a Blue!  With a whipped, airy texture, this smooth and creamy Blue uses the World Famous Roquefort culture.

$5         Brie – Amazingly smooth and runny (at room temperature), this Brie might make you forget all about French Brie.  A Veritas favorite!

$5         Horseradish Pecan Cheddar – A non-traditional take on Cheddar, the Pecan and Horseradish flavor profiles meld perfectly on the palate.

DALLAS MOZZARELLA CHEESE COMPANY – Founded in 1982 by local luminary Paula Lambert, the Dallas Mozzarella Cheese Company is among the most celebrated and awarded Cheese companies in America, having won over TWENTY First Place Prizes at the American Cheese Society Championships!

$6         Black Pepper & Garlic Caciotta – The mild Monterey Jack Cheese is studded with intense, coarsely-ground Black Peppercorns and Garlic.

$6 Goat Log – This Herbed Goat Cheese Spread was originally developed by Paula for Dean Fearing at The Mansion on Turtle Creek and now you can enjoy it at Veritas!

$6         Mozzarella – Veritas proudly serves the premier, hand-made American Mozzarella!

$5 Rotating Selection – In addition to our regular selections, Fernando also buys whatever looks good when he stops by the DMC’s Deep Ellum location!  Ask your server what we’ve got!

LUCKY LAYLA FARMS – Located in Plano, Texas, the Jersey and Guernsey Cows produce high quality Milk that makes incredibly flavorful Cheese!

$4         Campesino – This spongy, milky-tasting, Columbian-styled Cheese won a Gold Medal at the 2008 American Cheese Society Championships.

$4         Tex-Mex – This is Campesino with Red Pepper Flakes and Shredded Jalapenos.  This spicy selection is 100% Texas! 

VELDHUIZEN TEXAS FARMSTEAD CHEESE – With only 40 cows, Veldhuizen produces some of the finest small-batch, raw milk, farmstead cheeses in Texas.  From Dublin, Texas.

$6         Bosque Blue – With a crumbly, slightly grainy texture and a pleasantly piquant bite, this Aged Raw Cow’s Milk Blue will literally melt in your mouth.  Try with Port, sweet Dessert Wine or jammy Zinfandel.

$6         Paragon The signature cheese of Veldhuizen, Paragon is smooth and creamy with a tangy finish.

$6         Redneck Cheddar – Stuart Veldhuizen took his Texas Gold Cheddar, washed the Rind with St. Arnold’s Texas Beer and then Cave-Aged the Cheese.  The result is a firm, sharp Cheddar that sports a slight maltiness and yeastiness.  Distinctively delicious.

$5 Rotating Selection – In addition to our regular selections, we just simply ask Stuart Veldhuizen what is ready to eat and he sends it!  Ask your server what we’ve got!

WENZEL LONESTAR MEAT COMPANY – Situated in tiny Hamilton, Texas, this outfit makes award-winning meats and cheeses.

$5         Smoked Gruyère – This smooth Texas Gruyère with a rich, smoky flavor has been a Veritas Favorite from Day 1!

CALIFORNIA

$6.5 Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog – This elegant, soft, surface ripened Goat’s Milk Cheese has won 3 First Place Prizes at the American Cheese Society Championships.  Each handcrafted wheel features a line of vegetable ash through the center and a coating of ash under its exterior to give it its distinctive, cake-like appearance.

$6.5      Cypress Grove Purple Haze – Winner of a First Place Prize at the 2005 American Cheese Society Championships, this soft Goat Milk Log is flavored with Fennel Pollen and Lavender.  Pair with an acidic White Wine like a Sancerre.

IOWA

$4.75    Prairie Breeze – This 9-month aged White Cheddar from Iowa just won a First Place in the 2009 American Cheese Society Championships in the ‘Aged Cheddar: All Milks” category.  Creamy and sweet, the extended aging gives it a touch of sharpness on the back palate.

WISCONSIN

$5         Marieke’s Foenegreek (Fenugreek) Gouda – This Cheese won a ‘Best of Class’ at the Wisconsin Cheese Maker’s Association United States Championship Cheese contest in 2007.  In 2008, this Cheese received 2nd place in the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest where over 1900 cheeses were judged.  Foenegreek gives the cheese a nutty, maple-like flavor.  Great with a variety of beers and wines.

ENGLAND

$4.5      Cotswold – This ‘pub cheese’ from England is a Double Gloucester to which Chives and Onions have been added.  The Cheese itself is somewhat Cheddar-like in appearance and taste; the Chives and Onions enhance the flavor profile.  Try with Full-Bodied Reds or an English Ale.

$5.25    Quicke’s Oak-Smoked English Cheddar – The Quicke Family has been farming at the “Home Farm” for over 450 years and making Cheese for over 25 years.  This is a hand-selected, 15-month aged, Cow’s Milk Cheddar that is smoked over Oak.  The big, intense, sharp, smoky flavor is one you won’t soon forget!  No artificial flavorings are added – the flavor is 100% natural woodsmoke!

FRANCE

$4.5      Camembert – Made with the exact same recipe as Brie, the difference lies in the origin.  From the village of Camembert in Normandy, this soft-ripened Cheese with an edible Bloom pairs beautifully with Beaujolais and Red Burgundy.  Camembert is the best-selling cheese in France.

$4.5      Comté Gruyère – The Cow’s Milk for this Cheese comes from high in the French Alps and is aged for over 1 year.  The strong, nutty flavor of this cheese pairs extraordinarily well with our White Truffle Oil ($1.50).

$5.5      Pont-L’Évêque – Ranked alongside Camembert, Brie and Roquefort as the most popular cheeses in France, this pungently aromatic Cow’s Milk cheese has a soft texture, a mild taste and pairs with all manner of Full-Bodied Reds.

$5         Tomme de Savoie – While the Raw Milk Tomme de Savoie is not AOC-protected, it has received a Protected Geographic Indication from the European Union.    In Steven Jenkins’ Cheese Primer, he calls it “the most accessible cheese taste in the world.  It is a cheese completely unrefined and perfectly delicious.”  Veritas agrees!

HOLLAND

$5.5      4 Year Aged Gouda – Aged 4 years, which results in a deep caramel color, this flaky, slightly crunchy cheese has distinctive notes of butterscotch and caramel on the finish.  Achieving a perfect balance between salty and sweet, this is NOT your banal grocery store version.

ITALY

$5.5      Parmigiano-Reggiano – The piquant and slightly salty flavor of this incredibly versatile Cow’s Milk Cheese makes it great with pasta and risotto or with nothing but a Big Red Wine, such as Barolo.  Steven Jenkins in the Cheese Primer said this:  “Il formaggio migliore nel mondo – the world’s greatest cheese.”  Try with a drizzle of Balsamic Vinegar ($1.50).

$5.5      Pecorino Toscana – From Tuscany, this Sheep’s Milk Cheese is intensely flavored, salty and pairs well with Big Italian Reds such as Brunello di Montalcino.  Steven Jenkins in the Cheese Primer said this:  “Bottom line: My second favorite cheese in the world.”

$5         Taleggio – This semi-soft, washed Rind, Cow’s Milk Cheese from Northern Italy has a slight amino acid crunch and a “melty” texture in the mouth.  The smell is much more potent than the mild taste.  This Cheese pairs exceptionally well with our 75206 Zip Code Honey! ($1.50).

SPAIN

$6         Cabrales – This unique combination of Goat’s, Cow’s and Sheep’s Milk is a semi-firm, cave-aged Blue Cheese from Spain with a moist, crumbly interior, intense purple veining and a rich, full flavor.  Pair with a strong Spanish Red such as a Rioja or a Ribera del Duero.

$5         Drunken Goat – Made in the village of Jumilla, Spain, this Artisanal Goat’s Milk cheese is semi-soft, mild and has a bright violet Rind from being soaked in Red Wine for 72 hours.

$4.5      Manchego – Produced from the milk of Manchega sheep, this firm textured, 1 year aged cheese has a salty tang.  A perennial best-seller!  Great with a Rioja.

SWITZERLAND

$5.5      Tête de Moine – Somewhat similar to Gruyère and Raclette but much more intensely flavored, this Swiss Mountain Cheese is made from Cow’s Milk.  It pairs beautifully with all manner of Big Reds, Chardonnays and Rieslings and full-flavored beers like Porter and Stout.

MEATS

DALLAS

(Please ask your server which is available; we normally carry one or the other.)

$6 The Grape’s Rustic Country Pork Pâté – This Terrine is made fresh for Veritas by The Grape’s highly acclaimed Chef/Owner Brian Luscher.  It is studded with Chef’s Ham, Green Peppercorns and Aromatics.  You should visit The Grape – it’s a great neighborhood wine bistro that just won The Best Burger in Texas from Texas Monthly!

$9         The Grape’s Creamy Chicken Liver Pâté – Flavored with orange zest and cognac-soaked dried currants, Chef Brian’s Creamy Pâté defines decadence.

TEXAS

WENZEL LONESTAR MEAT COMPANYSituated in tiny Hamilton, Texas, this outfit has won multiple awards at the Texas Association of Meat Processors Convention for its Meats, including the Jagerwurst and the Jalapeno/Cheese Beef Summer Sausage.

$4 Bison Jerky – Only partially dehydrated, this Texas Bison Jerky is meatier and juicier than you might be expecting!  The Spicy is HOT and the Regular is delightfully meaty and smoky.  Enjoy with a big Red Wine.

$4.5      Jagerwurst – This well-herbed, smoked, German-styled Sausage literally bursts with flavor!

$4.5      Habanero/Cheese Bison Summer Sausage – The name of the product says it all.  Wow!

CALIFORNIA

$4.5      Molinari Finocchiona – Made by Molinari of San Francisco, which was founded in 1896 in San Fransisco, this is a Tuscan-styled, 100% Pork Salami to which Whole Fennel Seeds have been added for their pleasing kick of Anise.

$4.5      Molinari Rosette de Lyon – This French-styled Salami is made with Red Wine and Whole Black Peppercorns.  Rosette de Lyon is without question among the great French saucisson sec.

$4.5      Molinari Salami Toscana – Made in the traditional Tuscan style, this tangy Pork and Beef Salami is a crowd pleaser!

NEW YORK

$6.75    La Bresse Farms Smoked Duck Breast – From La Bresse Farms in New York, we thinly slice this delicacy to order.  All Veritas can say is “Wow”!

CANADA

$5         Black Kassel Roquefort Salami – A German-styled Salami flavored with Roquefort Cheese.  Full flavored!

ITALY

$7.5      Prosciutto di Parma – Four ingredients are necessary for the production of Prosciutto di Parma:  Italian Pigs; Sea Salt; Air; and Time!  This product is extra rich because the producer, Il Numero Uno, feeds its pigs a special diet of Reggiano Whey for 4 months!

SPAIN

$4.5      Chorizo – Our rich, spicy, smoky Chorizo is a Pork Sausage liberally seasoned with Paprika and Garlic.  We also carry the mild version.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

$3         Selected Greek Kalamata Olive

$4         Marcona Almonds

$2         Cornichons

$1.5      White Truffle Oil