Author Archives: Susie O

Breadwinners New Cocktails

Breadwinners recently debuted its new cocktail menu … and let me tell you, they’re worth trying.  From the skinny to spicy to sweet, they have something for everyone.

They are featuring what they’ve dubbed “Hangover Elixers”, their traditional mimosa, Bloody Diablo, Tito’s Texas Sunrise, and the peach bellini.  Of the drinks at the event, I have to say that BW’s Bloody Mary was one of my favorites.  It had just the right spice-factor and, of course, was adorned with bacon — which, let’s face it, makes everything better.

They included some new signature drinks in their new menu including an unexpected herby drink, the Basil Berry Cooler with vodka, fresh basil, and blackberries.  It was one of my favorites from the evening and it’s a definite recommendation.  Other new signature cocktails include:

  • Texas Bluebonnet Mojito: Texas rum, fresh mint, berries, lime
  • Prickly Pear Lemonade: vodka, lemonade, prickly pear nectar)
  • Big Easy: Southern Comfort, Chambord, lime
  • Frozen Cherry Limeade: 3 Olives cherry vodka, cherry juice, lime)
  • Ultimate Chocolate: Godiva, Stoli Vanil, Baileys
  • Orange Julius: Pinnacles whipped cream vodka, orange juice
  • Superfruit: Absolut Citron, berries

I really enjoyed the Frozen Cherry Limeade; it wasn’t too sweet and definitely had a nice amount of vodka for a frozen drink.  Remember: drink slowly and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to avoid brain freeze.

The crowning glory of the new cocktail menu is their skinny options of which all of the cocktails are 125 calories or less.  SAWEEEET.  Breadwinners is now offering skinny versions of the cosmo, margarita, and lemon drop.

Overall, their new options are tasty and pack enough of a punch to merit the $8-10 price tag.  The new drinks are available at all three locations and some will be available at sister bar, Quarter Bar.

Aug. 16, 6 p.m., The Lofts, Condo 711

Join the Station and host Susie Oszustowicz, of Susie Drinks Dallas, for an evening of Art & Wine in the elegant setting of condo 711 at The Lofts.

The event will feature pieces by local artists Michael Cross and David McCullough, a complimentary wine tasting by Times Ten Cellars and excellent gourmet fare courtesy of Café Momentum. Guests will have the opportunity to enter a $5 raffle for a fabulous gift bag with all proceeds going to Café Momentum.

https://www.facebook.com/events/415613348475768/

The Solerno & Sparkling

Every once-in-a-while, I get to do some pretty freaking awesome stuff.  Case in point: Craft Cocktail Texas.  Of all the badass events that CCTX brought to our fair city, I was only able to make it to the opening party at the Stoneleigh Hotel (womb), but that was enough fun to make up for the fact that I wasn’t able to enjoy more of the CCTX festivities.

The party was a multi-level mecca of all-things-booze at the historic hotel starting in the yard and making its way up to the penthouse and (yes, there’s more), then onto the gigantic balcony.  I remember the balcony most of all because it was the location of my favorite drink of the evening, the Solerno & Sparkling.  Blood orange liqueur and champagne?  Yup.  

The last time I had a similarly lethal (read: delicious) combination, was that the opening of Q de Cheval in Addison’s Intercontinental Hotel.  Yeah … after a few tequilas and champys, I told my boyfriend that I loved him for the first time (can’t say it was a bad move in retrospect).  Alas, my more recent encounter with a potent champagne mixture didn’t end with bold statements of love, though I was close to confessing my love to the drink slinger who kept serving them up.

See the recipe below of the Solerno & Sparking — enjoy, and try not to stutter when you say, “I love you, man.”

Solerno & Sparkling
1oz Solerno
4.5oz Prosecco
Orange slice (blood orange if available)

Build ingredients in a tall glass over ice.  Stir to incorporate and chill.  Garnish with an orange slice and a long straw.

Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.

Sir Winston Churchill

Revive(d)

If you’re anything like me, the mere mention of “rooftop” anything piques your interest.  I present to you: Revive, a rooftop ”club” with a full bar, waitresses in bikinis à la Vegas, food options, cabanas (complete with private mini-fridges and 42” flat screen TVs), frozen grapes, and a pool.  The “club” by Greg See (of Miami-based Opium Group) and Taylor Nguyen (of The Ronin Group) is located above Glass (a more conventional club) in Uptown and was opened April 15, 2012.

My visit to Revive was quite surprising.  The biggest surprise had to have been that their pool is only 2 feet deep.  No one ventured in while I was there, but that could also have been due to the fact that I was there during a private party and people were in, well, suits.  It seems more of a place to lounge in your Vilebrequin swim trunks and flex your muscles (at least for the dudes) — ladies, just stand there and look pretty with a frozen drink in your hand in your Tory Burch kaftan.

The drinks at Revive were good once they finally got to our table — they are in the process of redesigning their cocktail menu right now, so an update should be soon to follow this review.  If you get tired of waiting for the scantily-clad wait staff, reach into YOUR (I repeat, your) cabana’s fridge which has water, energy drinks, chilled towels, and even sunscreen (make sure you warm it up before slathering it on your party-going pals) — just like at a hotel, they’ll take inventory and charge you at the end.

Definitely try the Cocojito (a frozen coconut mojito) or any of the frozen drinks (currently featured: watermelon margarita, Red Bull and vodka, peach bellini, and the Cocojito).  As for their mixed drinks, I greatly enjoyed the Cucumber Lemonade Chiller; if you order it, make sure you ask that they strain it.  The Transatlantic sounds like a winner, but they were out of Hendricks Gin the night I was there — try it for me when you go!  All frozen drinks and specialty cocktails are offered by the glass, carafe, and pitcher.

The best offering at Revive?  Well of course, it’s the booze-sicles.  Different colors, flavors, and liquors are offered and you should try, well, all of them.  Greg See himself created them and he’s apparently no popsicle-making slouch.

The menu is by no other than Samir Dhurandhar (of Nick & Sam’s and Coal Vines fame) and includes crispy flatbreads (I recommend the buffalo chicken), skewers, sandwiches, bacon-wrapped jalapeno goodness, and more.  To end the meal, ask if your waitress can scam you some frozen fruit — it really hits the spot in the humid Dallas afternoons.

Things to know:

  • Don’t even try to find a parking space, just valet — $6
  • No running or horseplay
  • Entry is $20 and each of the 12 cabanas has a $750 minimum and requires reservations (each seats about 8 people)
  • It’s 21+ … duh
  • No diving
  • Revive is open Thursday/Friday from 4pm and Saturday/Sunday starting at noon
  • Towels and pool toys are provided

Revive Uptown
www.Facebook.com/ReviveUptown
1899 McKinney Ave
(214) 740-1899

Patrizio’s Bellini Fest is here!  They’re serving Bellinis for just $1 at all locations all month long!

Not for Sissies

There are some cocktail joints that make me wonder how those in Dallas with lower tolerances than I can handle the drinks.  Then I realize, it’s probably because they don’t try the entire menu.  Just three or so sips of the four cocktails I tried at Sissy’s was enough to put some pep in my step for the rest of the night.  

What were these delightful drinks, you ask?  Well, they were the Southern restaurant’s  delicious new additions to the cocktail menu and the first round of happy hour offerings.  Every two or three weeks, the brilliance behind the bar at Sissy’s, Brennan and Chase, will concoct a new round of seasonal options to feature as their happy hour selections.  Served 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, try one of their limited-time-only cocktails for just $6.

I tried four of the five current HH drink offerings, the fifth had both of the things I avoid in my cocktails (tequila and grapefruit), so I preemptively assumed I wouldn’t enjoy it – but you should still try it (obvi).  I won’t bore you by describing the drinks I tried one-by-one as they won’t be on the menu for much longer than the next few weeks (picture of the options and their ingredients below; check out the menu board to see the current offerings).  I will, however, tell you that, if you enjoy whiskey, you MUST beg the bartender to make you a Colonel Sanders, whether it’s on the menu or not.

Not prepared to start a relationship with a cocktail that will leave you after three weeks?  Try one of their regular menu cocktails (the julep can’t miss) that will promise to call you in the morning.  Even better, try one (or all three) of the options from the Belvedere tea bar.  Can you taste it now?  Think Arnold Palmer with a punch over ice — delish.

Another NEW option from Sissy’s is their $24 to-go tub of fried chicken (one side included) — the finger-lickin’ fried chicken isn’t new, but taking it with you is.  They’ll include their homemade Sriracha in the to-go bag … use it.  Truth be told, I’m eating leftovers while writing this review.  My keyboard isn’t happy with me, but my tastebuds are.

So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get your butt into Sissy’s, try a drink or two, and take home some delicious chicken.  Report back when you’re done.

Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar
www.sissyssouthernkitchen.com | @sissysdallas
2929 North Henderson Avenue
(214) 827-9900

Ristorante Nicola

A new chef at a many-times-seen-but-not-often-visited spot attracted my cohort, Oh Hey Dallas, and I ventured into what promised to be a new, more Italian-centric, chef-driven Ristorante Nicola.

The space is much larger than expected with a gigantic bar and waiting area complete with gold tree stumps (because who doesn’t love a gilded tree trunk?).  I was escorted to a comically large booth for two people to meet my friend.  I was immediately greeted by Sam, who was perhaps one of the most attentive waiters I’ve met in quite a while.  Later in the meal I was informed that I was sitting squarely in the seat that George W. Bush once sat for dinner once — made my freakin’ evening.

My first drink was the Zenzero Allergria (pictured on the right) that started off my meal well with GG Le Poire vodka, ginger liqueur, and lemon juice.  The simplicity of the three ingredients made the drink refreshing (which is necessary in this ridiculous weather) and somehow complex.  Since I’m a huge fan of Le Poire, I loved this drink and would definitely order it again at a happy hour to help me forget about a long day at the office.

My second martini (which I enjoyed with the salad and pasta courses) was the classic Nicola Martini, made with vodka, St. Germain, and, again, lemon.  This drink was quite similar to a lychee martini and not terribly different from the Zenzero, so perhaps go with the previously described drink over this one.  One note about the pasta: I hate (read: hate) gnocchi and I LOVED the gnocchi served to us — it was very obviously homemade and was almost like small pillows of potato deliciousness.  I made a point to take home the leftovers.

My third and favorite drink of the evening (coincidence?) accompanied the entree course of lamb (more, please) and scallops (pictured on the left).  Speaking of scallops, all of Chef Justin’s food items are either local, made in-house, or shipped overnight from the coasts (the fish, that is), and the freshness of the food is noticeable.  The scallops were so meaty and firm that they couldn’t have been out of the water for more than 36 hours.

Now, back to the deliciousness of the third drink, the Honey Manhattan.  Made with Jack Daniels Honey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters, it’s a drink for the more stout drinkers out there.  Unless you’re prepared to deal with this drink’s side effects, don’t join the party.  I had to stay up an extra hour to make sure I’d had enough water to mitigate any future hangover symptoms.

Restaurante Nicola is a sophisticated place to grab a drink after work or with a friend or two.  The entire wait staff is attentive, Food is available in the bar area (which is always a plus).  Snack on some of the Italian-inspired deliciousness during happy hour (specials below) at a reduced price.  Oh, and don’t forget to give your compliments to the chef!

Ristorante Nicola
Ste 150, 8111 Preston Road  Dallas, TX 75225
(214) 379-1111

Specials:
Monday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. | Reduced priced appetizers, $5 wells, $7 wine, martinis, and specialty drinks