Author Archives: Susie O

cuba libre

Truth be told, my group was set on Vickery Park for brunch. Since the wait was going to take quite a while, we took a walk down the street and ducked into Cuba Libre to check out their drink specials. DING DING DING, WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER … $5 bottomless mimosas and bellinis and $5 bloody marys AND their patio is dog friendly (my best friend’s dog, Leo, tagged along for brunch).

We gathered around the table and our waiter took our drink orders (though we could tell the idea of alcohol made him shudder from his activities the night before). There were so many tempting options on the menu for food we had trouble picking so we made some snap decisions, laid back, and sipped our drinks.

The bellini is frozen and very sweet, one was enough so it was great that they let us switch between the bellinis and mimosas with our bottomless deal. The first round of bloody marys were had to stomach. They weren’t very strong and they tasted quite terrible actually. When the manager came around to check on us, I let him know how I felt about the bloody mary and he apologized. Two minutes later we saw him run across the street and come back with a bottle of bloody mary mix – what a champ. Needless to say, round two was much better!

In the future, I’d say that you can’t go wrong with the steak and egg tacos and their delightful blood orange mimosa. That’s what I’ll be having on my next brunch trip!

Cuba Libre
www.cubalibredallas.com
2822 N Henderson Ave | Dallas, TX 75206
(214)827-2820

Desperados

This little gem on Greenville is usually completely missed or thought to be a strip club. It isn’t a strip club, but an escape from dallas’s typical Mexican restaurant scene.

On the patio the music isn’t too loud and the greenery and small fountain make you forget that you are sitting right beside Greenville and Electrique Boutique.

The margaritas are strong and a great deal for only $3.50 (they were dubbed the best margarita in Dallas by The Margarita Society) and the drinks are somewhat stout. (Plus, the kitchen ran out of small glasses so my last drink was served in a HUGE glass). The wait staff is very attentive and won’t steal your credit card if you leave it on the table. … And the food is pretty.darn.good.

Since I haven’t ever seen it crowded, bring a group of friends and experience this little beauty for yourself.

Desperados
www.desperadosrestaurant.com
4818 Greenville Ave | Dallas, TX 75206-4120
(214) 363-1850

Specials:
Monday-Friday | 3-7 p.m. | $3.50 margaritas, $2.75 domestics, $2.85 wells

blue fish

After a run I felt like having something somewhat healthy and begged my friends to meet me at Sushi on McKinney. Not having been since the reopen and lured by the huge BYOB sign out front, I couldn’t wait to eat. Turns out … they got their liquor license and everything has almost doubled in price compared to the old haunt. So off to Blue Fish we went.

… and what a great choice it was. Pleasantly surprised by the Monday night 1/2 price wine special, we ordered a bottle and started picking out our rolls. The Ahi Tower was delightful, and paired with the miso soup, delicious. I wish I was a food critic to really explain why their sushi is so great, but I don’t have the repertoire to do it justice. Suffices to say it was fresh, well rolled, and yummy. I ended my meal with a vodka water (in true Susie tradition) which was only somewhat potent.

I think I’ll try to come back here for a $1 sake Thursday because our bill sneaked up on us and put a bigger dent in my wallet than I’d have hoped for a Monday night.

Blue Fish
www.thebluefishsushi.com
3519 Greenville Ave | Dallas (other locations in North Dallas, Los Colinas, and Florida)
(214) 824-3474

Specials:
Monday | 1/2 price selected bottles of wine
Tuesday | Ladies Night: Blue Fish Martini special
Wednesday | draft specials
Thursday | $1 sake

Taverna

The Lombardis know how to do brunch. $1 mimosas and bellinis can’t miss – but the food at Taverna makes the brunch that much better.

When I arrived, I was waiting on the rest of my 6-person party that was in from Pittsburgh. The waiter showed me to my table and entertained me until they showed … with one extra. “NO PROBLEM!” Another seat appeared without much drama. Five minutes later, another surprise guest. “NO PROBLEM!” Another seat appeared and all that was missing was a water.

As I mentioned, the food was great. The crab eggs benedict were (according to one of my dining companions), “The best I’ve ever had west of Pittsburgh!” There’s a compliment if I’ve ever heard one. I had the breakfast calzone and it was great, but make sure you split it because it’s HUGE.

The drinks, superb and quickly replenished … though I would say a big of creme de cassis would have made them a bit better. Pay attention to the small print; the drinks are only $1 if you get an entree.

Taverna was a great place for brunch – as all the Lombardi restaurants are!

Taverna
www.tavernabylombardi.com
3210 Armstrong Ave | Dallas, TX 75205-4131
(214) 520-9933
You can visit a Taverna in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin.

Specials:
Saturday and Sunday | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | $1 bellinis or mimosas with purchase of an entree

You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.

Dean Martin

Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.

Frank Sinatra

Blue Goose

Since I first moved to Dallas, I heard rumors of the Blue Goose margarita … and they are all true. Sunday brunch at Blue Goose was sprinkled with families and hungover “adults” enojoying their hair of the dog. My personal hair of the dog on this particular day was none other than my favorite drink: the bloody mary. The boys partook in the margaritas (and numerous ones at that!).

This was no ordinary bloody mary … no sir. This was a bloody mary crafted by hands that know my every wish and desire for the drink: thick and spicy with a hint of lime. Wondering who the master mixologist was? I’ll let you in on a secret: Blue Goose let’s you make your own. The bloody mary spread is complete with five kinds of bases and even offers olives and shrimp (which I don’t recommend!).

The food came in huge, delicious portions and I definitely recommend the queso con todo – I’m a sucker for a taco shell. My only complaint was that our waiter wasn’t Johnny on the spot; though the rest of the morning was delightful.

Blue Goose Cantina
www.bluegoosecantina.com
2905 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206-6240
(214) 823-6786

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

SusieDrinks

Drink well. Travel often.