Picking just 20 patios in Dallas is a real challenge, but we buckled down. Here 20 restaurants to enjoy al fresco dining and drinks; some beautiful, others offbeat but all worth a visit.
Sky Blossom 1514 Elm St., No. 611 (Downtown)
Sky blossom is in the heart of downtown Dallas and home to some stellar views. This Asian fusion restaurant has a great happy hour, Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with options like sushi-style tacos ($4), crispy wings ($4) and dumplings ($5). Try their tasty margarita flight to enhance your experience.
Harlow MXM 2823 Main St. (Deep Ellum)
Deep Ellum is definitely a theme on this list, it s a hot spot for rooftop dining. Situated at the busy corner of Main and Malcolm X, they feature some amazing food like The MXM Burger made with brisket short ribs, double lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo topped with thick bacon. They also have a great brunch. When you add in the drinks, the rooftop views and the relaxed atmosphere this place is a must-try.
Hillcrest Village, a long-neglected shopping center on the edge of Richardson, has been in the news lately as the site of a new community park billed by some as a “mini Klyde Warren park.”
But the revitalization of the center was already off to a good start when LADA opened there last fall.
The fine-casual restaurant with a menu centered on enchiladas is chef Michael Ehlert’s first turn in an owner-operator role. And in a way, it’s a culmination of the most important things Ehlert has achieved in his career, which has involved a series of executive roles in high-profile Dallas restaurants.
Anthony Macias
We also had the bistek and carnitas tacos on corn tortillas. The carnitas was the favorite of the three; it was cooked just right and was not fatty or greasy. They serve two different salsas made in-house by chef Jorge Castellanos that are what they call the “green to-go” and the “red to the head.” The red did prove to be spicy.
Tacos, Bites & Beats will have Taco Tuesday specials and sell the tacos for $1, which include the bistek, carnitas, chicken tinga and paneer tacos.
It s set up for to-go orders only, but there is plenty of counter space and tables set up at a safer distance for dining outside. So if you are driving by, walking your dog or riding your bike (there is a bike rack for bike parking) stop by and grab some tacos.