The 10 Bars Serving the Best Bar Food in Dallas

By Scott Reitz Tue., Dec. 11 2012 at 3:46 PM

We love to drink here at the Observer. We take no shame in our excessively inebriated stories, and actually work hard to pack as much beer and liquor into every post possible. But as much as we love booze, drinkers gotta eat, too. And if you're not careful, many bar meals here in Dallas can leave you feeling worse than that morning after you downed that entire fifth of rail whiskey.

Meanwhile, some bars are absolutely killing it, turning out well-executed bar food that's good enough to eat even if you don't have a can of beer in your hand. (You have one, though, right?)

Here are my favorite bars to drink at in Dallas when you need a little sustenance to go with your drinking.

Ten Bells Tavern (pictured above)
Had this bar opened a little sooner, there's no way they wouldn't have won this year's Best Bar Food award in our Best of Dallas issue. The place is turning out the greatest beer chow I have seen in quite some time. If those wings up there aren't doing it for you, try the curry pickled eggs as an interesting starter.

They also have two new sandwiches on the menu I'll be telling you about in another blog post soon. The Cuban is a fine enough rendition, filled with roast pork, ham and loads of Dijon mustard, but the Reuben is exemplary.

*****

The Londoner
I've been eating fish and chips all over Dallas, and the Londoner still serves up my favorite. It's nothing special, just your run-of-the-mill, beer-battered cod served with decent french fries, but the fish is never greasy and oily, and they always pour a perfect pint. I'm almost glad I don't live in walking distance to this Uptown pub. I'd be very fat.

*****

St. Pete's
Most chili dogs are made with crappy links, but St. Pete's runs down the street and picks up hot dogs from Rudolph's and the difference is worth it. Don't worry, you won't pay a cent for the upgrade. In fact this chili dog is even cheaper than nearby Angry Dog by about 50 cents.

*****

Sara Kerens

Goodfriend
This East Dallas burger bar will likely be on lists like this for a very long time. Not only is their horseshoe bar a pleasurable place to drink, but their burgers are made from high-quality local meat and taste amazing.

Location Info

Venue

Map

The Old Monk

2847 Henderson Ave., Dallas, TX

Category: Music

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Union Bear

3699 McKinney Ave., Dallas, TX

Category: Restaurant

Meddlesome Moth

1621 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, TX

Category: Music

Tried and True

2405 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas, TX

Category: Restaurant

The Cock & Bull

6330 Gaston, Dallas, TX

Category: Music

Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House

1154 Peavy Road, Dallas, TX

Category: Restaurant

St. Pete's Dancing Marlin

2730 Commerce St., Dallas, TX

Category: Music

The Londoner Pub

2929 Thomas Ave., Dallas, TX

Category: Restaurant

Ten Bells Tavern

232 W. 7th St., Dallas, TX

Category: Music

We Recommend

adkim

i will add sugar to my sauce if there is too much bitterness and acid from the tomatoes.

Steve Hunter

Cock n Bull food is great

KEVINK8

I reccommend The Wild Turkey on Walnut Hill Lane off of 35E - nice cold beer, trivia and great bucket o' peel and eat shrimp or go for the dozen oysters - the steak fajitas and trimmings are delish, too.

JustSaying

1 Like

@KEVINK8 The thing that I liked about that place was how old it felt. We went there once for beer and all you can eat catfish and it seemed like we were sitting in the oldest bar in town. And its mere walking distance from many places were woman practice the oldest profession in town.

Scruffygeist topcommenter

Gee, what a compact little bubble all those places are in.

Gipson

Holy Grail Pub, obviously.

primi_timpano topcommenter

1 Like

No Loon? Very good hamburger, decent pizza, usually a tasty daily special. And the best single malt poor in Dallas.

ChrisYu topcommenter

this is useful, thanks! what would also be helpful, who serves 'em really late.....like 1:30 am, you can get a good burger at Snookies, or a decent pizza at Nodding Donkey on Greenville.

Twinwillow

I'm glad to see Nova made the "top ten". It's my favorite gastropub in Dallas (Oak Cliff). The food is actually better than it needs to be.

Natalia47

I insist that the Fillmore Pub in Plano has the best Fish n chips in DFW!

Kevin Kindred

Cock and Bull

Jon Pitt

What about the samwiches at Lee HArveys?!

todd

1 Like

The dog at St. Pete's may be quality, but the chili is pedestrian at best and contains no punch. Give me the tuna sandwich any day over the chili dog.

obscuriosity

I do not understand the love for food at Goodfriend. I have eaten there on 3 different occasions and come away disappointed every time.

Common Table is head and shoulders above it in every way, especially food.

CitizenKane

I disagree; especially with Goodfriend. I like Cock N Bull, and also think St. Pete's is admirable with good bar vibe and good food....but the rest is lacking in both bar and food status IMO.

I haven't been to Ten Bells - not geographically desirable for my bar food moments. I will have to give Tried and True a shot. I would have added the bar Central 214 (alittle upsacle for bar food) I know.

IMO the gold standard for "bar food" is Gramercy Tavern in NYC, a Danny Meyer's treat.

Markus

1 Like

@CitizenKane Gramercy? Oh come on man. Get stuffed. Gramercy is good, yea. But with executive chefs, pastry chefs, $21-25+ entrees, that ain't bar food. I don't care what anyone thinks. Plus, it was cool like what, 10 years ago?

CitizenKane

@Markus @CitizenKane

It is still going strong. A testament to it's food and service. And yes it is expensive. But then NYC is expensive. Like I said it is the gold standard.......I also put Stroker's in the good bar food category.

CitizenKane

It's a sad sorry list......the best Dallas has to offer and yet so far below what other great cities offer.

My favorite cities for good (and great) bar food include St. Louis, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

scott.reitz moderator editor

@CitizenKane I see potential in this list. Nova, Goodfriend, and Ten Bells are great additions in recent years, and they're pushing out stale bars that have done little to improve their menus. If the trend continues, we're on our way to a great bar food scene.