Spring is in full swing! There are plenty of reasons we love this time of year, but one of the most notable is that it marks the start of patio season. Truly not much beats enjoying bites and bevs with your bests al fresco. Read on for the full scoop on the best patio dining hotspots to hit up in the DDD this spring.
Ascension Coffee
Ascension has been a staple in the DDD for 10+ years now, but thanks to their recent renovations and menu upgrades, it’s better now than ever before. Seeing as they serve breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, and now even a special evening menu Tuesday through Saturday, find your way to their pet-friendly patio to nosh any time of day. If you’re looking for a special, pop by Sunday through Thursday after 3PM to enjoy ½ price bottles of wine, or during weekend brunch for their $12 mimosa carafes.
Location: 1621 Oak Lawn Avenue
Commons Club at Virgin Hotels Dallas
For those who may be unfamiliar, Commons Club is Virgin Hotel Dallas’ primary restaurant and lounge. The patio (and restaurant itself) is nestled on the ground floor of the hotel and boasts a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Known for their French meets Texan-style cuisine, it’s sure to make you fall fork over heels. Take advantage of their picturesque patio for breakfast (7-11AM daily), lunch (11AM-2PM daily), dinner (5-10PM Sunday-Thursday, 5-11PM Friday-Saturday), or weekend brunch (8AM-2PM Saturday-Sunday). And, to get the most bang for your buck, hit up Commons Club during happy hour on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6-8PM for ½ price bottles of wine and other rotating specials.
Location: 1415 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Delucca Gaucho Pizza & Wine
Pizza and patio weather — name a better combo. For an elegant neighborhood pizzeria experience, plan a date at Delucca Gaucho. Known for their Bossa Nova style, each of their delicious pies comes straight out of their wood-fired oven, which you can witness for yourself, thanks to their open kitchen concept. Do dinner at Delucca from 5-9PM Sunday through Thursday or 4:30-10PM Friday and Saturday. Be sure to also keep Delucca on your happy hour hotspot list as they offer select $5 cocktails, $6 wines, $7 small plates, and $8 pizzas Monday through Friday from 4:30-6PM. And, while weekend brunch may not be on the menu just yet, it will be soon so stay tuned for details on that!
Location: 1628 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 100
El Bolero
Love a good fiesta? Find your way to El Bolero's patio for an authentic Mexican culinary experience. Whether it’s for lunch, dinner, brunch, or happy hour (4-6PM Monday-Friday), you’re guaranteed innovative dishes, premium ingredients, and vibrant handcrafted cocktails. And, if there’s nothing more you love than a marg on a patio, then mark your calendar for Margarita Monday to indulge in $5 margaritas and $5 queso blanco all day, every Monday. Or, should you prefer to wind down with vino, hit up Wine Down Wednesday to score ½ priced bottles of wine under $100.
Location: 1201 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 160
Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ
Perhaps the ultimate outdoor dining destination in the DDD has to be Ferris Wheelers, simply because it boasts not just a patio, but an entire backyard. Between the bar games (think giant Jenga and cornhole), the regular live music, and the actual vintage Ferris wheel, it’s an adult playground come to life. And, don’t even get us started on the eats. Expect to enjoy some of the most flavorful smoked meats, ribs, sandwiches, and sides you’ve ever tried. As far as regular specials go, they offer all-you-can-eat Mondays, Turkey Tuesdays, and Burnt End Wednesdays, each of which is a BBQ-lovers dream come true.
Location: 1950 Market Center Boulevard
The Mexican Dallas
Brand new to the DDD neighborhood is The Mexican Dallas, a restaurant concept that prides itself on offering true Northern Mexico-inspired dishes that have been passed down through generations with the highest level of expertise and faithful tradition from the region. One of the best parts about this new eatery? It houses not one, but two patio areas, both of which aim to transport you to an enticing, faraway corner of Mexico, where you can not only taste but feel the passion, excitement, and intention of their culture. Currently, both patio spaces are open for dinner (6PM-12AM Monday-Thursday, 4:30PM-12AM Friday-Sunday), so be sure to reserve your table now.
Location: 1401 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Meddlesome Moth
Our go-to gastropub is without a doubt Meddlesome Moth. Considering they offer 140+ types of beer, along with local seasonal menu items, and daily fresh blackboard specials, can you blame us? Another major plus is that their spacious patio area is covered, meaning you can sit out back and relax, regardless of whatever the temperamental Texas weather may have in store. Enjoy a meal at The Moth Monday through Thursday from 11AM-10PM, Friday from 11AM-12AM, and Saturday from 10AM-12AM. Also, be sure to make note of their Social Hour which goes down Monday through Friday from 3-6PM, and their weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-3PM.
Location: 1621 Oak Lawn Avenue
Pakpao Thai
If you’re all about Thai food that’s as artfully presented as it is delicious, then Pakpao Thai is the place for you. Known for serving up the authentic and robust flavors of Asia, the Pakpao experience combines distinctive, challenging, and unique dishes with classic favorites. Oh, and did we mention their cocktails also pack a punch? Should Thai food be among your favorites, make sure to mark down their regular weekly specials: Pad Thai Mondays ($10 pad thai), Wine Down Wednesdays (½ price bottles of wine under $100), and Drunken Noodle Thursdays ($10 drunken noodles). And fun fact — Pak Pao Thai is owned by the same restaurant group as El Bolero, so if you love one, it’s worth trying the other.
Location: 1628 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 120
Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar
Whatever you may be craving, chances are Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar has it on tap. And, don’t let the name fool you, pizzas are just one specialty you’ll find on the menu. Pie Tap is also known for its hand-made pasta, salads, sandwiches, and a killer brunch menu, not to mention the selection of 35+ wines and cocktails they have on tap. When it comes to weekly specials, they deliver in this department as well: Margarita Mondays ($5 Italian Margaritas, all day every Monday), Pie Day ($12 pizzas, all day every Tuesday), Whiskey Wednesdays ($2 off select whiskeys, all day every Wednesday), Bird Night ($12 Rotisserie Farm Chicken, all day, every Wednesday), Pasta Night ($12 pasta, all day every Thursday), happy hour ($2 off wine, beer, and cocktails, Monday-Friday from 4-6PM), and weekend brunch ($3 Mimosas, $3 Frosés, $5 Bloody Marys, Saturday-Sunday from 10AM-3PM).
Location: 1212 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 131
Now that we’ve armed you with all the patio dining details you need, what are you waiting for? Head down to the DDD to make the most of our al fresco dining scene before those sweltering hot summer months are upon us. Cheers, friends!
**For questions or additional info on specific restaurant offerings, protocols, etc., please reach out directly to the establishment.
