Delicious

A guide to dining & drinking in our neighborhood

Dive Vibes

MExI cal I Do ES n’t look lIkE M uch from the outside, but inside this neighborhood dive are cheap eats and a friendly, low-key atmosphere. “You don’t have to wait an hour and half for a table,” owner Justin Morales says. “We want people to come in here and eat and get to know the neighborhood. You can even come in here and get a table for one and not feel weird about it.” His dad, Joshua, opened Mexicali in the shopping center at Northwest Highway and Jupiter 13 years ago, having worked in some of Dallas’ major Tex-Mex restaurants such as El Chico. He applied some of that knowledge to his own place. “We’re small, but we’re standing on their shoulders,” Morales says. “We use chili in a lot of our food. We just do Tex-Mex — not Mexican. Mexican tends to be just tacos with cilantro.” Popular dishes include quesadillas, fajitas and nachos. Mexicali also continues the Dallas tradition of the $4.50 enchilada special on Wednesdays — cheaper than most fast-food joints. In fact, there’s a $4.50 lunch special every day of the week. The most expensive items on the lunch menu are fajitas, which top out at a whopping $6.75. —Emily

Toman

Mexicali

Jup ItEr & northw ES t hIghway 214.341.9405

1 Lakewood Landing lIVE oak & SkIllMan 214.823.2410 lakEwooD-lanDIng.coM

This award-winning dive bar serves up “the” burger, which comes with either cheddar, provolone, Swiss or blue cheese for just $5.75.

2 Ship S Lounge

This dusty, nautical-themed tavern has cheap drinks and good vibes, however, word on the street is the owner does not allow cursing. grEEnVIllE & huDSon 214.823.0418 fooD anD wInE onlInE. Visit lakewood.advocatemag.com/dining

3 The g oa T Stop by this dive for live blues music on m onday and Tuesday nights.

7248 gaSton 214.327.8119 thEgoatDallaS.coM

ASIAN MINT $$ OD FB WB Our Highland Park location, The Mint, offers an array of Asian-fused cuisine, specializing in Bangkok style dishes. We feature farm fresh ingredients, beautifully presented, coupled with a chic atmosphere and friendly service. Happy Hour is 5pm-6:30pm Mon.-Fri. – all beers and house wines are $3; $2 off appetizers, soups & salads. 4246 Oak Lawn Ave. 214.219.6469. The Asian Mint, along with its fused and sushi menus, also offers one of the best dessert bars in Dallas. 11617 N. Central Expwy. 214.363.6655. www.themintdallas.com

BACK COUNTRY BBQ $ WB Over 30 years of Texas-style BBQ. Family dining - 8 different meats, variety of homemade vegetables. Complete catering & custom cooking. Beer, wine, margaritas. 6940 Greenville Ave. 214.696.6940.

PIZZA LOUNGE $$ OD FB Voted Dallas best late night restaurant 2010 ! Pizza LOUNGE offers their own unique, made-from-scratch recipes featuring fresh made pizza dough and sauce. Appetizers, salads and deserts are also an option in their eclectic, funky atmosphere as you listen to off beat tunes. Open 11am. 7 days a week till late late night at 841 exposition ave, Dallas. 214.887.6900. Pizzaloungedallas.com and on facebook.

TEX MEX GRILL $ WB If you are looking for great Tex-Mex dining at reasonable prices try Tex Mex Grill and Cafe at the corner of Walnut Hill Lane and Plano Rd. Everything on the menu is quickly prepared using fresh ingredients. Lunch specials all day, everyday $4.99 with this ad. Private Party room, seats 40 people. Adult beverages are limited to margaritas and beer. Catering beginning at $6.50 per person. New Hours: Mon - Thurs 11 am - 9 pm, Fri - Sat 11 am - 10 pm CLOSED

The Corner Market

Try The Corner Market’s awarding-winning sandwiches and salads, made fresh with all natural, filler-free deli meats, artisan breads, organic herbs and chefprepared dressings. Sample a coffee drink from the full esspresso bar using locally roasted coffees or a hand-crafted chocolate. Also breakfast available every day of the week.

Come join us for a discussion on cocktails and sample recipes using local or ingredients from your garden by the executive chef from Oddfellows.

Wine drinkers are creatures of habit. Once we find like, it’s almost impossible to get us to try something different. That’s one reason why the wine business spends so much time and money on marketing gimmicks, cute wine labels and the like. They know how difficult it is to overcome our lethargy.

But wine should not be that way. There are, at best guess, more than 15,000 different wines on sale in the United States, so it’s not like we don’t have a lot of choices. And there is plenty of quality within that quantity. Wine, whether cheap or expensive, sweet or dry, red or white, has never been better.

Nevertheless, how many times have we said, “But like that,” when someone has suggested we try something new. I’m no different in that regard, and it sometimes takes all my professionalism to taste a wine I’m not going to like.

So, this month, try something that you don’t like. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You’ll discover a new wine? Here are a few suggestions:

Rene Barbier Mediterranean Red ($6). This red blend from Spain doesn’t have the bitter tannins and harsh acid of many red wines. In fact, chill this you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it before.

Too many wine drinkers know Texas wine stinks, even if they’ve never tried it. That’s open minded, isn’t it? Becker’s reserve merlot ($18), which won a gold medal at the recent Lone Star International, should change most minds. And this recommendation comes from someone who doesn’t much care for merlot.

Cupcake’s riesling from Washington ($12), another gold medal winner at Lone Star. It’s not sweet like white zinfandel, but the sweetness is a pleasant part of the wine.

—JEFF SIEGEL