THE $30 NIGHT OUT

Photography by LAUREN ALLEN

Going out with friends can become expensive. And if you’ve been bitten by the summer social bug, chances are your wallet is feeling it, too.

A 2019 study published by Eventbrite All Access estimated the average American spends $81 on a night out. In 2023, that number is likely higher. Rising costs of food, electricity, labor and equipment have resulted in financial strain throughout the food and beverage industry, and more often than not, part of that cost is being passed to the consumer.

But in Oak Cliff, there are plenty of ways to stay social without breaking the bank.

Those of us at the Advocate challenged ourselves to spend a week socializing without spending more than $30 each night. And if $30 sounds steep, five nights on our budget still comes out as less than two $81 nights out.

Just remember to account for tax and tips when calculating your tab.

There’s no need to have a case of the Mondays when you have after-work plans.

For this activity, we recommend inviting someone you want to know better. Whether that’s a new friend from your yoga class or a potential crush, pouring over books is the perfect thing to inspire conversation, leading you to bond with someone new.

Lucky Dog Books on Jefferson Boulevard is cozy with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, and the thrill of finding a new read among the stuffed shelves is as invigorating as finding a needle in a haystack.

Plus, the resale shop sells books brought in by the community, so the shelves of Lucky Dog Books are an anthology of Oak Cliff itself. Because the shop sells used books, prices are marked down, and you can be sure to stock up while staying on budget.

If you somehow make your way through Lucky Dog’s collection but want to continue scouring, head over to Lula B’s on Fort Worth Avenue for an endless array of vintage goods and hidden gems.

The perfect day for an after-work happy hour, we are taking a trip to Spain on Tuesday.

At Sketches of Spain in Bishop Arts, Sangria and Agua de Valencias are $6 from 5-7 p.m.

The restaurant opened right before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but has quickly cemented itself as a neighborhood favorite.

If your office lunch has worn off, small appetizers such as roasted eggplant or bravas come in at $10 or less. Larger appetizers such as ham croquettes or seared prawns will be a little pricier, but an appetizer and a drink will still find your tab under the $30 limit. Sitting out on Sketches of Spain’s patio, the stress of the workday is sure to melt away, and it won’t return when the bill comes. TUESDAY

Congratulations on making it halfway through the week. Wednesday is the perfect night to start defrosting for the weekend without going too crazy.

Over at Sylvan 30, Sylvan Avenue Tavern keeps things chill and inexpensive on Wednesdays.

From 8-11 p.m., the tavern offers $2 well drinks and free games of pool. The only stipulation is final tabs must be paid in cash for the discount, so be sure to stop by an ATM.

The Sylvan Avenue Tavern menu offers typical bar bites such as buffalo sauce wings and fried pickles, but if you’re hoping to steer clear of fried foods, the menu also includes hummus made in house, a list of salads and dressings, stone-fire pizzas and more.

Salads range from $4 for a garden house side to $13.25 for a cobb salad topped with turkey, avocado and a hard boiled egg. Most pizzas start around $15 for a 9-inch, but with $2 wells, you can splurge a little more on the food here.

Plus, after you finish a round (or two or three) of free pool, head up to the rooftop seating area for a nightcap with a skyline view.

Thursday

Hello, date night.

Whether it’s a first date, a friend date or a rare night away from the kids, Thursday night offers the chance to connect with someone special while looking forward to the weekend ahead. And nothing is more romantic than sharing a sweet treat and a sunset walk.

Swing by Cake Bar in Trinity Groves, where a cake-by-the-slice vending machine offers fresh-baked cake slices for $7. Get one to share or a couple of flavors to sample.

Then, head over to the Ronald Kirk Bridge for a walk and talk accompanied by a perfect Downtown view.

If you’re in the mood for a nightcap, the Art Park beer garden offers a relaxing space to sip on a cold beer or a frozen cocktail while taking in local artwork and the Trinity Groves ambiance.

Unique drafts, food trucks, string lights and picnicking potential? Oak Cliff Brewing Co., you spoil us.

The neighborhood brewery’s biergarten is equipped with a taco trailer if you want to pick up an easy bite to eat, but customers also are welcome to bring food for a picnic.

We hope you had as much fun as we did. FRIDAY

Some beers are on tap at the biergarten with a tab that transfers between the patio and the tap room, but to see a full listing of Oak Cliff Brewing Co.’s beer offerings, we recommend heading inside at least once.

In the tap room, find a mid-sized beer menu that has some minor seasonal changes but is generally consistent and boasts a beer for every palate.

Pay homage to neighborhood history with a Lee Hazy Oswald, or experiment with the Mango Habanero Paleta Weisse. The Czech-style Pilsner is another favorite that bounces on and off the menu.

With the work week behind you, a cold beer in front of you, and the beautiful hills of Elmwood surrounding you, take a second to reflect on the memories and connections made throughout the week.

While it seems Dallas’ prestige as a dining destination grows by the year, our city isn’t exactly known for its abundance of fresh seafood restaurants.

Which is why Jose Ornelas saw a wide open market when he took over his parents’ restaurant, El Gordo, in 2019.

The West Dallas eatery had been a Mexican restaurant for 14 years, but Ornelas decided to tap into some menu favorites — such as ceviche and shrimp cocktail — and expand into a full-fledged seafood spot that specializes in traditional Mexican-style seafood.

Earlier this year, Ornelas opened El Gordo’s second location on West Davis Street. The store is cozy, with a small dining room and a large patio overlooking the Bishop Arts District serving as the “main attraction.”

For many seafood eaters, ensuring fish and shellfish are fresh is a primary concern. According to Ornelas, the restaurant’s intimate setting is evidence that customers will receive a plate of seafood as fresh from the gulf as possible.

“Everything we buy is bought every other day or every day. We don’t have a big space, so there isn’t back stock,” Ornelas says.

Eddy Giron is the kitchen manager at El Gordo Seafood, and he joined the team around the time Ornelas began reconceptualizing the menu. Giron says on top of the restaurant’s staple dishes of cajun pasta and ceviche, the prepared oysters are a standout dish on the menu.

The prepared oysters are bought fresh and shucked in house before they are topped with ceviche, cucumber pico de gallo and avocado. Each oyster combines the salty freshness of the seafood with bright summer vegetables for a flavor combination difficult to turn down.

Another crowd favorite, the seafood boil, is served in heaping piles of shrimp, crab legs, sausage, potatoes and corn, and is drenched in a garlic-based sauce that can be ordered at varying levels of spiciness, Giron says.

“Our seafood boil sauce is what sticks out the most and is what a lot of people come here for,” Giron says. “A lot of people say our flavor is something they’ve never had anywhere else.”

The restaurant also boasts a small bar that serves crowd-favorite cock - tails and beers.

Ornelas says the Paloma is one of the most popular drinks, and is served in a traditional cantarito cup. The cup is commonly given out by vendors at the San Luis state fair, where Ornelas’ family is from, he says.

It’s a subtle nod to the family tradition Ornelas feels El Gordo is rooted in.

When searching for a neighborhood for the new El Gordo location, Ornelas says he saw Bishop Arts as a perfect spot because of its family-friendly and small business-centric nature.

“We wanted to be in a food hub. In Bishop Arts, many of the restaurants are family owned and have been here a long time,” Ornelas says. “We wanted to find a new location but keep an emphasis on family-owned restaurants.”

Ornelas says his daughter works as a server at the restaurant, and his son works there as well. His sister occasionally helps out behind the bar.

“I do want to build this out to where I can pass it on to my kids,” Ornelas says.

A third generation of El Gordo owners in the Ornelas family.

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We worked with Bart during one of the hottest housing markets in recent history. Bart stuck with us through several offer cycles, and each new house he found was better than the last. His background in architecture and construction is a huge plus. He always has a flashlight in the car and is ready to crawl down below a house. You won’t be disappointed with his skills and work ethic. Thanks Bart for everything!

-Maggie M.

BART THRASHER Realtor® bartthrasher@dpmre.com 469.583.4819