There is a dizzying number of great dinner options in Dallas-Fort Worth, but where do you go when you want dinner and a side of entertainment?
Reader Jackie from Plano asked us through Ask Eat Drink D-FW where she could find dinner and a show so we’ve pulled together some of our favorite spots.
Close to Jackie in Plano is the Box Garden at Legacy Hall, along with Love & War in Texas on Plano Parkway, pointed out senior food reporter Sarah Blasokich. Both have great live music, she said. There is also the event-packed Grandscape development a little further west in The Colony.
Here’s a look at my picks, along with some thoughts from the rest of The Dallas Morning News food team. There’s a little bit of everything on this list from plays to Mariachi bands.
Listen to the food team chat about their picks on this episode of the weekly Eat Drink D-FW podcast.
The Free Man in Deep Ellum
Catch live jazz and swing while dining on red beans and rice or shrimp etouffee at this Cajun cafe in Deep Ellum. There’s live music seven nights a week here with brunch shows on the weekends.
The Free Man is located at 2626 Commerce St. Dallas. freemandallas.com.
Medieval Times in Dallas
OK, hear me out. You might drive past this on Stemmons Freeway and not think of it as your next dinner destination, but where else can you eat a four-course meal while watching jousting? Tickets include the dinner, which comes with bread, tomato bisque, corn, roasted chicken and dessert. Vegan or vegetarian? They have meals for both.
Medieval Times is located at 2021 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas. medievaltimes.com.
Pocket Sandwich Theater in Carrollton
This live dinner theater used to be located on Mockingbird Avenue in Dallas, but it’s now in Downtown Carrollton. The theater puts on seasonal shows, and lunch or dinner can be ordered an hour and a half before each one. It’s by no means a fancy meal (think styrofoam bowls), but it offers an experience that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Pocket Sandwich Theater is located at 1104 Elm St, Carrollton. pocketsandwich.com.
Other picks from the DMN food team
Senior food reporter Sarah Blaskovich suggested stopping into Bacari Tabu and St. Martin’s Wine Bistro. If you can wait, Delilah, which has outposts in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami, specializes in just this. It hasn’t opened yet, but will be located in the Dallas Design District.
Food writer Imelda Garcia said to stop into Mariachi Mondays at Mexican Bar Company in Plano. For more music, El Pulpo de Grand Prairie - “pulpo” means “octopus” - has live Sinaloan music from Thursday to Sunday. One other classic standby she points to is El Ranchito in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood, which has a range of entertainment that includes Elvis nights on Wednesdays.
Bonus mentions
Chocolate Secrets in Oak Lawn doesn’t serve dinner, but it deserves a mention. It’s a great post-dinner spot for dessert, wine and live music. You’ll find shows most nights of the week and a menu of truffles, cakes, bonbons and ice cream.
Food & Events Editor Anna Butler has another idea to keep in your back pocket. It’s not dinner-and-a-show, more like dinner-then-a-show. Book dinner along Lower Greenville in Dallas before or after catching improv at a Four Day Weekend comedy show, she said. It’s walkable. It’s simple. It’s versatile. There is also a Four Day Weekend troupe in Fort Worth.
Editor’s note: Anna Butler contributed to this report.