Deep Ellum is actually a decent place to practice social distancing right now. Neighborhood icons like Club Dada and Double Wide Bar have boarded their windows, but there are still plenty of places to pick up food.
And the current parking situation is surreal in the entertainment district that many would normally prefer to Lyft or Uber to. Odds are you will be able to park right by the front door of your favorite restaurant, and you might not even have to get out of the car. We recommend checking the website or Facebook page of your favorite Deep Ellum restaurant to keep up with constantly changing hours and operational models.
It’s a strange feeling to walk right up to the meat cutter at Terry Black’s BBQ and literally be the only customer in that massive rustic space. In other Deep Ellum barbecue news, Pecan Lodge has started delivering, and they even created a nonprofit to help other independent restaurants.
Uncle Uber’s Sammich Shop has some of the best fries and sandwiches in East Dallas, same as always, but when you order ahead, they will bring food out to your vehicle and you can park right by the front door. Big Guys Chicken and Rice, The Free Man, Easy Slider and Brick & Bones, which just donated hundreds of meals to Baylor Scott & White Health, are still doing curbside pickup.
As far as sushi to-go or delivered through a third party, Hibiki Sushi, Nori Handroll Bar and Deep Sushi remain open. Niwa Japanese BBQ is offering a “shelter in place” menu and “shelter box sets” with cooked and sealed packages for families, as well as steaks, seafood and sauces to take home and cook. You can still get a bowl of ramen, albeit to go, at Oni Ramen. Ichigoh Ramen Lounge has offered ramen and sake pairings, and Monkey King Noodle Company is still selling noodles and dumplings for takeout and delivery.
If you are looking for booze to go, Braindead Brewing is open on certain days for growlers, Westlake Brewing Company is delivering food and craft beer, and Deep Ellum Brewing Company has grab-and-go meals and, of course, beer. Trinity Cider also has growlers and 6-packs and they have offered a “drive-thru popup brunch" from a local chef.
For upscale American food and cocktails in all caps, HIDE and LOCAL are still open for takeout. But STIRR is closed until further notice, along with upscale Tex-Mex restaurant Vidorra Dallas.
For those looking for simpler fare, Wing Bucket and Café Brazil are still open for takeout, but the BuzzBrews Deep Ellum location is closed. (Other BuzzBrews locations remain open.)
As far as world-class bar food — and booze-to-go when you order food — you can still get those great burgers as well as some blue-plate specials at Adair’s Saloon. Angry Dog is still open for takeout. St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin will bring your food to your car and has also offered a family meal deal. Anvil Pub is still offering its full menu, which includes vegetarian options, and Armoury D.E. remains open.
For those in the mood for pizza, Cane Rosso is keeping their “Straight Fire” pie (with hot soppressata and jalapeños) around for another month and is also offering pans of brisket lasagna. Mama Mia’s is also still cooking, but Serious Pizza is closed until further notice.
Maracas Cocina Mexicana and Pepe’s & Mito’s are still thriving with Mexican food and cheap drinks to go. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop remains open, and vegan tacos are still available from Tiki Loco. Revolver Taco Lounge and Ruins are also still open.
All Good Cafe, an undisputed Deep Ellum institution, has closed its doors, and a fundraiser has been set up to help it reopen. Shoals has also closed and set up a fundraiser.
Another one of the neighborhood’s oldest businesses, Rudolph’s Meat Market and Sausage Factory, has just reopened after closing its doors for over two weeks. Rudolph’s has been partnering with their neighbor, Bucky Moonshine’s (also open for curbside takeout and a great place to get a hurricane to go), to offer boxes of groceries for pick up on weekends.
The grocery box is helping those who can’t get what they need at grocery stores, but also highlighting the need for a grocery store in Deep Ellum, which is increasingly becoming a residential district. The owners are hoping the grocery pickup will grow into a Deep Ellum farmers market.
Furthermore, Bucky Moonshine’s is planning a fish fry to-go this Friday. Follow Bucky Moonshine’s and Rudolph’s on Facebook for updates on dates and times.
