Since 2011, this funky Deep Ellum sandwich shop has been cranking out some of the finest things between sliced bread, which likely accounts for the reason this place stays busy at all hours of the day. Find around twelve different selections, ranging from a shaved ribeye steak on baguette topped with grilled red onions and blue cheese to vegetarian-friendly choices like the Vietnamese-inspired veggie BunMe. And though the sandwiches are always a solid option, Uber's burgers are equally deserving of praise. The best part? You can score one of these meaty marvels with an order of fries for only $6 after 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Uncle Uber's is a good place to come for lunch or early evening snack.
Ilene's expert tip: Uncle Uber's offers a secret menu which can be found hidden inside the box next to the regular menu on the wall.
This jovial neighborhood watering hole is not only the perfect place to wet your whistle with a selection of more than 65 varieties of bottled and tapped brews, but it's also the place to tuck into some excellent pub grub. The reasonably priced menu features a massive selection of appetizers plus everything from pizzas and pasta to burgers, steaks and fish. Though it's impossible to go wrong with anything you order, don't miss standouts like Rudolph's chili-cheese dogs and the chicken fried tuna steak sandwich. Check the website for weekly events and daily specials.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: St. Pete's is where to go when you're in the mood for a laid-back, lively evening that involves beer.
Ilene's expert tip: St. Pete's features $3.50 wells, $3.50 domestics, and $1 off wine by the glass during happy hour, from 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives, this epic burger mecca has garnered a cult status and thirteen locations to boot since opening in Deep Ellum in 2006. And the appeal has as much to do with the inventive toppings (think thyme caramelized onions and smashed fries) as it does with the variety of offerings, which includes everything from wagyu beef to turkey and exotic game. The go-to order? The half-pound Western Burger slathered in house-made barbecue sauce and loaded with pepper Jack cheese, bacon, fried onion strings and jalapenos. Pair it up with an order of twisted cheese fries and a boozy custard shake.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Twisted Root is where to find some of the city's most eclectic burgers.
Ilene's expert tip: Happy Hour specials include $1 off beer and cocktails, Wednesday through Friday from 2:07 to 6:07 p.m.
Housed in a historic, Beaux-Arts style building that once housed the Knights of Pythias Temple, the Kimpton Pittman Hotel has finally provided Deep Ellum with its first boutique hotel. And with it comes Elm & Good, a modern American tavern helmed by chef Graham Dodds, best known as one of Dallas' farm-to-table dining pioneers. Expect to find a seasonal menu featuring handmade pastas along with wood-fired meats and vegetables. Standouts include Dodd's twists on southern classics like hush puppies with charred okra, pimento cheese, and Cajun remoulade, and vegan barbecued carrots served with collard greens, kohlrabi slaw and baked gigante beans. Cocktails are top notch, and desserts like churros with dulce de leche sauce are a must.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Elm & Good is an ideal place to go when you have both meat-eaters and vegetarians in tow.
Ilene's expert tip: There is valet parking available, which can be validated for $7 for 4 hours.
There's always something pleasing to look at and spectacular to devour at this sleek modern American eatery tucked away in the historic Boyd Hotel building. The seasonal menu, designed by owner/chef Tracy Miller, features both a seven-course, prix-fixe chef tasting ($85 + $35 wine pairing), as well as à la carte options ranging from pan-seared lobster cakes to balsamic glazed wild salmon, and Kobe beef burgers. While Local serves wine and beer only, creative cocktails like the prosecco mojito and sake pear martini more than make up for the lack of spirits. The signature "chocolate composed" dessert, consisting of a chocolate soufflé, brownie cookies and a mini Ovaltine malt, is a must.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Local is a great place for an upscale date night.
Ilene's expert tip: Local provides complimentary parking in the lot adjacent to Rudolph's Meat Market on the west side of the restaurant.
For those who want to venture beyond sushi and ramen, behold Niwa, a super-slick yakiniku spot in Deep Ellum where do-it-yourself Japanese BBQ is the name of the game. Here, diners can choose from an array of marinated proteins and veggies and cook it all up over grills built right into their tables. Beef belly, chicken breast, lamb chops, rib eye and Wagyu, it's all there, as well seafood options like calamari and shrimp. You want intestines? Tongue? Pork jowl? They've got that too. Don't feel like cooking? There are also ready-to-eat items, ranging from pan-seared gyoza to sake-dashi clams and chicken karaage.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Niwa is where to go when you are with people who like to share.
Ilene's expert tip: Score discounts on meats for the gill plus $6 cocktails, $5 canned beers, $6 sake by the glass, $5 call drinks & $6 house wines by the glass during happy hour, offered all day on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. until close.
Seriously delicious wood-fired pies with top-notch artisan toppings have earned this Neapolitan-certified pizza joint a cult following that even includes Guy Fieri of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The long list of pizzas includes everything from a classic Margherita to inventive picks like the Honey Bastard, with mozzarella, hot soppressata, bacon marmalade and habanero honey. And while pizzas may be the main attraction, don't sleep on Cane Rosso's house-made pasta or Italian sandwiches. Another reason to come is that a portion of the sales go directly to Cane Rosso's dog rescue organization that helps find homes for abandoned dogs.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Cane Rosso is one of the best places in the city to find Neapolitan style pizzas.
Ilene's expert tip: Score $2 off appetizers and house cocktails, $5 house wines, $3 Miller Lite drafts and $7-$9 select pizzas during Happy Hour, from 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Also find brisket lasagna Bolognese on offer Friday and Saturday night.
This family-run Deep Ellum spot with counter service ordering and communal seating is an oasis for taco connoisseurs. Corn tortillas are handmade and grilled to order, and toppings run the gambit from seared duck breast to roasted baby goat and grilled premium wagyu beef. Or for those who want to up their gourmet taco game, behold La Resistencia, where guests can indulge in a 7-course tasting menu of tacos made using an ancient wood grilling technique on a yakitori grill. Also worth checking out is the Mexican seafood Sunday brunch featuring items such as scallop crudo, and lobster-truffle chilaquiles.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Revolver is a good place to come for a quick bite before or after hitting the nightlife in Deep Ellum.
Ilene's expert tip: Score $2 al pastor tacos and $5 house margaritas all day on Tuesdays.
Named for the Middle Eastern spice blend, this bustling Lebanese eatery delivers a deliciously modern spin on the country's classic cuisine. That translates into a rollcall of sharable crowd-pleasers like crispy cheese filled phyllo cigars and hummus topped with beef shawarma alongside grilled kabobs, rosemary roasted lamb chops and pan-seared salmon. The sleeper hit? A Lebanese double decker burger featuring a kafta patty topped with chicken shawarma, Gruyere, hummus and roasted tomatoes. All of which is backed up with a bar program that includes Lebanese beer, wine and Arak cocktails. Leave space for desserts like Arabic ice cream, and Kenefeh, a sweet cheese semolina-based pastry drenched in fragrant orange blossom syrup.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Zatar is the best place for sharing a Middle Eastern feast.
Ilene's expert tip: There's a hookah menu available on the patio. Note that street parking and pay lots are available nearby.
Featured on such shows as Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Man Fire Food, this Deep Ellum hot spot is as famous for its long lines as it is for its epic barbecue. But as they say, good things come to those who wait, and those good things include house-made sausages, mesquite smoked brisket, mouthwatering ribs and more. Try it all by ordering "The Trough," where you and four of your carnivore friends can dig into a feast of beef rib, pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage links. Other hits include fried chicken, as well as a brisket and chipotle cream cheese stuffed sweet potato dubbed the "Hot Mess." Don't get us started on the peach cobbler.
Recommended for Deep Ellum's Best Restaurants because: Multiple publications have ranked Pecan Lodge as one of the best barbecue joints in the state.
Ilene's expert tip: Bypass the lines by dining at the bar or by ordering 5-lbs or more of meat at the express counter.