Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer started in 2015 as a 15-seat burger joint on Broome Street in SoHo and got famous fast for milkshakes that look like a birthday party fell into a glass. Owners Chris Barish and Julie Mulligan have since taken it from Las Vegas to Singapore, Dubai and London. In August 2023 it landed in Texas for the first time, in Victory Park across from the W Hotel and a short walk from the American Airlines Center. Barish knows the area. One of his first concepts was Martini Park, which he opened in Plano in 2006.
The burgers start with 7-ounce Creekstone prime patties cooked on a griddle and flipped once, and each one comes with fries. The All-American, with American cheese and special sauce, is the chain’s bestseller. The TX was built for Dallas, stacked with bacon, Longhorn Colby, an onion ring, TX bourbon barbecue sauce, peppercorn mayo and a coffee barbecue rub. The Mexico City adds heat with pepper jack, pickled jalapeños and chipotle mayo.
The wagyu burgers carry the trophies. The Champ, a half pound of wagyu with buttermilk-dill, blue cheese and arugula, won People’s Choice at the New York City Wine & Food Festival’s Burger Bash three times. The Wagyu Steakhouse Burger, with pepper jack, crispy onions, A1 and roasted garlic mayo, took the Judges’ Choice award. The Black Truffle Burger goes richer with havarti, truffle-yuzu vinaigrette, black garlic peppercorn aioli and parmesan. The Carolina brings pulled pork and coleslaw, and there is a Black Bean Burger with salsa verde for the non-beef crowd. Lately the kitchen has been running a Double Wagyu Smashburger special.
Among the starters, the Street Corn Nachos come loaded with queso, charred corn and cotija, and the Hot Fried Pickles get spiced buttermilk-dill. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts with sesame-tahini and the Korean BBQ Wings are both worth a look. For fries, try the Texas BBQ Fries at least once, covered in ground beef, queso, bourbon barbecue sauce and chili oil. The BT Hot Chicken Sandwich and Chicken & Waffles with blueberry waffles round out the savory side.
Then there are the shakes, the reason half the room has a phone out. The CakeShake wears a rainbow sprinkle rim and a whole slice of funfetti cake. The Cookies ‘N Cream Supreme, the chain’s top seller, comes crusted in Oreos and topped with an ice cream sandwich. The Cinnamon Bun Shake gets a cream cheese rim, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a real cinnamon roll, and Sweet ‘N Salty piles on peanut butter cups, pretzel rods and a Sugar Daddy.
Two shakes are Dallas-only, and sports fans will catch the references. The Dirk has a black and blue sprinkle rim and an Oreo ice cream cone. The Modano comes with green and black sprinkles and double chocolate cake in victory green icing. Any shake can be made vegan.
The bar goes local too, with a Dr Pepper Old Fashioned made with Balcones Baby Blue bourbon and a tap list heavy on Texas breweries like Deep Ellum, Manhattan Project, Community, Lakewood and Oak Cliff. The CakeShake Shot turns dessert into a nightcap. With the arena next door, game and concert nights can mean a wait.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer is at 2475 Victory Park Lane, Suite 120. It is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday until 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until midnight. Call (469) 341-8288 or see the full Dallas menu.
