There are sandwiches, and then there is pastrami. It’s not just meat slapped between two slices of rye—it’s an art form, a culinary ritual passed down through immigrant delis and refined in smokers and brine buckets across the country. A great pastrami isn’t shy. It’s bold, smoky, pepper-crusted, and tender enough to pull apart with a glance. The fat should shimmer. The spice rub should speak in low, peppery tones. And if it’s served on rye? That rye better fight back.
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In a town known for eccentric charm and winding hillside streets, Grotto Wood-Fired Grill is Eureka Springs’ most grounded pleasure—literally and figuratively. Set inside a 19th-century stone building where a natural spring trickles right through the wall, Grotto offers something you don’t find every day: a dining room that’s part wine cave, part geology exhibit, and fully committed to good food.
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Maple Leaf Diner, the Dallas eatery known for its Canadian-inspired comfort food, is turning up the chill with a limited-time “Summer Sips” drink menu, available now through September 7. Designed to beat the Texas heat, this seasonal lineup delivers refreshing flavors with a playful twist—perfect for brunch, lunch, or a casual treat.
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Avra Estiatorio, the acclaimed restaurant celebrated for its refined Mediterranean fare and upscale ambiance, is expanding to Dallas. The new 14,000-square-foot location will open in Fall 2025 at The Crescent in Uptown, a prestigious mixed-use development known for its luxury dining and retail scene.
The Dallas opening also marks a major milestone for Avra: the brand’s 25th anniversary. For a quarter-century, Avra has drawn discerning diners with its commitment to fresh ingredients, authentic Greek recipes, and impeccable service. The new outpost carries that legacy forward.
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There’s something electric in the air in Austin, Texas—part Southern charm, part renegade spirit, and entirely addictive. Whether you’re here for the live music, the smoky brisket, or the river-fed cool of Lady Bird Lake, Austin is a city that welcomes wanderers with open arms and a devil-may-care grin. To help you make the most of your trip, we’ve rounded up the top hotels, restaurants, bars, music venues, and can’t-miss sights that show off the capital city’s one-of-a-kind vibe.
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Claude Berri’s 1986 adaptation of Marcel Pagnol’s Jean de Florette is a quietly devastating rural tragedy set in the sun-bleached hills of Provence. Though rooted in early 20th-century France, its themes—greed, manipulation, and the destruction of innocence—remain strikingly relevant.
The story begins with César Soubeyran, or Le Papet (Yves Montand), and his nephew Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil), who covet a neighboring farm with a hidden spring. Ugolin dreams of growing carnations—a profitable crop—but they need water. Rather than buy the land fairly, they secretly plug the spring, hoping to watch the property fail and then purchase it at a discount.
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Monarch, the wood-fired modern Italian restaurant perched 49 floors above Downtown Dallas, invites guests to keep the National Caviar Day celebration going with an extravagant Caviar Brunch on Sunday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Priced at $150 per person, this indulgent, one-day-only experience is a decadent ode to the world’s most elegant ingredient, perfectly timed just two days after National Caviar Day on July 18. Monarch’s Caviar Brunch extends the moment with dramatic tableside activations, exclusive caviar-centric dishes, and luxe beverage pairings, all framed by the city’s most iconic skyline views.
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In Dallas’ Preston Hollow Howard Wang’s offers something more refined than your standard neighborhood Chinese restaurant. It is elegant but unpretentious, lively yet composed. The dining room—washed in soft neutral tones and anchored by polished wood accents—feels urbane without shouting. It’s the sort of place where you can bring a first date or your visiting parents, knowing each will find something to admire.
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