Tag Archives: Oak Cliff

Free Thanksgiving Dinner at Norma’s Cafe

Norma’s Café in Oak Cliff, Dallas, has quietly carried a beautiful Thanksgiving tradition for more than 30 years: on Thanksgiving Day, they open their doors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to serve a free holiday meal to anyone who comes. The restaurant is located at 1123 W. Davis Street, and every year volunteers, staff, and community supporters prepare thousands of home‑cooked meals. In past years, the tally has reached over 8,000 free dinners, feeding individuals, families, people from shelters, and houses of worship alike.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Brunch Me Hard at Restaurant Beatrice

On a weekend morning in Oak Cliff, Restaurant Beatrice offers more than brunch—it’s a leisurely retreat where bold flavors and relaxed hospitality converge. Step inside, and the hum of conversation mingles with the rich aroma of buttered biscuits and fresh cornbread muffins, setting the stage for a meal that feels carefully curated without ever being overly fussy.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Nova Dallas: Where Culinary Art Meets a Lively Night Out

photos by Suzi Migdol

Deep in the heart of Dallas near Bishop Arts, Nova redefines the classic diner experience with a modern, chic twist. Think stylish, minimalist interiors paired with warm, inviting energy—a place where elevated comfort food meets inventive culinary artistry. By day and early evening, it’s a destination for thoughtfully crafted dishes that surprise and delight; by night, the restaurant transforms into a buzzing late-night bar, drawing in locals for expertly mixed cocktails, lively conversation, and a scene that’s both sophisticated and effortlessly fun.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Kessler Baking Studio Offers Amazing Baked Goods

Kessler Baking Studio in Oak Cliff is more than just a neighborhood bakery—it’s a destination for anyone who appreciates cookies and pastries made with care, creativity, and attention to detail. Owner Clyde Greenhouse, affectionately known as the BowTie Baker, left a corporate career to pursue his lifelong passion for baking, founding the bakery in 2014. That leap of faith has grown into one of Oak Cliff’s most beloved culinary spots, a place where the smell of fresh-baked cookies and the hum of friendly conversation instantly welcome you.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Herby’s Burgers in Oak Cliff for a Good Smash

Herby’s Burgers is the kind of neighborhood joint that feels like it’s been waiting for Oak Cliff all along. Launched in 2024 by local Dallas mainstay Will Rhoten—better known to most as DJ Sober—it’s a love letter to two forms of American obsession: smash burgers and great records. The concept is simple on paper and dialed-in in practice. You come for a burger and something salty and crisp on the side; you stay longer than planned because the room hums like a good mixtape, the griddle perfume hangs in the air, and the jukebox keeps pulling you into one more song.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

A Visit to an Old Friend: Hererra’s Cafe

Herrera’s in Oak Cliff is more than a surviving restaurant—it’s the living core of a once-sprawling dynasty. Over the years, as various Herrera family members stepped away or closed their doors, the lineage has narrowed, leaving just this location to carry the torch. But what remains here isn’t a shadow—it’s the full-bodied heart of classic Dallas Tex-Mex, heavy on flavor, memory, and tradition.

Herrera’s was founded in 1971 by Amelia Herrera on Maple Avenue where the Grapevine was once located, and was so popular there were lines out the door where people would sit on ice chests full of beer waiting their turn at some killer enchiladas. That line was immortalized on the pages of National Geographic.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Cocoa Unchained: Katherine Clapner’s Wild World of Chocolate in Bishop Arts

Katherine Clapner’s culinary pedigree is as formidable as the flavors she builds. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she has cooked in some of the world’s most disciplined pastry kitchens—The Savoy in London, Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, and the Windsor Court in New Orleans. But it was in Dallas, working as Executive Pastry Chef for Stephan Pyles, that Clapner began carving out a name for herself. Under Pyles, she refined her approach to modern, globally influenced desserts and learned how to marry sophistication with boldness. It’s that sensibility—rooted in precision but unconcerned with convention—that would define her own venture.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Are You Craving Taqueria El Si Hay?

Taqueria El Sí Hay doesn’t bother with flash. No neon signs. No Instagram bait. Just a taco window on the corner of Davis and Llewellyn in Oak Cliff, with a cloud of grilled meat smoke hanging in the air and a line of regulars who know exactly what they’re doing. You won’t find seating, Wi-Fi, or anything resembling a dining room. What you will find is some of the best damn tacos and elotes in Dallas—and they’ve been doing it like this for more than two decades.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle