Food

Bottled Up

The Best BYO Spots in Dallas

Sometimes, you have to take matters into your own hands. And on occasion, those matters concern what you’ll be drinking with dinner. So we inspected your liquor cabinet/surveyed your walk-in beer fridge and compiled five pairings for the best upcoming BYO events. Grab a bottle, we’re going places.

MAY 2: GIPSY KINGS AT STRAUSS SQUARE

Annette Strauss Square

What to Know: Took long enough, but the brilliant minds behind Annette Strauss Square are finally letting you bring booze into the concert grounds. You’re excited. You can’t wait. Well, good, the Gipsy Kings are playing there tomorrow.
What to Bring: Champagne (the expensive kind) and flutes (the champagne kind).
What to Pair It With: A big old block of brie and a plastic lighter.

May 6: THE DAY AFTER THE DERBY

Urbano Cafe

What to Know: The Derby is done. Time to pack away your jockey silks till next year. Also, time to find a casual dinner spot to entertain that Southern belle you met at your OTB-themed party last night. Enter: Urbano, a low-lit locale with buttermilk fried chicken. There, that was easy.
What to Bring: That bottle of red you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
What to Pair It With: That other bottle of red you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

JUNE 2: ITALY’S REPUBLIC DAY

Campania

What to Know: It’s Italy’s Republic Day (think Fourth of July, but with accents). Your move: claim a big group table on the patio here and order a bunch of artichoke-heart-topped capricciosa pies... in the name of freedom.
What to Bring: A sixer that’s been brewed in the old country.
What to Pair It With: A permit to put on a fireworks extravaganza over West Village.

JUNE 7: RANGERS DAY GAME

P.D. Johnson’s

What to Know: The Rangers will be playing their first June day game in Oakland. These guys have flat-screens and foot-long submarine sandwiches filled with roast beef and avocado.
What to Bring: Nine innings’ worth of Lone Star.
What to Pair It With: A personal day from work.

JUNE 20: THE OFFICIAL START OF SUMMER

S & D Oyster Company

What to Know: It’s only fitting that you start the first day of summer... in a room with an overpowering A/C. Also, oysters, seafood gumbo and a bunch of empty martini glasses. Relax, you’re going to be filling those.
What to Bring: Gin, vermouth, a jigger and enough spare change to cover the $2.50 glass fee.
What to Pair It With: A jar of pitted olives. And a few rolls of quarters.