There’s always room for drinks, food and fun on the Hidden Door’s newly renovated patio.

 

Hidden Door: Best Patio

Since Jim Roberts bought the Hidden Door in 1999, supporting the LGBTQ community that supports the bar has been a foundational tenet of the bar’s business. That’s why Roberts donated the initial $10,000 used to create the Howie Daire Center, a daycare center for adults living with HIV. Before Roberts died in 1988, he created a trust that held ownership of the bar and named Tony Bobrow as its president. Bobrow carried on the legacy of support for the community, creating a new trust to manage the bar’s affairs after his death. Today, Harvey Meissner is president and general manager of Hidden Door and co-trustee of the Tony Bobrow Trust, and he has taken the charitable giving to new heights, donating more than $1 million to LGBTQ community organizations.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the Hidden Door — like all other bars in Dallas County — followed the mandate to close temporarily to help stem the spread of the virus. It was the first time in its history the bar had been closed for more than one day. In fact, prior to March 2020, the Door had closed half a day for Jim Roberts’ funeral and one full day over a glitch in renewing its liquor license.

But even when the county lifted restrictions and bars began re-opening under certain safety precautions, Meissner chose to keep the Hidden Door closed out of concern that even safety precautions like social distancing and wearing masks wouldn’t be enough to keep people safe. He also decided to make good use of the downtime to remodel the bar and expand its patio. So Hidden Door now has the largest patio in Oak Lawn, with plenty of room for cookouts and heaters to keep the outside space warm and cozy in the winter, as well as fans to keep you chill in the summer.
— Tammye Nash

From brunch to burgers to steaks, Cedar Springs Tap House offers good eating.

Best Brunch, Best Steak:
Cedar Springs Tap House

So, let’s start off with Best Steak. You were expecting the usual steakhouse? Heck, so were we! But then it made sense.

Cedar Springs Tap House makes steak fun. Sometimes we want a steak without the fuss or the dressing up and the Tap House’s Steak Night Wednesdays answers the call. Grab a ribeye or sirloin with a baked potato for less than $20. Throw in some select wines at half off, and it’s a meat fest for sure.

You’ll get service with a smile at Cedar Springs Tap House.

But if you are looking for a weekend brunch spot that hits all the spots, then The Tap House is what you’re looking for, there, too.

The Tap House crew can serve up drag brunch or regular brunch all the same. Chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos, specialty cocktails — it’s all right there, all ready to help you kick off the weekend or get rid of last night’s hangover. They offer brunch each Saturday and Sunday with carafes of mimosas for just $11.99 and $4 bloody marys til 3 p.m. Jenni P, our RVA winner for best drag performer, hosts Tapped Out Drag Brunch there each second and fourth Sunday from noon to 2 p.m., and if you need a side of drag with your dinner, head on over any Friday or Saturday night for That’s Showbiz: Dinner & Drag Revue, from 8-10 p.m. with Raquel Blake and Daphne Rio.
— Rich Lopez

 

 

…………………

Best Local Chef
Monica Greene

Best Brunch
Cedar Springs Tap House
4123 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. 100
Dallas, Texas
214-377-7446 • CedarSpringsTapHouse.com

Best Burger
Hunky’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers
3930 Cedar Springs Road
214-522-1212
Dallas, Texas
321 N. Bishop Ave.
Dallas, Texas
214-941-3322
Hunkys.com

Best Steak
Cedar Springs Tap House
4123 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. 100
Dallas, Texas
214-377-7446 • CedarSpringsTapHouse.com

Best Barbeque
Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbecue
3317 Inwood Road, Ste. 100
Dallas, Texas
214-350-2649 • BigAlsBBQ.com

Best Asian/Sushi
Oishii
2525 Wycliff Ave., Ste. 110
Dallas, Texas
214-599-9448 • OishiiRestaurants.com
(numerous other locations throughout DFW)

Best Italian/Pizza
Italia Express
4000 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
214-521-3300 • ItaliaExpressCS.com

Best Tex-Mex
Mario’s Mexican and Salvadoran Restaurant
4123 Cedar Springs Road
214-599-9744 • MariosDallas.com

Best Taqueria
Taqueria La Ventana
3847 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
972-432-5945 • TaqueriaLaVentana.com
(four other locations around DFW)

Best Vegetarian
Spiral Diner
1101 N. Beckley Ave.
Dallas, Texas
214-0948-4747
1314 W. Magnolia Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas
817-332-8834
SpiralDiner.com

Best Bakery
Ashton Snyder Cake Design & Events
1409 Botham Jean Blvd., Ste. 452
Dallas, Texas
315-427-3236 • AshtonSnyder.com

Best Diner
Mama’s Daughters
2014 Irving Blvd.
Dallas, Texas
214-742-8646 • MamasDaughtersDIner.com
(five other locations around DFW)

Best Lunch Spot
Roy G’s
4001 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
214-272-7127 • RoyGs.com

Best New Restaurant
Zio Al’s Pizza & Pasta
3851 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
469-677-0016 • ZioAls.com
(three other locations throughout DFW)

Best Dining Experience
Salum Restaurant
4152 Cole Ave., Ste. 103
Dallas, Texas
214-252-9604 • SalumRestaurant.com

Best Patio
Hidden Door
5025 Bowser Ave.
Dallas, Texas
214-526-0620 • HiddenDoor.bar

Best Spirit
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
TitosVodka.com

Best Cocktail Menu
Alexandre’s
4026 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
214-559-0720 • Alexandres.com

Best LGBTQ Bar
Round-Up Saloon & Dance Hall
3912 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
214-522-9611 • RoundUpSaloon.com

Best Straight Bar for LGBTQs
The Grapevine Bar
3902 Maple Ave.
Dallas, Texas
2w14-522-8466 • GrapevineBar.com

Friendliest Bar Staff
JR.’s Bar & Grill
3923 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, Texas
214-528-1004 • JRsDallas.com

Hottest Hookup App
Grindr
Grindr.com