Hey Dallas couples, your Mavericks face the Houston Rockets tonight at the AAC in this season’s home opener. Both teams will be hungry for their first win of the 2016-2017 schedule, and you’ll be hungry for some good food, drink, and ambience to enjoy while cheering Dirk and the boys on to victory. Lucky for you, we’re here to help. Here’s our step by step guide to hitting some of our favorite places to eat and drink when you and your special someone make your way to and from the stadium tonight:
Pregame
Craft Beers At Community Beer Company
Hours: Open @ 5pm
Enjoy some phenomenal local brews and get your craft beer fix at a fraction of the cost by skipping the sky high stadium beer prices and opting for the Community taproom instead. We recommend the seasonal treat, the Munich-Style Dunkel Lager. Click here for a list of beers currently on tap.
OR
Hours: 6am-2am
Prefer a slightly fancier option than the taproom? There’s nothing like a cocktail before tipoff to help you settle in for an evening of screaming your lungs out as you cheer on the Mavs. If you’re not the screaming type, don’t worry, The Living Room Bar boasts a fun and stylish atmosphere perfect for cool couples like you.
Dinnertime
Hours: 11am- 10:30pm
With pregame drinks out of the way, it’s time to chow down. Olivella’s is a great option for dinner, both for its proximity to the AAC and its quality pies prepared in the Neapolitan tradition. For couples that can never decide on dinner, just go with pizza. Who doesn’t like pizza?
OR
Hours: Opens @ 5pm
Sporting an impressive wine list and some of the best rolls in the city, Kenichi also makes for a fine dinner choice on Mavs night. Their delicious speciality roll, “Friday Night”, seems an appropriate choice for this evening’s festivities.
At The Game
Keep Your Concession Game Strong
Don’t go in blind. If he wants chili cheese fries and she would kill for some churros, know where to go ahead of time by making sure you’ve got the concession map (above) handy. Oh, and in case dinner didn’t fill you up, we’re big fans of Big Dawgs. Next month you may want to just skip dinner out and plan to eat at the stadium so you can experience The Big D Will Burger in all its glory.
Postgame
Celebratory Drinks At Happiest Hour or Idle Rich Pub
Hours: Both Open Until 2am
Two of our favorite destinations to toast a Mavs win. Happiest Hour is close by on Olive and Harry Hines, and its spacious outdoor and rooftop areas create a great atmosphere for couples enjoying a night out. Idle Rich, an Uptown staple, is a traditional Irish pub flanked by several other top notch watering holes on McKinney Avenue. Go to one, go to both, or go bar hopping; whatever your postgame celebration plan calls for!
OR
Wind Down With A Glass Of Wine At Cork
Hours: Open Until 1am
Maybe The Rockets came out on top and you feel like drowning your sorrows, or maybe you both just prefer something a tad more laid back. Whatever the case, Cork Wine Bar in West Village is a perfect spot to savor some premium wines and drink to a successful Mavs date night.
