Photo by Kelsey Shoemaker
BAs intended, irdie’s Eastside pays homage to all things East Dallas and captures the neighborhood’s groove with a nostalgic feel – a vintage feel that longtime residents can relate to.
Football flags and photos of Woodrow Wilson, vintage kayaks from White Rock Lake, cowboy hats and classic country records decorate the 20,000-square-foot restaurant.
Four summers ago, the location that’s now Birdie’s Eastside (6221 E. Mockingbird Lane) was home to Luby’s, a Houston-based cafeteria chain that closed its last remaining location amid the pandemic.
As the news reached the neighborhood, Facebook was flooded with posts and comments expressing grief, disagreement and sharing memories.
“It’s really sad news that our neighborhood is going to be ruined,” one resident said.
Another commented: “What is happening to our cafeteria?”
That same year, while people were stocking up on hand sanitizer and toilet paper, restaurateur John Alexis, owner of TJ’s Seafood and Malibu Poke, was scouting Dallas real estate for a new restaurant that would copy the same tune as TJ’s Seafood.
After visiting other locations in Lakewood without luck, Alexis was driving back when she passed the old Luby’s and the real estate broker asked if she wanted to take a look. “Yeah, let’s take a look,” Alexis recalls saying.
“I left with a vision for Birdie’s Eastside, and from day one it was clear what we could do for East Dallas,” he says. “We looked at this big vacant Luby’s storefront with the potential to build a 7,000-square-foot patio and said, ‘Why doesn’t something like this exist in East Dallas?’
The Ruby’s property was previously owned by St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through second grade.
Prior to the Birdie’s Eastside move, a Dallas city ordinance prohibited the serving of alcohol within 300 feet of a school, sparking controversy among residents along St. Moritz Avenue, which borders the property’s northern boundary, previous records stated. advocate report.
John Reborn, executive pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish and Schools, wrote a letter in support of the request to grant an exception that would allow alcohol sales within 300 feet of an elementary school.
Despite the mixed reviews, the City Council approved the variance and the TABC permit.
The long-awaited project was an instant success, and four months later, crowds continue to flock to Birdie’s Eastside at 11am.
The restaurant’s menu is extensive, and Birdie’s Eastside culinary vision is put together by Chef Stan Rodriguez, who has cooked throughout the Dallas area.
So how do you decide what to eat from over 30 dishes?
The short answer is you can’t, but here are some tips from Alexis for navigating the menus:
On game days, fans can choose from game-day staples like Birdie Wings, Brisket Queso and Loaded Fries.
If it’s date night, main dishes like shrimp and grits, penne with Italian sausage, and flat iron steak, along with wine or martinis, make for a “fine dining” experience.
If you’re looking for a healthier option, try a green plate like the Mediterranean Salad or Vegan Harvest Bowl.
And if none of the above sounds right to you, hearty meals like patty melts, smashburgers, brisket tacos, and tikka fried chicken might appeal to you.
“We say Birdie’s Eastside is a restaurant that caters to everyone, and the menu really does that,” says Alexis. “We didn’t sit down and say, ‘What’s the perfect menu?’ We sat down and said, ‘How can we please a lot of people?’ And then when we put all those puzzle pieces together, we came up with the Birdie’s Eastside menu.”
The restaurant specializes in playful cocktails, with the endless variety including a Pickle Martini, a classic Aperol Spritz, a Pomegranate Gin and Tonic, a Jalapeño Cucumber Margarita, a Frozen Espresso Martini and more.
“We have a fun drink menu that many of our guests will enjoy,” says Alexis, “and if you’re going to a Texas patio restaurant, a fun selection is a must.”
But of course, it wouldn’t be a neighborhood bar and restaurant without locally brewed draft beers like Lakewood Pony Pilsner and Lakewood Lager.
“If you want to give your guests a personal experience, you need to make it personal. [to you]” he says.
Alexis lived in East Dallas (because it suited his vibe) while attending Southern Methodist University for his political science degree, and regularly frequented staples like Cosmo on Skillman Street for drinks, The Goat for karaoke, and M Street and White Rock, all of which contribute “a gazillion percent” to the restaurant’s atmosphere.
“I’ve always felt a connection to East Dallas; I spent some of the most enjoyable decades of my life there,” Alexis says, “and because I know East Dallas, I feel like I knew what Birdie’s Eastside should be like.”
Alexis’ love letter to East Dallas, the restaurant is open to all.
Birdie’s Eastside 6221 E Mockingbird Lane, 214.484.2001, birdieseastside.com
