In its previous heyday, the Esquire was a kind of DMZ where the West Side met Downtown, and the occasional hapless tourist wandered in only to find himself watching his wallet. Now in new hands and open after many months of restoration, the bar exudes a spiffied-up speakeasy vibe. Signature, flocked wallpaper has been recreated; new, antique-looking lighting has been installed; wooden booths have been refurbished; and the wooden bar, touted as the longest in Texas, has been extended just… [More]

We might as well just publish the walls at Cascabel; covered as they are with culinary comments such as “The food is great here. There’s no other place like it.” and “Ésta es comida mexicana!” Said walls have only become denser with opinion and attitude over the years that this singular Southtown place has been open.

And every main dish was $7.50 at press time. (Breakfast, served all day, is less expensive.) Tlacoyos, huaraches, birria … these are not… [More]