ONE, TWO, CHOW-CHOW-CHOW

What makes the best places to dine and dance in Dallas or Fort Worth? Variety – in faces, food, and music. If you can offer a good meal at a good price, along with live entertainment, you’re bound to attract a crowd.

Whether you’re looking for a frenetic dance floor or a quiet evening, this guide should help you on your way.



ARTHUR’S

Live band plays themes from popular, musicals and lots of “happy jazz.” The menu features well-prepared beef and lamb dishes. Extensive list of unusual American wines.

1000 Campbell Centre. 361-8833

Dinner: Daily from 6:00 pm.

All major credit cards. $$$



BARON DE ROTHSCHILD

Live band with disco during breaks. Entrees are prepared by an Old Warsaw veteran. Extensive wine list, and the happy hour offers complimentary hors d’oeuvres, backgammon, and music. 5429 LBJ Frwy. 387-5700 Happy hour: 3-7pm. Dinner: 6-11 pm. Disco/Band until 2 am daily. Sportcoat preferred. All major credit cards. $$$



THE BELLRINGER

A busy disco scene, with a limited menu featuring sandwiches. 9525 Overtake off Northwest Hwy. 350-3988. Dinner: noon-II p.m. Disco: till 2 am daily. Closed Mondays for dinner only. MC, V. $$



BIJOU

The dinner menu emphasizes burgers and sandwiches. There’s a tiny dance floor in the lounge area of the restaurant, but a larger dance area for disco in the adjoining bar. A gamefoom with pool tables connects to the bar. Continuous disco after hours – until 5 am. 500 Medallion Center. 691-3037 Dinner/disco: 5 pm-2:30 am weekdays; 5 pm-5 am Fri & Sat. Drink and drown: Fri 7-10 pm. All major credit cards. $



BOBBY McGEE’S CONGLOMERATION

Waiters and waitresses dress like King Tut, Superman, and Wonder Woman, among others. The music varies from big band to Saturday Night Fever. Big dance floor, usually packed. Dinner features seafood and steak entrees, with a soup and salad bar. The wine list is limited. 504 Hillside Village. 826-9020 Dinner: 5:30-11:30 Sun-Thurs; 5:30-12:30 Fri & Sat. Disco: 9:30-2 am daily. Most major credit cards. Reservations preferred, esp. on weekends. $$



CARLOS AND PEPE

The decor features furniture and objets d’art from the Bavarian Film Studios in Munich. Disco is king here, and there s a good floor to enjoy it on. The menu is ample with an adequate wine list.

3049 W Northwest Hwy. 358-4357

Open 7 pm-2 am, nightly.

Dinner: 7-11 pm except Sun.

No jeans. All major credit cards. $$



DAVINCI

The flashiest dance floor in town, but it’ll cost you $200 a year to use it. The menu is limited, with an emphasis on seafood. Special 72-hour memberships available.

7402 Greenville Ave near Walnut Hill. 369-5445 Happy hour: 4-7pm. Dinner Club: 7-10 pm. Disco: 10-2 am daily. Sportcoat required. All major credit cards. $$$



ELAN

An expensive private club with a discotheque and a limited but pleasantly-prepared menu.

Central at Greenville. 692-9855 Hrs: 11:30-2 am Mon-Fri; 7 pm-2 am Sat; 11 am-2 am Sun. Lunch: 11:30-2 (buffet), cardholder club after 2. Yearly membership $200. Complimentary cocktail buffet 5-7; dinner opens at 7, with regular or café menu. Disco begins at 9.



HOLIDAY RANCH

Texas food and music, heavy on Willie Nelson, Ronny Millsap, and Sammy Vaughan originals. Good rib eye and chicken barbecue. Atmosphere is down-home, with checkered tablecloths; bar and pool table.

8101 Jacksboro Hwy, Fort Worth. 237-9206 Dinner: 7 pm-2 am. Closed Mondays. Band at 9 pm. MC, V. $



ICHABOD’S

A busy disco on the Greenville Avenue strip. The restaurant adjoins the bar, but has a separate entrance, so that the clientele sometimes includes two distinct groups. A limited steak, seafood, and chicken menu at reasonable prices.

Old Town in the Village. 691-2646 Hours: 11 am-2 am (will start serving lunch after Labor Day). Dance floor with disco music. Happy hour: 4-7, hot hors d’oeuvres. All major credit cards. $$



LA TRUITE

La Truite specializes in seafood. Live band downstairs. Elegant bar and lounge area.

5111 Greenville at Lovers, 739-0033

Happy hour: 4-7pm weekdays.

Dinner: 5:30-11 daily; 5:30-12 on weekends. Reservations preferred.

All major credit cards. $$$



MERRIMAC

The lower levels are for dining and backgammon; the upper loft for disco. Dinner features fish, steak, and fowl, at moderate to high prices. There’s a two-drink minimum on weekends.

1541 Merrimac Circle, Fort Worth.

332-9306 Dinner: 6-11 weeknights;

6-12 Fri & Sat. Disco starts around 9, till 2 am, nightly. AE, MC, V. $$-$$$



PAPILLON

The dance floor is small but Papillon’s comfortable furniture, good continental food, and superior service make up for it. 7940 N Central Expwy. 691-7455 Dinner: 6-10:30 Mon-Fri, Sun; 6-11:30 Sat. Dinner music: 9-11 pm daily. Coat and tie required. All major credit cards. $$$



VENETIAN ROOM

Big name entertainment with touch dancing between shows and food from the renowned Fairmont kitchen. Fairmont Hotel, Ross & Akard. 748-5454 Dinner: opens at 7 and is served before each show. (Continental – lobster, steak, etc.), till around 1 am. Shows: 8:30, 11. Also regular orchestra. AE, MC, V. $$$