Hung Dinger, Italian brunch and supper club, comes to Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood

by Daniel A. Kusner of Dallas Voice

Brilliant yellows and reds are practically bursting from the Throckmorton Avenue space that used to house the Mexican eatery Frida’s. On Friday, Feb. 13, Hung Dinger opened its doors, and the inside looks like a New Wave version of Pee-wee’s Playhouse.

Trans bombshell hostess Ella Love Jones greets diners and hands them a 12-inch record, like a copy of The Go-Go’s LP “Vacation.” Inside the sleeve is the actual 12-inch record that serves as Hung Dinger’s menu, with items like: ”Clay Aiken” fettuccine Alfredo, “Boy George” ravioli sausage and “Sylvester” spaghetti Bolognese.

Before opening Dallas’ newest and gayest 2,200-square-foot Italian supper club, fortysomething proprietor Royce Mathews ran a home accessories company. And for a completely different career enterprise, Mathews had a vision.

“I wanted to give Dallas something cool, campy and fun — a nightclubby dining experience similar to The Birdcage. But nothing vulgar,” he says. “I’m a good Catholic boy, and I wanted a where place my parents wouldn’t lose their appetite.”

On Saturday, March 7, Mathews will kick off the supper club’s official grand opening. Wednesdays through Sundays, Hung Dinger will be open for dinner with one-hour showgirl performances starting at 9 p.m. and perhaps a second show at 10:30 p.m. On weekends, they’re serving brunch.