A taste of Bella Bar and Restaurant in Dallas

by Iris Franks of What We're Doing

On the agenda this past weekend was a stop at the Texas Day and Chili Cook-off at The Ginger Man in Uptown, but we missed it. We're good at improvising. So, despite our casual attire, we decided to stop by the new Bella Bar & Restaurant around the corner.

We hit the door and entered a whole other world compared to the Ginger Man. Quenching our thirst was the order of business, so we bypassed the hour wait for dinner and headed to the marble curved bar.

KJ instantly found the gigantic flat screen near the kitchen. Me, I was checking out the space and crowd. The bar dominates the room and that's where the gregarious guests congregate. There are cozy booths and tables for diners.

Before we could check out the menu, a friendly benefactor named Steve intervened with a complimentary plate of Pork Empanada appetizers. Never ones to turn down a free meal, we said "thank you" and dove in.

Bella's version are petite with a flaky crust and packed with seasoned, tasty pork. We broke them apart and dipped them in chipotle bbq and spicy mustard sauces served on the side. I washed my bites down with a potent $12 Pear Martini served in a metal glass. KJ opted for his familiar Stella Artois.

Based on our taste and experience, we would return to Bella for dinner when the newness wears off a bit to avoid a long wait. The cocktails and amiable crowd will draw us back to the bar. Recommendation: TRY IT