The fried-chicken confit. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
Lounging back in time
Walking in to Lounge Here is like taking a step back in time. Covered windows block the outside from looking in and the vice versa. This restaurant and bar is all about experience. Drawing inspiration from flying cocktail lounges in 747s, the vibe is retro but also spacious.
Julie Doyle, co-owner of Lounge Here, describes the space as, “Marfa, Texas meets Palm Springs kind of world. It’s similar to inviting friends over to your home except the living room is expanded a bit.”
Doyle, singer and manager of The Polyphonic Spree, opened Lounge Here with Tony Barsotti, former drummer of Hagfish, a year ago.
Sage Bramble cocktail. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
The specific area on Garland Road was what drew Doyle’s interest at first. “I love the eccentricity,” she says. “And it seemed somewhat underserviced. It felt like there was room to spread some wings.”
She brought limited experience but a lot of style. Doyle worked in restaurants when she was younger and watched friends try their hand in the industry.
“I always thought I might dabble in creating a little something special in the neighborhood, but wasn’t exactly sure what that was going to be. I was motivated by inspiration and creating a ‘space’ more than the core of running a restaurant,” she says. “But I’m happy it turned out exactly as it has.”
Drawing crowds from all over Dallas, guests can enjoy tiny bites like pimento cheese and deviled eggs while sipping their signature drinks like the Sage Bramble. For the hungrier guest, the chicken fried ribeye is a fan favorite.
Ultimately, Barsotti hopes that each guest walks out feeling like they just took a “brief trip away,” while Doyle hopes guests leave “transpired.”
Did you know: To coincide with Lounge Here’s one-year anniversary, Sunday lunch will be served starting this month.
Lounge Here
Ambiance: Retro food and cocktails with a setting to match
Price range: $5-$25
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday-Wednesday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and 4 p.m.-midnight Sunday
theloungehere.com
