After working in restaurants and bars for years, four Lakewood residents – Mike and Dana Smith, Simon McDonald and Jennifer Bryan, all in their late 20s/early 30s – decided to branch out on their own. In March 2001 they opened the Meridian Room, near Fair Park .
Back when the space was occupied by Tarantino’s, Texas Monthly called it “one of Dallas ’ artier dining venues.” Name and ownership may have changed, but the description still holds true.
Vintage posters and original artwork adorn Old World style walls. Colored glass chandeliers bounce soft light off of a blood-red ceiling, giving the whole place an air of antiquity and mystery. Think part , part turn-of-the-century Paris .
The bar/restaurant’s name comes “from the original (1898) broadcast of War of the Worlds,” says McDonald, and they specialize in about a dozen classic cocktails from this era: Mojitos, Slings, Manhattan’s and Harvey Wallbangers, to name a few. Beer and cider are available as well.
If you’re after a little more sustenance, order something from the sparse but tasty menu, described by McDonald as “upscale bar food.” You can hardly go wrong with the portabello fries, tuna steak salad or a blue cheese burger, followed by a generous helping of bread pudding.
Meridian Room
3611 Parry Ave.
214-826-8383
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 4 p.m.–2 a.m.
Sat./Sun. noon-2 a.m.
Brunch served on Sat./Sun. from noon-3 p.m.
Kitchen closes at 11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., midnight Fri./Sat.
$,FB
