It seems like everyone in Dallas has a story about this place. It was either the first bar they went to, or it hosted the first punk band they saw, or they saw some "crazy (expletive)" go down there once or twice.
Maybe because of this, or because I can never really tell what's going on inside Bar of Soap through the windows, I thought the place would be dark and scary. Last Friday, when I stopped by for the first time, it was dark -- but also, surprisingly charming and normal. And quirky.
The place looks like it hasn't changed since it opened in 1986. The booths are tattered and the floor is black-and-white checkered, and there's a squiggly neon bar (so New Wave!) on the wall.
There were also quite a few fresh-faced suburban youths hanging out inside, looking no older than 22. Maybe it's their first bar, too?
Look for more details on the place in an upcoming column. I'd definitely go back. It won me over with the Lone Star in plastic cups. And the duct-taped pool table.
A place that doesn't quite fall into the "club" category, but somehow doesn't wholly fit into the just plain "bar" category is Palominos in the Crescent Hotel. It is a great restaurant/bar, especially before the Stars and Mavericks game.
There are some nights when this place just comes alive with energy. People are meeting, mingling, and mustering from happy hour until 8 or 9 pm. Fridays seem to be the popular night... Part of the energy comes from the wait staff and mostly from the bartenders (Ginny and Dennis). These two bartenders are humpin' all night when it's busy, preparing drinks for both sides of the restaurant. They can make any drink you can think of and sometimes Dennis will make his world famous strawberry milkshake (non-alcoholic), if you ask nicely...!
I've actually only been once, about a year ago. A girlfriend and I got martinis. Nice place to get dressed up and have a fancy cocktail, especially if you sit at the tables overlooking the courtyard.
I really want to use an exclamation point, because I am so excited about this place. But I'm going to refrain because I recently learned that exclamation points water-down emotion. And I'm very emotional about Spiral Diner, even though I've never tried their food.
It seems like the perfect place to detox after a crazy weekend out... (do I use the word "detox" too much on this blog? Maybe that means I'm getting old.) They don't sell alcohol, but a variety of fruit smoothies, sodas, free-trade teas and coffee. And Sunday they've got all-you-can-eat pancakes. My stomach is rumbling just thinking about it.
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