Tried & True

I love the atmosphere. Great jukebox.
Come for the food. Nachos, chicken fried steak fingers, burgers. Dirty good food.
They have a few different concepts and I love the quick service place downtown called off-​site kitchen.
Twice I’ve come and they quit crushing the ice for the julep. I don’t even think they make them anymore :(.

I ended up stopping into Tried & True on Halloween weekend. But oh no, it wasn’t to eat, but rather to grab a few drinks before we hit the weekend’s festivities on Henderson Ave. The crowd here was friendly and it wasn’t too packed. Inside it’s got a divey feel that stands out from it’s neighboring counterparts on the street.
Unique décor, cute and welcoming. I grabbed a drink from the bar and listened to some slow, chill music from their jukebox. I wasn’t too impressed with the nightlife vibe however, so we left after the first round. Still, I’d go back to try out the food menu and play a round or two of pool sometime. It all depends what you’re in the mood for.

Let’s keep this simple.
I was in Dallas.
My sister and I wanted whiskey flights.
Unilocal said this place had whiskey flights.
We came here and had whiskey flights.
They were awesome.
Unilocal says this place is in Lower Greenville.
It’s probably closer to Uptown.
And I wouldn’t call the cuisine new American.
But you know.
Anyway.
We also had chicken strips.
They were also awesome.
They came with a metric ton of french fries.
They were tasty.
Service was a little slow, but it’s all good.
Atmosphere is divey, in a good way.
They played some Bad Religion while we were there.
I like Bad Religion.
I will come here again when I want whiskey flights.
And chicken strips.
Maybe I’ll play pool next time.
Sorry this doesn’t rhyme.

I am really torn between giving 4 or 5 stars to Tried & True. I’m not really sure why it would be 4, but it’s just a gut feeling. I love the other Neighborhood Services locations, and the new renovation/​concept for this location is really great!
The way I’ve described this place to friends is that it’s like an upscale/​gourmet dive bar… if that makes any sense at all. The décor is quirky, including a pool table, motorcycle, and jukebox. The staff and atmosphere are relaxed yet friendly.
The have some excellent signature cocktails! I’ve tried 4 or so from the list and each one is incredibly yummy. They have several whiskey tasting flights, which I am dying to try! I just need a designated driver and someone to share them with… Haha!
The food is like highbrow bar food… I’ve had the pimento cheese and fried green tomato sandwich twice, and it is so good! There are limited options for vegetarians, but the avocado smash is great, nachos are good, but greasy, and the sides I’ve had (potato salad, cole slaw, fries) are all better than average. They have a seemingly extensive selection of burgers and various sandwiches, as well.
This is a great spot to hit up for happy hour or a weekend afternoon cocktail and snack! Definitely check it out when you’re in the neighborhood!

I’ve eaten in many of the neighborhood services restaurants over the last few years and with no complaints until today when I made the mistake of trying brunch. It should be noted, I never actually ate anything, so I can’t comment on the food. It’s the service, the wait, and the lack of anything to drink that didn’t include alcohol that’s at the heart of this review (complaint).
To start, there were only 3 or 4 tables occupied with that many waitresses on hand. When my waitress finally got around to greeting me I requested coffee to drink. My request was met with a look of disbelief and I was told they don’t have coffee. Don’t have coffee??? Who serves breakfast or brunch and doesn’t serve coffee? Tried and true, that’s who. I was told they offer Mimosas and bloody Mary’s. well, I don’t care for either. Champaign gives me heartburn. So does orange juice. Combined its doubly bad. I don’t care for Bloody Mary’s either for similar reasons. You see, I’m a beer guy… wine too, but I’m not guzzling Maredsous with bacon and eggs!
So, I settled on orange juice. One would think they would have orange juice (even if from a carton), but one would be wrong. Instead I got some sort watered down version with ice. Sour with little flavor I’m guessing this was some mix used for mixed drinks and the like. Certainly not appropriate as a substitute for OJ. At this point I just left.
I can’t for the life of me believe a restaurant of this caliber, with such great attention to detail when it comes to food, could miss so badly in this regard.
Thanks for wasting thirty minutes of my life, Tried and True! I’ll never get that back…

Nice selection of craft beers, the brisket nachos were as good as advertised. Cobb salad was a winner. The couple next to us had the Friday special fried catfish that looked amazing too.
I’ll be back to try it. :)
Only downer was having a waitress who went ‘walk about” the last 20 minutes we were there. Not a show stopper but it does cost a star.

This is OUR neighborhood restaurant. We walk there on a weekly basis and feel fortunate to have such a great restaurant, specifically designed to be a neighborhood pub type of place, so close.
We’d also enjoyed it’s prior incarnation (same owner), and were concerned when it took so long to reopen. Seems they were taking their time to figure out exactly what niche they wanted to fill (or what type of restaurant they wanted to add to the Neighborhood Services stable). Regardless, we like the outcome.
They seem to have been shooting for a very casual vibe, and worked very hard to avoid anyone using the word «upscale» in a description of their joint. But the food: very well executed, new takes on traditional pub food. The bar: this is a great bar — the bartenders know what they’re doing, and enjoy turning customers on to new things (in addition to delivering expected things done very well).
Chicken fried chicken — my go to meal there, is as good as I think you can make it. Lightly breaded and popping with flavor, with a ranch dressing dipping sauce — they’re clearly working to avoid pandering to foodies. Yet people who enjoy well prepared food will be happy here. The burger — outstanding; juicy, not at all lean, a mix of chuck and brisket on a substantial bun — not fancy, not weird condiments — just very well executed. The hillbilly/​trailer park slaw — nothing fancy, but a tasty addition to any entrée (how fancy can shredded cabbage and ranch dressing be?). I’m not a fan of ham, but those who are like their range of «artisanal country ham». I also like the carne adovada tacos — great pork! — and the brisket tacos. Both solid options, again — not fancy/​upscale, but very satisfying. There’s a range of food to satisfy just about any taste.
The ambiance: again, they worked hard to avoid «upscale». This place feels completely comfortable — the roadhouse type décor, haphazardly dressed staff, pool and shuffleboard tables, and general loudness drive any pretentiousness out of you, allowing you to sit and enjoy your time there. Service isn’t rushed, although lately has seem to have crossed the line into inattentiveness — I hope that gets addressed quickly.
I can’t think of another restaurant in this restaurant heavy area of Dallas that we prefer over Tried & True as our «every day dining destination». The Porch, The Grape, Fireside Pies, Toulouse, Velvet Taco, and others are nice alternatives — but Tried & True has, somehow, captured our hearts and stomachs.

I hope no one reads this and decides to go there because Kristie A. and I want it all to ourselves.
Great laid back atmosphere, great variety of good eats and tons of whiskey.
Make sure to hear the menu specials. The staff was down to Earth and super helpful.
This place is everything I like about Adair’s and Singlewide without all the stuff I hate.
The reviews about the unisex bathrooms are way overblown. I’m assuming the girls complaining about the black couch in the bathroom and having to share it with the men were probably coming from J. Black’s or Sushi Axiom (if ya know what I mean). Their reviews had me thinking the restrooms were co-​ed and not just unisex. There are 2 private restrooms with a secure lock, clean leather couch in each one and plenty of soap. Very tasteful and clean.
Tried & True has the potential to knock the chip off the shoulder of that corner of Henderson.

I really liked this bar. It has the look of a dive bar complete with a pool table and shuffle board, but it’s all shiny and new. There are two restrooms that are unisex and have some racy photos in each that were pretty cool. That’s where the dive bar feel ends. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was super cool and told us about the food specials of the evening. I ordered the brisket nachos and they were good. They had fresh jalapenos and avocado on them. My friend and I split a bottle of wine. They don’t have very many choices of wine, but the chardonnay we picked out was good. I also tried the Woodford julep and that could easily be my new favorite drink in Dallas.
I’m definitely a fan of this place, and cannot wait to return.

I wish I had a key to this place. Tried & True is what my garage would look like if I had the ambition and liquor license from TABC. The décor is definitely like you’re in a bachelor pad basement.
The setting is chilled and everyone is having a good time. They have live bands in a tiny corner and a patio for those who smoke or love the summer/​winter weather in dallas.
THE FOOD.
The burgers are good, and the brisket nachos are greater. Don’t compare the two… they have feelings. Grab a Peticolas Velvet Hammer and dive into whatever you order.
THE SERVICE.
okay service but great attitude. The bartenders are cool and know their sh*t.
This restaurant/​bar is worth having on the Henderson strip. Let’s not lose it people.

Whiskey and beer bar so come on by. Cool little spot to stop off at and have a few drinks. Kicked back atmosphere makes it a fun time to be had with friends. The food was really good too.

Really cool bar on Henderson Avenue! Laid back vibe, super friendly bartender and nice beer selection. Pool table, darts and juke box add to the dive bar charm.

Really dig the space! A+
Food is pretty damn good B
Beer…C
I came here a couple weeks back with some buddies and just had some beers. Really dug the space so decided to bring the wife back for some early evening beers and grub. As someone else mentioned there are some uppity types here, but this evening there was a bit of n older crowd.
I went for the chicken cutlets, wife had the kielbasa with bacon relish. Both were pretty damn delicious washed down with a velvet hammer. The staff was super friendly! The only thing else I would ask for is a few more beers on draft.
The stones on vinyl really topped it off, the details count!

As my partner in crime Cliffton D. mentioned, this place is cool but something is just missing. I like décor and vibe they are trying to establish but it seems kind of forced. Perhaps because of the location or because it’s not really an «old dive» bar but a remodel. That aside, they have a good selection of Scotches/​Whiskey and an ok beer list. I would say I was more impressed by the food menu. The items were fresh and better than your average bar food. My advice, grab a beer, try the pork rinds, and pretend you’re not on Henderson Ave next to J. Blacks.

Tried & True no longer boasts the name Neighborhood Services Tavern, but I honestly wish it did. Now, it offers a more dive-​centric atmosphere, and I do not yet know what I think about it. Regardless of how good the food is, a dive bar (with a pool scene) never compels me to order pub grub.
One mark of it losing its flare: no one was eating at happy hour, which is not actually offered here. That being said, the alcohol program offers a good amount of quality bourbon, though at a premium. It just no longer appeals to the after-​work snack-​and-​booze crowd. Actually, it reminded me of a 3AM pool hall, or at least a concert hall, which I believe they are shooting for, what with many an entertainer coming through.
Fortunately, the offerings are nearly as good – though lower quality than before, admittedly – as they used to be. You will still find munchies centering around pork, what with artisan hams, pork rinds, and tacos. The rest of the fare falls flat, with respect to the quality at the other establishments of the NHS food group – comparatively, Off-​Site Kitchen blows the fare here out of the water.
To best get my money’s worth, I wanted pimento cheese WITH something. Fortunately, the Derby Sandwich offered ham and this conglomerate of dairy product and other assorted ingredients. The bacon and hot pepper relish brought in the savory-​sweet notes that remind you of a holiday ham. All in all, a pretty good sandwich, but not extraordinary. Potato salad was better than most, though still somewhat simple.
I have no idea why this restaurant concept changed names, but I don’t like it. As the NHS name is no longer on top, I feel the spirit went with it. Maybe T&T will make a recovery at some point, but it just feels lacking and wanton for the «next big step», somewhat sitting in a transitional period.

Mmmmm, we got the chicken strips and I could NOT stop eating them. Soo good, soo fresh, soo tender. Mmmmmmm. There was a country band playing and I could have done without that part, but the tenders were great. I can’t say that I understand the décor, it’s pretty horrible. Are we upscale food or Harley bar? Not entirely sure. However, I absolutely WILL go back for the dang chicken and who knows, maybe I will try something else.

I had just gotten off an airplane from STL and was a little bummed to not be hanging out in Austin this weekend… but turns out, I kind of was.
This place is «Texas Weird» and eclectic and a great menu. We had the fried zucchini – amazing – , the pork rinds (come served with a spicy bbq sauce: great surprise and delish), and the brisket nachos. All were very good. OH! And live music! So of course, I walked into a bit of Austin. :)
Because i’d been missing me some texas, I just had lonestars (which they gave me the cap! FTW!) but my sis had some of their mixed drinks and was happy with it.
3 beers and my share of 3 apps was about $ 25. Not too shabby. Management has done a great job with the ambiance and the availability of good food. The clientele was a little uppity… but hey, that’s Dallas, right? The service was very friendly and spot on.

This man must poop awesome restaurant concepts on a weekly basis. I’ve been a fan of his since moving to Dallas 8 years ago, and this place is no exception.
I’m not a bourbon drinker, but if I were, I’d move in to this place. Lots and lots of the brown liquors here, but lots of other stuff too. I had an «East Village Mule», which is a Moscow Mule (my favorite cocktail ever) in a regular glass (rather than the copper). It was tasty and refreshing. We waited about 40 minutes for a table after being told it would be 10 – 15; turns out that’s the worst part about this place. People eat and drink and pay their bills and just sit at the tables forever. Not a huge deal, except there’s only like 10 tables in the place. So we waited a loooong time.
Ok, down to food. We split the burger and the crab cake sandwich. Burger was hands down one of the best I’ve had in Dallas. Juicy, actually cooked well (not well as in the temp — yuck! — but correctly), and big. Juicy. Did I already say that? This shit was JU-​SEE. Crab cake sandwich was a little filler-​y for me, but my husband loved the hell out of it. Fries: crispy, skinny, well-​seasoned. Trailer trash cole slaw might have been the shining star of the evening.
Beer selection is good, wine list looks fine, cocktails great, food wonderful. Love it.
Now, it’s billed as an «Urban Roadhouse», which means it’s kitschy, highly decorated, neon, and truth be told, filled with the type of people who would NEVER, EVER go to a real roadhouse. But that’s ok. It’s Dallas!

Unilocal reviews almost led me astray with their ridiculous 3 stars overall… shame! Shame!
A friend picked the place so I naturally just went along. At first you think biker bar maybe… but no, that’s not quite it… it’s more. Not that I frequent biker bars (only because I don’t yet own a bike) but it’s cleaner than I imagine one to be. The décor being of retro bike parts, etc. The vibe is actually pretty laid back. The new (bearded) bartender, Charlie, was pretty awesome. He was patient as I asked what all of their «Quick, Cheap, and Cold» drinks entailed… and continued to be patient as I proceeded to order NOT one of those drinks… I don’t know, wasn’t feeling in a «try something new» mood. It is, however, a full bar and they can make whatever you’d like so you aren’t compelled to try one of those.
I’ve already told some people about this place, think it’s a hidden gem (:

Damn. I was really expecting to write an amazing review, as Neighborhood Services Tavern was great and I expected more… However this concept he has is basically taking «Snookies» and giving it an makeover with the décor (which is awesome) and making the menu creative… While the food flavor is great we had trouble eating… If you look at most of my reviews I am a very «easy to please» diner… With people wanting «craft cocktails» there were none… besides the basics like a Tom Collins or a Bloody Mary… Here is my breakdown…
Atmosphere: awesome… for a bar
Staff…Awesome and super friendly…
Taste…Great
Food…too hard to eat…
Wings were good but just like the next place, the slaw is vinegar based and was good but hard to eat because it just falls everywhere, the potato salad is my favorite mustard style but is full of bread and butter pickles, the fries were great but nothing special (I would think he would have gotten creative and topped them with something… anything…besides parsley) We had the patty melt and the Derby (turkey club)…they were so big we couldn’t eat them like a sandwich…(much like Carnegie Deli in NYC)…Again the flavor was good. Also they are using buttered Texas toast as the bun/​bread and its horribly unhealthy.
I would go back for a drink and maybe an appetizer but definitely not my place for dinner. Maybe I’m just bitter that he took the most amazing rueben ever out of my neighborhood eatery but overall just not my thing… its a bar not a restaurant… so the name outside EAT… should be changed to DRINK