Lauren Drewes Daniels

Arlington, Dallas, Texas

Food Editor at Dallas Observer

Dallas Observer Food Editor. ❤️ dogs. Been in one hurricane and two dirt devils.

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Articles

The 6 Best Things We Ate in May: Filet O' Fish, Churros & More

6 days ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

We covered a lot of calories in May. We tried about a dozen dips from H-E-B to determine the best and also visited a few spots to update our list of the best Tex-Mex in Dallas . And we're all obsessed with Samad's Cafe now. But after all is said and done, there are a few dishes we can't forget.
Pass the Pint: Dallas Brewers Share Their Top Local Summer Beers

6 days ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

As summer is getting closer — and the grass gets greener — we're looking forward to spring and summertime beers. Luckily, the Dallas craft beer scene is as vibrant and interesting as ever. But why take our word on it? We asked a handful of Dallas brewers whatthey're looking forward to the most this late spring and early summer.
We Tried Many H-E-B Dips: Here Are the 10 Best

1 week ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

With summer approaching, we decided to take stock of H-E-B's dips, of which there are many. And since the Texas-based grocer is completing a ring around Dallas (with one store coming to Dallas in 2026), no matter which direction you're headed for a trip to a park, lake, beach or casino, it's easy to hop into a store to load up on dips.Below we've ranked our favorite dips, based on experience, customer data (stock on shelves) and a taste test.Of course, the best is saved for last.
9 North Texas Spots Score a Spot on Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ List

1 week ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

where the director of the Michelin Guide dined when he was in Austin last year for a press trip promoting their hotel guide. If you're in Austin, this is worth standing in line for hours for.
Rethinking the Tasting Menu: Quarter Acre's Fresh Approach (and Pricing)

1 week ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

Tasting menus are having a moment across the country and locally. When a trend lands in Big D, we usually embellish it with our own panache. Bigger is better in these parts.
Riprocks Bar and Grill in Denton to Close After 34 Years

2 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

Riprock's. Sigh. How many of our best bad decisions were made at the bar at the edge of the University of North Texas?It was (perhaps still is) like a siren call for students. Gazing out the window, lost in a boring class, a cold beer and Turkey Delight were always waiting for you at Riprocks. During the O.J. Simpson trial, I asked my college algebra professor if he was letting us out for the verdict. He said no.
The 17 Best Burgers Dallas Texas Has to Offer

2 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Angie Quebedeaux |Lauren Drewes Daniels |Chris Wolfgang

We stick to Anthony Bourdain’s interpretation of a proper burger: good-quality beef, a soft, squishy potato bun and processed cheese for the melt factor. Of course, that's a starting point, from which there are many paths to wander along.Our annual list of the best burgers in Dallas has a lot more caramelized beer onions and Thousand Island dressing than a purist like Bourdain may appreciate.
2 Dallas Staples Named Most Expensive Restaurants in Texas

2 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

Dallas definitely has its share of Vegas-like restaurants where expense accounts can get even the best salesperson in trouble back at the home office in Tulsa. Finding a menu with a $100-plus dish is quite effortless.
Pipe Dream? New Bills Could Save (or Squash) the Local THC Beverage Industry

3 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

Since late last year, it looked like THC-infused beverages in Texas would go the way of the Dodo bird.For a little history, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the sale of hemp products with low levels of THC: up to 0.3% of delta-9 THC by weight. Soon, it seemed like vape shops popped up on every corner in the Lone Star State and Texas Lieutenant Gov.
A Look Inside Ari's New Downtown Market: Italian Groceries, Sandwiches and More

3 weeks ago | dallasobserver.com | Lauren Drewes Daniels

Ari Lowenstein opened Ari's Pantry in Oak Cliff in December 2023. He'd previously spent a decade eating his way through Italy and, before that, he grew up eating many Italian dishes based on family recipes.At its core, Ari's has always been a place to walk in — perhaps with no idea what you want to buy or make for dinner — and leave with all the ingredients (from pasta to herbs and a house-made sauce) to make a true Italian meal. That was Ari's original intention in Oak Cliff.