Flight of the Moth

During this recession, I have had to cut out many luxuries in my life. I made the switch to some drug store brands of makeup; I let my hair color grow out naturally; I even stopped going to the movies so regularly. But I was most worried about my drinking habits. How were they going to cope when I had to tell them, "We can't afford that?" Miraculously, as if my taste buds were aware of this growing crisis; I adapted into a beer drinker.

Meddlesome Moth, the restaurant whose name takes a few times to learn, is the Dallas Mecca for all things yeast. In a land cultivated by cicerone, Matt Quenette, Lagers, Belgian Ales, Pale Ales, Brown Ales, Porters and Stouts live peacefully amongst Bocks, Dopplebocks, Ciders, Wheat, Weizens and Barleywines. And when you hear the expression "It's really hoppy," being used, sip your beer and nod your head. 

Its location in the Design District directly correlates with the layout and decor of the restaurant; stained glass windows from the old Hard Rock Café radiate a coolness which seems to only exist in Tarantino films. I sat at the old world bar admiring all of the shiny spouts with beautiful figurines of fruit and naked women carved onto them and felt reminiscent to Charlie Bucket staring into the candy shop; except, I was one of the kids on the inside. The bartenders are very willing to pour you a sample of any beer you would like to try and their explanation of the 'notes' in the beer leave you feeling slightly poetic.

My friend Kelly and I decided to share the Texas Flight; a sampling of five Texas beers picked seasonally which vary from Stout to Wheat and everything in between. I must admit (and I'm ashamed to say this) in the past, I have been prejudice of a beer because of its color. However, I have been so pleasantly surprised with how light and smooth dark beers can be; they ended up being some of my favorites from the whole flight. Who knew I would even consider having a beer with dessert?

Equally varied and delicious is the Meddlesome Moth menu. Most plates are served tapas style and the cuisine ranges from southern, to pub, to French. One of my favorite dishes was their sirloin on a stick with pumpkin seeds and pesto; the meat was tender and nicely seasoned and I made sure not to let any pesto go to waste. My friends out-ordered me though, which rarely happens. Their shrimp with jalapeño grits and mussels with bacon and blue cheese were beyond divine. Even the tofu had me coming back for more. 

One of Meddlesome Moth's most attractive features is the ability to be in Dallas while remaining distant from the weekend congestion. Whether if you're enjoying a crisp IPA or sipping on a glass of red wine, Meddlesome Moth's secluded yet intimate patio is ideal for cool fall nights. Be sure to check out their website for special events.

-Alyssa Thomas

http://www.mothinthe.net/

1621 Oak Lawn

Dallas, TX 75207 

Sun-Thurs 11 am-midnight

Fri-Sat 11am-2am