Lakewood Landing’s Bartenders Are Famously Grumpy. Why Do We Keep Coming Back? The Jalapeño Corndog is Just One Reason | Eater Dallas

"Despite the famously grumpy bartenders, this is the quintessential Dallas dive bar: no fuss, fried foods, furniture that’s probably older than a few people serving in Congress, in a building that’s been around since 1940 and now feels like as much a landmark as Dealey Plaza. Order the jalapeño poppers—crispy and golden brown with a decent kick, served with ranch and oozing melted cheese the second you bite through the crispy exterior—and the loaded cheese fries, piled with melted cheddar, bacon, and jalapeños, topped with green onions, where the cheese binds everything into a balanced bite. Keep it simple at the bar: a beer, a shot, or a two-ingredient classic like a vodka soda, rum and coke, or gin and tonic (excluding ranch waters, if your drink has three ingredients, the third better be ice). The vibe debunks the idea that Dallas is snobby: dark, laid-back, sufficiently noisy, and packed on weekend nights, with TVs throughout, a pool table, and a decently sized patio, and it feels like a well-worn vintage leather jacket full of stories. Insider tip: unless you want to get snarled at, don’t order the jalapeño beer-battered corndog before midnight; it’s legendary and not that good, but it’s one of the things that makes the bar special—imperative to try at least once." - H. Drew Blackburn