The Kessler Theater

Easy access. Street parking. Not to bad. Small single bar with 2 bartenders. Floor seats were folding chairs and really not comfortable. The seats at the tables looked a bit nice with better padding. Also the chairs on the balcony looked much more comfortable. Sound was great.

This is an intimate venue with limited seating. The acoustics are great as were other attendees. The staff is outstanding and very attentive.

I love this theater. Jeffrey and his team are so friendly and very helpful. They value their customers and it shows. Incredible venue to see bands up close. All around fantastic experience.

This is the perfect venue! The seating is great as well as the staff working there. We drove from Tulsa to Dallas to go to a concert there, and it was so worth it!

On this night of our Lord and Savior: April 4, 2025. THIS WAS AN EPIC (day &)NIGHT! This is going down in history & I’m gonna tell this story in my afterlife. {the stars were aligned from the moment I woke up, the day was littered with the little things continuously working out that day} 1st: the historically charming Kessler Theatre, Dallas TX babe’e, has always been known for its uniquely Modern/Art Deco architecture as a movie house & now with cutting edge tech, which is exactly my style. It’s been around since the RLY 40’s, closed for a long spell, then ‘phoenixes’ on us, into the ‘pillar of beauty’ she is today! The ambiance & atmosphere were ELECTRIC y’all, even on the outside, when I pulled up!,And the bartender wasn’t too shabby @ all, y’all. He must’ve been “left-handed” lol Next, Dallas’s own AVRA Boom, little catholic girl from Dallas ain’t so little anymore yall. Her look & voice was provocative & angelic. Not to mention an audience proclaiming, “Hey Legs” a few times! Do not sleep on her. I’m telling you now! THEN: Babe’e we have our very own, home grown, Dallas’s own, Grammy Award winning R. to the C. Ampersand (&) THE GRITZ!! Chiiild they could’ve had the concert all night, by themselves! R.C. is so diversely talented in each of his fingers and he’s certainly chosen his band wisely (in my Obi-Wan voice)! And ooohh weeee: MY FIRST LOVE!!! “B.I.L.A.L., Beloved, Intelligent, Lustful & Living It! Mr. Pop yo collar to that!” has never failed my ears, soul & heart! I have literally been in love with his look, his life, and especially his voice since 1st Born Second album! I introduced him to @ least 5 distinctly different folks who, in-turn fell in love with him too-2 of which reminded me when we found out Bilal was gracing us with his presence here in Dallas. AND WITH RC & the GRITZ, forget about it!!!!!!!! This is over a week later and while I’m posting this I’m having complete sensory memory excitement as if I was there last night. Their, our, MY kinda music made/makes me feel like I am literally transcending, up over & beyond, as we speak, euphorically, in eureka! Like I said, an epic night, for me!!! Done ✅

This venue is fantastic! We sat up in the balcony and had excellent views of the stage. Entertaining us today were Ryan Culwell and David Ramirez. Awesome show!

Great local spot for a fun nite of music. Every seat is good in the ole place. Support your artists in a well kept theater with friends. Staff is VERY friendly & helpful. I needed ear plugs (Im old) and they do have them available if you need them. :)

It was nice and cozy. Comfortable seats at the back of the theatre room. They offered drinks and burritos. The mirror in the women’s bathroom is cool.

Beautiful theatre and wonderful atmosphere for a night of great music! The Kessler Theater is a focal point of the Bishop Arts District! It first opened as a single movie screen theater for the local folks in Oak Cliff. While it remained closed for decades after extensive structural damage, the Art Deco marquee is shining brightly once again! Highly recommended taking a trip to Dallas to see your favorite artist!

BUYER BEWARE!!! I got GA tickets which did NOT specify they were Standing Room Only, even though they were. . . i only found that out the night before the show when the e-tickets came by email. We showed up nearly 3 hours early, looking for solutions, even if that meant paying more. I presented 3 different possible solutions based on my ex i this field at a MUCH larger venue. All were rejected, with progressively greater rudeness. Waiting now in the lounge for the opportunity (yay) to stand at the back of a crowded room that promotes itself as intimate and relaxed with great views/ambience.

My favorite venue. Seen many shows there including The Zombies, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Junior Brown & They Might Be Giants to name a few. You cannot get a bad seat in that cozy intimate place, I've heard it referred to as a "listening room". Also, there's free parking and the staff there are top notch.

Wonderful area and atmosphere! All of the employee's were helpful. Great patio and drinks something you can you'll have and in intimate

Came to the Kessler to see Dezi and had an awesome time! This is an small venue in Bishop arts with a bar at the entrance and an intimate seating area for shows (seating I'd guess ~150 ppl, including the U-shaped balcony). The seats were comfortable and there is an area to reserve if you have a group. Sound was great, room for dancing at the front by the stage and all the staff we interacted with were awesome (especially the bartender Scottie who mixed up a delicious tropical cocktail for me) . They don't have food but you can order from PhD next door. Had a wonderful time and I'll be checking out other acts here because I love the venue.

Went to Hotter than Hell Burlesque for my bachelorette party . Absolutely loved the whole evening. Drinks were reasonably priced. The crowd was very enthusiastic. And the show did not disappoint. I even got a shout out from the Emcee. I'm already making plans to take my husband to the next performance. Thank you Kessler the environment was even welcoming to my religious mother.

Great intimate venue with good acoustics, fair pricing, comfortable seating and clean bathrooms. Caught a great blues show featuring Mike Zito.

I really enjoyed this venue. I was able to catch Hermanos Gutiérrez here and it was phenomenal. It's small but love they do tables in front of the stage. Seats behind the tables and even standing balcony. Great selection of beers and complimentary water stations if you're not a drinker. They have an outside patio area with tables to enjoy drinks or chat before the show. There's verrrrrry limited dedicated parking behind the venue so arrives super early if not you'll have to park somewhere in the neighborhood.

I'm giving this place 5-stars based on intimacy and ambiance as well as old-time prices. We came here last night for the English Beat concert and immediately began planning our next visit. The place is small and takes you way back to a simpler time with its welcoming feel and Art Deco-themed set up. The bar staff was friendly and served up cold beer at low prices. The theater interior was small yet accommodating of a good crowd. No matter where we would have stood we would have felt close to the stage. Seeing this legendary band perform here made it a better experience.

The woman who claimed to be the own Decided to.come across the street on to someone property n felt Entitled to tell someone to.move there car n when she didn't get her way she got in the woman's face n push her n guess what the so.called owner got her ass handed to her the cops were called n nothing was done about the situation she need to leave ppl.alone

Great place to see a show. Love the intimate venue and wonderful staff. Full bar is available and food.

Gorgeous music spot with incredibly friendly staff members, reasonable drink prices, and great inside seating and standing room. I will def be back.

This is my favorite music venue in dallas. Intimate, and the crowd is so respectful. If you love live music this is the best spot in town. Bartenders are great too.

This is a great space to see a band...intimate, great history and a fun bar right when you walk in. I've been hearing about it for a while now but had never made it down. It's easy to get to from Dallas and the people running it couldn't have been nicer. I had people thanking me for coming as I walked to my car!?! It didn't hurt that I saw an amazing show (Pleasant Grove reunion) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bpDiolRQcY8NzYmj3ATLSQ?select=MHJnwJVs2RHBUxH3PUgG1g and the place was packed with who's who of Dallas bands. This has an old-time feel to it: don't go expecting the polish of one of the larger and newer live music venues, but what it lacks in modern conventions it makes up for in character, eclecticism and feel. Can't wait to go back and at least get a drink at the bar.

Be very cautious when buying tickets . Go directly to home page . I over paid with a third party and i was so disappointed . The staff is not very helpful to first time visitors. The actual venue is amazing . It is very intimate and the crowd is very respectful .

This is my FAVORITE venue in Dallas. It is such a cozy venue. There isn't a bad seat in the house. However the upper balcony is where we ALWAYS sit. We have seen people like Kina Grannis, The Steeldrivers, Tyrone Wells, etc here. You can bring food in before a show if you want to eat. They have a bar downstairs and upstairs. The bartenders and door guy are super nice. I have never had a bad experience here. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Best venue in town for a music show. I try to make 10 or more shows a year. Tables are the best deal here, but the suites are very comfy for a group of 8. With tables or a suite you can show up last minute and still have a great spot. Upstairs offers great views but get there when doors open to grab a closer seat. I just wish it was a little further north.

Great venue!! Went to see Junior Brown tonight. The theater is a really quaint venue. It is a small comfortable place to experience a great show. Has a nice bar in the front that is easy to get to from your seats. We sat at a table almost right at the stage. The speakers are placed perfectly. They are not blaring in your in your ears could hear perfectly. Highly recommend this place .

Great venue to hear music and excellent musicians. The bar selection is good, sound and acoustics are wonderful and selection of shows are on point.

We went to see Shawn Mullins here last night. Fantastic show enabled by a great venue. Its just the right size, the sound is superb and the drinks are stiff and reasonable! Plus, its sentimental to me because Im from Oak Cliff and remember when the Kessler sat empty and unused for years. At one point in the 60's a friend of my grandmother owned it and had an embroidery business there. I remember going inside and there was sewing equipment along the walls supporting the business but most of the seats were still there. I'm so glad that its being put to its highest best use now. The resurgence of Oak Cliff makes me happy!

Some friends invited my wife and I to the Butch Walker concert at the Kessler. My initial reaction was who? Where? Gotta say the concert was one of the best I've ever been to!!! If you don't know who Butch is, do yourself a favor and check him out! He puts on one hell of a show! But I digress, this isn't a Butch Walker review. It's a Kessler Theater review. It's such a cool venue to see a concert. The acoustics are awesome. Plus there's not a bad spot in the house because it's so small and intimate. We were probably 15 feet from the stage! But wait, there's more! They serve booze! Not expensive concert $12 dollar Bud Lights. Oh no, they've got a pretty big beer selection and they serve mixed drinks. Not sure about all of the prices but I do know a Blue Moon will only set you back $5... We will definitely be back. I've already started checking their calendar.

Recently we saw a show at the Kessler after hearing many good things. We were so happy it lived up. To me the Kessler feels more intimate than some other larger venues. We went for the balcony tickets with seats, we have been in the standing room only for many many concerts so I have started preferring a place to rest my feet. Even in a spot that's not right next to the stage, our viewpoint and sound were still great. The venue also has an awesome pre-show seating area upstairs with its own bar. We had no trouble parking either. Really great experience.

What an amazing venue! I had never heard of this place until I came to see one of my favorite girls, Kat Edmonson. (As always, she put on an incredible show.) I will have to keep up with their calendar just to find an excuse to come back. It's small and intimate and a great place to hear an artist. I don't get out to hear live music as much as I'd like, and I think this is an ideal place to really appreciate good artists. They also have a reasonably priced selection of drinks and I hear there's a food menu. That will have to be explored next time! Parking near the theatre was a breeze and it was not in a dangerous part of town. (Just don't get lost driving at night afterwards--easy to find a bad part of town around here!)

This has got to be one of the best small venues I have ever been to. It has that true neighborhood feel and is so intimate. We arrived after the show had started and were still able to get a good parking spot (free) and a good seat (there are no bad ones). In the foyer, there is a small bar and a little bit of seating, but most everyone stands. This is also where the merch is. There is self serve free water that you can take inside the theatre along with what ever other beverage you purchased. The theatre itself is so small and quaint. The night we were there, the set up was a bunch of small round tables up close and chairs behind it and on the side. The upstairs, which are premium priced seats have full back comfy looking seats and is a single row, meaning you are in the front row no matter what. The only thing is that the floor is not slanted, but it is so small and the stage is obviously elevated, so it doesn't matter.

I have to say that I love the Kessler. From the hippies with the "oregano" smell that accompanies their smile as they check you in, to the cool little bar with the fun little nibblies, to the intimacy of the theater that doesn't have a bad seat in it. Huge comfy chairs on the second floor wrap around the wood main floor, and a great mix of hipsters, hippies, collegians, oldies and newbies who are all so close to the artist(s) and each other that the evening truly feels like a shared experience.

I've been to the Kessler 3 times, seeing Jimmie Vaughn twice and Ray Wiley Hubbard. Love the intimate setting and cool vibe here! The acoustics are second to none. If you buy general admission, arrive when the doors open. Great staff and service. Looking forward to my next visit!

I have attended many shows at the Kessler. Typically I'm with a group and we reserve one of the boxes. The only place I like as well as the box seats is sitting right up front. That said, I can think of no other venue I like as much for a live performance. Its large enough to have a serious vibe among the patrons, and small enough that everyone has a great seat, and the sound is almost always great. Has a really good bar too, with excellent selections in beer, wine and booze. They offer a few food selections if you didnt have time to grab something before arriving at the theater. Most of them are quite good. The only thing lacking is parking. The theater does not offer much (a small hidden lot), and you wont want to try and sneak into a restaurant lot lest you be towed, so your most likely to have to park on the street.

Hard to believe this place hasn't been reviewed yet! The owners and investors did an incredible job with the renovations on this historic Art Deco gem. Destroyed on not one, but TWO occasions, the Kessler has been leveled by a tornado, burned by a fire and neglected for years but suddenly local visionaries have breathed new life into it. Walking in you are met by the beautiful main bar. Complete with a mini stage for low key performances such as their FREE Wednesday night residencies, the bar recalls the lounge at the Inwood Theater. It's a place I could walk into on any given night and just enjoy talking with Mike and the other bartenders, while enjoying the local talent. Upstairs there is an art gallery space provided by Decorazon, of Bishop Arts fame. That space has a smaller bar that is connected to the main balcony. The main balcony wraps around the main floor like a U. It reminds me of the old Door space in Deep Ellum, the space that was leveled a few years back. Seating from one of the original theater interiors has been reused on the balcony. If you are looking for a great place to take in a local show, there is no better spot in Dallas. Jeffrey Liles, who books the shows at The Kessler, is bringing in more and more national talent as well. It won't be long before the Kessler takes the title of Best Music Venue from our old fabled favorite, the Grenada. Dallas is blessed to have such great venues... Do yourself a favor; after your next meal in Bishop Arts, make the trip down Davis St. to the X+ and soak in the vibes and the tunes at the Kessler.

This is an update. I phoned the Kessler to see if their policy of letting "overflow" buyers go upstairs to the balcony and stand behind the ticket holders who bought and paid for the pricier seats, had actually changed. I had read this on the ticketing page and was encouraged: "Premier seats on the second floor. Wrap balcony offers unobstructed site lines. *section is exclusive to Gallery ticket holders; however individual seats are not assigned* I was told that, no, their policy had not changed, and when there was an overflow, the patrons were allowed to go and stand in the balcony. First of all, why is that not a code problem? But more important, in all our experiences, the people who stand (and there are often 20 or more)seem to be there to party as much as listen, and tend to talk, laugh and use their cell phones in ways in which those of us who paid to sit (the cost is double SRO) do not. And BTW-in the last 4 or 5 concerts we attended (we stopped going about 6 months ago) there was always overflow!

My 13 year old daughter and I drove from Okc to see ZZ Ward here. We are huge fans. I have been to no less than 300 concerts in my life and tonight was one of the highlights. The venue is awesome, the people were so kind. Karen took good care of us reserving us seats while we had a meet and great with ZZ, who was also incredibly kind. Karen seemed to care about our experience at Kessler and made it special for my daughters first concert. And, let me say the opening act were great. The New Respects were 3 girls and their brother and you gotta' check them out. I get treated pretty special at Oklahoma concerts because I've been around awhile and just know a lot of people but none of the staff at the Kessler knew me and they still went above and beyond to make sure it was a good experience and it was great! We will be back. I can't say enough good about the whole gig. Thank you all very much. Michal

Came here with some friends to see Parachute, and was very impressed. The real strength here is the venue itself. This is truly one of the best concert halls I've been to in Dallas. The acoustics are phenomenal, they don't mix everything deafeningly loud, they book fun acts (Local, nation, up-and-coming), and it's small enough that there truly isn't a bad seat in the house. There were two warm-up acts, and the stage seemed just as comfortable for one guy and his guitar as it was for the five-piece band with the giant drum kit, light show, and bubble machines. But they also manage to get all the other stuff right here, too. The drinks were eminently reasonable at $5 per, and they were all delicious. Between the five of us we got everything from cherry vodka sours to cosmos to old fashioneds, and didn't have a single unimpressive drink in the bunch. The bar up front has a fun, slick, modern feel to it, which creates a charming counter-point to the rustic, bare-brick faces in other parts of the building. The menu is quite limited, but interesting, and it supposedly revolves frequently - kudos for the poblano paneer tacos! A great, creative offering for the veg-heads among us. They also provided complimentary herbed popcorn and house-made Chex mix for those of us who weren't up for a whole meal. A friend ordered the quesadilla and was somewhat underwhelmed, because it came out open-faced, but she still enjoyed it, and all was well. Major extra bonus points for clean, well-stocked restrooms, entirely reasonable ticket prices, and no major temperature control issues (it was like Goldilocks - not too hot, not too cold, juuuuuust right). (Pro tip: If you don't care about being right up by the stage, go back and stand by the sound booth. The mix is always better by the sound booth because the sound engineers mix for what they can hear where they're sitting.) The only drawback is the parking - the site says there's lots of parking, and there is... if you're willing to walk a block or two to get to it. Careful with the heels, ladies - you may tear up your shoes and your feet. Or at least think about getting someone to drop you off at the door before parking. Depending on the crowd you may have a bit of a hike in.

We came here to listening to Lucinda Williams. Great little venue! We loved our seats, sound of great and we didn't even mind with the AC problem. My advice it is to be a little bit earlier since there are no assigned seats.

Went tonight for MYOHMY the drag show. Clean with great staff, full bar, and food is available. Has a very modern vibe but ole skool stylings woth loads of local art decorating the inside. Signed up for there mailing list. Tonight show featured drag performers imitating artist like Mariah Carey(Always be my Baby), Adele(Hello), Cher(Believe), Tina Turner(Proud Mary), Beyonce(WhoRuntheWorld,Girls), Dolly Parton(9to5),Whitney Houston, and others entertained for an almost three hour show!

Great intimate environment. Mostly seating. Good food, beer, wine, etc... Nice and timely service!

Love this place and the sound. The closer you are to the stage the better, duh. Service was great.

Super cute historical theater located in Dallas near Cockrell Hill. Don't let any stigmas of south Dallas steer you away from this gem. Plenty of parking nearby and numerous delicious restaurants make this one of our favorite concert venues. Decent acoustics for such an intimate space and a variety of seating options. There is indeed a full bar upon entering and I also like that they water dispensers for those not drinking.

The Kessler is my favorite venue, hands down. It's so small and intimate and the acoustics are good. If you have 3 best friends, get a VIP table for 4 right at the foot of the stage. If you prefer to be away from the action and out of the spotlight, snuggle with your Bear up in the gallery seats; you can still see the act perfectly. I don't really recommend the first-floor general admission seating...folding chairs too close together...shudders...but if you don't mind being hip-to-hip with a stranger then go for it. Parking is free, but you might need to park in the surrounding neighborhood if you don't get there early enough to get into the lot next door. Bathrooms are very nice and clean.

This place is a modern bar with music venue attached, and an art/music gallery upstairs! What more could you ask for in a venue?? The alcohol is a little pricey, and the art on the night we went was an odd sort of "black art" light. The music consisted of 3 pretty awesome guys including David Ramirez... he was the best! There was a Sitar player in the art area, and an acoustic player in the bar area... good music all around, good beverages, and a huge music venue! So all in all, i'd highly reccommend it... one star off was for the weird art. We'll be back sometime!

I love this place. I am excited for the other tickets I've already purchased due to the intimate setting, price, and experience overall. Everybody was super nice, the sound was great along with talented artisans sharing their gift.

Terrific seats if you get here earlier... haven't seen a bad show here yet. The acoustics are great. It's intimate with a full bar and a limited menu. Cool for grownups. Lol

I just recently went for my first concert at this location and I was seriously amazed at how cool the Kessler is. You can order the tickets online but you never receive a physical ticket, instead checking in at the door just inside the building by giving your name. The bar area is small, but the important thing is the bar is well-stocked and drinks are cheaper than I thought they would be. Think beer prices in the range of $4-6, bottles and cans, and mixed drinks around $7 served in smallish glasses but heavily laced with your liquor of choice. The Women's bathroom was gorgeous! Impeccably clean, beautiful and simple decor, and located close to both the bar and actual concert hall. I came for the -topic, Sam Lao, and Dezi 5 concert and was amazed by how much seating there was available, probably about forty short chairs at the back of the intimate venue and a few tall chairs lining the walls. The second floor is only a few feet wide, enough room for a line of chairs pressed up against the railing to see the concert happen below. I spent most of my time at the very front of the audience close to the stage and felt that I still got a well-balanced sound, which I wasn't expecting. I loved the lighting and special effects that accompanied each act, so shoutout to their talented staff.

Great place for Red Dirt Concerts. Nice dance floor area, bar in the lobby. Really enjoyed this place

I've only been to one show here a few years ago (Dirty Projectors), and I instantly loved this venue. It's small, so whomever you see here is in the most intimate of settings. The sound is fantastic, and there's not a bad spot in the house. The bar is fantastic, and drink prices are fair. The venue is one of my favorites in Dallas. The neighborhood is fine! Not the "hood", as some other former patrons have mentioned on video. Oak Cliff is great, and I'm so glad we have a venue in Oak Cliff, especially one that is this nice!

Imagine that you're going out to see live music, and the goal of the night is not to get wasted. Imagine that you actually like the music, you know every word of the lyrics, and every note. That's never happened before? Well expand your horizons and come to the Kessler. I mean...there is a bar here, so you could make drinking the point of the night. But you would be missing out. This venue is the perfect spot for an intimate performance. The artists they bring in are really talented- some famously known and others you may not have heard of. I've never seen a show here that I didn't like. Ticketing is different for each event. Sometimes the main floor is a free for all, so I typically like to go upstairs and watch from above. Upstairs the seats are plentiful and the bar never seems to be backed up.

Wow! Where have I been? Why have I never been to the Kessler? I recently went to see blues legend Bettye Lavette. I read the reviews, so I knew it was going to be a great spot to catch a concert, but it is exceeded my expectation. The rennovations have created both an upstairs and downstairs lounge/bar. Both were very nice-hip-modern, but what I didn't expect was the bartender handing me two tangeruey and tonics and saying, "That will be $8." I can't remember the last time I paid $4 for a drink in Dallas! There are different seating arrangements depending on your price range...guessing the price range changes depending on the Artist. There is front of the theater tables w/chairs, back of the theater chairs, and standing room. Upstairs there is balcony in the shape of a U. I paid a little extra to sit in the balcony. The balcony seats are reserved meaning you can only go up there if you have a ticket but once you are there it is first come, first serve on seats. At first I was going to knock them down a star on this as I prefer to have reserved seating so I don't have to wait by the door for a good seat, but guess what....every seat is a premium seat...even downstairs! There are no bad seats in the house. All of the seats are close to the stage. It was a great evening with the artist staying after and signing autographs. I will find another opportunity to go soon....yelp it up and let people know that this is the best concert venue in town!

What an exquisite theater of which Dallas should be very proud. The small theater that resides in Oak Cliff feautres such an Art Deco vibe with bright colors that envelope you upon entering the lively bar/lobby. The layout and design is completely unexpected. Refreshing, but unexpected, nonetheless. The actual theater space is very small with an element of intimacy that makes you feel as if you are the only one in the room and the band is personally serenading you. The size of the room is extremely conducive for amazing acoustics and an overall amazing experience. To mirror the impressive lay-out and design, the staff were nothing less than kind, outgoing, friendly, generous, and helpful. I cannot wait to return to this cherished Oak Cliff establishment.

This place is truly outrageous, truly truly truly outrageous. I've now been here a few times and each time I lurrrve it more and more. I live 2 streets over and about 2 blocks south, so I pass this MF at all times of the day. The first time I went, it was for an Oak Cliff neighborhood fundraiser. It had a live band, snacks/treats, FULL bar and an auction was being held upstairs in the cute little room. It's a fabulous old fashioned theater. A wide open area on the ground level is perfect for anything. You could put tables & seats or even turn it into an amazeballs dance floor....wedding venue perhaps? The acoustics and sound system in the place are perfect for a concert, opera, rave...whatever. Also, the balcony area is loverly. It reminds me of the Muppet's that sit up there and talk s*%t about the performers...tha'd prolly be me. Anygossip....the only buzz kill is that if there a lot of people...and I mean a LOT, the lobby can get really crowded. Also parking, they don't have valet, so be prepared to park on the street. Overall, I love the venue. Modern lobby with a classic theater. I think its the perfect size for music events and any kind of party planning. They have something every weekend and it always looks bumpin.

I discovered Yuna, an amazing Malaysian singer while on YouTube. I downloaded her music but never thought I would see her in person. Then as if the music gods granted me a wish, she was scheduled to perform at Kessler Theater. I've passed Kessler Theater on many occasions but wasn't sure what to make of it. Being in the hip Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts neighborhood I assumed it would be eclectic. Their niche appears to be bringing underground, emerging musicians to Dallas. It's an old two story theater with tons of character, a full service bar and a kitchen that serves delicious snack food (taco, grilled cheese). It's smaller than HOB but not too small. There's VIP, general admission and balcony seating but there really isn't a bad spot. The sound, acoustics are phenomenal. Parking is limited but free. The staff is down to earth and friendly. I can't believe it took me this long to check it out. It's super cool and I can't wait to return. soon.

My review isn't necessarily about the venue, because there's no shortage of others telling you how awesome it is. This review is about the FOOD, because the Kessler has hired a new chef, making this historic theater one of the coolest places to nosh in Bishop Arts. Their chef is something of a celebrity, he was on MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay. (Same show I was on, but a different season.) He has created a really fun, quirky menu of upscale bar food that makes this a great place to drop in for yummies and drinks in the evening, or you can simply plan to eat your dinner at the venue before or during the concert or event you're attending there. **YOU DO NOT have to have a concert ticket to sit at the bar or order food unless it's a crazy sold-out show and you arrive right when everyone is in line. So stop in any time. They're open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights...sometimes other nights if there's a concert or special event. Ask nicely at the door and 9 times out of 10, they'll let you in.** The menu runs the gamut from organic popcorn with Tunisian olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Tellicherry black pepper (which Lisa Loeb recently announced to the audience that it was the best popcorn she had EVER eaten), to caprese skewers with fresh basil, San Marzano tomatoes, and little balls of fresh mozz from Paula Lambert's Dallas Mozzarella Co, and they are served with this burnt-garlic balsamic sauce that I would literally BATHE in if I could. That stuff is heaven. Mel at the bar could make drinks with it, it's so good. There's also pork belly sliders that are TO DIE FOR, served on artisan bread from Empire Bakery, with slow-roasted pork belly with Asian spices and housemade radish pickles. (Again, a condiment that I could eat an entire plate of. Divine.) My two favorite things on the menu are the Brussels sprouts and the fritters. The Brussels sprouts are like crack...flash fried so that they're crispy on the outside and crisp-tender in the middle, and bathed in this amazing sauce that seems almost Thai in its influence. He calls it "fish caramel" and all the big-city chefs are creating their own versions of it right now. You'll be licking every last bit of it off your fingers, it's sweet, salty, complex, and aromatic with fresh herbs...I'm guess basil and mint, but I could be wrong. It's a closely guarded secret, apparently. Then there are the Gruyere fritters. I don't know how he does it, but these little balls of wonderment are served steaming hot and are crisp on the outside, like toasty cheese, but practically hollow on the inside. He serves them with a house-made onion jam that is sweet but tangy with whole grain mustard seed. I could eat my weight in them. Perhaps best of all, the menu is priced along the same lines as FAST FOOD. Seriously. The pork belly sliders are the most expensive thing on the menu, and they're $7. !!COME ON!! I have no idea how he does it, but he insists that he has a commitment to fresh, local foods, he's just keeping everything simple, keeps the menu small but perfect, and wants the food to be approachable in price for anyone in the neighborhood. (I wish more Dallas chefs were like that!!!) Sometimes the chef has a special based on what he can find locally, so be sure to ask. Again, I have to stress that anyone can stop by for a drink at the bar and a bite to eat without having to have a ticket to an event, unless it's a major act that has sold out, so this makes the Kessler a fabulously quirky spot for neighborhood locals and folks headed to Bishop Arts to poke around. I live in Lewisville but I find myself at the Kessler several times a month, just because I love the atmosphere, Mel at the bar is incredible (and she has Stone IPA!!!), and now with the amazing menu, this place is unstoppable. I can't rate it highly enough.