On a recent trip to discover the ever-emerging food culture of Dallas, Texas, we became acquainted with three beer-loving comrades (Daniel Pittman, Jeff Dietzman and Ned Steel) who were celebrating the one-year anniversary of their inspiring craft beer kitchen LUCK (Local Urban Craft Kitchen). The beer-centric restaurant and bar, one that taps an impressive roster of Texas beer and produces inspiring beer-infused foods, is situated within the city’s innovative Trinity Groves district and quickly became one of our favorite stops from the Texan trip.
Over several Northern Texas pints, we chatted with Pittman about the success of their first restaurant, breaking down why the Trinity Groves “restaurant incubator” is intriguing to young chefs, what you can’t miss devouring off the food menu, and even where he eats in the Big D.
PA Eats: Why did you think the Dallas food scene was ready for such a magnified beer-centric restaurant concept?
Daniel Pittman: We thought when we opened LUCK that our “typical” customer would be a craft beer enthusiast that wanted to saddle some good food up with the local beer of their choice. We knew we were going after a select niche but that that population was growing. Instead we get a more diverse clientele. We feel like we’re expanding the palates of the consumer to branch out and enjoy good beer while supporting the local economy.
Why is it exciting as first-time restaurateurs to tap into the Trinity Groves “restaurant incubator”?
We’re in an area surrounded by other great new restaurant concepts. That draws people in to try something new. The volume of business that we’ve garnered in our first year has been impressive and flattering. It speaks to our entire staff that we are enjoying what we do and want to evolve and are in this for the long haul.
Beer is a vital ingredient in your kitchen. You’re splashing it into a majority of dishes; you’re even using spent grain for breads and crackers. If I’m saddling up to the bar for a proper experience devouring your signature beer-infused dishes, what you recommend I can’t miss eating?
That’s an easy one for me: it would have to be the Torta de Lengua. Beer-braised beef tongue, habanero pumpkin seed spread and pickled onions. Do not fear the tongue. I also enjoy our ever-changing beer ice cream flavors. One bite of either will change your life and how you look at “eating” beer.
LUCK features 40 taps—only ever pouring Texas beer. With the Dallas beer scene consistently expanding, what local breweries are you most excited about at the moment?
That’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid. We’re lucky to have several breweries in our immediate vicinity—Peticolas, Community, Four Corners, along with soon-to-be-opened Texas Ale Project and Noble Rey Brewing.
We do love working with all the Northern Texas breweries on various events, pint nights or specialty dinners. We’ve got a localized beer area that we source from. One of my partners, Jeff Dietzman, coined the phrase the “Beermuda Triangle,” stretching from Route 903 up in Sherman, out west to Revolver in Granbury, and down south to Cedar Creek in Seven Points. If you have a brewery open anywhere within that triangle (which equates to within 75 miles of LUCK), then we have a tap on our wall for you, if you want it.
Wild card: on your rare nights off, where are you eating and drinking in Dallas, Texas?
Honestly on my nights off you can usually find me on my couch spending time with my family, but when I am able to get out and about, I enjoy eating at Smoke, The Common Table or Barter.
Find LUCK within the Trinity Groves district at 3011 Gulden Lane, #112, in Dallas, Texas; phone: (469) 250-0679.
- Photography: Alexandra Whitney Photography
