Kitchen + Kocktails ★9.5

Soul food that earned its swagger

Kitchen + Kocktails is the restaurant that proved downtown Dallas would happily queue for serious Southern cooking. The fried chicken is brined and seasoned like the kitchen has something to prove, waffles come in dessert-level variations, and the bar treats cocktails as part of the thesis rather than an afterthought. This is soul food executed with fine-dining discipline and a club-worthy soundtrack.

The concept

Owner Kevin Kelley, a Dallas attorney who kept his law practice next door, opened the restaurant in 2020 with a clear idea: elevated Southern comfort food, warm hospitality and a curated musical identity that celebrates Black culture. The formula proved strong enough to travel — Kitchen + Kocktails has since expanded to Chicago and Washington, D.C., while the Dallas original remains the flagship.

What to order

Start with fried green tomatoes or the deviled eggs crowned with blackened shrimp, then commit to the dish the house is known for: fried chicken with a butter pecan waffle. The oxtails are braised until they slide off the bone, the Caribbean-marinated pork chop arrives charred outside and juicy within, and the fried lobster tails are pure indulgence. Shrimp and grits and crispy fried catfish round out the classics, and the waffle list runs from peach cobbler to banana pudding. From the bar, regulars swear by the blackberry margarita and the frozen peach margarita spiked with Cognac.

The space

The dining room reads more upscale lounge than diner: moody lighting, plush seating and a playlist that swings from Jay-Z to the Beastie Boys while photogenic plates float past. Weekend evenings feel like a party in the best sense — dressed-up tables, birthday celebrations and a steady, happy hum.

Who it’s for

Anyone who wants soul food with energy: group dinners, out-of-towners asking where locals actually celebrate, and serious eaters chasing a benchmark chicken-and-waffle pairing.

Good to know

Do I need a reservation? Strongly recommended — prime-time and weekend tables go quickly, and walk-ins often face a wait.

Is there a dress code? Nothing formal, but the crowd leans dressed-up; smart casual fits right in.

What is the signature dish? Fried chicken with the butter pecan waffle, with the fried lobster tails as the favorite splurge.

Does it suit big groups? Yes — the format was built for birthdays and group dinners; book ahead for larger parties.

Is it loud? Lively, especially at night — expect a clubby soundtrack; earlier time slots are noticeably calmer.

Opening hours