thrillist

The only difference between an opera and a bar is that, with the latter, it isn't over when the fat lady sings, because you're desperately trying to go home with her. Going from Don Giovanni to downtown's newest dive: Scott Scripps, the man behind Spread Eagle Saloon, hoping to open this week.

Scripps went to SMU for both his BA & MA in music, and still sings with the Dallas Operatic Chorus, but as a fallback he's turned to "what everyone in the music industry knows": boozers, this one being a cozy spot with "downtown's only shuffleboard", darts, pool, a stage in back for live music, FC Dallas memorabilia, and the eponymous bird on the wall. Chef Scott Romano (Charlie Palmer) designed the menu, which starts with small plates like goat cheese fritters, fritto misto, and pork belly-stuffed jalapenos prepped with something that's covered the faces of Lavaca County residents for 103 years (a Shiner glaze). Burgers 'n sammies include a classically dressed sirloin patty, a meatloaf/pickled shallots/Muenster/ciabatta number, the chipotle-glazed Salmon Croquette, and the Pig Press: smoked ham, pork belly, sweet pickles, Swiss, and under-performing Arkansas defensive backs.

They'll make anything you want behind the bar, and'll carry over 30 crafts from the likes of Avery, Abita, Anchor, Stone, and Oskar Blues -- sadness Oskar must feel because he believes his lover has given her virtue to the police captain on the eve of his execution... or because the fat lady is getting Bizet with some other dude.

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You don't have to watch Eight Men Out to see a great dive, you just need to head downtown. Check out more at their Facebook page.