This is the coolest place that will open in the Design District this year

Central Standard, Dallas TX
Aaron Miller
Aaron Miller

The same Chicagoan folk that brought you Park Tavern and Primebar have just touched down in the Design District with Central Standard, a casual, beer-backed spot based on the one thing Chicago and Dallas have in common: not having a baseball team in the playoffs the Central Time Zone (and not having a baseball team in the playoffs).

central standard dallas
Aaron Miller

The interior's got three main areas: a lounge area, a wood-lined main dining area with "artsy" photos of women (the real kind, not the ones you used to hide from your mom), and this study, filled with none of the things you'd expect to find in a study (Professor Plum, the revolver, a secret staircase to the Conservatory), and plenty of things you wouldn't (fencing masks, and uh... yeah, mostly just the fencing masks).

Central Standard
Aaron Miller

THANK GOD THEY HAVE FENCING MASKS!!!

central standard dallas meats and cheeses
Sean Cooley

Whet your app-etite with Angry Birds Star Wars, and your app(no dash!)etite with this chef's plate loaded down with a daily evolving pick of meats and cheeses.

central standard dallas bbq pork wings
Sean Cooley

Or get a bit more serious with these BBQ pork wings that come with spicy peanuts.

Ribeye at Central Standard, Dallas TX
Sean Cooley

Once things get, like, serious serious, though, it's time to go for the blackened ribeye with house Worcestershire, pulled chicken tacos, or a full rack of baby back riiiiiiiibs.

Taps at Central Standard
Aaron Miller

Oh, and don't forget to whet your drink-etite with locals like Peticolas, DEBC, and Franconia, Texans like Shiner and St. Arnolds, or still-in-the-Central-Time-Zone crafts like Chicago's Goose Island 312 and Boulevard from KC.