The Elbow Room

Woke up hungry as SHIT one night a hair past midnight and I’ve eaten wayyy too much Serious Pizza and Cane Rossi is just too fucking expensive. I digress. I popped up in this joint and ordered a medium cheese pizza and one of their Lakewood drafts. This is the best pizza in Deep Ellum. Hands down. I loved the seasoning on the pie. Their crust was soft and pillowy with just enough crunch to have some substance. I loved the cheese on bottom and sauce on top. Their bartender was super warm and welcoming. They had some hilarious shit on their TV. I felt like I was in a friend’s living room it was so welcoming. Will be back soon.

Hands down my favorite dive bar in Dallas. The food is great, the staff are hilarious & the eclectic mix of the crowd always keeps it interesting. If you’re in or near Deep Ellum this is a place you have to stop at!

My friends and I went to the Elbow Room last night as the final stop on our Deep Ellum Bar Crawl/​Scavenger Hunt. There were about 15 African Americans in our group. On sight, the bartender Patrick had an attitude about our «noise». I was thinking to myself… «it’s a bar. what is he talking about». Then his attitude went up another notch when I said to him «is everything ok… you seem to be a bit flustered… you should take it down a notch». He then said to me «You guys came in here making all his noise and ruckus». At that point I was ready to leave but everyone else wanted to stay and give this place a chance.
Patrick then yelled to some people in our group to move out the way of the waitress stand… It was the way he yelled as if he were talking to 10 year olds. I was still done but the rest still wanted to head to the backyard to chill and get out of Patrick’s face. Well it seems that it’s not just a Patrick the bartender problem, because the waitress got out of pocket and mention that we were assholes.
I didn’t spend 1 dime in this place. And this is to warn bar owners that they need to fire their liabilities like Patrick. We were prepared to spend a few hundred dollars after being on a scavenger hunt for 3 hours, we were ready to drink and eat. But nope… apparently having 15 African Americans didn’t matter to staff at Elbow Room on Saturday, ⁵⁄₂₂ around Midnight (early Sunday morning).

I was a part of a group who went to the Elbow Room last night. These are the words of one person in our group, as she was seated directly next to the offensive bar staff: My friends and I went to the Elbow Room last night as the final stop on our Deep Ellum Bar Crawl/​Scavenger Hunt. There were about 15 African Americans in our group. On sight, the bartender Patrick had an attitude about our «noise». I was thinking to myself… «it’s a bar. what is he talking about». Then his attitude went up another notch when I said to him «is everything ok… you seem to be a bit flustered… you should take it down a notch». He then said to me «You guys came in here making all his noise and ruckus». At that point I was ready to leave but everyone else wanted to stay and give this place a chance.
Patrick then yelled to some people in our group to move out the way of the waitress stand… It was the way he yelled as if he were talking to 10 year olds. I was still done but the rest still wanted to head to the backyard to chill and get out of Patrick’s face. Well it seems that it’s not just a Patrick the bartender problem, because the waitress got out of pocket and mention that we were assholes.
I didn’t spend 1 dime in this place. And this is to warn bar owners that they need to fire their liabilities like Patrick. We were prepared to spend a few hundred dollars after being on a scavenger hunt for 3 hours, we were ready to drink and eat. But nope… apparently having 15 African Americans didn’t matter to staff at Elbow Room on Saturday, ⁵⁄₂₂ around Midnight (early Sunday morning).

This place is a seedy dive bar with a gourmet pizza place attached. Don’t be fooled though because it’s probably the best pizza we’ve had. It’s frequented by a bunch of health care types from the hospital complex next door so it’s safe :) Our suggestion: the bacon chicken ranch pizza. Don’t think about it. Just order it. Say hello to MJ while you’re there!

Staff are friendly and are good natured. Food is good. No stress here. You can wear a business suit or jeans and t shirt. Let your ink show as there is plenty to see. Good spot to come for a quiet but lively time.

The Elbow Room is an utterly standard bar, with all the usual greasy eats, bar games, and juke box loaded with tunes we’ve all heard too many times. In a lot of ways, this is refreshing. Easy-​going bars where you can land after a game to order a pizza and a Lone Star are in short supply these days. Considering it’s proximity to Deep Ellum, parking is relatively easy and it never feels too crowded or empty.
My gripes are equally as generic as the bar itself. The service is average to poor. I understand they are going for a «dive bar» feel, but the place is unnecessarily dirty (especially the restrooms). The back patio is only worth-​while for smokers.
Is The Elbow Room my first choice on a Saturday night? No. Do I find myself here somewhat often? Yeah, and that’s OK.

I really… really wanted to like this place. My college friend was excited to take me here but upon arrival, we should have left but decided to stay. It’s Final Four season and I had to ask multiple (4) times for a tv to be turned on to play basketball. I was given a runaround about system malfunctions. Okay, next issue. We were in the farthest room with minimal patrons so I went to let a server know we were in the back just so they could be notified. Fifteen minutes later, not a water, a menu, so I had to go again. By the time it took to get our order taken, it took about 45 minutes for our wings to come out. It was not busy at that time at all so I was increasingly agitated although I tried to remain pleasant.
I think the only reason I’m giving them a two instead of a one was because I enjoyed my wings. It would have been great to get notice of –why– the food took so long (until I asked of course), why it took so long to acknowledge us, etc but I highly doubt I will be coming back anyway. Like I said, I was excited and wanted to like them but that just did not happen.

Wow, what happened…
I used to come here all the time from 2004 – 2009. I can’t tell you how many great times and great meals I’ve had. The last 2 times I showed up however, have totally disappointed! So sad… What a freaking bummer. The menu changed, and when I got the salad it was as if the lettuce wasn’t washed. Oh well I guess.
So… Did the prices on everything go up too? I realize it’s been a while since I’ve been in, but come on! I had a tradition to order a shot called a «starburst» and a Harp beer on tap. The new bartender had no clue what the shot was which I thought was crazy, and they no longer had Harp. She made her version of the shot and it was like yellow triaminic medicine! Where the hell is Tom the old bartender to make my drink right and to make sure my food was correct?!! He always took care of me and was a character to talk to. This is definitely not the old Elbow Room, and I don’t foresee myself coming back again. I miss the old food, old look, and old bartender! I need to find where Tom went. I gave this review 2 stars because 1 star just wouldn’t be right from all the old days of awesomeness…

Awesome service, cheap drinks, jukebox with a good selection of artist, and billiards! Didnt get a chance to try the food but this bar stays true to its description-​an authentic dive bar!

It’s pretty cool that they have make-​your-​own breakfast calzones. I really enjoyed it. Love how fresh the bread is.

Sooo… Met some people from Fireplace Lounge and had a bunch of fun. Then thought we’d
take it to the next place (The Elbow Room). THEN, some dude I was talking to, had a problem with me being here (in USA) due to my accent (black girl from South Africa!) His words were why are you here sounding the way that you do. Geez, what went through my head was; are you Donald Trump or his rep???
Soooo, went in to speak with my husband, and clue him on what transpired. He thought he’d go out and have a talk with the guy and smooth things over with. However, the staff stepped in and guess who they chose to throw out the side door, after placing a call to the police??? The black girl with a funny accent and did not belong to this Texan bar…

This bar is so legit. They have the top 3 Pizza in Dallas, friendly staff, and big shots. But their music juke box is terrible! Apparently the manager has the song base on Avery limited selection, to only his/​her liking. Would have liked to stayed longer and played pool on their classic pool tables, but didn’t like to hear «I’ve got friends in low places…» On repeat. If not for the poor music selection for the bar, they would get a hands down 5 star. Just don’t plan to listen to any music while you are there, which is a huge take away.

For me, arguably the best dive bar in Dallas and a classic to boot. I’m glad it’s back. Now please keep in mind that it’s a dive bar so don’t get too fancy. For instance, they aren’t huge on craft drafts or bottles for that matter. They carried Peticolas something something for the longest while because they thought it was better than an IPA. They kept Peticolas, but they did finally relent and get IPAs on draft.
The food is good, by which I mean that I like their pizza. Get that or stromboli and you’ll be very happy. For a dive bar, having good pizza and beer is about as perfect as it gets.
Now MJ is the waitress to get. She’s awesome and if you’re even semi regular she’ll remember your face and very likely your name. Bar service can be the slightest bit standoffish and that’s given the fact that the bartenders will ask you your name and on occasion try to remember it. If you’re a regular, they definitely will.
It’s an odd mix of people. It’s definitely not a place to score. I suppose if you’re trying to hook up with a random doctor, it might be the place to go. The occasional cute girl is there and maybe she’s interested, but probably isn’t. If she is, this is about as ideal ad it gets. She’s there because she likes the place. It’s friendly. It’s familiar. Everyone’s guard I’d down including your own. So chill. Have a drink. Eat some pizza and watch a game. It’s all good.

Watched the Cowboys game yesterday here and had a great experience. Ellen (the cackle) bartender took great care of us making sure we had prompt service throughout the entire game. Food was great as well, had the calzone and a chicken caesar salad

The only reason they are receiving two stars is due to the fact they don’t have the NFL ticket and don’t staff properly when Cowboy games are in.

I ordered via The Elbow Room’s online ordering. Very easy and simple. Took less then a minute to place my order. Sent me an email letting me know exactly when my order would be ready.
Service absolutely amazing. The online ordering made it very easy for me to grab and go.
I’ve never eaten here before. First time! The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the loaded cheese fries and buffalo sandwich. The loaded cheese fries are served as a very large portion :) love that! The food was delicious for takeout, I can only imagine how good it is dining in. I will definitely be back for more and recommend it to all of those that live in my neighborhood.

Fun trivia night (Thursdays). Their food is well-​priced, and extremely tasty. I’ve tried the calzone (epic) and the basil pesto (spaghetti) pasta. Both were perfect. They have a friendly staff, fun, laid-​back atmosphere.

After my second visit to ER this weekend, I thought it was time to leave a review. My first visit here was about 4 months ago during brunch with friends. ER is a bit divey and secluded from other establishments. The food here is pretty good for a bar. For brunch I ordered a pizza omelet and pancake. Recently I ordered sweet potato fries. Both were darn good (I’ve been craving brunch here but have yet to return)! My drink orders varies from mimosas to multiple cocktails. The prices are always reasonable. The cute Ellen was my bartender recently. She really engages in conversation with her visitors and this sometimes make service/​attention slow for other patrons. She’s still a real sweetie in my book. I cannot wait to go back to ER especially since my Prince taught me shuffle board and I’m not half bad!!!

My boyfriend and I came in this evening because the kitchen is open late. After getting the menu, I gave the look that we were ready to place our order. I got looked over… Twice. Once our order was ready, the bartender Andi proceeded to take shots with the regulars while our food sat by the beer taps… Getting cold. We asked twice for the food and got overlooked again so she could take a shot and to plug in a phone.
Normally our experience here is outstanding. Jordan is amazing. However, I don’t think I’ll come back on nights that Andi is bartending.

Love this place. We go frequently to play trivia or just have some awesome pizza and cheap drinks. The trivia is a grand time, the clientele is just competitive enough to make it fun, and the staff is just fabulous. I’m not sure how they arrive at the perfect moment, but they do.
Also, the drinks are cheap. It’s a dive. Drinks are strong and well made.
Also. The pizza. It’s addicting.

With a the fresh scent of industrial grade 409 to let you know the place has just been cleaned, the no-​frills brunch at Elbow Room is there to greet both you and your ridiculous hangover!
A dive bar to the core, I’m not exactly sure why the Elbow Room is so likable. It’s in a strange location near Baylor, quite removed from most places. The food reviews are mixed but I quite like the food here. The brunch burrito stuffed witch chicken, cheese, and avocado is a fan favorite. The lemon ricotta pancakes are also quite good (as I’ve been told). The coffee isn’t the best but the drink specials are pretty tough to beat.
The low-​attitude staff might not be the quickest but one of those greasy pizza-​dough brunch burritos will zap your hangover in a hot minute! Let the jukebox entertain you as sip on cheap ass mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.

This place has turned into a dump. The restrooms are disgusting, no one picked up drinks for over an hour. A drink was spilled and she didn’t bother to clean it up, just brought a new drink. Gross.

I don’t drink so I don’t have beer goggles about the food. Fantastic lasagna… full of meat sausage, a ton of melted gooey cheese & delicious red sauce. Garlic bread was tasty as well. Quick, convenient & affordable, all paced into a clean comfortable environment.

Dive bar with very good calzones. Elbow room has very good calzones. It is a bit divey and I’m still new to dive bars so I’m not hooked as of yet. It has a full bar with wine and draft beers. We came during lunch and their were guys with suits and ladies with skirts so I knew it had to be good food because they looked out of their element for a hang out spot. The menu is a lot of Italian but I did see some burgers and sandwiches with fries come out. They had outdoor seating outback.
I ordered a calzone with pepperoni and sausage. It was a good size calzone with ALOT of cheese. It was hot and fresh. It came with 2 cups of sauce as well. The calzone comes with cheese and the toppings are extra. The crust was great with a little chafing on the bottom that gave it a nice flavor.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that the Coke that I got tasted a little funny. I don’t know if it was the coke or the mix or what but it was a little off. Not enough to say anything to the waitress or anything. I would visit again.

Another safe place from hipsters and pretentious patrons! The Elbow Room is a quiet little hang out where good people meet and share a couple of drinks and some good food. The brunch is fantastic! I LOVE the $ 1.00 Mimosas! The first time I went was for a birthday brunch. I enjoyed the ER Pizza Omelet. It was light which saved more room for the pitcher of mimosas (special order) that we downed! The next time I went, was for a celebratory brunch for someone who completed a half marathon. Although, the food and drinks probably undid any fitness benefit of that run! I devoured the ER Breakfast Burrito! I could have eaten two but needed more room for mimosas! Yes, there is a theme to the brunches at The Elbow Room! MIMOSAS! Come for the mimosas and stay all day for the conversation and great atmosphere! But be sure to put on your sunglasses upon leaving because the sunlight will seem overwhelming as you leave. But this could be avoided if you alternate between the patio and the inside. But inside is where the alcohol is so…

Rubbing Elbows
Way on the edge of Deep Ellum is the Elbow Room, I’ve normally just driven right by it thinking I should visit. It wasn’t until some Deep Ellum Unilocalers finally swayed me in for some drinks and sustenance. The set up is pretty standard with a few extras. Long bar with stools, tables scattered throughout, jukebox with a great selection of songs as well as the classic bar games, shuffleboard, darts, patio out back and pool tables.
The food is actually pretty tasty, wings and pizza are my standard orders. They all seem to always be made with love. Most of the patrons here are regulars so they know just about everyone’s name and will regularly customize to their customer’s wishes. This the quintessential neighborhood bar, the place people go to feel at home. No worries, they are really friendly with new faces and people will usually welcome you.
Making room

ER has a new brunch menu, and hot damn the lemon pancake was amazing. Not to lemony and its served with a big glob of butter, nutella and syrup. Also comes with a side of bacon, which was just meh. They offer mimosas and bloody mary’s on their brunch menu too.
This is still one of my favorite places in Dallas. I’m happy they have the new brunch menu because I love coming here on weekend days and I don’t always want pizza.

I’ve lost that loving feeling & it’s been gone for some time. At one time this was one of the best neighborhood and dive bars you could find in Dallas. It surely was the best in the Deep Ellum area. In the past, «it was a melting pot of social, economical, and racial backgrounds who loved to drink to capacity. The common ground we all found in that bar made all of our differences and shortcomings accepted by all, so no one was ever a outsider, the bar was truly special.» At one time, I would come here on a weekly basis to play pool or darts. At one time I would spend an average of $ 100 per visit here. When they reopened, I expected to resume my spending habits and good times with friends. But sadly as time went on, I decided to spend my money at other places in the area.
In the past, this place was where you came to after a night out in uptown. And if you worked at Baylor you were probably a fixture here. There was a wall with pictures of people celebrating their birthdays, getting married, graduating for dental school, or what ever special event in the bar. On Friday or Saturday nights this place was busy and full of fun people. It was a place that you made life long friends and relationships with people. This was a place that local artists hung their art on the walls and there was even a art mural on the back patio, which the new ownership wants to paint over.
Well since Ownership has changed, things have changed. Yes change is inevitable, but as first time bar owners, change is one of the worst things that has happened to this place. Friday and Saturday nights here can be compared to a ghost town, unless you’re European and on the owners soccer team. Which in that case, you’re girlfriend is being creeped out by the 60ish Owners husband, Joe. And if you make any kind of eye contact with said owners husband, he will burden you with endless stories, when you’re trying to have a conversation with your friends. Or you will hear owner Rosie ramble about how she never should have opened a bar.
When you’re at the Elbow Room make sure you smile, because owner Joe is at Baylor Hospital, home or at parties watching the security cameras on his cell phone. And showing the footage to random people he’s talking to. And the interesting thing about Elbow Room is that it has also turned into a hang out for undercover police officers. They made Elbow Room their meetup spot around November ‘2013. I never noticed, until one night I heard a story of a drug bust being told by an officer to one of the bartenders, Max.
Most of the time, this is an adult only environment, but there are times that patrons with underage kids are allowed in on a late Friday night by the owners. I witnessed the bar full of people sing a very explicit song, while the family sat there with a 12 yr old daughter at the table. I can proudly say, I would never allow my kids to be exposed to that.
I think the last straw for me was when one of my personal pics of the bar that was on my IG (instagram) appeared on their business facebook page, with out my permission.
It’s truly a sad day when one of the best places to watch a game, cure a hang over, or just celebrate life is dying. It’s official, I won’t spend another dollar here. Sorry. not sorry!

Dive bars don’t get any better than this one. Food served until 0100 hours. Juke Box for your dollars. Nice mix of music. They have Lonestar, which is rare in Dallas. (Why?) I’ve not had the food, but, I’ve watched as others pigged out!
The first time I came in here was on a Saturday afternoon. I had spent the day at Baylor Medical. Things were dark and scary for me. I had no family or friends here, and, I wasn’t about to post my life on social media. I came here for a cold one, and, to be alone.
After one beer I told the bartender to cash me out because I needed to get back to Baylor. She did, no questions asked. About six hours later I came back. I ordered a lonestar and headed for the patio. I needed alone time.
There were a lot of people in the bar, but, not too crowded. I found my «quiet» seat on the patio. Next thing I know, the bartender from earlier came up and asked if I was ok. I looked at her, said no, and began to cry. As I told her my story and wept, she comforted me. Soon, other staffers and patrons were at my table.
As I talked and wept like a fool out of control, the staff and patrons of Elbow Room embraced me. I was hugged, comforted, made feel loved and like I was part of their family. They bought my drinks, and, walked me back to Baylor at the end of my night.
No where in Texas have I ever been so loved and comforted in the arms of strangers, like I have here. This bar and it’s staff will always be special to me. I was sinking in my sadness and they lifted me up. Thank you Elbow Room. I love you.