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McKinney Avenue Tavern
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
10 reviews for McKinney Avenue Tavern
Got a chance to check out the "Mat" on a few occasions during my trip to Dallas. This was a real laid back bar and they even have karaoke on the weekends which is awesome.
The drinks were reasonably priced and the food was excellent, i got the hot wings and the quesadillas were some of the best I have ever had.
If I lived in Dallas, I quite easily see this place becoming my regular hangout.
The McKinney Avenue Tavern (MAT) is by far my favorite place to go in Dallas. When I first moved to Dallas I lived right across the street, upon my first visit into the bar I felt right at home. The staff are all fantastic people and will take care of you. The bar can tend to be on and off busy depending on the schedule of sporting events. The atmosphere during the games always lends to a load of fun.
Happy Hour on MWF is from lunch-7 and Tues/Thursday all night. The food is exceptional. My favorite things to eat are the Chicken Pasta Salad or the Chicken and Swiss with a side of soup or salad. As far as pizza goes, I can't imagine eating a better bar pizza than theirs. It is always perfectly cooked and delicious after a late night of taking shots and screaming at the many tvs the bar has to offer. I have been wasted in this bar and stumbling home, many a time.
Karaoke on Friday nights is always one of the funnest times. It can tend to get very busy so if you actually want to sing get there early enough where you can put your songs in and get on the list. As the night goes on more and more people stumble in from the other bars/clubs in the area so it gets very busy.
Saturday nights are hit or miss, some times it is really busy and other times you feel like your in the middle of the dessert or a raging alcoholic drinking in an empty bar. Around 10 pm (usually) there is a live band that comes in and plays until closing. The bands typically are all very good and play a wide variety of music.
As some other people mentioned the UT vs Texas game is not a recommended time to go, unless you want to be in a sea of fans screaming at one another and threatening each others grandchildren with the black plague. I for one find it quite hysterical and always make sure I am around to partake in the bashing of others teams.
Also, if you order the jalapeño poppers get them with both cheeses.. trust me, you'll love me after you bite into that deliciously stuffed cheese filled awesomeness.
Ahh, an oasis away from all of the douche that surrounds it in Uptown. The MAT is as unpretentious as you can get around these parts. It's pretty simple inside, all wide open, tile floors and wood walls. They have a long bar and a great staff behind it. It seems like they just sort of know you, remember you, and take care of you after only a few visits. I can't tell you the last time i actually ordered for myself, they either just bring me a beer as soon as i walk in or they pretty much tell us when to order shots, and we do what they say damnit!
This is a great place to watch games, as there are GIANT tvs in the middle, above the weird ass aquarium. Then there are several regular tv's spread out in every nook and cranny of this place. On heavy sports days, be careful, you can get sucked in to watching 9 different games, get over stimulated, and go into a coma.
They have great specials all the time, a cool patio that also has tv's on it, and it's right smack in the middle of Uptown, can't miss it. I dare any of you to come up there and challenge me to a game of Silver Strike Bowling...
Definitely as some others have said an oasis amongst the other uptown bars. A place you can go order a pitcher wearing a t-shirt (that is not a designer t-shirt , but an old t-shirt from the charity fun run you did 5 years ago) and just have a good time.
Avoid UT football game days there unless you are really into UT football, but in genreal a fun spot to chill.
We watched one of the non-Mavs NBA playoff games there and it wasn't very crowded, seems like more people like the see and be scene crowd surrounding the MAT then the chill crowd in the MAT, but hey, it is Dallas.
I went here with a friend of mine that promised MAT wasn't like other Uptown bars. He was right - at least at the other Uptown bars that I have been to the bartenders are nice.
Our bartender was rude and radiated disdain for his job. He ignored us every time we needed refills and gave us attitude when we asked questions about the beer they had. He didn't seem to appreciate being interrupted from the epic convo he was having with his pal to at the other end of the bar.
Somebody needs to get laid or slipped an anti-asshole pill.
Bup bup bup!
If you love karaoke and can't really sing, then the MAT is a fun Friday night. There is an actual stage and the whole bar gets into it. We had so much fun.
The atmosphere is very laid back and casual for uptown and the patio is a great place to sit and watch everyone on McKinney Ave go by.
This place is the personification of the theme song for Cheers. After about two visits- all of the staff will address you by your name. The patrons will introduce themselves and soon they will know your name as well.
The drinks are well mixed, there is a huge selection on the bar as well as a huge beer selection to choose from. The food is great and the menu has something for everyone.
This is no high tech sports bar, the setup inside is classic neighborhood place. Friday nights are the busiest. In short, all around great place.
I love the Mat. Although we frequent Frankie's more often, and nicer places have opened like Ten Sport Grill, the MAT is an old standby that is best for Mavs games but overall an all around great sports bar.
The TVs could use updating, but for the most part every seat in the house has a great view, the buckets of beer are always cold, and the line for the bathroom is always longer for the guys which is a nice bonus!
The food is awesome, I love their bowtie rustica! You can also get great bar food - they have awesome boneless wings, sandwiches, burgers and artichoke dip YUM!
everyone's here to watch sports, you never see that random group of people chatting away - everyone's passionately cheering for their team (which sucked saturday as the OU fans were going on and on with their Boomer Sooner cheer...you are playing TCU, is it really that exciting to run the score up 30-3 in 15 minutes?)
anyway, love the Mat and can't wait to watch Mavs this year!
I came here on a slow night (rain) so I can't really comment on the crowd. On the weekends, I'm sure it's filled with the usual uptown crowd. However, I really did like the space and the large TV for watching the game.
Went there on Friday night for the OU/Tulsa game. This was an organized event for the Dallas OU Fans. You pay a small membership fee and then go as a group to watch the games.
I do not think the MAT was really prepared for this particular group. We arrived before the game and everything was totally full, even the patio. I understand this was our fault for being late, and that's not really a problem. I can stand. But I cannot stand very long without a beer.
Seems they didn't really have enough non-busboy folks working. I'm not bashing the busboys, they were totally on. But I really think there were two waitresses total. I never saw a menu, except on a table across the room. The food looked good, but I never got to taste any of it. Did get a bucket of beer.
And the game's sound was turned down kinda low. I was able to see the game fine but here's what I heard, "OU has the ball and...OH MY GOD, I can't believe you're here. I haven't seen you in FOREVAH. *kiss kiss* You look great, is that outfit new? It's soooooo cute. TOUCHDOWN OU!" And that was really loud and everywhere at once. I think it was just the table I was behind. But from the looks of the room about every other table had that coversation going on.
And here's a suggestion...Ladies, but the bedazzler away.
The MAT had free valet parking, which they needed because the lot holds about ten cars. They have plenty of televisions. On any night I bet this is the place to be. The food looked good, a variety of salads and appetizers came skimming by us. And the beers were the perfect temperature--little ice crystals in the first gulp.
I'd recommend this place, just not when it's packed.