I was invited to a pre-grand opening event at the new Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Arlington — the company’s second location in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area (with more on the way). Normally, I research a restaurant before visiting for the first time, but it was a really busy week, so I walked in knowing almost nothing about the concept, except that it was new, had a sports theme and featured Louisiana-inspired cuisine.
Drinks and Appetizers
Once there, I quickly realized that Walk-On’s is a sports bar/restaurant. However, aside from all the TVs (80 of them!) and some sports-themed clues here and there, it didn’t look or feel like a typical sports bar. It didn’t taste like one either. The food at Walk-On’s was much better than most sports bar fare.
We enjoyed being able to sample many of the appetizers during the first part of the evening. The boudin balls, fried alligator, tuna tini and grilled boneless wings with the sweet chili sauce were our favorites.
Then we ordered the Boom Boom Shrimp to share … and while the other apps were good, they got edged out by Walk-On’s fried shrimp tossed in an aioli-based boom boom sauce with green onions, served on top of red and green cabbage.
We also ordered the “Bandita” cocktail. I’m a gin and tonic girl, so it was sweeter than what I typically drink, but I wanted to try one of the Walk-On’s signature cocktails. The Bandita is made with Camarena Reposado Tequila, Patron Citronge Mango Liqueur, Finest Call Citrus Sour, Finest Call Lime Sour and Finest Call Simple Syrup and then topped with 7 Moons Red Blend and an orange twist.
If you prefer beer, Walk-On’s gives you plenty of options … and there are even 2 booths with serve-yourself beer taps!
Entrees at Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Arlington
We ordered two entrees. The first was a Sweet Chili Salmon, with green beans and garlic bread. The glaze tasted like the same one used for the grilled boneless wings we liked, and the green beans were surprisingly fresh and seasoned just right.
We also ordered Walk-On’s Crawfish Etou-Ways — crawfish étouffée, rice, fried crawfish, green onions and a piece of garlic bread. It was equally good, although the sauce begged for a second piece of bread to sop it all up.
Best Bite of the Night – Dessert
You don’t walk into a sports bar expecting their dessert to be the wow factor … but Walk-On’s didn’t play fair with Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding. We would go back just for this amazing bread pudding concoction!
Atmosphere, Service and Uniforms
Walk-On’s decor and atmosphere is also a step above most sports bars. Although the 80 TVs beg you to watch some sort of game (or cat videos, on one channel), the flooring, seating, wall and other choices make it a comfortable place to have a meal … and a place you could comfortably go with your family.
And although I’m quite comfortable with a beer in my hand, surrounded by sports fans (especially during the Olympics), I’m not a fan of breastaraunts. Luckily, Walk-On’s (at least what I experienced when I visited) has chosen a different direction with their uniforms.
The founder of Walk-On’s (a basketball team walk-on at LSU in college in the late 90s) said that their clientele across the company’s now 27 locations is 50/50 male and female.
That probably explains Walk-On’s uniforms that I’d happily let either of my children wear – blue shirts with black pants for the females and red shirts with black pants for the males. I hope they never step over to the orange or plaid side …
Address:
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Arlington, TX
401 E Interstate 20 (in the Arlington Highlands shopping area)
Fri – Sat 11am-12am
