In Carrollton, we’ve identified the perfect genre for casual gatherings: the ‘Super Satisfying Bar & Grill For Grabbing Burgers And Brews With Buddies’ (SSBGFGBBWB). These spots serve up hearty plates and cold pints without breaking the bank—think $50 per person for a full feast. Now, let’s dive into the top 20 where the grill sizzles and the conversation flows.
Rusty Beagle
$ | (972) 317-1682 | WEBSITE
Burgers and wings make for pretty great fuel for game day. At Rusty Beagle, a bar and grill in Carrollton, you can split a Tequila Sunrise burger with a Jurassic-sized patty with your crew, and add on a couple of surprisingly varied drinks served in chilled glasses. With tables of people (some in jerseys) munching on Cuban sandwiches and eating catfish and chips, it’s a welcoming place for a casual hangout.
Deuce’s Bar
$ | (469) 466-8218 | WEBSITE
The main reason why we come to Deuce’s Bar is the poker league. It’s filled with friendly regulars around green felt tables, and there’s a pool table in the middle of it, as if the whole place is a front for the neighborhood social club. The main bar area—with its reasonable drink prices and wide beverage selection—is also pretty pleasant. Wherever you choose to sit, you can eat some divine cheese curds and drink a $6 house draft.
The Quarter Bar & Grill
$ | (972) 788-1919 | WEBSITE
Some restaurants work for just about any occasion, and The Quarter Bar & Grill is one of them. Their classic dishes—like the Chicken Fried Chicken—are consistently good, the prices won’t break the bank, and the Carrollton spot feels like the living room of someone who knows how to relax properly. It’s surprisingly cozy and calming, with a great patio, string lights, and plenty of space to watch games and unwind.
Benders Sports And Spirits
$ | (972) 807-2026 | WEBSITE
Benders Sports And Spirits is less a classic sports bar, more a neighborhood hangout that serves delicious margaritas and cosplays as a classic sports bar. But either way, it’s still a welcoming spot for watching football on plenty of TVs, or playing pool and board games any time. If you find yourself bringing all your game days here, consider their affordable prices, so you never have to worry about your wallet while enjoying their consistently above par food.
54th Street Restaurant & Drafthouse- The Colony
$ | (214) 469-1054 | WEBSITE
54th Street Restaurant & Drafthouse might be the most affordable place for bar-and-grill fare in Carrollton. It’s also kid-friendly, and has a very lively collection of pop culture items on display throughout the space. (We particularly love the basketball memorabilia during NBA Playoffs season.) Focus on the chicken dishes, like the $18 Chicken Madeira with fresh mushrooms and wine sauce, or the $16 chicken tenders basket with crispy fries and honey mustard.
Kenny’s Burger Joint – Frisco
$ | (214) 618-8001 | WEBSITE
This burger joint has unique quotes on the walls, a welcoming vibe, and servers like Cyndi and Emily who provide attentive, friendly service. The Big Kahuna and Brontosaurus burgers are juicy, flavorful and always cooked to perfection, while the fries and onion rings receive high praise. Most burgers cost around $15-18, but the portions are absolutely generous. For many items, one order is more than enough to satisfy. Also, Kenny’s offers a full bar with excellent drink selections.
Strokers Ice House
$ | (214) 351-5252 | WEBSITE
No burger at Strokers Ice House costs more than $15. That’s especially great because this Carrollton spot feels like the kind of place where you’d spend $22 on some brisket in Uptown Dallas. Classic rock tunes, rustic wood paneling, $6 pints of cold beer and those excellent sandwiches help stretch out an afternoon here. Come with a friend or two—the portions are quite generous.
Hillside Tavern
$$ | (214) 888-0152 | WEBSITE
Hillside Tavern is a bar and grill, but it feels like a neighborhood spot that’s all dressed up. They’ve got a pretty superb cheeseburger with locally sourced beef, and there’s also queso and an Italian grinder sandwich and a digital menu of hearty favorites. Grab a few and sip on a daily special cocktail at a casual table with a sports bar vibe.
Lantern St. Grill & Tap House
$ | (469) 814-0249 | WEBSITE
Lantern St. leans more into the sports bar part of this guide than the fine dining part, but it’s still easy to have a big meal at this Carrollton grill for under $30 per person. That’s because you’re going to be drinking beer—they have a solid tap selection, which gives you more room to spend on another order of their fresh, tasty wings.
Quinlan’s Bar and Grill
$ | (972) 416-7600 | WEBSITE
Between the chalkboard menu and the handwritten specials on the whiteboard, Quinlan’s definitely has the casual thing down. But this bar and grill in Carrollton has the reasonably-priced requirement covered as well. With nothing on the menu over $18, this is one of the few spots in town where you can really feel like you’ve had a night out, without spending a fortune per person.
Sharky’s Bar, Grill & Games
$ | (972) 713-0201 | WEBSITE
Carrollton’s best-kept secret is Sharky’s Bar, Grill & Games, a neighborhood spot by day and a lively entertainment hub by night. Behind the bar, it’s cozy, but usually pretty easy to grab a seat. They serve all of the grill’s most beloved dishes, like smoked brisket or blackened fish tacos, just in generous portions. Round out your meal with crispy sweet potato fries and some strong, inexpensive drinks.
Sports Page Grill
$ | (214) 654-1021 | WEBSITE
This Carrollton spot is always full of travelers grabbing quick bites before flights or hotel guests meeting over wings, cheese pizza, and breakfast buffets. Each plate—really more like a generous portion in size—comes carefully packed by the helpful staff as if this were a takeout haven. Grab a seat at the bar for the best TV view, or sit in the accessible dining area for a quick meal.
Tio Carlos Mex-Latin Grill
$ | (972) 514-1848 | WEBSITE
Tio Carlos Mex-Latin Grill was made for this guide. The Carrollton restaurant serves vibrant Mex-Latin cuisine and refreshing margaritas in a dining room full of comfy booths and groups of travelers and locals sharing tender barbacoa street tacos. Focus on the standout dishes, like the rich pork in salsa verde, and the flavorful birria tacos.
Whiskey Moon
$$ | (469) 925-1800 | WEBSITE
Whiskey Moon is a hotel restaurant and then some. The Plano fusion spot—located in the Renaissance Hotel—has standout dishes, like salmon tacos and brisket flatbread, and a wine selection that suits all palates. The old-fashioned cocktail is consistently well-made and considered one of the best in the area. Always make your visit during the daily 5:00 happy hour ritual when they sound the gong and pass out free samples.
The Wild Turkey Dallas
$ | (214) 351-5383 | WEBSITE
The Wild Turkey Dallas offers watermelon margaritas for $14. The design inspiration for your backyard barbecue—in the form of rustic wood accents and sports memorabilia—is a nice bonus. The Carrollton spot serves pretty solid fried catfish with a crispy coating for dinner, but the best thing here is their tender spare ribs, which they only serve as a hearty special.
Crockett’s Restaurant & Bar
$$ | (972) 980-0895 | WEBSITE
Crockett’s Restaurant & Bar offers a variety of dining options, including a buffet and menu service, and this Carrollton spot shines in its cheerful atmosphere. There are bright, clean spaces with friendly staff, fresh fruit and freshly squeezed orange juice available, and reasonable prices for the location. However, some customers have experienced slow service and long wait times for orders, along with isolated incidents of missing to-go boxes and incorrect food portions.
Overall, the restaurant has potential for being a decent dining spot with some service improvements.
Cafe Gecko Richardson
$ | (972) 373-4359 | WEBSITE
Cafe Gecko Richardson makes things easy. For $18, choose between pizza, burgers, sandwiches, or tacos, and you’ll receive your pick—on a plate surrounded by a basket of crispy fries. All that’s left to do is decide if you’d like to drink from their wide selection of tap beers or a house special, and then you and your friend can work around your plates and watch the game in peace.
Maacs Grill
$ | (214) 496-9464 | WEBSITE
This lively, no-fuss sports bar in Dallas is the kind of place where you immediately feel like part of the crew. The drink specials are so generous, it’s like you’ve accidentally wandered into a time warp and landed back in whatever year you could last easily find $4 crown shots on a Saturday night. Get the catfish and the wings to share too.
The Porch Patio Bar & Kitchen
$ | (214) 513-9838 | WEBSITE
The Porch is a hidden gem tucked away in Carrollton, with a walk-up patio that’s first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early on weekends. It’s run by a crew who clearly love what they do, and they’re there rain or shine, except maybe during the big crawfish festival in spring when they might sneak off to celebrate. Grab a seat at the rustic-modern bar, order their killer weekend crawfish special, and share some laughs with the bartender while you’re at it.
Or snag one of the family-style tables, split the scratch-made tartar sauce with friends, and don’t forget to say hello to the monkey in the diaper—he’s the real regular here.
The Cottage Lounge
$ | (469) 729-9626 | WEBSITE
The cozy dive bar at The Cottage Lounge has a friendly, lively atmosphere with live music from talented bands, and it’s a welcoming place to unwind with friends over cold beers and great conversation. We like to order a few hearty dishes—always the thick, delicious burgers, and also things like tasty bar snacks and other satisfying meals.