Tracking Coronavirus’s Impact on Dallas’s Restaurant Industry

A constantly updated guide to restaurant closures, take-out options, and more important intel

Contributors: Courtney E. Smith, Amy McCarthy, and Brittanie Shey

In Dallas and beyond, restaurants are scrambling to brace for the impact that COVID-19, the viral infection that the World Health Organization recently classified as a global pandemic, will have on the hospitality industry.

We’re already seeing restaurant closures and massive changes to service, including a pivot to take-out and delivery for a number of establishments. In the coming weeks, Eater will be obsessively tracking coronavirus’s impact on Dallas’s bustling restaurant scene, and curious diners can find all our coverage here.

Check out Dallas County Health and Human Services’s website for more details about novel coronavirus in DFW.

75 Total Updates Since
Mar 13, 2020, 9:21am CDT

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July 15, 2022
CDC Puts Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant County COVID Risk Levels at Red. What Does It Mean for Restaurants?

By Courtney E. Smith

The news comes as variants BA.4 and BA.5 spread and hospitalizations increase
December 17, 2020
These Dallas Restaurants Have Permanently Closed During the Coronavirus Pandemic

By Amy McCarthy

A running list of establishments that have called it quits since restaurants were required to close their dining rooms
October 19, 2020
Dallas County’s Public Health Experts Say Trick-or-Treating This Halloween Is Unsafe

By Amy McCarthy

Instead, the county’s public health committee recommends at-home parties and virtual costume contests
October 14, 2020
How Dallas-Area Counties Are Handling Bar Reopening

By Amy McCarthy

Here’s everything you need to know about reopenings in Dallas County, Collin County, Denton County, and beyond
October 13, 2020
Tarrant County Will Allow Bars to Reopen Despite Rising COVID-19 Cases

By Amy McCarthy

The decision comes days after videos from extremely crowded Fort Worth "restaurants" went viral
October 6, 2020
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Cryptic Tweet Hints at Bar Reopening ‘Soon’

By Amy McCarthy

After Abbott said that he plans to announce more reopenings soon, Dallas County judge Clay Jenkins voiced opposition to the move
September 17, 2020
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Allows Dallas Restaurants to Expand Capacity, Bars Must Remain Closed

By Amy McCarthy

The expanded reopenings go into effect on Monday
September 8, 2020
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Is Rooting for the City’s Bars and Restaurants

By Amy McCarthy

The judge in charge of Dallas’s coronavirus response sounds off on dining out safely and why restaurants should be included in the next federal stimulus package
August 26, 2020
Despite Major Rule Changes, Dallas Bars Are Still in Crisis

By Amy McCarthy

Texas’s ham-fisted handling of bar shutdowns has put some of the city’s best watering holes in serious jeopardy
August 25, 2020
Notorious Deep Ellum Bar Bottled Blonde Under Investigation Over COVID-19 Capacity Limits

By Amy McCarthy

Photos of the always-crowded drinking destination and "pizzeria" went viral over the weekend, showing massive crowds and few masks
August 12, 2020
Legendary Fort Worth Honky-Tonk Billy Bob’s Will Reopen This Week

By Amy McCarthy

The iconic club obtained new permits to operate as a restaurant, with tons of safety precautions in place
July 15, 2020
Addison’s Oktoberfest is DFW’s Latest Major Event Cancelation Due to COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

The annual beer bonanza was originally scheduled for late September
July 9, 2020
Dallas Bar Owners Are Suing Gov. Greg Abbott Over Forced Closures

By Amy McCarthy

A Dallas County judge denied a temporary restraining order that, if granted, would’ve allowed the closed establishments to reopen
July 7, 2020
The 2020 State Fair of Texas Is Officially Canceled

By Amy McCarthy
1 comment / new

Fair food enthusiasts will have to wait until 2021 for their deep-fried faves

1 comment / new
July 7, 2020
With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Urges Outdoor Dining

By Amy McCarthy

Better yet, just order takeout
July 2, 2020
These Dallas Restaurants Have Temporarily Closed After Employees Tested Positive for COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

A running list of the restaurants that are shutting down, testing their employees, and sanitizing restaurant spaces
June 26, 2020
With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Shutters Dallas Bars Again

By Amy McCarthy

Restaurants are also required to return to 50 percent capacity on Monday, June 29
June 25, 2020
Starting on Friday, Masks Are Required in Tarrant County Restaurants

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

The order goes into effect on Friday, June 26
June 22, 2020
Diners Are Now Required to Wear Masks in Dallas County Restaurants

By Amy McCarthy

Businesses that fail to enforce the mask requirement face fines of $500 per violation
June 18, 2020
As Coronavirus Cases Spike in Dallas, A Deep Ellum Bar Preemptively Closes Its Dining Room

By Amy McCarthy

Shoals Sound and Service will open for curbside pickup and delivery only until new COVID-19 cases decline
June 15, 2020
Dallas Diners Really Suck at Social Distancing

By Amy McCarthy
1 comment / new

After visiting several popular establishments over the weekend, it was abundantly clear that many Dallasites seem to think the coronavirus pandemic is over

1 comment / new
June 15, 2020
More Dallas Restaurants Forced to Close Again As Employees Contract COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

Cane Rosso’s Carrollton location and Zoli’s in Addison are the latest restaurants to shutter temporarily
June 10, 2020
After Reopening at 50 Percent Capacity, Royal China Closes As Employee Contracts COVID-19

By Amy McCarthy

The shutter of the beloved Preston Royal restaurant is temporary, but no reopening timeline has been announced
June 8, 2020
Downtown Breakfast Restaurant Didn’t Close After Employee Tested Positive for COVID-19

By Brittanie Shey@brittanieshey

Yolk continued to serve diners, and allegedly failed to notify its employees that one of their co-workers had contracted the virus
June 3, 2020
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Allows Dallas Bars and Restaurants to Increase Capacity

By Amy McCarthy

Bars can immediately increase their capacity to 50 percent, and restaurants can increase to 75 percent on June 12

Tracking Coronavirus’s Impact on Dallas’s Restaurant Industry

CDC Puts Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant County COVID Risk Levels at Red. What Does It Mean for Restaurants?

These Dallas Restaurants Have Permanently Closed During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Dallas County’s Public Health Experts Say Trick-or-Treating This Halloween Is Unsafe

How Dallas-Area Counties Are Handling Bar Reopening

Tarrant County Will Allow Bars to Reopen Despite Rising COVID-19 Cases

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Cryptic Tweet Hints at Bar Reopening ‘Soon’

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Allows Dallas Restaurants to Expand Capacity, Bars Must Remain Closed

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Is Rooting for the City’s Bars and Restaurants

Despite Major Rule Changes, Dallas Bars Are Still in Crisis

Notorious Deep Ellum Bar Bottled Blonde Under Investigation Over COVID-19 Capacity Limits

Legendary Fort Worth Honky-Tonk Billy Bob’s Will Reopen This Week

Addison’s Oktoberfest is DFW’s Latest Major Event Cancelation Due to COVID-19

Dallas Bar Owners Are Suing Gov. Greg Abbott Over Forced Closures

The 2020 State Fair of Texas Is Officially Canceled

With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Urges Outdoor Dining

These Dallas Restaurants Have Temporarily Closed After Employees Tested Positive for COVID-19

With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Shutters Dallas Bars Again

Starting on Friday, Masks Are Required in Tarrant County Restaurants

Diners Are Now Required to Wear Masks in Dallas County Restaurants

As Coronavirus Cases Spike in Dallas, A Deep Ellum Bar Preemptively Closes Its Dining Room

Dallas Diners Really Suck at Social Distancing

More Dallas Restaurants Forced to Close Again As Employees Contract COVID-19

After Reopening at 50 Percent Capacity, Royal China Closes As Employee Contracts COVID-19

Downtown Breakfast Restaurant Didn’t Close After Employee Tested Positive for COVID-19

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Allows Dallas Bars and Restaurants to Increase Capacity

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