Known for large plates of lavishly plated Texas cuisine, Chef Dean Fearing’s eponymous restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton Dallas is nothing if not showy. But there’s quality in every dish and the outdoor seating area is big like Texas. Grab some sips from the Rattlesnake Bar, then feast on Chef Fearing’s famous tortilla soup, steak, fish and more before finishing off with Granny Fearing’s Banana Pudding with New Orleans Style Beignets, all while live music plays on the patio.

If color + flavor = celebration, Jose has that in spades. James Beard celebrated Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman plays with both on her menu full of modern and traditional Mexican flavors like soft shell crab tacos and 631-day aged mole, respectively. The patio at José is chic and modern, and spacious enough for a safe celebration, and the bar’s attractive and creative cocktails never disappoint.

With locations at the Dallas Highland Hotel and The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, Chef John Tesar’s Knife Steakhouse serves modern aged cuts, burgers, pastas, seafood and bacon tastings that always demand attention. The cocktail or two, some bigeye tuna tartare followed by Tesar’s signature garganelli and black truffle essence pasta and a perfectly grilled dry-aged steak on the patio at either location sounds like a celebration.

In the evening, it’s nearly impossible to walk past Revelers Hall in Dallas’ Bishop Arts District without stopping and staring. The daily live music spills out into the street, where the owners have built outdoor seating and “parklets” for more socially distant listening and drinking. Bar bites and extremely classic cocktails accompany the raucous sounds.

With a Frozey Rosey (frozen rose) or a Frozen Frenchy (frozen French 75) in hand and a couple of Parigi’s daily specials on order, any night can feel special. This neighborhood bistro owned by chef Janice Provost has been a mainstay of the Oak Lawn neighborhood for over 30 years. The newly expanded patio allows more safe outdoor dining, while inside remains at 50% capacity.

The team at Uchi (as well as at sister restaurant Uchiba above) has worked hard to put safety first when it comes to their staff and customers. Reservations are required in order to dine in, and they offer elegant takeaway options as well, with seamless pickup procedures. Chef Alex Astranti oversees one of the best Japanese menus in town, where every plate is art. The patio has been expanded from more of a cocktail waiting area to a full-on outdoor dining “room,” offering omakase to accompany those craft cocktails.

Beautiful frozen cocktails, instagram-worthy plates of mini beef picadillo and poblano chicken tacos, and a slice of the celebration-demanding Piñata Cake make the newly reformatted Tejas in Bishop Arts an ideal spot for special occasions. Reserve a table on the patio to avoid crowds.

Normally, the year-round use of Christmas lights is frowned upon. Not at Las Palmas. Somehow, they add a nostalgic festive vibe to this classic Tex-Mex spot that doesn’t feel the least bit cheap. Add a margarita and an order of ribeye fajitas topped with bone marrow butter and call it a celebration.

With expertly implemented pandemic precautions in place and a newly expanded patio seating area, Sloane’s Corner downtown has celebratory breakfasts, lunches and dinners (complete with live music) covered. Chef Ji Kang has created some of the most interesting International twists on American cuisine, as a focus on diversity feels more important than ever.

This new spot near Klyde Warren Park is a celebration of Southern cuisine in and of itself. Treat whomever you’re celebrating to a head-turning bowl of lobster mac and cheese, topped with a whole lobster, and enjoy 24-hour brined fried chicken-topped waffles with watermelon. A towering PB&J cream pie seals the deal. Patio seating is plentiful, and a dining table above the huge bar inside allows diners to keep their distance.