Eats & Drinks Around Lake Carolyn

Lake Carolyn sits at the heart of Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, and has quickly become one of the most exciting dining destinations outside the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex!

This 126-acre lake isn't just a pretty backdrop, either — it's the centerpiece of a thriving culinary scene that offers everything from casual poke bowls to upscale Indian cuisine. 

Whether you're a resident of our luxury apartments in Las Colinas looking for your new favorite coffee shop or a visitor wanting to explore the area's dining options, the restaurants, bars and cafes around Lake Carolyn deliver variety, quality and those coveted waterfront views.

The dining scene here centers around two main areas: Water Street, which sits directly on the lake's edge, and Toyota Music Factory, just a 5-10 minute walk away. Together, these districts pack in over 40 dining and drinking establishments, creating a food lover's paradise in the middle of Irving.

Eats & Drinks Around Lake Carolyn

Lakefront and Water Street restaurants

Water Street has transformed into a dining destination where you can walk from restaurant to restaurant along the serene lakefront, with each offering its own unique atmosphere and cuisine. The variety here means you could eat at a different spot every night for weeks without repeating a cuisine type!

Pacific Table

Pacific Table anchors the Water Street dining scene with its Pacific Northwest-inspired menu, bringing coastal dining to landlocked Texas with fresh seafood flown in regularly.

The menu features everything from spicy rock shrimp and yellowtail jalapeño rolls to perfectly seared miso salmon, while their shucked-to-order oysters and extensive sushi selection make this a go-to for seafood lovers. The restaurant offers both indoor dining and a waterfront patio where you can watch the sunset over Lake Carolyn, and they run happy hour specials during the week, with complimentary valet parking removing any stress about finding a spot. What more could you want?

Monaco

Just steps away from Pacific Table, Monaco brings a taste of the French Riviera to Irving with sophisticated dining that overlooks both Lake Carolyn and the Las Colinas canals, offering what might be the best views in the area.

The menu really leans into its Mediterranean inspiration with dishes like burrata and prosciutto, fritto misto (fresh seasonal vegetables, battered and fried with smoked paprika aioli), roasted oysters and smoked beef tartare, plus a Margherita pizza that rivals any you'd find in a dedicated pizzeria. Monaco opens for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, making it a versatile choice for anything from business meetings to date nights.

Cork & Pig Tavern

Cork & Pig Tavern on Water Street offers a more casual but still polished dining experience that has built its reputation on wood-fired pizzas, creative salads, hefty sandwiches and signature entrees like their double-cut pork chop with bourbon glaze. The deviled eggs have become somewhat legendary among regulars, and their crab cakes consistently get rave reviews.

The bistro-style patio creates an intimate atmosphere, and their extensive wine and cocktail list means you'll always find the perfect pairing for your meal.

Sanjh Restaurant & Bar

Sanjh Restaurant & Bar might be the most ambitious addition to Water Street, having opened in 2024 as an upscale, two-story restaurant that serves Indian dishes blending generational recipes with French gastronomy techniques.

The open kitchen concept lets diners watch as their dishes come together, adding theater to the meal, while menu highlights include Dahi Puri (yogurt foam with puffed rice spheres), Bharwan Paneer Tikka, goat curry and fish roast. The garlic naan consistently gets mentioned as some of the best in Dallas, and with extensive vegetarian options and creative cocktails that incorporate Indian spices, Sanjh offers fine dining that feels special but not stuffy, with the two-story space providing excellent Lake Carolyn views from the upper level.

Go Fish Poke

Go Fish Poke on Water Street brings a taste of Hawaii to Texas. This fast-casual spot lets you build your own poke bowls with various fish options, or you can choose from their pre-designed specialty bowls. They also serve bento boxes, avocado bombs and rock shrimp, with every order coming with complimentary miso soup, which is a nice touch. The paper menu system where you mark your selections makes ordering simple and quick, and with outdoor patio seating and a takeout-friendly setup, this really is the perfect for a healthy lunch or casual dinner.

The Ginger Man

The Ginger Man rounds out the Water Street dining options with over 100 beers on draught from around the world, and while technically more of a pub than a restaurant, their food menu holds its own with items like a hot jumbo pretzel, fish and chips and bacon cheeseburgers. Weekend brunch features chicken and waffles paired with coffee stouts, and the lively atmosphere and extensive beer selection make this a popular spot for watching games or catching up with friends.

Cafes and coffee shops

The coffee scene around Lake Carolyn has grown significantly in recent years, with options ranging from grab-and-go spots to work-friendly cafes with all the amenities remote workers need.

Pax & Beneficia Coffee

Located directly on Lake Carolyn with views of the Mandalay Canal, Pax & Beneficia Coffee on Water Street has quickly become the area's coffee destination. This shop goes beyond your standard coffee offerings, too, with its Turkish coffee that provides a rich, intense experience, while flavored lattes incorporate unique ingredients like rose and cardamom. The Mediterranean avocado toast makes for a substantial breakfast or lunch, and with free WiFi, power outlets throughout the space and both indoor and outdoor seating, Pax & Beneficia works equally well for business meetings, study sessions or casual catch-ups with friends.

Bruncheon Las Colinas

Bruncheon Las Colinas on Water Street operates as both a breakfast spot and lunch destination. They serve fluffy pancakes with maple syrup and avocado toast topped with poached eggs, with fresh ingredients and reasonable prices that have made this a favorite among local workers and residents.

Creamistry

Creamistry brings a unique dessert experience to Water Street with premium liquid nitrogen ice cream made fresh with each order! The customization options are extensive as you choose your base, flavors and toppings, then they flash-freeze it with liquid nitrogen right in front of you — it's dessert and entertainment rolled into one!

Waterway Cafe

Waterway Cafe overlooking Lake Carolyn serves as a peaceful spot for a working lunch or coffee break, offering fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and daily lunch specials at budget-friendly prices. The indoor and outdoor seating provides lake views, the atmosphere stays quiet enough for phone calls or focused work, and their avocado toast has developed a following among regular customers.

Bars and breweries

While Water Street offers some bar options within its restaurants, the real nightlife action happens at Toyota Music Factory, just a 5-10 minute walk from Lake Carolyn.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill serves scratch-made food, craft cocktails and local beers in a vibrant atmosphere filled with music and sports. Their menu travels the globe with options like Pork Carnitas Salad Bowl, Kung Pao Chicken and British-style fish and chips, and they offer lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and daily happy hour, plus event space for private parties.

Yard House

Yard House has become famous for their yard-high draft beers and extensive tap selection, and beyond the beer, they also serve elevated bar food and American favorites. The space works well for watching sports with numerous TVs and an energetic atmosphere, while their happy hour regularly draws crowds from nearby offices.

Bar Louie

Bar Louie focuses on handcrafted martinis and cocktails alongside chef-inspired gastropub food, with a comfortable atmosphere that encourages lingering and a late-night menu that serves those looking for quality food after most kitchens have closed.

Reservoir

Reservoir describes itself as a modern, industrial patio-driven gastropub with a menu that combines bar favorites with Southern comfort food, all served in a space with one of the area's largest patios. The industrial design creates an interesting contrast with the polished Las Colinas surroundings.

Mama Tried

Mama Tried brings honky-tonk energy to Toyota Music Factory as Irving's spot for late-night fun, staying open until as late (or early?) as 2am on Fridays and Saturdays! Wednesday karaoke nights pack the house, and they also host live music, sports watch parties and other events throughout the week.

Additional Toyota Music Factory dining

Toyota Music Factory houses several more dining options worth mentioning. 

• Gloria's Latin Cuisine serves authentic Salvadoran and Tex-Mex food with award-winning margaritas and their famous black bean dip.
• Shoals Smokehouse brings legitimate Texas barbecue with all the smoked meat essentials. 
• Kitchen 101 offers fresh, uncomplicated whole foods in a fast-casual format.
• Jaxon Texas Kitchen takes an honest approach to classic Texas dishes. 
• The Rayleigh Underground creates an immersive Pacific Rim dining experience in a theater-like setting. 
• Pop Factory serves gourmet popsicles with creative, often locally-inspired flavors.

The Lake Carolyn dining experience

What makes the Lake Carolyn dining scene special goes beyond the individual restaurants, as the concentration of quality establishments within walking distance creates a truly diverse dining district where you can bar hop, try multiple restaurants in one evening or simply enjoy a lakeside stroll between courses.

Water Street's pedestrian-friendly design means you can park one time and explore multiple venues, while the proximity to Toyota Music Factory adds entertainment options that let you grab dinner at Water Street and walk to a concert, or catch a show and then head to a late-night spot.

Most restaurants offer outdoor seating to take advantage of the lake views and Texas weather, with weekday happy hours ranging from 3pm to 6pm, making after-work gatherings both affordable and convenient. Weekend brunch has become a Lake Carolyn tradition, with multiple venues offering special menus and drink deals.

The diversity of cuisines means groups with different tastes can all find something appealing, as within a few blocks you can travel from the Pacific Northwest to the French Riviera, from Hawaii to India or from Mexico to the Texas hill country. Price points vary as well, from quick, affordable poke bowls to special-occasion dinners at Sanjh or Pacific Table.

The area continues to evolve with new restaurants and concepts regularly joining the mix, and the combination of established favorites and newcomers keeps the dining scene fresh and gives locals reasons to keep exploring. Whether you're looking for a morning coffee spot, a business lunch venue, a romantic dinner destination or a late-night hangout, Lake Carolyn has plenty of options that rival many dining districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex!

For residents of our luxury Las Colinas apartments, having this caliber and variety of dining within walking distance adds significant value to your Lake Carolyn lifestyle, while for visitors, it provides a compelling reason to explore Las Colinas beyond its business centers and hotels. 

The restaurants around Lake Carolyn have transformed this area from a pleasant lakeside development into a genuine culinary destination. Go check them all out and see which one is your favorite!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo courtesy Elevate on Unsplash

Second photo by Outcast India on Unsplash

Third photo by Sander Dalhuisen on Unsplash

Fourth photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash