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LOCAL + SMALL: DENTON

@local_small

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Your local Denton food and lifestyle blogger. OG Dentonite. Honest reviews. Showing ❤️ for local and small businesses.

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We started local+small for one reason…

To support the local and small businesses who make Denton, DENTON. During the pandemic, we kept seeing beloved shops and restaurants struggling… and we decided to do something about it.

Since we were already going above and beyond to support them financially (and as often as possible), we took photos and videos to promote them (for free) to remind the people of Denton to do the same.

But as a marketer by trade, I couldn’t just post a photo of a hamburger and say “Happy Friyay!” Then expect people to care. I wanted to tell people everything we ordered, what we recommended, what to expect, the vibe, the experience, all of it.

Maybe overkill, but our small businesses are the heart of this community and they deserve all the attention.

We are both children of local small business owners and passionate about helping them all succeed. That’s why we’ve never taken or accepted a single dollar from a business to promote them here.

Of course not gonna lie, a complimentary experience is always appreciated anytime I do an actual “collab” (even though it’s not often) because— especially nowadays— I simply just don’t have the time to keep this account constantly active with fresh content because I’m a toddler mom, work full time in marketing, have a growing side business in marketing, and super involved in the Downtown Denton Foundation on their board of directors as the Marketing Chair since 2021.

YALL. I may be a little crazy trying to do it all. 😅

Anyway, thought I’d put out something personal for once and hope you keep supporting your local and small businesses FIRST before buying at big box, online retailers and chains.

We ❤️ you, #DentonTX.

Evan and Courtney by @local_small

Spooky scary (good) beverages enjoyed the month of October.

✨Smoked maple pecan old-fashioned + pumpkin espresso martini + holla back girl signature cocktail at @rubyrodeo_denton

✨Spirits of the Cantina: La Llorona + El Charro Negro + El Nahual + La Pascualita at @wildcactuscantina

✨Espresso martini and fall menu specials at @buffalohirsch

✨Ecto Juice seltzer at @dentoncbc

Until next October, #DentonHalloween! by @local_small

We’ve been coming here for 20+ years as a couple 🤯

@jinbehlewisville is one of those places I am begging to come to Denton (especially the Denton square) for the perfect entertainment and dining experience.

We started dating when we were 16 and this was THE ultimate nice date night spot for special occasions like birthdays or dating anniversaries… and now as adults with careers, it’s one of our favorite non-Denton places to spend date night.

Jinbeh is our favorite hibachi place we’ve ever been to mainly because of their fried rice - there must be some secret ingredient because we can never replicate the same flavor attempting it at home on our Blackstone.

We even get a double order of fried rice to split between the two of us. 🤤

Our go-to date night order:
✨Large house sake with peach
✨Hibachi Surf & Turf: filet mignon and shrimp
✨Comes with soup, salad, dipping sauces (ginger sauce is my favorite for any meat), vegetables, bean sprouts, and rice (upcharge to fried rice). Double the fried rice order.

@jinbehjapanese please make Denton your 3rd location! by @local_small

Come for the tapas. Stay for the spirits. 👻

In the #HalloweenCapitalofTexas, restaurants and bars like @wildcactuscantina are serving up scary-good concoctions and bites you don’t want to miss this October.

We had these Spirits of the Cantina:

✨La Llorona: Peach Smash with mezcal, peach, brown sugar, lemon, orange liqueur and cinnamon. Topped with foam!
✨El Charro Negro: Banana Bread Old Fashioned with bourbon, banana liqueur, cinnamon sugar, black walnut, chocolate and aromatic bitters. A popular choice!
✨El Nahual: Apple Crumble with reposado tequila, apple cider, butterscotch, maple, lemon and black walnut bitters
✨La Pascualita: Hot Honey Pear with gin, pear liqueur, guava, lemon and habanero infused honey

Wild Cactus is also the only tapas restaurant in downtown Denton, so of course we had to try their October specials + year-round menu.

✨Mini Tostada Flight
✨Barbacoa Tacos
✨Elote Cup
✨Guacamole
✨Queso (with birria added)
✨Churro Cheesecake 🤤
✨Pumpkin Spice Tres Leches Cake

We left with happy FULL tummies — and look forward to some exciting new updates coming soon for Wild Cactus! 👀

Love this feature for #DentonHalloween! by @local_small

Blown away by EastOakDAngeline’s newest baby, @buffalohirsch. 🤯

And it just turned one! 🎉🎂

I didn’t know what to expect, but this place is WAY cooler than I imagined it could be (because Denton is the coolest). Almost feels like Eastside + Oak Street Drafthouse + Miss Angeline’s rolled into one — with a ton of outdoor seating, separate whiskey/beer and cocktail bars, and a fenced-in property made for hanging out.

✨ Weekday happy hour: basically half off most things, 4–6pm
✨ Massive outdoor screen for sports and movies
✨ Denton favorites @tomatopizzaltx and @pickledcarrotltx on the food truck lineup

And all of this in a seriously revamped @otlewisville. 💯

We’re already ready to go back. If you’re near #LewisvilleTX, trust me…. add this one to your list. by @local_small

I haven’t played a claw machine since Brunswick WAY back in the day. #iykyk

So not gonna lie, I was skeptical and confused at first why this concept of entertainment was so popular. But now that I’ve been to @clawzania.denton, I see the hype.

What I loved about it:

✨Staff can help fluff and place items to help you win on something you really want.
✨It’s less about which “toys” you get from machines, and more about what prizes you can trade those toys in for.
✨They have WAY more games than I expected than just traditional claw machines. Even a fun photo booth!
✨Their trade-in prizes are awesome, and they have some highly unique items exclusive to the Denton location that people go crazy about. First-come-first-served makes it a real competition!

Tips:
➡️ Aim for items closest to the hole in case it drops, your chances of getting it are higher. And aim for the heaviest/bulkiest part of the toy (like the head).
➡️ Ask staff if there’s something you really want but having trouble getting. They’ll fluff it and rearrange to make it easier.
➡️ Look for sign “does not count towards trade in” for items that you have to keep if you win (i.e. candy)
➡️ Turn won items into “digital points” that never expire for that specific location so you can build up points to trade in for big prizes!
➡️ It’s basically $1 per token (and most games are one token each play), but the more you buy the more value you get.

Check it out sometime! by @local_small

A small menu Denton can’t get enough of.

Everyone I know who’s been to @theponydenton since it opened a month ago has already gone back 1-2 more times. After one visit, I get it. This place gives you a reason to keep coming back.

✨The food + bevs:
Get here early! The small-batch fermented pizza dough sells out fast. Meats and cheeses are sliced in-house daily, and they use “double zero” European flour and olive oil from Italy. We ordered the meatballs (trust me, get them), melon & prosciutto with balsamic, and the Rosmarino white pizza (Italian sausage, fennel, rosemary, portobello), and the spicy mushroom (but substituted salami with their hand cut pepperoni). To drink: the Yellow Lotus, made with limoncello, gelato, and prosecco. CHEFS KISS.

✨The creative space:
Coined “Cocktail & Clay” - grab a cocktail or mocktail, sit down with the clay and tools, and make a piece of art to take home. Some come just for this, or enjoy the activity after you eat!

✨The live music:
Every Saturday at 7pm the kitchen closes and the space becomes a listening room for live music with candles, incense, and mood lights for a full out experience that night.

✨The vibe
It feels like Marfa the moment you step in. The owners handpicked the decor on their travels, and they made a lot of it themselves. You’ll feel like you left Denton for the southwestern desert, yet somehow equally connected to the local community at the same time. Right now they’re giving it a Halloween makeover for the “Halloween Capital of Texas.”

✨The owners
It’s a local, family-owned place — and true Texans, but with authentic Italian roots woven into their menu. Everything they serve comes from their travels and their love for this community. by @local_small

Authentic Korean bakery & cafe now open - right off the Denton Square!

I’ve seen videos of popular Korean baked goods from all over the world, and had to try it for myself. The texture and flavor was just as expected — pillowy, ultra-soft and flavor offerings unlike anywhere I’ve seen in Denton.

But what surprised me most about coming to @creambunnyofficial were two things:

1) It’s owned and operated by a local family who moved here from South Korea a couple years ago. And it’s not a chain, even though they have a couple other locations in DFW. Cream Bunny in Denton is the FIRST location that opened with this new name (they purchased original Honeybird Bakery business from Flower Mound).

2) They have a LOT more than just sweet donuts and pastries! They have savory breakfast sandwiches and tacos, tons of coffee and non-coffee drink options, and apparently their chicken sandwiches and biscuit sandwiches for lunch are very delicious too (plus various tots and fries). I’ll have to try it out!

I ordered:
✨Butterfly Peach Lemonade
✨Banana Bread Latte (iced)
✨Bunny S.E.C. (Breakfast sandwich with homemade grilled pork sausage, scrambled layered egg, cheddar and smoked paprika mayo on a bun)
✨Pistachio Croissant
✨Cookie Butter (cream bread donut filled with Biscoff cream)

Made fresh in house daily. They worked on these unique recipes for months before opening, but they are always open to feedback and suggestions.

Check them out! by @local_small

Could this be your new favorite Denton brunch spot?

The new owner of @risingsuncafe gets Denton. Zero sacrifice on quality with this curated menu, but with prices locals will seriously love.

The coffee & drinks: Such a unique menu of bevs including Rainbow Matcha (nobody else in Texas has this one), the Ube latte and Biscoff latte. Real fresh fruit syrup mimosas and truly fresh-squeezed OJ.

The food: 99% of menu items made fresh from scratch. You can taste the quality guaranteed. ALSO FOR REAL authentic Belgian Waffles — because he is from Belgium!

Feeling brave? Take on their Challenge Burger or Burrito for a prize. Bring your appetite for SPICE and your timer!

The prices: All beers $3 (even local brews). Specialty coffees and brunch cocktails priced so you don’t have to choose between quality and your wallet. Avg of $7 and the portions are big!

The vibe: warm atmosphere, calm music that’s soft enough for you to read a book, incredible artwork from local artists for sale covering the walls. Makes you want to sit and stay awhile with a friend over coffee or wine.

The extras:
✔️Student discounts on everything
✔️Senior (65+) discount, Tue-Thu breakfast buffet for $9.90
✔️Earn loyalty points, get coupons
✔️Casual social events to meet new people
✔️Happy hour: wine and mimosas BOGO 50% off, M-Th 1-3pm, F-Su 3-5pm
✔️Incentive to use drive-thru with discounts on coffee (but it’s not fast-food!)

I ordered:
✨Rainbow Matcha
✨Ube Latte
✨Biscoff Latte
✨Blueberry Mimosa
✨Pink Diamond Mimosa (strawberry raspberry)
✨Hangover Burger
✨Chicken and Waffle

If I lived on this side of town I guarantee I would be a regular. So good and priced to be a major repeat spot! by @local_small

Every diehard foodie has their moments (and opinions). But who can relate? 😅 by @local_small

Yoga studio by morning, wood-fired pizza by evening.

@aglio_denton isn’t just a pizzeria… it’s a highly-sought out, limited availability, truly artisan dining experience that’s beyond any Neapolitan pizza you’ve ever had.

We ordered:
✨Aglio pizza
✨Margherita pizza
✨A glass of Skin Contact (basically orange wine - similar to a rosé but way less flavorful, so not my fave, but glad I tried it)

The CRUST, yall 🤌 Basically doesn’t matter what the toppings are here, it’s gonna be delicious with a top quality crust like this.

Owners Stacy and Dave also run the @yp_school_of_yoga, which is located in the same building and turned into the plant-lined seating area for dining guests.

Glad we finally got a chance to go — be back soon! by @local_small

Elevated underground dining that feels like you’re in Italy… right here in Denton. 🙌

This “la grotta” style Italian restaurant on the Denton Square, @reditalian_denton, is exactly what this town needed. And it’s now open!

The aesthetic. 💯
The service. 💯
The attention to detail. 💯
The food. 💯
The WINE LIST. 💯

🍷Let me talk about the wine list real quick - you will NOT find these hand-picked selections of Italian wine at any store. And I’m sad about it because the wine we got was SO good and very reasonably priced.

We ordered:
👌Complimentary focaccia
👌Earth & Embers (Stuffed Mushrooms with italian cheese, sausage, breadcrumbs, demi-glace, white wine sauce)
👌Linguine in High Heels (shrimp, lemon, feta, white wine sauce, spinach, red chili flakes)
👌Gold, Shell & Silk (whole lobster tail, Arborio rice, seafood broth, Parmigiano-Reggiano)
👌Dust & Decadence (Chicken Marsala)
👌Devils in the Details (pan seared shrimp, fiery crushed red bell pepper tomato sauce, linguine)
👌Marco Bonfante red Italian wine bottle

They even have these cute conversation cards - unique at each seat at each table! 🥰

Make it your next date night and book a reservation on their website! by @local_small