Deep Ellum Blog

Business of the Week: Ebb & Flow

September 9, 2022 | Deep Ellum Team

Ebb & Flow on Commerce street is nearing its three-year anniversary, and it’s still a perfect spot for brunch, lunch, happy hour or dinner.

To start off (honestly, at any meal of the day), don’t skip the garden margarita at the top of the menu. With Herradura silver, Cointreau, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeño, agave, lemon and lime, there’s plenty of tartness, a bit of spice and, appropriately, not too much sweetness in this balanced margarita. And frankly, it’s pretty, too.

There are other beverages, of course, some specifically for brunch and those for later hours. Plus wines by the glass or bottle and plenty of beer options.

If you’re here for brunch, try the sweet potato pancakes for a little difference, or go all out with the chicken-fried Benedict.

Then or at other meals, do not skip the fried ravioli — a lovely plate of fried goodness that isn’t on enough menus in town. These four beef raviolis are dusted with Parmesan and fried to a crisp are served with a vibrant marinara.

The sausage queso is another must-get: No matter how slowly you eat it, that texture stays perfect, in between not-runny and not overly thick.

And as a side or appetizer, you of course can’t go wrong with garlic-Parm fries.

Former Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano has a few favorites here, including the Cubano egg rolls. With pork, ham and Swiss cheese wrapped in rice paper and fried, that sounds like a solid choice. Especially since they’re served with spicy mustard, chipotle-barbecue sauce and pickles.

Another nice reason to make a meal out of Ebb & Flow is that it doesn’t break the bank. Take the grilled mahi-mahi, which is topped with a white wine-butter sauce and served with fresh greens: You can get a full, healthier meal for under $15.

If you’re looking to feed the soul more, the grilled ham and cheese is deliciously comforting, with gruyere, smoked cheddar, Swiss cheese and ham with Dijon on sourdough bread for just over 10 bucks.

On a recent visit, the Caesar wrap with grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan, croutons and house-made dressing wrapped in a spinach tortilla was wonderfully filling without making us feel heavy afterward.

The covered entryway serving as the restaurant’s patio is beautiful, as is the interior filled with booths. If you sit at the bar, you get the added benefit of talking more to the friendly staff. That’s a particularly good spot if you’re sitting there on a Wednesday, when Ebb & Flow has excellent deals on glasses and bottles of wine.

Ebb & Flow is located at 2651 Commerce St. and open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.