Here ‘Tis the AllGood Cafe

Since opening our doors in the summer of 2000, AllGood Cafe has been a beloved mainstay of Deep Ellum’s vibrant community—a place where good food, great music, and genuine hospitality come together like pancakes and syrup.

Our story begins long before 2000, when founder Mike Snider first fell in love with Deep Ellum in the mid-1980s. As a passionate music promoter and concert booker, Mike spent years championing the sounds that define Texas—Western Swing, Rockabilly, Folk, Zydeco, Bluegrass, and Americana—bringing national and local talent to stages across the neighborhood. He was instrumental in bringing bands like Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Bill Kirchin, and Ray Price to Dallas and helped launch the careers of many of us musicians like Old 97’s, Killbilly, 1100 Springs, and, of course, The O’s. When it came time to open his own place, Mike envisioned more than just a restaurant. He created a reflection of everything he loved: food, music, people, fun, and this remarkable neighborhood.

John Pedigo and Robin Gill run things now, and carry the same ethos. Robin leads with an impressive culinary background while John handles the music programming and booking. And together, we’re still making that grilled cheese with roasted green chiles and tomatoes that people have been ordering since day one, the chicken fried steak that makes people text their friends, and the Huevos Rancheros that regulars post to their Instagram stories. Some of our recipes came from other Deep Ellum places—Deep Ellum Cafe, Daddy Jack’s Wood Grill—spots that aren’t around anymore but left their mark on what we do.

The walls are covered in old concert posters because Mike couldn’t stop collecting them. There are origami swans hanging from the ceiling. Musicians still play on our stage regularly. We serve breakfast until 3 PM because mornings are hard and people deserve eggs whenever they want them. We have no TVs, because what’s the point of going out if you’re just staring at a screen?

Look, we’re not fancy. We’re a little rough around the edges, like everything in Deep Ellum. But that’s kind of the whole point. This is a place where you can sit down, eat something good, hear some music, and not have to perform being anyone other than yourself.

If you’ve been here before, you already know. If you haven’t, come see what we’re all about.