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Palace Poker isn’t just a poker room, it’s a full-blown experience. From the moment you step inside, it’s obvious no expense was spared. Luxurious doesn’t even begin to cover it. The place is gorgeous, but two things stop you dead in your tracks: the incredibly large, opulent bar and the state-of-the-art livestream room. Just for context they spent $30,000 on lapel mics alone. That tells you everything you need to know about their commitment to doing things first-class.
Dealers & Floor Staff: Every dealer I saw was sharp, professional, and on point. Some were warmer than others, a few had first-night jitters, but that’s to be expected in a brand-new room. The floor staff? Absolute pros. Whether it was resolving a tricky call at the table or getting a player chips in seconds, they handled it like seasoned veterans who live and breathe the game.
The Bar: Let’s talk about Imogen. If the Ritz-Carlton isn’t missing her yet, they will be. I walked up to the massive bar, asked for “something with Tito’s, refreshing, and not sweet,” and holy @#$% she nailed it. Whatever she made, I ordered two. She’s a mixology assassin, and she’s clearly not the only all-star they recruited. This staff feels like they poached the best of the best from across the industry.
The Food: I had the Blackened Scottish Salmon, and I’m telling you — best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. Perfectly cooked, with a lemon-caper sauce that had me literally shouting “HOLY @#$%!” after my first bite. Yes, the whole table stared. No, I don’t regret it. This was a culinary knockout in a poker room, which is almost unheard of.
The Action: They’ll spread just about any game you want as long as the players are there. My table was packed with action and real gamblers, plus plenty of familiar faces from the DFW poker scene. The vibe is both high-end and welcoming — you can walk in wearing a tux or camo shorts and feel right at home.
Bottom line: Palace Poker just set a new standard. This is the room that’s going to make every other poker spot in town step up their game — or get left behind. If you play poker in DFW and haven’t been here yet, you’re already late.
