Saved By The Bell.

Your First Look At Eight Bells Alehouse in Expo Park.

Things have been perhaps a bit slower than usual in Exposition Park these past few months, ever since the Amsterdam Bar went dark.

But now this neighborhood too is bearing fruit from Dallas' seemingly unending and ever-growing restaurant- and bar-opening vine. On Sunday, August 23, a concept called Eight Bells Alehouse, operated by the same team behind Ten Bells Tavern over in Bishop Arts, opened in the old Amsterdam space.

We have high hopes for Eight Bells — mostly because it bears so much in common with its Oak Cliff sister spot. Much in the way that Ten Bells exists on the fringe of Bishop Arts, Eight Bells' Expo Park home puts it just on the outside of Deep Ellum. And, much like Ten Bells, it's the outside space that's the real draw here: Like Amsterdam before it, Eight Bells features a spacious back patio with plenty of seating. (There's also a good amount of ivy covering the back facade of the building, which adds a certain something to the vibe.)

Inside, the new space is a bit dark. But it also looks a bit unfinished. Much of Eight Bells remains a work in progress, actually. The menu, for instance, is currently being referred to as a “preview.” It includes some interesting shareable plates, including tuna-stuffed peppers and sardines that have been “stuffed with the highest quality ingredients.” The sandwich options, meanwhile, are pretty solid — the turkey/sopprossata sandwich in particular.

Here's looking forward to seeing how Eight Bells takes form in coming weeks. But, for now, the fact that it's bringing a homey vibe to a neighborhood that could use it appears to be a nice start.