53 replies to this topic

[rasputin1072]

hey, I am from Kentucky, but I will be going on a trip to Dallas early next month and I was wondering if anyone had some dinning suggestions for me. I will be attending a fundraiser at the MAnsion on Turtle Creek, held by chef Dean Fearing, so food will be taken care of for one day, but i gotta find my food for the two other days. Thanks.

[Mnehrling]

Within a couple of blocks of where you are at are a lot of good places.

One place I frequent often near the Mansion is Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian style steakhouse. I would go there for the salad bar alone -it is probably the only restaurant salad bar that I don't turn my nose up at.

TdB is actually on Turtle Creek Blvd about 2 blocks southwest of the Mansion.

Other restaurants in your general neighborhood include:

Cremona- Italian- right next to TdB
Enigma- about two more blocks south of TdB on Turtle Creek Blvd
Dream Cafe on Howell is great for a organic healthy break

[Lyle]

Within a couple of blocks of where you are at are a lot of good places.

One place I frequent often near the Mansion is Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian style steakhouse.  I would go there for the salad bar alone -it is probably the only restaurant salad bar that I don't turn my nose up at.

TdB is actually on Turtle Creek Blvd about 2 blocks southwest of the Mansion.

Other restaurants in your general neighborhood include:

Cremona- Italian- right next to TdB
Enigma- about two more blocks south of TdB on Turtle Creek Blvd
Dream Cafe on Howell is great for a organic healthy break

Enigma closed about three years ago.

rasputin1072, what type of food/price range are you interested in? You're in a greatly varied area of town.

Sorry, my question was to the wrong person.

Edited by Lyle, 13 June 2005 - 11:12 AM.

[Richard Kilgore]

Welcome rasputin 1072. As Lyle mentioned, we will be able to be more helpful if you can fill us in on what types of food you are interested in, a price range, and whether or not you will have a car and are open to dining away from the immediate area of The Mansion. Breakfast, lunch and dinner?

[misstenacity]

This is in complete disgregard for which part of town you will be in, but here goes:

I had my first tasting menu at Lola a couple of years ago and it was excellent and a bargain at $55 for ten courses.

Also, I love anything coming from a Monica Greene kitchen. She has (at least?) 3 restaurants in town:
Aca y Alla
Pegaso
Ciudad

Enjoy your trip!

Andrea
http://tenacity.net

[rasputin1072]

Hey, i guess that does need some clarification. I am looking for mid-scale dining. Upscale casual if you will. When I was in Dallas last year, the only place I went was a vietnamese restaurant near the mansion. It was good, but not as good as the more authentic places here in Louisville. I will have a car and will probably be looking for both lunch and dinner. Thanks for all your help.

[Richard Kilgore]

Okay, now we're narrowing it down. That still leaves about 999 restaurants to choose from, so let's try to focus it a bit more so we can be more helpful. Beyond upscale casual and authentic, can you tell us anymore about 1) the types of food you are interested in trying here, and 2) price range for lunch and dinner, or a daily average you want to work within --- $50, 75, 100, 200?

Mid-range, upcale casual only, or were you looking for some inexpensive "authentic" places, too.

Mexican, Tex-Mex?

Other Latin American?

Asian, SE Asian?

French, Spanish, Italian?

Other?

[Allen]

It would be difficult to spend any time in Texas without taking in a steakhouse or southwestern cusine. Del Frisco's and Pappa Bro's Steakhouse are two high end steakhouses. Perhaps Star Canyon for regional fare. Cafe Pacific for seafood. Eatzi's is an interesting market / bakery / cafe concept. I've read Abacus has won another major award.

It's been a while since I've been in Dallas but I'm sure the locals could provide many more options.

[robyn]

Hey, i guess that does need some clarification. I am looking for mid-scale dining. Upscale casual if you will. When I was in Dallas last year, the only place I went was a vietnamese restaurant near the mansion. It was good, but not as good as the more authentic places here in Louisville. I will have a car and will probably be looking for both lunch and dinner. Thanks for all your help.

We were in Dallas last month (vacation). Of the restaurants we dined at - La Duni and Ciudad were mid-scale. We liked both of them - and they're pretty close to Turtle Creek. Robyn

[bhoward]

Enigma and Star Canyon, mentioned above, are both long gone. Lola has the best food in town IMO and is very reasonable given the quality. The wine list is also excellent.

[rasputin1072]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am in Dalas right now. The only place I have eaten so far was here at the mansion, a 5 course dinner lastnight. It was so good I can't even describe it. The Dishes were:
-a roasted fig with thyme bacon goatcheese
-Mansion Tortilla soup with chicken, avocado, and cheddae cheese
-Warm Lobster Taco with yellow tomato salsa and Jicama salad
-Yukon River Peking style salmon with Mu Shu vegetable crepe and Ginger Tempura Lobster Salad
-Texas Prime Steak "Diane" with Queso Fresco potatoes, Griddled Asparagus and Chorizo Avocado Nacho
-Mission Creme Brulee with Raspberry Sauce

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to Lola for dinner tomorrow night.

[Richard Kilgore]

Thanks for the report, rasputin1072. Please let us know about your dinner at Lola.

[syoung68]

My family and I are going to be in Dallas in mid Feb. and I am looking for one high end night (sans kids), some good Tex-Mex and BBQ.

We have been to Abacus and had a great meal, but would like to try someplace else. Is Fearings worth going or are there better suggestions. Palmer's? Lola? Though my wife and I are certainly carnivores, steak houses do not appeal to me as I regularly cook prime and even dry aged beef at home.

I have read that Dallas BBQ is not that great, especially when compared to other areas of the state, but it has to be better than I can get readily in New Orleans.

As for Tex-Mex, Mia's?

[bmdaniel]

My family and I are going to be in Dallas in mid Feb. and I am looking for one high end night (sans kids), some good Tex-Mex and BBQ.

We have been to Abacus and had a great meal, but would like to try someplace else. Is Fearings worth going or are there better suggestions. Palmer's? Lola? Though my wife and I are certainly carnivores, steak houses do not appeal to me as I regularly cook prime and even dry aged beef at home.

I have read that Dallas BBQ is not that great, especially when compared to other areas of the state, but it has to be better than I can get readily in New Orleans.

As for Tex-Mex, Mia's?

For high-end, I think it's hard to miss with Charlie Palmer, but something a bit more local might be York Street or Stephen Pyle's. I have never been blown away by Fearing's, especially for the price. Stephen Pyle's new Mediterranean small plates spot Samar is good too, but more casual. We had my wife's b-day dinner at Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant, Five Sixty, at the top of reunion tower last night. The food is very good (maybe not as good as Abacus, York Street, or Pyles, but very good) and the view/experience is probably the most fun in Dallas. I thought service was a bit hit or miss though. Lola is unfortunately defunct. The new chef at the Mansion (Bruno Davaillon from Ducasse's Michelin Starred Mix in Vegas) seems to be getting good initial reviews, but I haven't been.

Tex-mex there are a lot of good options. I'd probably go to Mia's or Avila's myself, or Cafe San Miguel for more of a mex-mex meal.

The BBQ is just thoroughly mediocre. If I was going to go anywhere, it'd either be baby back shak or Baker's ribs, but I'd just as soon have another tex-mex meal. Smoke gets amazingly mixed reviews, but is a new upscale barbecue restaurant. My one visit was pretty mixed as well, but I have seen word that it's evening out.

[Richard Kilgore]

Good suggestions. I very much like York Street and would add Tei-An for Japanese in the Arts District. Just order one of the two Chef's Table options and let them feed you.

Also Manny's Alta Cocina in Ft. Worth, based on reviews and reports here, though I have not been.

I really suggest forgetting barbecue. You have so many better, more interesting options.

[bmdaniel]

Good suggestions. I very much like York Street and would add Tei-An for Japanese in the Arts District. Just order one of the two Chef's Table options and let them feed you.

Also Manny's Alta Cocina in Ft. Worth, based on reviews and reports here, though I have not been.

I really suggest forgetting barbecue. You have so many better, more interesting options.

I forgot about Tei-An; I second this if you are interested in Japanese food (and having a chance to taste excellent, handmade soba).

[syoung68]

That is what I assumed on the BBQ. Upscale Que does not entice me at all. I want a joint on the side of the road somewhere.

I am sure there will be plenty of tex mex to be had for lunch with the fam. I read that Lola was closed right after I posted - that is unfortunate. York Street or Stephen Pyle's sound like the right direction.

Thanks.

[jsmeeker]

Charlie Palmer is great. Just had a very nice meal there the weekend before Christmas. However, Charlie Palmer isn't a Dallas chef. But Dean Fearing is, and I've had two very good meals at Fearing's. (one dinner, one lunch). Dean is a long time Dallas chef, so dining there is a good way to see how Dallasites dine. Another suggestion for a local place is, well, Local. Located in Deep Ellum Really nice.

I still like Mia's brisket tacos. Good stuff. BBQ? In Dallas? Best way to good BBQ in Dallas is Southwest Airlines to Austin. Then a rental car and on to 183 south to Lockhart. :)

[syoung68]

Best way to good BBQ in Dallas is Southwest Airlines to Austin. Then a rental car and on to 183 south to Lockhart. :)

That is what I figured. I get to Austin and Houston often enough to skip BBQ in Dallas.

Currently I am leaning toward Stephen Pyle's, would you choose Local over SP?

[bmdaniel]

Best way to good BBQ in Dallas is Southwest Airlines to Austin. Then a rental car and on to 183 south to Lockhart. :)

That is what I figured. I get to Austin and Houston often enough to skip BBQ in Dallas.

Currently I am leaning toward Stephen Pyle's, would you choose Local over SP?

I wouldn't - it's the kind of place I wish I liked more than I do. Too many misses. I might choose York Street over it though, unless I had a Southwestern preference.

[jsmeeker]

Best way to good BBQ in Dallas is Southwest Airlines to Austin. Then a rental car and on to 183 south to Lockhart. :)

That is what I figured. I get to Austin and Houston often enough to skip BBQ in Dallas.

Currently I am leaning toward Stephen Pyle's, would you choose Local over SP?

I've never been to Stephen Pyles. But he too is a long time Dallas chef and I usually hear good things about the place, so I would certainly consider it.

[bobag87]

For what it is worth, here is my take. Currently, the most consistent and best gourmet food in town is Charlie Palmer's. There is a little western flare here (mostly in the desert offerings), but not much. If you are looking for "Texas" or "Southwestern" takes on cuisine then you should look to Pyles and Fearings. I think Pyles is a notch above Fearings, but many people disagree. My main problem with Fearings is I feel that things are taken too far down a "Southwetern" path just to say it is Southwestern or New Texas cuisine. I think Pyles shows a greater restraint, but the idea still shows through as an inspiration for the food. I also agree that York Street is a good spot if you are looking for a good solid meal. Note that it is small and has its occassional misses, but overall, we have been generally very happy with the meals served there.

I agree that I would skip BBQ in Dallas. Angelo's in Fort Worth has decent ribs, but you have to get to central Texas to get really good BBQ. It is a shame that this is true, but no one has stepped up yet.

[Kevin72]

I highly recommend Pyles or York St. with a slight edge to Pyles, but prepare yourself for price shock on their wine list. If you do Pyles I'd recommend gravitating more to the apps and ceviche choices than the mains though.

[Qwerty]

No love for Craft? That place is quietly humming along, turning out some of the best food in town, IMO.

But you can't go wrong with any of the above suggestions. Don't know if Nonna has been mentioned, but I'd add it to the list.

[bobag87]

I think Craft is putting out good food. It just does not rise to the level of Charlie Palmers (IMO), and there is no Texas focus as with Pyles. All of that aside, we love a good meal at Craft.

[litho7]

Welcome to Dallas! I've only been here a few years and have formerly been spoiled by many years of great eating in Chicago. I'm not willing to say the BBQ is great here compared to what I've eaten on roadtrips further south, but I think the original Sonny Bryans on Inwood is a fun place to grab lunch and bring kids. The tiny shack, old wooden desks and decent ribs remind you that you're somewhere else. Around the corner is the less ambient but very good Mike Anderson's with solid brisket and ribs and buffet dishes of sides and good fried Okra. These are both near the hospital so only worth a stop if you're cruising in the car but not far from Hilton Anatole.

We ate at Pyles for our anniversary and I was very underwhelmed. A few dishes were fun but straight out of Thomas Keller's cookbook. When I tried to applaude the Keller compliment the waiter insisted that it was all Pyles invention. I didn't find much inventive at all. The "ceviche with citrus and popcorn" was just shrimp ceviche with a small side bowl that had about 10pieces of plain popcorn. The taste combo was interesting, but the description implied complexity that was lacking. We had very odd, pompous service that night but that might have been one person. Still, the menu itself had some solid cooking, some weak execution and nothing very innovative at prices nearing 100pp for food I'd expect a LOT more creativity and skill.

I've hear good things about Local and would love to hear more from the folks who dined there.

We had a tasting menu at Abbacus with the chef as guests of friends and some dishes were stellar but many were off and again I felt that aside from very modern stackings, they were mostly as complex as bistro food.

I think the most exciting unusual things in Dallas to eat are in the ethnic neighborhoods. I LOVE INO (http://www.dallasobs...ese-bistro-4670) which is about 20mins from the city and has the ambience of an office in a strip mall (which it basically is). My husband found it for my first birthday in town by searching for good udon on anime blogs (see why I love him!). The menu is full of foods I've never tried despite a few visits to Japan. It's like Japanese tapas. The Chawan mushi is perfect.
twisted root is a fun hotdog stand for the kids with good grub and you can park there and take the dart to fair park if you want to hit museums or events.

Chaat house in Irving is on the way from the airport and we always stop there for legit Indian vegetarian street food.
Enjoy!

[Chefb28]

I'm going to Texas in April and I'm wondering where to eat? I want to know what is your favorite Mexican/tex-mex, Japanese/Asian restaurants that you would recomend for a foodie? Thanks in advance!


Chefb

[Chefb28]

Also some great BBQ restaurants in the same area would also be helpful!

[Kevin72]

You say you're coming to Texas but whereabouts and for how long? Are you trying to figure out which cities to go to? Are you only in DFW or are Houston and Austin in consideration?

[Chefb28]

I'll be there for a week. I'll be staying in a town called Mckinney which is 45 min north of Dallas. We do plan on trying to make it out to Austin if we have time, but Dallas for sure.