The Dish On Dallas

Antonio's

2012-01-26T13:37:00.005-06:00

Even though it was pouring rain on Tuesday, we didn't let that keep us from our dining quest: Antonio's Ristorante in Addison Circle.
Upon pulling up, the valet was shoddy. Given the weather, we tried not to mind that we weren't even offered an umbrella and that we had to take the keys to him. No one likes the rain, we get that.

We ran through the doors of Antonio's to get out of the cold rain and were immediately greeted with cigarette smoke. What?
We were quickly seated and as we walked further into the restaurant, the smell subsided, though didn't disappear. (Probably why we have a crush on Dallas, to be honest.)

When you go to Antonio's website, they have a toggle called Promotions. When we visited that little gem we found ourselves with a coupon to enjoy an order of focaccia. We presented that to our waitress and were amazed when they brought a HUGE basket of delicious and piping hot bread to our table. This was a nice way to kick off our meal, so we settled in.

The Insalata Di Arrugola was fresh and beautifully plated. Made up of arugula, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, then tossed in a light dressing, this was a nice dish.

The soup of the day was our next conquest: chicken and rice. Nice and thick pieces of fresh vegetables and clean white meat chicken, this dish was perfect for a rainy day. It felt like something your grandma might make - wholesome, not too salty, really vibrant flavors.

The Tortellini Alla Panna was our main dish. The tortellini was stuffed with ground veal and cheese and then served in a cream sauce. It was amazingly rich and oh, so good.

We wrapped up with the most amazing chocolate mousse ever, perched on top of homemade whipped cream. We ate this whole thing without shame and would order it again in a second. Perhaps as a starter.

We finished up, paid our tab, then made our way back to the valet. This time he did give us an umbrella, but he had us walk to the car instead of pulling it around and then complained about how much we tipped him. Sigh. We tried not to let that ruin our evening as we drove off in the rain. The heater toasted us right up, however, and left wafts of cigarette smoke coming off of our clothes. The food was really solid - a decent presentation, good flavor - but to be honest, smoke ruins things: clothes, hair...our lungs.
We liked it, but we won't be revisiting.

Mi Dia from Scratch

2012-01-26T13:18:00.003-06:00

Chef Gabriel DeLeon has held a special place in our hearts since he opened Masaryk in Addison. That was one of our favorite spots with delicious drinks and unique dishes. But things didn't work out in Addison, and Chef Gabriel closed his doors. Sad.

We were excited to read, however, that he has risen like a phoenix from the ashes and opened a new spot, Mi Dia from Scratch, in Grapevine. The new location is gorgeous. Huge windows, comfortable seating that feels intimate, rich colors - we were immediately impressed with outward appearances.

The chips were warm. The salsas were a unique presentation of smoky and spicy served together. Doubly impressed.

Our waiter was nice, but slow. He went over the specials - all which sounded amazing. The Tequila Pesto Enchiladas and the Pollo Agave are on my radar for the next visit. I, however, had my heart set on one particular dish: the Applewood Smoked Bacon & Chipotle Chicken Fajitas. These are spicy, but so worth the heartburn aftermath.

Bacon, fajita chicken, and caramelized onions are smothered in cheese and Chipotle sauce , served with the freshest, burning hot flour tortillas, and the regular set up of rice, beans, guac, and sour cream. These fajitas put all others to shame, there is no doubt about it.

To finish up, we went with the Mexican S'mores. Though it says so plainly in the menu, I missed that this dish involved goat cheese. I'm sure that other people would dig it - the parts that weren't cheesed up were good. However, goat cheese is a forbidden food, so that blew up the s'mores for me. Since I was already unpleasantly full, I didn't let that bother me.

All in all, Mi Dia has some kinks, my IBC root beer was served warm and when I asked for a cold one, the waiter said they didn't have any. However, I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Make a reservation! This place is hopping.

Townhouse

2012-01-12T13:22:00.007-06:00

The Galleria has a new watering hole: Townhouse.
Are you going to find something new and extraordinary here? Probably not. But you will find some solidly made dishes and some classic plates that won't disappoint.

We started with the sliders. The short rib sliders were what we ordered, but due to some switch up, the pork sliders landed on our table. You know what? Not a problem. The pork sliders were a very good presentation of flavors, complete with a pickle and onion strings.

pork sliders at Townhouse

When the very accommodating and kind manager brought us the short rib sliders later in the evening, we found that, despite the delicious horseradish sauce, we liked the pork sliders better.

We also taste tested the blue cheese potato chips. In my mind, I had Jasper's blue cheese potato chips all plated and served. These were as different as night and day, but equally as good. These homemade chips had more accoutrement, which changed up the flavors, but still impressed.

The salmon was solid - my husband's only complaint was that it was served with a lot more "stuff" than was mentioned in the menu. He expected something simple and grilled and was presented with this (please note, it did not deter him):

Our dining companions tried on the burger and fries - check plus on taste and delivery!!

...and the balsamic chicken with arugula (this guy needs some plating presentation work, but is large enough for three grown men...).

The macaroni and cheese was the dish I chose, but neglected to photograph. It's a shame, too, because it was decently pretty! Topped with bread crumbs, this toasty number had a good blend of cheeses and firm noodles - it just needed a little salt to help out in the taste department.

Overall, Townhouse got our vote for a comeback. They have some neat backlit menu's for beer and wine. The wait staff was super friendly and totally agreeable about our substitutions and questions. They have a good looking location - lots of dark woods and quiet lighting. It's not too busy yet, so give them a try.

Momo Italian Specialities

2012-01-12T12:42:00.006-06:00

This week we decided to try a spot that has been in existence for quite a while- Momo Italian Specialities. On their website, they claim to only make authentic Italian cuisine and after dining there, we believe them. They also claim to be the best kept secret - well, we're letting the cat out of the bag on this one.

The restaurant is located off of Forrest Lane and Greenville avenue in an unassuming shopping center. It is neither fancy, nor crowded. Instead you will find a wood burning pizza oven and a roaring fire in the front room.

We were served warm foccacia bread with a pesto spread on the side. Then, we ordered the house salads to start. These were served as generous portions and topped with marinated tomatoes, fresh celery,walnuts and a balsamic vinaigrette. All around good flavor without being saturated.

For the entrees, we were in the mood for cheese. We ordered the quatro formaggi risotto and the quatro formaggi gnocchi. The risotto had a very home cooked flavor served with peas and carrots mixed in. At first glance, you may think that they used a short cut with frozen veggies; upon the first taste you realize that you were wrong. The vegetables were crisp and just the right texture to pair with the rich risotto.

The gnocchi were wonderful potato puffs served in a decadent sauce of Fontina, Gruyere, Gorgonzola, and Parmesan. The gnocchi weren't too dense and the sauce was one of those things I wish I could make at home, but then again, I'm glad I can't. Delicious. We traded dishes back and forth, and neither of us could predict a taste test winner. They were both wonderful and well prepared.

This spot is BYOB/W, so make sure you stop by the store on your way to dinner. Also - take a look at the dessert menu. We were too full to properly do it service, but several items were appealing.

Thanks Momo Italian Specialities, for a warm and cozy winter meal.

The Dish: If it has four cheeses, give it a go.

Texas Spice

2012-01-03T13:32:00.005-06:00

Texas Spice is located in the Omni downtown and they have a lot going for them. The decor is worth seeing. Rustic, but charming, we loved the rough hewn look paired with a stunning view of the Dallas skyline. There were seats outside and a long fireplace, which made us long for those two days in April/October when you can both sit outside AND sit by a fire.

Texas Spice boasts locally grown ingredients - everything on your table pretty much comes from a specified radius in Texas. Most of the dishes are southern, so we found ourselves right at home.

The bread basket was a beautiful presentation and perfect to snack on while we looked over our options.

For starters, we enjoyed the Kuby's jalapeno sausage pizza. Fresh basil, sliced tomatoes, and mushrooms filled out the pizza toppers and we loved the flavor combinations. The brisket pizza paired with blue cheese appealed to us, too - but we left that one for next time. Everything on this pizza was done well - right down to the crust. Very solid beginning.

For our entree we enjoyed the chicken fried ribeye. As any good southern plate should, it was paired with potatoes. These smashed potatoes were amazingly like mom's - very dense and buttery, some still with their jackets on. Well done! The corn was straight from the cob and was the only thing that tasted a little off to us.

We put up a good fight, but still requested to go boxes by the end of the evening. Texas Spice was a real treat and we look forward to a return visit. With a private room and some extraordinary views, this is a spot you should make sure and see!

Del Frisco's Grille

2011-12-10T14:33:00.005-06:00

Del Frisco's Grille recently opened on McKinney and it is a hot spot right now. Wednesday presented a wonderful opportunity to give it a try. Across the street from Frankie's sports bar and next door to the new Private Social, this is one place that we were actually pleased to find valet parking.

We made a reservation, which was a good call. This place was packed with people two and three deep all around the bar. Busy! We were seated in a booth on the backside of the restaurant that faced the kitchen. Our waiter was very nice and offered up several opinions about the best of the best.

We started with the ahi tacos and they were fantastic. The shells are extra crisp, which brings a nice contrast to the texture of the tuna. Stuffed with avocado and topped with spicy citrus mayo, these unique tacos are something that you should definitely try out.

From there we moved on to the crabcake. Made with generous pieces of real crab, this cake was lightly seared so that you weren't overwhelmed by the fried taste. The peppers gave it a nice flavor, but the sauce brought the dish home. Spicy, but not overbearing, it was a great combination.

The Pimiento cheese fritters were delicious little balls of gooey cheese served alongside chipotle ranch sauce. Making your cheese fritters with pimiento cheese is actually genius because it gives the cheese a little extra punch.

The wild mushroom flatbread seemed like a good choice, but it wasn't our favorite. The dough tasted off a little - maybe frozen? - and something was missing from this dish. Fontina cheese, caramelized onions, and baby arugula are usually a home run, but this was lackluster.

We were also a little disappointed by the jalapeno mac and cheese. We expected something more from this dish that boasted both jalapeno and bacon, and instead decided that it was a little Velveeta-tasting. I'm not going to lie - we ate the whole thing - but it felt like a dish that had very little thought going into it.

We were also a little disappointed at how quickly the staff wanted to turn over our table. On four different occasions, people (who weren't our waiter) tried to clear our plates when they obviously still had food on them. My wine glass was taken away with wine still in it (crime of crimes). We were interrupted repeatedly by the staff, and it got to be a distraction. We get that it's popular, but we still dropped a pretty penny in there and that was something we didn't appreciate.

Luckily, the coconut cream pie finished our meal and made our taste buds beyond happy. Generous white chocolate shavings, a huge dollop of whipped cream, and everything else good that goes into a coconut cream pie, this dessert was both visually appealing and so, so tasty!

Now, the noise level in this place is intense, and it is super crowded (make sure to get a reservation and you might request a table so that you're not directly next to the bar crowd?), but it makes for a fun evening. We will definitely be back and hope for better/less service.

The Dish: ahi tacos and coconut cream pie were our favorites!

Bijoux

2011-11-30T17:08:00.006-06:00

We hesitate to mention it, but Bijoux offers Twitter Trivia on Wednesdays and if you answer correctly/first/whatever the stipulation, they generously provide you a $50.00 credit. We love Bijoux, so we, of course, play compulsively...But everyone can be a winner because on Monday nights, Bijoux is now offering a three course dinner for $39.50.

We had to check this out; Monday night found us with our cocktails in hand, perusing the menu.

First, they brought us the amuse bouche which was a petite portion of pate topped with a delicious sauce. Then, they came around with a bread basket offering olive, rosemary or raisin/pecan bread. They are all served warm and you can have as many slices as your heart/stomach desires.

For starters, we had the whipped carrot soup with a marshmallow cracker. This was truly amazing- frothy and almost like sweet potato pie, it wasn't heavy enough to deter us from eating the rest of our meal, but it was very tasty.

Going the opposite direction, we also got the chipped brisket appetizer. Chipped brisket, an egg, and a light sauce all served on toast points with a shaving of white cheddar- we would order this again in a minute.

Next, the main courses: we ordered the truffle stuffed chicken served with mashed potatoes and celery. This tasted like a true home cooked meal, deliciously lumpy potatoes and all. The chicken was served with the skin on- what a rare and caloric treat!

We also tried the basil risotto with pine nuts. The risotto was flawless and the pine nuts offered a nice contrast.

And finally, dessert - the blue cheese plate was served with tiny toasts, chopped nuts and julienned apples. Lovely presentation!

We were served a kiwi palate cleanser and were ready for our final dessert. This was an upside down quince cake served with whipped cream and house made chamomile gelato. This dessert rivaled the chipped brisket for our favorite part of the evening.

The Dish: We love Bijoux and we love being able to visit for only $39.50. It's like Restaurant Week without the disparaging parts! Give their Monday menu a try.

Jonathon's in Oak Cliff

2011-11-18T12:53:00.005-06:00

After being published in Food & Wine magazine for their Friday beer cheese soup special, we HAD to try out Jonathon's in Oak Cliff. We decided to get there pretty early (11:15 am) in case everyone else read the same article; by the time we finished our lunch, the place was certainly filling up.

We each started with a cup of the beer cheese soup and loved it. It was flavorful and creamy, but wasn't too rich. As described in the magazine, there were hints of bacon and jalapeno - making this the best beer cheese soup we've ever had.

We deiced to split the chicken pot pie for our entree. Again, we were very pleased. The presentation was lovely and homey. The pie itself was even better! The crust was buttery and flaky and the flavors were wonderful, a true bite of fall with peas, carrots, a solid gravy, and shredded chicken.

We wrapped up our lunch with a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip muffin topped with cream cheese frosting. A nice end to our carb-y lunch.

Our gentleman server could not have been nicer and the food got an A+! We are excited to have another favorite in the OC!

The Dish: Friday beer cheese soup is worth the lunch break, but don't forget Jonathon's serves up some delicious brunch (chicken and waffles), too!

Zio Cecio

2011-11-02T09:09:00.005-05:00

Last night we tried Zio Cecio on Lovers Lane. It is located in the spot where Cafe Italia used to be, but it is completely renovated. The bar has been moved, the kitchen is more available. Placement of mirrors and better use of floor space gives this place a cozy and yet, open feel.

The restaurant was about 90% full, so we were able to get seated immediately. We ordered our Prosecco and Chardonnay and dove into the extensive menu (which largely features seafood items). The waitress was extremely helping us with our choices. We were a little disappointed to hear that the pizza oven was still being prepared and wasn't ready; focacia and pizza would have to wait for another day.

Our entrees took an inordinate amount of time to arrive, but we imagine they are still working out some new restaurant kinks. The server was good to refill our bread basket.

The ravioli was topped with a homemade tomato sauce that was truly flavorful and there was a hint of mint mixed into the potato-cheese stuffing. Overall, the dish tasted very authentic Italian and managed to have a light feel. The tomatoes really made it work.

The risotto wasn't our favorite- we had to salt it and the flavor was a bit lacking. The rosemary overpowered the apple. The walnuts did add a nice crunch, but on the whole, we wouldn't order this again.

Due to the heavy starch intake, we were to full to venture into dessert. However, they had more than a few choices that looked delicious!

Our feeling on Zio Cecio is that it is a nice place, a great spot for the neighborhood. For our drink and dinner tab, however, we were disappointed. Prices were a little too high for dishes that we didn't love.

The Dish: Let Zio Cecio work out their kinks before stopping by!

Buick Discovery Tour

2011-10-24T11:01:00.012-05:00

On Saturday we were invited to attend the Buick Discovery Tour held at the Ritz Carlton- Dallas. They parterned with Food and Wine Magazine, and the event was top notch all the way!

Schedule of Events:
11 am- Registration
11:30- Welcome Speech and Event Instruction
11:35-12:00 - S'Mores Bomb and homemade ice cream demonstration by Ben Roche
12:05-12:30- Test Drive the Buick Lacrosse

12:35-1:00- Walnut Crusted Salmon with Curried Butternut Squash Puree demonstration by Alessandro Stratta

1:05-1:25- Wine Tasting demonstration by Michael Green

1:30-2:00- Fried Pork and Beef Meatballs demonstration with Michael Psilakis
At the end of the event, all participants were given a signed cookbook by Michael Psilakis!
Overall we had a great time at this event and learned some new things, too!
Thanks Buick (client) and Food and Wine for a great afternoon!

Ruthie's Rolling Cafe

2011-10-20T14:01:00.004-05:00

Ruthie's Rolling Cafe has been garnering a TON of praise recently. You can't look at anything regarding a food truck without coming across Ruthie's. According to their advertising, it is Wheel Good Food.

We found today's location by using their Facebook page, and quickly made our way to 8117 Preston Road.
Ruthie's is easy to find - the blue truck is a dead giveaway. Parking was great. Location was great - there were even a few tables and a cute fountain to sit by and enjoy our grilled cheese. The staff was so friendly...and then there was the FOOD!

We walked up and placed our order.
You select the bread of your choice, the cheese of your choice, meats, sauces, and extras. It's custom made while you wait.

I went with jalapeno cheese bread, cheddar, their secret sauce, and pickles. It was amazing. Unparalleled. Grilled cheese perfection.

We also, piggies that we are, had a sourdough, cheddar, bacon grilled cheese with mayo. It was equally good.

How do you hit two home run grilled cheese sandwiches when they are so different? It is clear that Ruthie's knows their business. This little blue truck is definitely an asset to our great city. I'm glad we met.

For under $10 you are served a delicious grilled cheese, a bag of chips, and a soda. You can't beat that and with the fabulous ingredients they use, I doubt you could even make it at home for that small of a price tag.

The Dish: It's grilled cheese - you really can't go wrong. Find them and see for yourself. But try that secret special sauce.

The Fatted Calf

2011-10-19T14:26:00.005-05:00

Lunch today took me and the boy into Rockwall. On the town square, across from the courthouse, is a little spot called The Fatted Calf. They serve breakfast until noon, and then they serve their lunch/dinner menu - all with a generous side of hometown friendliness.

Breakfast had a number of items that looked amazing: Apple Cider Waffles, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Pecan Sticky Buns, Grits, eggs galore, Ham and Cheese Biscuits. Our table was split 50/50 between ordering breakfast and lunch, so we tried a little of everything.

For breakfast, Eggs Chesapeake kicked us off.
These crab cakes were topped with spinach, poached eggs, and hollandaise. Served on the side were some amazingly delicious and fresh tomatoes. Good start.

From there, we moved on to the Sweet Potato Pancake. Made with ricotta so they were light and fluffy, these giant pancakes were topped with pecans and a drizzle of something caramel-y. It was like sweet potato pie, but better...if sweet potato pie can GET better.

The grilled chicken sandwich looked good. It also featured some of those amazing tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and a lemon mayo that I wish I could copy. Fries were crinkle cut and crispy - no soggy over-fried potatoes on this plate. A sliced pickle was served on the side. It was both sweet and spicy - a very nice touch.

The salad trio finished up our lunch entrees: freshly made pimiento cheese, apricot chicken salad, and mixed greens served with toast points. The perfect ladies lunch!

Though the chicken fried steak looked superb and the squash casserole appealed, we had to save something for our next visit. The Fatted Calf is a cute little spot to visit, should you find yourself in Rockwall.

The Dish: Breakfast was top notch.

Swig

2011-10-18T13:11:00.004-05:00

After our first choice was thwarted, we pleasantly found ourselves at Swig. Swig now occupies what used to be Park on Henderson. Gone is the valet (we like it). Gone also: the crowd (granted, it was a Monday night).
Swig was decked out for Halloween with spooky cobwebs and other precious decor. Loving Fall as much as we do, we appreciated their nod to the season.

We chose the enclosed patio area where a nice breeze was blowing and Monday Night Football was playing on mute (just the way we like it). After looking over the menu, we selected a few appetizers for our dinner.

The truffle salt fries caught our eye. These fries come with your choice of three dipping sauces. Cute concept. The fries were decent, the sauces were fun!

We moved on to the slow roasted Niman Ranch pork sliders. These sliders were smaller than normal slider fare, which we loved. Each slider had a delicious helping of pork, bbq sauce, slaw, and a pickle. Four came to an order, and we found that to be plenty.

We finished off with the cheese board. Accompanied by grapes, crackers, bread, mustard, pecans, and dried cherries, this was a fun selection. You can choose your number of cheeses and meats. We went with Gouda, Belletoile Triple Cream, and Red Dragon Cheddar - the presentation was appealing, and the cheese was a surprisingly generous portion.

All in all, our evening didn't work out quite the way we planned, but we were pleasantly surprised by our detour.

The Dish: the appetizers amazed.

Rohst

2011-10-05T13:41:00.003-05:00

Monday night we checked Rohst off of our list. This newly opened spot is located on Greenville Avenue in the new strip with Terrelli’s. This entire strip has been completely redone and the outcome is very pleasing; there are patios and rooftop bars galore!

Green Tea Martini. Cheers!

We decided to sit outside on their front patio to enjoy the cool fall air that we are so excited to finally experience. If you arrive between 5-7 p.m. all drinks are half price and most of the appetizers are discounted. We went with a martini, glass of wine, tempura green beans and the avocado pork roll. They were all delicious choices. The panko crusted green beans were very lightly breaded so you didn’t have that fried [State Fair of Texas] taste- the crisp green beans were notable. The avocado pork roll was divided into four generous portions all stuffed with pork, fresh avocado and rice noodles. At this point we were pretty satisfied, but we wanted to try an entrée.

We choose the teriyaki chicken sandwich. You can have your choice of fries, vegetables or coleslaw on the side. We went with the coleslaw, which had a very distinct and delicious sesame seed oil dressing vs. the normal mayo. The sandwich was served on ciabatta bread with grilled marinated chicken, onions, peppers and melted provolone cheese. The flavors all worked well together.

This place was good and with the happy hour deals, and the great view of Greenville, we were pleased. Our service was exceptional (the waiter even chased us down to hand over a forgotten sweater) and the food was unique.

The Dish: Go for Happy Hour. Try everything!

Red Fork

2011-09-22T14:58:00.006-05:00

We tried visiting Red Fork once before, but they were temporarily closed. Then there was chef drama that we read about all over Dallas food blogs. All of that said, we were interested in trying this new spot - especially when Daily Candy wrote about their new pizza oven.

We arrived around 6:30 and there was only one other occupied table in the place. Honestly, it felt more like a bar than a restaurant - loud music, open windows (without the fall temps but with all of the the Dallas humidity), sticky tables. We were seated and began perusing the menu. We weren't quite sure what to order, so we went with the safe bet: the cheese plate. You could make your selection from a variety of meats and cheeses. For $16 you could select three items, $4 for each additional item. Considering what all came with the plate, this is good bang for your buck. We went with three different cheeses: golden cheddar, manchego, and Prairie Breeze (Prairie Breeze is amazing and is also served at Bolsa). The plate came with a cute little jar of pickled vegetables, grilled bread, horseradish mustard, honey, green apple, pear, peaches, and arugula. We enjoyed this part of dinner, as well as their decently priced wine list.

They have recently been touting their pizzas, so we ultimately picked the mushroom pizza over their equally well publicized burger. The pizza portions are large so you could probably share this dish. The pizza was served with all fresh ingredients: mushrooms, tomato sauce, grilled onions, and pork belly. I think we both attempted two small slices and were done. The flavor was a little lacking here.

All in all, we won't return to Red Fork. It might be better saved for a late night snack.

The Dish: If you make it to Red Fork, try out the cheese plate.

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana

2011-08-28T15:44:00.004-05:00

Dough, located at the Preston/Forest intersection, is new to town. They hail from San Antonio where they created quite a stir up with their unique method of pizza prep, and now they have found a home in Dallas. Closed on Sunday and Monday, Dough had a full crowd during Saturday lunch.

We had the choice of sitting at a table/booth, or sitting up where we could see the pizza prep at a kitchen bar area. We chose that spot because we had a great view of our pizza dough being rolled out, put into the oven, and then stacked with other fresh ingredients. The basil plants made for cute decor, but they were also used in the prep process - very neat to watch.

We started with the House Made Italian Soda. Raspberry cream was a delicious treat - very rich.

The non cream version!

The lunch selections were amazing and it was hard to reign in our appetites.
The Margherita STG arrived dotted with delicious Mozzarella di Bufala, Parmesan, fresh tomato sauce, and basil.

We also chose the arugula & prosciutto pizza. This guy had a very slight truffle oil tang, the cheese was the perfect amount of salty, and then piled on top of that was fresh arugula and prosciutto. It struck the right balance of flavors, was beautifully presented, and definitely made my taste buds happy.

There was no way we could bypass the Nutella panini for dessert. This is a must try. It was the equivalent of a sandwich and a half where marshmallows and Nutella came together to create something extraordinary (how could they not). Best of all, piled high in the middle of the plate was some fresh and homemade whipped cream drizzled with caramel.

Our experience at Dough was fresh and flavorful.
We will definitely be revisiting this spot for a unique pizza experience.

The Dish: The Nutella Panini is a must!

Olenjack's Grille

2011-08-21T12:57:00.010-05:00

Olenjack's Grille is in Arlington - so it was a bit of a drive for a Thursday night. However, there wasn't any traffic and we found it relatively easy.
We had a reservation, but the restaurant wasn't full and we were quickly seated.

We started with a glass of white wine as we perused the menu. The menu is made up of small plates, soups and salads, entrees, from the grill entrees, and dessert. We carefully laid out our game plan and noted that they carried a $4 split plate fee.

For small plates, the Ancho Pulled Pork caught our attention. The shredded pork was layered on top of thick cut potato chips then sprinkled with tomatoes and green onions, and finished off with an avocodo mousse. It was a nice flavor combination.

For the soup course, we picked the jalapeno cream soup with fried tortilla strips. We expected fire, but the cream base helped to temper the hot. This soup was delicious, but the tortilla strips took it from a soup to a centerpiece.

Tilapia made up our main entree. The fish was topped with Tasso ham, crab, and a lemon butter sauce. It comes with fingerling potatoes, but the staff was nice enough to substitute mashed potatoes for fingerlings. While the entree was good, it was a little much and we weren't able to finish it. We did notice that there was an over done smoky flavor to the whole dish.

Creamed corn made up our side dish. It was the same consistency of the soup - something you should eat with a spoon. It was a solid dish.

We probably should have stopped there, but we powered through and ordered the blueberry pudding cake. It took awhile for it to arrive and when it did, the waiter realized it was the wrong dish. He was hesitant about taking it back and sending what we ordered. About twenty minutes later it arrived - and it was clear that it was fresh from the oven, but the service level totally fell apart after this incident. The wait for a our bill was crazy long, and we kind of lost patience with the whole thing at that point.

Since we had heard so much about Olenjack's, we had high expectations. Heck, we drove to Arlington. While we had a fine meal, we wouldn't repeat the experience.

The Dish: Jalapeno Cream Soup is a must order.

Jonathon's Oak Cliff

2011-08-21T12:41:00.005-05:00

We walked into Jonathon's on Sunday morning around ten. Pink Floyd was playing overhead - at an appropriate level for my librarian ears. Of the roughly 13 tables, most were taken. Brunch starts at 8 and I have no doubt that people are there when the doors open. By the time we concluded our meal, there were people waiting in the wings - the tables were filled, as were the bar seats.

Always questing for a good breakfast spot and never finding exactly what I want, I didn't have high hopes. The reviews of Jonathon's that I've read say that the joint is still searching for it's footing. The experience we had couldn't have been better, or more different from what we've read. To start, they accommodated our request for a high chair lickety split. Though we had the only baby in the restaurant, the staff was very nice and helpful. No tarring and feathering.

I ordered up a blueberry raspberry muffin immediately for the baby. He didn't want any of it (luckily). It was tart and sweet with giant pieces of fruit. Definitely a good beginning.

From there we ordered the chicken and waffles and the dangerous dogs.
The chicken and waffle dish was a boneless fried chicken breast on top of a huge fluffy waffle. The fried chicken was amazing on it's own, but when you added Chef Jon's peppered gravy, it was the holy grail. I actually believe that a side of the gravy with a spoon may be appropriate. I love living in the south.

The dangerous dogs are a sausage wrapped in batter and then lightly fried. I felt like I had a state fair confection: four pancake wrapped sausages served along side spicy mustard. Hello, breakfast.

We noticed, too, that they had a Bloody Mary bar. They had a whole slew of fixings that looked like the cure to a rough Saturday night. They were also serving up mimosas and other kinds of goodness. We'll save that for a trip sans rugrat, but...it sure looked good.

This place is a must try. It's intimate. We heard Pink Floyd, ACDC, and Bonnie Tyler. Service was great. Food was delicious beyond what this mere blogger is capable of describing. Lunch and dinner menus are also offered, note that they are closed on Mondays. Enjoy!

The Dish: Chicken and Waffles with Chef Jon's Peppered Gravy.

Rick's Chophouse in McKinney

2011-07-28T16:37:00.005-05:00

On Tuesday afternoon we dined at Rick's Chophouse in McKinney. We have been out to the McKinney square several times, but had yet to try this spot. The lunch crowd was still pretty thick at 1:30 and they had a decent sized luncheon menu. We both opted for the duo- you had your choice (2) of half a sandwich, a lunch portion salad, or a cup of soup. The soup of the day was potato soup, so naturally we both had to order that. It was served topped off with a layer of cheddar cheese and bacon. Creamy and homemade- this was a lovely start.

First up: half a chicken salad sandwich. This chicken salad, made with celery seed, white meat chicken, and just the perfect amount of mayo, was served on a croissant with a bacon, lettuce, and Swiss cheese!

The pulled pork sandwich served with pickled onions and jalapenos was our other choice. The meat was decent, but the sauce is what sold it. It was almost jammy with a bit of a kick.

We couldn't resist ordering a side of the bacon and cheese mashers! We received such a large portion that we had to leave half on the plate, but we sure enjoyed them as a side treat!

We enjoyed Rick's and McKinney!

Whiskey Cake Cafe in Plano

2011-07-15T16:14:00.007-05:00

On Thursday we tried a place that has been getting a lot of buzz lately- Whiskey Cake Cafe. This joint is located in Plano off of the North Dallas Tollway, and they focus on farm to table fresh food. They grow their own herbs and even have a small herb garden around the side of the restaurant.

We arrived at around 6:45 p.m. and there was a 15 minute wait. The hostess took our phone number and texted us when our table was ready- we approve of this new use of technology and can't wait for more spots to get on board.

Buy your own preserves or pickled items from the kitchen!

While waiting at the bar, we ordered wine for the evening. We liked that they had groupings of wine sorted by price ( $25 and $35 bins). Apparently, Wednesday evenings are half price wine nights for the ladies, darn that we missed that! They also offer beer and specialty cocktails.

After we received the text that our table was ready, we were seated and given a brief description of the restaurant. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helped us with our magnificent food choices. We started with the hummus, which tasted like something we could make at home, and then shared the chicken and spinach salad. Next, we opted for the piggy sliders. The piggy sliders were a show stealer. The shredded pork was matched up with tangy slaw and then topped with a super spicy pickle. The combo was beautiful.

Finally, we HAD to get the Whiskey Cake. Man, oh man, was this cake scrumptious. It was the right degree of cake dredged in gooey-ness...then topped with a overly generous "dollop" of homemade whipped cream. It would be a crime to go to this joint and not try this cake. That good.

This place was cute and we liked the farm to table concept they are bringing to Dallas. We enjoyed our evening full of southern charm and delicious dishes.

The Dish: 3 Little Pigs AND the Whiskey Cake

Scardello: Italian Wine and Cheese Class

2011-07-08T15:17:00.004-05:00

Scardello is truly a gem and I'm glad to be on their mailing list. If you're not - you're definitely missing out. Last night was the Italian wine and cheese class, which I was more than happy to attend and sample.

Cheers!

The Italian wine and cheese class offered up 4 wines, each paired with two to three amazing cheeses. Each pairing is discussed - right down to how the cheese is created, cheese wheels and wedges are available for your viewing, and then you conduct your very own taste test.

I love this little handout - it reminds me of what I want to try once I get home.

All in all, I find it to be a very wonderful process. I've taken several of the classes, and each time I find a cheese that is beyond delicious, something that I would not have picked for myself. Plus, the price is excellent for four glasses of wine plus artisan cheese. The conversation is good, the atmosphere is relaxed. I always leave pleased with my experience!

If classes aren't you're thing, Scardello offers up happy hour specials, Late Night events complete with jazz, and even lunch time sandwiches made with their delicious and inspiring cheese. Whatever appeals to you, make sure you drop in and visit this Dallas treasure!

The Dish: Buy a sliver of the Sottocenere. And a box of the dried cherries.

Asador

2011-06-30T11:53:00.006-05:00

Tucked away in the Renaissance Hotel is a lovely spot named Asador. With a farm to table concept, Chef Max brought the freshest ingredients to our dinner on Wednesday night.
We started with cocktails and weren't disappointed. The White Sangria Spritzer was perfect to beat the heat.

The Spicy Elderflower Margarita was tart with the right amount of spark provided by the salted rim. While waiting on drinks, we were served complimentary taquitos, hand rolled and made with the juiciest meats. It was so unique, but one each was a good number to serve because it was also incredibly rich.

For an appetizer, we started with the Rustic Oven Rolls served with the chimichurri glaze on the side. The rolls were hot and had huge and delicious salt flakes on top. The chimichurri glaze was garlicky and would have been delicious poured over the top. We used it as dipping sauce, though, and weren't disappointed.

The Pressed Pork Sandwich interested us for dinner, so we split that along with our side dishes. The sandwich was huge, piled with ham, pork, Manchego cheese, and with a nice amount of arugula to give it a peppery bite. I don't think either of us finished our halves, as it was a pretty generous serving.

The Smashed Potatoes with Olive Tapanade was the only disappointment of the evening. The combo wasn't quite right for us, but sounded out of the ordinary, so it was worth a try.

The belle of the ball was definitely the crispy Brussels sprouts. Bacon, agave nectar, and lemon seal the deal on this being an absolutely fantastic dish. The sprouts were roasted, so they weren't slimy or cafeteria like. Instead, the flavors melded together, salty and sweet, making this dish a definite favorite.

Gluttons that we are, we went ahead and ordered dessert, even though we were already stuffed. The baked peach finished with blue cheese, almonds, and ice cream was amazing. The flavor combination was the perfect finish to our dinner.

While this spot is a little out of the way, and while we've read a few reviews that weren't so kind, we are very glad that we gave it a try. The dishes were definitely salty and had a fair amount of fat to help pave the way to deliciousness, but we enjoyed our dinner a great deal. Folks staying at the Renaissance Hotel are definitely in for a treat with Asador!

The Dish: Crispy Brussels Sprouts are a must!

dCarlo

2011-06-24T14:34:00.006-05:00

Did you know that Daniele Osteria recently had a name and a menu change? They are now renamed dCarlo. Of course we had to give it a try! When we first arrived, the dining room seemed quiet with only a couple of occupied tables. By the time we headed out, the place was pretty full.

We were greeted with warm focaccia bread sprinkled with Parmesan cheese served alongside a dipping plate of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Next, our waiter brought us a complimentary aperitivo. It consisted of mini pizzas topped with marinara sauce, artichokes, cheese and sprinkled with Italian parsley! What a perfect start for a true Italian dinner.

We ordered the veal scallopini, sauteed in a creamy mushroom sauce. This was served with grilled squash, carrots and zucchini. The veal was pounded thin and was extremely tender.

We also ordered the cheese tortellini that was tossed with pancetta, peas, mushrooms, shallots and a creamy sauce. This was a home run full of delicious and fresh ingredients.

We liked the newly renovated menu and the turn around of a Dallas classic. We'd like to come back and try it for lunch!

The Dish: The cheese tortellini is something we'd order again and again!

Ruggeri's

2011-06-21T11:45:00.004-05:00

Dinner on Monday took us to Preston & Royal for a visit to Ruggeri's Restaurant.

The menu on line is different than in person: in person there are a lot more choices and the price points are different. The way this world works, it seems like you should keep up with that kind of thing...but when we saw the clientele, we totally got it.
The median age of the crowd was probably 67 - and that's with us significantly bringing down the average. That lady at the table next to us brought her date and her oxygen tank. No joke.
But, it looked like these folks were regulars - they were having chummy conversations with the waiters, something we always love to see. Plus, we know how great it is to have a gem right in your own neighborhood.

We kicked off dinner with the chopped salad. Complete with meats, cheeses, and hearts of palm (hearts of palm can just make a salad in our opinion), this salad was pretty hearty. It was slightly over dressed, but decent.

The real star of the show, however, was the Portabello Mushroom Ravioli. This place might have been a little ho-hum for our taste, except the ravioli was amazing. It was so good, that in the middle of the entree, we discussed a revisit. That's pretty high praise. The dish was served with three stuffed ravioli that were finished with a creamy Marsala wine sauce. We even ate the broccoli.

This picture doesn't do the dish justice...but it was darn good!

As an added bonus, Monday is half price wine night - glass or bottle (who would pick a glass?), so we definitely enjoyed that boon.
There were cute tables outside that looked like they could be fun if it wasn't a million humid degrees outside. Keep this place in mind for a laid back patio dinner come November.

The Dish: Portabello Mushroom Ravioli are a must!

Cafe on the Green - Four Seasons

2011-06-15T09:50:00.006-05:00

We headed out of town Tuesday night to try a place that has been on our "list" for quite a while- Cafe on the Green at the Four Seasons. From the moment we arrived, we felt like we were on vacation. The restaurant is spacious, grand and overlooks the welcoming property pool and the green gardens. It was airy and light, a very nice spot for dining.

We were greeted with excellent service and seated in the atrium space. Over a glass of white wine, we decided to try something outside our normal appetizer comfort zone: we ordered the cheese plate with the caveat that we were allergic to goat cheese. It couldn't even touch the cheeses we were being served or we would die.

You have the option of choosing 2/3/5 cheeses. We went with a blue cheese, smokey cheddar and a brie. This plate beautiful plate came complete with blanched almonds, grapes, sweet raisin bread, honey and balsamic figs. It is a lingering appetizer that you can snack on for an hour while talking. We can't recommend it enough. It was a wonderful experience.

Next, we ordered the special salad of the eventing. This salad was plated with endive, blueberries, green apples, blue cheese and drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette.

The roasted poblano soup sounded intriguing, so we selected that for dinner as well. This was poured table side over a rice cake and queso fresco. The flavors in this soup were outstanding: a little sweet, a little firey, but very mild overall.

Of course, being huge fans of the carbohydrate, we couldn't pass up a couple of the sides! We opted for the "baked pasta monsieur" (macaroni and cheese) and the chile lime roasted corn. The corn was lite and fresh and truly tasted as if it had just been cut off of the cob. That kind of crispness, paired with the lime juice made it feel like summer. The cavatelli pasta was tossed in a Bechamel sauce and then dotted with bits of ham and finished off with an amazing Parmesan crust. Wow!

We really wanted to try some of their dessert options, but were too full to indulge! However, they brought us out this beautiful complimentary dessert plate. It had 6 different bite size delicacies from truffles to macaroons. We each tried a little bit of all of the choices. They were all wonderful!

Our service here was cheery and helpful! We encountered 4 different servers during the course of our evening and they were all delightful.

On the way out, we were each given these little boxes with cranberry walnut mini muffins for the morning.

Cafe on the Green at the Four Seasons was an "out of town" treat. We'll be back to try out brunch.

The Dish: The cheese plate was the highlight of our evening for sure!

Marquee Grill & Bar

2011-06-13T11:29:00.009-05:00

Saturday evening we decided to try Marquee Grill & Bar in Highland Park Village. We arrived and checked in with the hostess who let us know that they were running behind and that we would be seated as soon as possible. We were encouraged to head upstairs and have a drink while we waited. We took that advice and ordered a round of cocktails.

Emily and I both tried the Scarf Dancer. This fancy drink was made with vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice and black currents. Garnished with lemon peel and mint, this is a tasty drink that is perfect for the summer! After waiting a full hour upstairs we decided to check in with the hostess again. A few minutes later we were finally seated.

We were immediately served warm french bread with a side of whipped butter topped with pink sea salt. Since we had quite a wait, the waiter comped us two appetizer's. It was a nice gesture, ad we certainly appreciated it!

Our first appetizer was the tuna tartar plated in the center of an avocado puree. The tuna was lightly sprinkled with toasted sesame panko and radish. The freshness of the dish made us feel like we were sitting at an exotic coastal spot.

Next, we tried the duck spring rolls. These were plated beautifully and paired with a chili dipping sauce. The sauce was the perfect compliment to the duck. At this point, we were glad we had waited.

#1 Salmon served on a bed of truffle potatoes, baby artichokes and tomatoes topped with a citrus sauce.

#2 Halibut served with gnocchi and spinach

#4 Petite filet in a rosemary wine sauce

Truffle Mashed Potatoes

Pepper Jack Grits

#4 Bone in pork chop served over mushroom risotto

We definitely cleared our plates Saturday night. This is our tribute to Chef Tre Wilcox - well done, sir!

We were beyond satisfied with our meals, and truly enjoyed our dining experience. This is a Dallas must- just make sure you have plenty of time. We promise it's worth the wait!

The Dish: too many to mention. This place is a culinary powerhouse.

The Commissary

2011-05-23T12:53:00.004-05:00

I will preface this entry by saying that I went to The Commissary at 5:30 for dinner. Some call this a geriatric schedule. I call it - I have a baby and 5:30 is sometimes my dinnertime. *please note, I did not bring my baby to the bar - just my appetite.
My experience was wonderful; the staff was friendly and not exasperated to answer my menu questions. There were several work related Happy Hour events going on that looked like a lot of fun. There were swanky couches with fireplaces in the background outside that looked charming. I chose a booth/table combo inside because humidity and my hair don't usually mix.

The $8 valet may have struck me the wrong way, but the happy hour discounts on apps and wine made it a draw. So...I started with the Parmesan popcorn. Tillman's has been my favorite for ages because their popcorn has that little gift of truffle oil. Well, this heaping platter of popped goodness also had the truffle oil PLUS Parmesan - and I didn't have to shame myself in asking for seconds. Ha!

For dinner, there are many options, but the burger choices dominate the menu. My dining pal tried the California burger. No complaints there. She especially loved that you could choose your burger size. This is the 6oz.

I tried the beef short rib burger with collard greens. Oh my gosh! The photo below doesn't really do it justice. This was outstanding. I would order this again in a heartbeat. The skinny fries served alongside were also pretty decent & not at all what I was expecting.

I finished off my eating event with the Pistachio and Strawberry Financier. While not traditionally served, it was pretty darn good. Strawberry ice cream was at the end of a trail of pistachio mousse, & all of it was off set by a cookie bits.

Up next, i want to try "The Table". Click here for more info!

The dish: The Rib Burger is amazing!

Steve Fields Steak and Lobster Lounge

2011-05-13T11:59:00.009-05:00

Last week we braved the storm and headed north to Plano. We typically don't travel outside of "the loop", but we had to try Steve Fields Steak and Lobster Lounge. We got off to a rough start with the hostess. We made a reservation, but due to the weather apocalypse we were a tad late (please note our exasperation with this situation). She notified us, in not quite polite enough of a tone, that our table had been let go. Luckily, our friend "the bar" had a few seats open, as well as some generous pours of Chardonnay. At this point, we were in love with the little lobster lights on the wall and the piano player with his eclectic selections (George Strait then right on in to Elton John). When we were seated 20 minutes later, there were plenty of available tables in the dining room. We're still stumped on why the 16 year old hostess hated us.

Luckily, our waiter made up for the hostess stand. He had enthusiasm for the menu and was very helpful and smiled a ton. We were immediately brought warm foccacia bread sprinkled with sea salt and rosemary complete with a side of butter and dipping oil. We liked that they provided us with bread accoutrement options.

For an appetizer, the house made potato chips and brie dipping sauce caught our eye. This was amazing. The chips were thin, salty, and crispy and the dipping sauce was creamy and warm. Our rough start was improving. We decided to order the lobster bisque and the macaroni and cheese for entree number one. The lobster bisque was wonderful. It came with a hefty serving of lobster meat in the center of the bowl. It was rich and flavorful! Next up, we enjoyed a side of macaroni and cheese! This was cheesy, creamy and served with a toasted panko crumbs.

Entree Number Two: the steak was served with a loaded baked potato, that is always a welcome addition to our plate. And while the steak wasn't magnificent, it was pretty solid. Probably a B- if we were to give it a grade.

We liked that they were not crabby about swapping sides. If you didn't want a loaded potato, you could add whatever you fancied.

So overall, if we lived closer to Steve Fields, we might drop in more frequently. We are glad that we went so that we could see if D Magazine really knew what they were talking about. Turns out, they were on the right track.

The dish: the lobster bisque! Definitely worth a try.

Company Cafe

2011-05-06T14:36:00.004-05:00

Precious table adornment at Company Cafe

Sometimes you come across a new restaurant in your neighborhood that you are ecstatic to discover. You almost don't want to talk about it for fear of not finding a table the next time. That's our feeling about Company Cafe. This place is about to explode! Located on Greenville next to the best hummus place on earth (Sevan G&G Cafe), this is a cozy location that is quite a find.

There is valet parking (ugh, Dallas!), but the lot is so tiny, it's actually a relief to have someone else deal with it. The venue offers inside and outside seating - we chose outside. Cute wooden picnic tables, some with umbrellas, add adorable detail. We were there around eight and the breeze was nice, not a bug to be found.

The staff is so friendly and very willing to talk about their place; we got the lowdown and were on board with their theories and their ideas. We loved that things from the menu can be found locally. We loved that it was all fresh. But most of all, we loved the price points. Wine by the glass topped off at $7, a rare restaurant find these days. Best of all, the wine was good (we tried the Eve Chardonnay - highly recommend!).

We had our mind set on chicken and waffles, but there were a ton of items that tried to sway our vote.
We started with the loaded sweet potato fries. If you go to Company Cafe, you absolutely must order this. The fries were good on their own - the salt to fry ratio was magnificent. On top of those delicious fries: white cheddar, bacon, and green onions. It was an instant crowd pleaser.

The chicken and waffles were also out of this world. Word of mouth had ranked this dish as the best in Dallas. It didn't come with gravy, which might deter some c&w enthusiasts, but gravy has no place here. The delicate flavors would be overwhelmed and you would miss out on something spectacular. The waffle is gluten free, and it is prepared with jalapeno and bacon cooked into the batter. It is then topped with a pan fried chicken breast - so it's not grease overkill. Served alongside syrup, this trifecta of goodness cannot be improved.

The dessert case looked amazing, but there was no room in the inn at that point. We will definitely be back, though, and we will come prepared next time.

The Dish: loaded sweet potato fries will blow your mind!

Pyramid Restaurant and Bar

2011-04-07T14:05:00.006-05:00

The Pyramid Restaurant is located in the Fairmont Hotel. The restaurant, redone in 2008, boasts sleek lines and a contemporary look. Dallas has a lot of neat spots...this has the feel of a hotel restaurant. That aside, the food was good and the garden terrace was a fantastic feature. Our waiter could not have offered better service - he was charming. Most of all, however, we liked this spot because, brace yourself, it offers the best Brussels sprouts in Dallas. Big statement, I know...you'll have to try them for yourself. We were both won over by these delicious mini vegetables.

The amuse bouche was a great start to our meal: pineapple broth with fresh crab, tomatoes, and onions. Amazing mix.

The Caesar salad came with Parmesan shavings and polenta croutons. It was a traditional set up, minus the croutons.

The Thai Lobster Bisque soup was our next starter. The lobster was pureed and added to the soup. It was very spicy, and had a unique flavor. It may have been a tad fishy, and it was missing the traditional creamy texture. Interesting, but I probably would not order it again.

Miso Butter Salmon served with bok choy.

The best Brussels sprouts in Dallas. Served with pancetta and a Dijon sauce, these surpassed our expectations and took the number one slot on our list of faves.

Asparagus risotto with wilted arugula and shaved Parmesan. This dish had only 3 asparagus spears, so the asparagus taste was subtle. The peppery flavor of arugula was an unexpected compliment. Two thumbs up.

Finally, the Prime Beef Tenderloin with blue cheese - served atop smoked mashed potatoes. Wow! This dish was tasty, but the show stealer would have to be the mashed potatoes.

By far the neatest feature of Pyramid Restaurant and Bar is the Terrace Garden. Complete with two bee hives, herbs, and a several works in progress, you must tour this amazing spot should you visit! The view of Dallas is great, but the work that the chef is doing is equally astounding.

Overall, we are glad we visited for dinner. It's not our usual type of spot, but we just might be back for more of the Brussels sprouts.

Cedars Social

2011-03-28T13:48:00.007-05:00

Friday night we decided to try the illusive Cedars Social. With no menu posted online and no sign on the outside, we knew that we were in for an adventure. This joint doesn't take reservations, but they do have a call ahead list. We were seated right away upon arrival. Cedars Social was packed and seemed to be a pretty cool crowd. The restaurant has a bar area and a dining area, but they flow into each other. They also have a DJ spinning some music by the front door- not too loud, but a nice touch to add to the "LA" type atmosphere. First order of business were the cocktails. We ordered a Pimm's Cup and the seasonal drink which incorporated fresh mint and lemon from Tom Spicer's garden. Next, on to the food! We started with the charbroiled oysters. These came out on a bed of salt with fresh lemon in the middle. They had slightly crispy top from the cheese and the flavor was so great that we even asked for bread to sop up the juice!

Next we ordered the crab cake sliders. They were served on mini brioche bread with mirco greens, fresh tomato, and a mayo sauce. We both really enjoyed these flavorful bites.Finally, we ordered the macaroni and cheese and the gnudi. The macaroni and cheese was really creamy and a nice compliment to the sliders. The cheddar truly stood out and the top was crisp with breadcrumbs and melted cheese. The gnudi ( baby gnocchi) was served in a brown butter sauce and topped with crispy thyme and bay leaves. This was my absolute favorite item of the evening. The gnudi was slightly seared so that it had a lovely texture the flavors were amazing.

I have to make a small note here about the sommelier at Cedars Social. His name is DLynn Proctor and he added so much to our evening. We were greeted with a taste of rose wine once we were seated and he let us know that he would check in on us the rest of the evening. That he did! We asked him what bottle we should order, and he mentioned that he didn't want us to both be limited to that bottle. Therefore, we each had different pairings and got a lovely history lesson on each wine that he presented to us. Thank you, DLynn!

We had a wonderful food and wine experience at Cedars Social. Add this to your list of must try restaurants in Dallas!

The Ranch

2011-03-24T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Ranch uses locally inspired products to create Texas favorites. They put a run down of where they purchase their goods both on the menu and on the website. It's fun to peruse the list and see where your meal began. Our lunch time trip to The Ranch was a success. We were torn between the queso and the onion rings, so we had a cocktail and took a long minute to mull it over. The Building 5 was sweet with a little bit of a kick to it. The Cadillac Rita - well, just make sure you don't get behind the wheel of a Caddy when you're done.

Building 5 - very refreshing

Cadillac Rita

The onion rings were fried crisp, big slices of onions that were served with a peppery ranch and a kind of barbecue ketchup. Presentation gets points, too, with this dish. Very cute and very tasty. We would have been happy to stop at drinks and apps...but we forged on.

Next up, the mini Kobe tacos. Again, presentation was perfect. These tacos, that weren't actually mini sized, but normal person sized, were served in a little tray that kept the tacos upright - all of the goodness packed inside. The picadillo was spicy and sweet, the cheese was fresh and abundant, the micro greens gave it unique flare, and the tomatoes were juicy. You can't beat something like this, especially when you top it with cilantro crema. Wow!

For the main course, chicken fried steak. It was on the large side and after all of the eating we had done, a doggy bag was in order. We pondered if the chicken fried steak was fried up in bacon grease at some point or if the gravy was of the bacon persuasion. Either way, you really can't go wrong with a bacon flavored chicken fried steak.

And finally, we enjoyed the Cadi-mac 'n chz. It was the only thing I wouldn't write home about - and it was still pretty good (topped with bacon, which definitely helped it out).

The Ranch produces a different lunch and dinner menu, leaving you plenty to choose from. Though we had no room to try the burgers, we kept watching them roll out of the kitchen - they looked pretty amazing, too.
Two thumbs up for this Texas style cuisine.

Bellini's

2011-03-21T12:12:00.005-05:00

This past Sunday we decided to have a leisurely dinner at Bellini's. We have seen this place a million times and have wanted to try it for quite a while. Tucked away in a small shopping center, you will find this hidden Italian gem. The looks on the outside are deceiving. The interior is warm and spacious complete with a full bar and separate dining area. Staff was down since we came in during spring break, so we were able to be served by the owner - Lorenzo. He was so friendly and very knowledgeable about each item on the menu. First, we were greeted with a lovely serving of warm, fresh bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. YUM! Next, we wanted to try the crab cake as an appetizer. It was beautifully plated on a bed of angel hair pasta with cream sauce and garnished with carrots and broccoli. The crab cake itself had a wonderful flavor and was light and airy. It almost reminded me of a souffle. Next, we ordered the veal parmesan served with angel hair pasta and the traditional spaghetti and meat balls. Both entrees came with a side salad tossed in a creamy Italian vinaigrette and both dishes were true authentic Italian dishes . You could tell from the fresh taste that everything was homemade. We loved both meals and the presentation was a nice touch! We had such good luck with everything else, that we decided to get to-go boxes and try the tiramisu. This was extremely creamy and light on the espresso flavor! It was plated in a raspberry cream sauce. Lorenzo even brought us both a glass of Tawny Port to finish off the meal! We truly enjoyed our experience at Bellini's and will definitely be back to this quaint neighborhood spot!

Alma

2011-03-12T11:02:00.010-06:00

We decided to try out Alma on Friday night. It's located on Henderson where Cuba Libre used to be. We made a reservation for 8:30, but were a bit early so we headed to the bar. The bartender walked us through the cocktail list and encouraged us to try something new! We ordered a martini with flavors that included serrano peppers and cilantro and another drink that was infused with fresh pineapple juice and cilantro. Off to a great start!
Up next: the Queso Fundido. Served in an iron skillet complete with melted cheese, chorizo, tomato and onion and accompanied by house made corn tortillas, the queso was absolutely delicious and the tortillas were some of the best that I have ever had. I never order corn tortillas because I prefer flour, but these are absolutely worth it!
The Halibut tacos was one of their nightly specials; the dish came with three tacos and a side of black beans. The fish was breaded and served with cabbage slaw in those scrumptious corn tortillas. The combination was wonderful. We also tried the seared tuna. This was served with fresh tomato, mango, jicama, cucumber, crispy onion strings and a fresh avocado sauce. We were pleased with both entrees.
Overall, our experience was wonderful! The service was exceptionally friendly, the food was fresh and the atmosphere was chic. We'll be back!

Malai Thai Vietnamese Kitchen

2011-03-03T13:14:00.005-06:00

Yesterday we lunched at Malai Thai Vietnamese Kitchen in the former Tom Tom location, West Village. We arrived at eleven and were the only patrons. Yelp had listed it as appropriate for children, so we brought along the littlest blogger. It's not really appropriate for babies, though Malai and it's staff were super accommodating and did have high chairs on hand.

We had a very enjoyable lunch. There were two words that best described our experience: fresh being foremost. Every single thing we tried was extraordinarily fresh and bursting with flavor. Yum! The second being spicy. Though our waiter was sure to point out that some dishes were spicier than others, and even offered to ask the chef to dial back the heat for us, we still found ourselves with burning taste buds.

We started with Fried Imperial Rolls. The pork, shrimp, vegetable, cilantro combo was delicious. The presentation was perfect. These were a good bet.

From there, we tried the Thai Coconut Soup with chicken. There was a lot going on in this soup. The soup, served warm, had a nice smooth coconut flavor that contrasted well with the red pepper heat that was sprinkled up top. Nice big pieces of white meat chicken, mushrooms, green onions, and tomatoes also dotted the soup and made this one a favorite. It was very rich, so I would opt for the cup.

It was lunch, so we finished up with salads.
The Spicy Minced Chicken Salad was reminiscent of P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps. The minced chicken was served atop fat pieces of butter lettuce and topped with glass noodles. There was a ton of the chicken/cilantro/onion/pepper mix and the chicken was flawless. A very good dish.

The Green Papaya Salad was very unique and definitely worth trying. The salad was mixed with mangoes and tomatoes, then finished with crushed peanuts and bacon. I didn't detect the spicy chili dressing that is listed in the menu, but at that point my tasted buds had been seared...so that was probably for the best.

The drink menu had some signature cocktails that looked amazing, but 11 was too early for us to imbibe. Make sure to peruse that list, though, if you find yourself at Malai in time for dinner.
Very friendly and attentive wait staff, location is trendy.
We are glad we tried this spot.

Cotes du Coeur Chef Announcement Party

2011-02-22T21:48:00.010-06:00

On Sunday evening The Dish On Dallas was invited to attend the Cotes du Coeur Chef Announcement Party presented by the American Heart Association. The event was held at the Addison Conference Center and was just lovely. Richard Chamberlain is the Cotes du Coeur founding Chef and seems to truly donate his time and his talents to this honorable cause. Also present at this chef-studded event were David Holben (Del Frisco’s), Kevin Garvin (Neiman Marcus), and Jim Sevenson (Sevy’s Grill), and Blythe Beck (Central 214).

As you can see from the pictures, there was a wine station with an offering of red or white. There was also a cocktail station that featured St. Germain liqueur. The food was an amazing treat: smoked pork tenderloin with caramelized onions and apples, prime rib eye with a Bearnaise sauce, and poached salmon with lemon aioli. The presentation was eye catching and each dish was unique.

I had a great evening and learned a lot about the Cotes du Coeur Dallas chapter. If you are looking to get involved check out http://www.dallaswineauction.com/ for more information.

Upcoming Events:
Catalog Preview Party – Thursday, March 24 – 6:30 – 8:30pm
This party is centered around previewing the auction catalog and live auction. Our Wine Chair, Steve Ellis, leads top level sponsors and donors through the main highlights and “lots to watch” in the auction.
Location: TBD

Grand Tasting – Friday, April 8 – 6:30 – 8:30pm
At this party, our Featured Wineries pour a select reserve of their wine for our top level patrons and sponsors. This is an intimate evening offering the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the vintners and other guests.
Location: TBD

Côtes du Coeur Gala – Saturday, April 9 – 6:30pm – 1:00am
At the main event there is a silent and live auction as well as the Open Your Heart appeal (this is where we ask the event patrons to give directly to the mission of the American Heart Association). Our focus is to highlight the great accomplishments of the AHA that have impacted the lives of adults and children.
Location: Hilton Anatole

Torchy's

2011-02-06T11:51:00.003-06:00

Jas and I have been fans of Torchy's for awhile. El Padrino #2 hijacked the weekend taco tradition a few months ago, but with all of the ice on the roads this week, I wasn't a fan of driving into the OC to get breakfast tacos & getting stuck. Yikes!
So...we went to Torchy's.

All I'm going to say is that the taco of the month, the Double Wide, is well worth a stop in.
I'm also going to say that you're going to need elastic pants...and that double wide may be the size of my a** after eating this.

Feast your eyes on this: chicken fried steak smothered in queso, topped with bacon and pico de gallo(really, what's the point of adding ANYTHING healthy here?), and finished with Cotija cheese. OMG.

I rushed into trying this monster before photographing, so sorry for the rookie mistake. But...just wow.

Crossroads Diner

2011-01-31T16:40:00.001-06:00

Sunday morning we went to church and were definitely in the mood to try out a new brunch spot. We headed over to Crossroad Diner on Walnut Hill.

We arrived a little bit after noon on Sunday, and the wait was 40 minutes. We were tempted to leave, but this was our second attempt at this place and we REALLY wanted to give it a try. Plus, we figured the story would be similar at most other places in Dallas.

Due to the wait, we were prepared with our order before we were even seated.

We had to start with the sticky bun and boy was I THRILLED that we did. This thing was huge and covered in a caramel pecan sauce. It was so delicious, we literally had to pry ourselves away so that we would have room to try our other items.We went with the brisket hash for our main entree. This meal came with the hash, 2 eggs, and a side of pancakes. We also added a side of grits and breakfast sausage. Everything that we had was truly very good. The hash had great flavor, the grits were creamy, and the pancakes were fluffy.
Did I mention the service was great? Our waiter was attentive and quick once we were seated.

Crossroads Diner was worth the wait! Next time we go back, we'd like to try out their lunch menu.

Seasons 52

2011-01-26T17:45:00.004-06:00

As someone who appreciates food, the whole concept of Seasons 52 discouraged me.
If I wanted a low-cal dinner, I'd pop in a Lean Cuisine.

It was suggested on more than one occasion, though, so I caved in and gave it a try.
The result was a pleasant surprise.

You probably know the deal: nothing in Seasons 52 is over 475 calories.
It's seasonally inspired, so it is always a revolving menu. Everything is perfect and your pants will still fit comfortably when you leave. As they told my dining companion: "ma'am, we don't have mayonnaise here".

The lack of mayonnaise isn't a bad thing, though. Don't let it deter you.

We started with the Ripe Plum Tomato Flatbread. Basil, garlic, and Parmesan had so much flavor, you didn't even miss whatever usually makes up those extra calories.

We were there for lunch, so my pal ordered the Grilled Portobello Turkey Burger. She said that it was delicious. Turkey burgers are something I just can't get behind, but if you like that sort of thing - the cheese & portobellos looked wonderful.

I had the Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwich. The vegetables were fresh, the chicken was clean and had that delicious grilled flavor that can take a dish so far! I loved it.

For dessert, I had the eggnog mini. JP enjoyed the key lime pie. We would've shared, but there just wasn't that much. Oddly, it was just the right amount.

And I guess that's the thing about Season's 52. Its a great idea and you leave pleased with yourself for making such good, albeit forced, choices.

The Dish: The Grilled Chicken Caesar will shock you with how good 475 calories can be!

Smashburger

2011-01-26T17:30:00.003-06:00

Our two lunch time visits to SmashBurger have been crowded. This is what we've learned about Smashburger: get there at 11 or 2 to avoid the crowds/find a seat...and that's a good thing.

You place your order at the counter, you fill your own soda, and then you and your number take a seat, if you can find one, and prepare to be served.

The burgers were decent, the accoutrement was fresh and crisp. The cheese, completely necessary. The fries, however, were the show stealers. Smashfries can be ordered with regular spuds or sweet potatoes. You can't go wrong either way. The smashfry combo includes rosemary, olive oil, and garlic. In Dallas, the Smashfries are rivaled only by Tillman's Trio of Fries *and that, my friends, is high praise.

On my second visit I did give the Buffalo Smashchicken a try and was let down. The chicken, two breasts worth, was rubbery and had a piece of gristle. I simply cannot get behind things of that nature. Stick to the burgers. It's what they do well.

Our good friend, NG, suggested the Butterfinger Milkshake. We'd love to give that a try, should we have any room left upon our next visit.

The Dish: Sweet potato Smashfries are a must.

The Place at Perry's

2011-01-26T17:12:00.004-06:00

When Groupon posted up their brunch deal at The Place at Perry's, it was too good to resist.
Mimosa in hand, we perused the menu and were pleased to find a little something for everyone. This has happened twice now, so I know The Place is consistent and, best of all, affordable even without the Groupon.

First up: the shrimp and grits. Always questing for the perfect Savannah-esque dish, this one comes close. This picture can't quite do it justice, but those grits...they make the south proud.

The chicken and waffles has been a fan favorite on both visits. A thick waffle holds up the overly generous fried chicken. This perfect pairing is served alongside your choice of gravy and/or syrup. There is no way you can walk away from this dish disappointed (or still hungry).

Finally, the buttermilk pancakes. These flapjacks tasted more than fine, but the portion size seemed on the small side. As a side note, when we returned with our baby, he was able to quickly dispatch of two of the three pancakes and the kids serving was the exact same size as the regular serving of Buttermilk Pancakes. (Also, they do have a kids menu, so I wasn't being crazy by bringing my more than precious offspring to such a place!)

The Place opens at 11 on Sunday.
Saturday boasts a completely different menu that we look forward to trying.

The Dish: Give this place a try and don't miss the Chicken and Waffles.

GiGi's Cupcakes

2011-01-26T17:01:00.004-06:00

Chocolate Salted Caramel

I know tacos are the new cupcakes, etc...
Last week I read that pies were the new taco (and I'm going to Rosebud's on Lovers ASAP to test the theory).

Gigi's didn't get the memo, though, and opened their new shop off Lovers and Inwood not too long ago. Always one to give cupcakes a fair shake, I've tried Gigi's, a national franchise, three times. Each time I've wanted to like it - the staff is incredibly friendly, there are free samples, it's very clean. And each time, my cupcake has fallen short of the mark: a little dry, flavors (despite sounding fantastic) are so-so. Most of all, the 2 inches of icing was over the top and, in my opinion, very similar to a short guy driving a monster truck: someone is trying to make up for something else that is, well, lacking.

The Dish: This cupcake place isn't for us.

Wedding Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Chocolate Salted Caramel

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine

2011-01-25T21:12:00.009-06:00

We ventured north of the loop this evening to try out Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. Located off of Park and the DNT, Roy's welcomed us with burning tiki torches. Precious!
The bar was hopping when we arrived, lots of folks visiting. The happy hour specials were a great deal - one that we just happened to miss due to traffic - a mistake we won't make again.

We had a reservation, thanks to Open Table, so we were quickly seated and our very friendly waiter, Adrian, promptly took our drink orders.
We decided to skip the prix fixe menu, which had some interesting options for the $36 price tag, in order to make our own menu. The Split Pea and Rock Shrimp Soup was up first; it was a rough start and we were a little apprehensive about what was up next. The shrimp was a little tough and it wasn't delicious, the prosciutto was very salty and not quite complimentary to the other flavors involved. The soup was disappointing, but what followed rescued the dinner experience!

The truffled lobster mac and cheese was perfection. We've found that mac and cheese can often be overshadowed by whatever it shares its name with. Not the case with this mac and cheese. Everything was in balance and then topped with a crisp topping. I was more than happy to take home these leftovers.
For our main course Roy's Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi took us right back to the summer we spent a few weeks in Kauai. It was delicious. It was fresh. The fish was beautifully placed on top of two roasted potatoes and asparagus stalks, then surrounded by lobster butter sauce. The combination could not have been more appreciated by our taste buds! We also ordered up a side of the sweet potato gratin, as our readers know how much we love the spuds. Not mushy or over creamed, these potatoes were cheesy and magnificent. The chocolate souffle was the perfect size. The molten center and the vanilla bean ice cream, all surrounded by raspberry coulis made this dessert a star. But the pineapple upside down cake accompanied by coconut ice cream took us right back to summer - irresistible. The coconut ice cream had flakes of real coconut; the pineapple upside down cake almost tasted caramelized. The pairing was divine. We were very pleased with our dining experience at Roy's and highly recommend giving this unique fare a try.

Via Real

2011-01-18T11:56:00.004-06:00

Monday was a special birthday lunch for a cousin of ours who lives in Grapevine. So, we decided to all meet halfway in Irving at Via Real.

We started with the house made guacamole served up in a tortilla shell. The guacamole was chunky and nicely seasoned. Just enough salt and not too spicy. This was a crowd pleaser!

The restaurant offers a variety of lunch specials at reasonable prices. I opted for the spinach enchilada topped off in a sour cream sauce and the puffy beef taco. The special was served with black beans and rice. For $7.00, I was pleased! Emily opted for the black bean ravioli. This

dish consisted of delicate ravoli shells stuffed with black beans and served with mushrooms, tomoatoes, and a creamy sauce.

As i mentioned, this was a birthday lunch. I don't think we ever officially announced this to our server, but I am sure he picked up on some of our clues ( presents, celebratory drinks, etc). He brought us out a chocolate cake with happy birthday written in strawberry syrup and even had a candle lit in the center. From there, he took our photo and inserted it into a birthday card.

The service here was absolutely wonderful and we enjoyed our time at Via Real.

Elevation Burger

2011-01-14T16:34:00.002-06:00

Emily and I decided to try out Elevation Burger today for lunch. It's located at Hillcrest and Northwest Highway. This spot just opened up in Dallas and is the only other joint in Texas besides one that is located in Austin. We arrived at about 11:30 to skip the lunch crowd. There were a few folks who beat us to that idea, but there was still plenty of room. The restaurant isn't too big, but they have a large outdoor patio that would be great when it gets warmer.

Elevation Burger is sparkly clean and prides itself on providing quality ingredients and being environmentally friendly. We both ordered the cheeseburger and split the fries and an oreo shake. The cheeseburger was delicious! The bun was fresh, the cheese was generous, and the burger wasn't greasy. The fries were also a hit! They were fried in olive oil and generously salted. You are able to customize your shake, so we chose chocolate ice cream with oreo mix-ins. Great choice!

By the time we left, Elevation Burgers was packed! We enjoyed our all American lunch and walked away without being overly full. If you are in the area, give this place a try!

Seasons 52

2011-01-05T09:51:00.006-06:00

On our last day of the holiday, we decided to head up to the Shops at Legacy to try out the new Seasons 52 Fresh Grill. This place boasts a seasonal menu with no item on the menu totaling more than 475 calories. You can truly eat anything here, and not walk away too full.

We started with an order of the parmesan cheese and rosemary flat bread. It was served up in a cone and truly held great flavor. They have other options with different meats and cheeses to choose from if you want someting a little heavier. We were having a hard time deciding on our meal, so we talked to the friendly waitstaff. We were interested in soups and asked if we should order the chicken tortilla or the buffalo chili. The waiter mentioned that he would just bring us a sample of both so that we could see what we liked best. Very nice service!

After tasting both, I decided to go with the chicken tortilla soup. The flavors were savory and the chicken portions were very generous. Since I ordered the combination plate, I also got an organic mixed greens salad with my soup. The salad was a fairly large portion and was served with grape tomatoes, toasted pumpkin seeds, cucumbers, and tossed in a deliciously light vinaigrette.

As a small side, we also opted for the edamame. This was served seaming hot with a side of green tea salt.

Emily went with the bbq chicken entree salad. Blue cheese, roasted corn, pumpkin seeds, roasted peppers, spinach and mixed greens were all tossed together and topped with bbq grilled chicken. The salad was tasty and filling!

We really liked Seasons 52. What a healthy and flavorful restaurant that allows us to keep our new years resolutions!!

Favorite of 2010

2010-12-30T13:37:00.002-06:00

Maybe next year we'll be able to break down our favorites in each category - our blog New Year's Res can be to get more organized? But this year, we both agree that or favorite dish in Dallas goes to {insert drum roll, please}...

Craft for their Yukon Gold Potato Puree!

Thanks, Craft, for another great year!
We look forward to seeing what you bring to the table in 2011.

Happy New Year!

French Room

2010-12-28T13:45:00.008-06:00

For our sister present, we decided to gift each other with dinner at The French Room.
What an experience!

We were impressed with the beautiful and grandiose dining room, our waiter made sure to point out the highlights for us: The French Room was opened in 1982 and is part of the Adolphus Hotel. The ceiling is hand painted and the furniture is ornate. The chandelier glass is imported from Italy.

You can either chose to do the three course menu, or the menu paired with wine. We chose the 3 course menu and started out with the crisp pork belly and the crab cake. The pork belly was perfectly cooked and was served on a bead of swiss chard with mushrooms. The crab cake was very light- almost like a souffle and was served with a lobster cream sauce. These were followed by a cranberry sorbet palate cleanser served up in a beautiful flower dish.

For our main courses we tried the coconut crusted halibut and the tenderloin. The halibut was served in a brown butter sauce with apples and butternut squash. The tenderloin was served atop cheese and bacon potatoes with a side of asparagus. Wow! We couldn't have been happier with our selection, each bite was perfection.

To cap off our evening, we ordered dessert: bread pudding and the blackberry tart. The bread pudding was served with caramelized bananas and a rum gelato. The tart was almond encrusted and served with a ginger-molasses gelato as well. The cup of coffee served along side might have surpassed the dessert, it was the best cup of coffee I've ever had.

Following desert, we were treated to a complementary chocolate plate from the chef. The chocolate detail on the side of the serving plate was precious. The chocolates - we were really too full to experiment.

After we received our check, we were given these little bags with pumpkin cranberry bread for the road. Such a nice touch, and a wonderful end to such an enjoyable dinner experience.We enjoyed our dining adventure at The French Room and were delighted to finally try one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the Dallas area.

Nonna for Lunch

2010-11-28T14:21:00.004-06:00

House made Cherry Coke

served warm & piping hot, this bread is worth the visit

We have long been fans of Nonna. We adore the ravioli of Maine lobster. While pregnant, husband had to deal with that craving - which ended up costing a bit more than your typical pickles & ice cream.
For dessert, you would be remiss if you passed up the Praline Nougatine Semifreddo
with Pistachios and Acacia Honey. There is nothing to compare it to - it is THAT good.

So we were very pleased to see that they recently opened for lunch - Fridays only.
The soup sounded like the perfect dish for a cold and rainy day: Fall vegetable minestra with braised lentils and sausage. It was rich, so pleasing, and a good sized portion. It warmed us up immediately and made us wish that we could cook that well!

We then tried the lobster roll, something that is entirely new to the menu and can only be found Friday afternoons. This - this didn't go over so well. It was overly fishy and had some chewy pieces that made eating the sandwich very unladylike. The house made chips were delicious, and ended up saving our lunch, but...this lobster roll was not one of our favorite things.

Our take on the situation: go in and enjoy the soup - or any of their other wonderful entrees. Just pass on the sandwich.

Artin's Grill

2010-11-28T14:00:00.003-06:00

Date night had us up in Plano last week to try Artin's Grill.
Upon walking in, I was a little disappointed. The atmosphere didn't seem cozy at all. The soaring ceilings and rows of booths, initially, made me feel like this place was going to be a jazzed up Chili's. I could not have been further from the truth.

Seated in a booth, I was surprised at how easy it was to have a conversation. I expected everything to be a cacophony of dinner plates, voices, and clinking glasses, but it was very comfortable.

We started out with the wedge salad and enjoyed the traditional presentation with nice sized pieces of bacon, blue cheese, and tomatoes. Wonderful!

From there, we went with the waiter's recommendation: Braised Beef Short Ribs. These little gems were boneless, juicy, and tender as heck! The short ribs were served on top of the mushroom mac and cheese and finished with onion strings This is one of the best things I have ever ordered, and that's saying a lot!

J and I split the dish, and the waiter was kind enough to bring it already divided. I love it when restaurants offer this, even for a fee, because it prevents messes! It was a generous portion, and I would recommend splitting this particular entree since the meal is so rich.

Post-dinner, we moved on to the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Rich and chocolaty, it was a delicious match to my glass of cabernet.

This made for a lovely date night that I look forward to replicating in the near future.

El Padrino #2

2010-11-28T13:46:00.003-06:00

I have no idea what happened to El Padrino #1 - or if there even is one. Though slightly puzzling to me, it's of no real consequence since El Padrino #2 is a fine establishment and I'm so glad to have found it!
Located in Bishop's Art, this little stand shop completed my lifelong quest for breakfast tacos.
To begin, it's cheap. Four tacos and two Mexican cokes ran us about $10 - most of that cost was the coke.
You can choose if you want corn or flour tortillas. I had the corn - they were unmatched - but I did covet the flour, as they looked thick and perfect in the way that only hand made tortillas can.

You can do breakfast, which is served all day, or you can opt for lunch/dinner. After you order up at the window, you can either eat in your car, or choose one of the two cement tables outside the taco stand. You definitely don't want to be driving when you first experience El Padrino #2, as you may wreck your car with sheer happiness.

We tried the egg, cheese, and potato taco - tears of joy.
We also tried the egg, chorizo, and cheese - there is no finer combination.

Two sauces are offered: a green chile sauce (pass), and a red sauce (lit my mouth on fire).

All in all, this was so very much worth the drive.

chorizo, egg, & cheese tacos on flour tortillas
potato, egg, & cheese taco - corn tortilla

*a nod to BEL for recommending this joint. Thank you~

Perry's

2010-11-28T13:14:00.004-06:00

This week's dining event: Perry's.
If you've been following our blog for any amount of time, you know that we like to order whatever moves us...and that mostly we are moved by side dishes: potatoes and mac and cheese. Perry's was definitely a crowd pleaser.

To start, our waiter, Maurice, was top notch. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and enhanced our dining experience. We loved his service and really appreciated his attention to detail. Cheers to Maurice. If you find yourself at Perry's, please ask to be seated with him. I'm not kidding when I saw that he made dinner pleasant!

We began with Perry's Signature Fried Asparagus. You can see that it is topped with crab meat and Parmesan. I don't even really know how to describe this culinary treasure. The asparagus was tender, and paired with the crab meat, it was bliss. We highly recommend trying this appetizer.

From there, we moved on to the lobster bisque. This bisque had real lobster meat - always a plus, and was so rich it tasted buttery. Four stars!

Salads were next on the agenda. The Wedge and the Chopped Salad with Applewood Smoked Bacon were our choices. The Chopped salad may have had too much cheese - not even sure if that is a complaint. They were both good.

The Butternut Squash Puree was a pleasant surprise. The squash was sweet, but the crumb and bacon topping added savory to the mix. It was an accident that we even ended up with this dish, as we meant to try the potato puree. However, this side made my day. This dish is a must!

The mac and cheese is comprised of penne pasta in a Bechamel sauce, so it has a little bit of an eggy taste to it. The cheese is all on top, and they make sure it's browned and bubbling before they serve it up. This unique take on mac and cheese wasn't as heavy as some dishes can be. The nutmeg also offered a nice finish.

A cup of coffee and the praline cheesecake did us in. We were so full, I'm sure we didn't give the cheesecake proper attention. We were also distracted by the neighboring table's banana's foster light show. Wow!

All in all, we found Perry's to be an absolutely perfect dining experience.
A re-visit will definitely be in order.

Sweet Revolution Caramels

2010-11-06T21:04:00.004-05:00

Ordered up some maple honey caramels from Sweet Revolution last week and they arrived on Friday. Wow!
The packaging alone is worth the price tag. These would make a precious gift for any candy connoisseurs in your circle.

They are packaged twelve to a box.
The box comes wrapped in red twine, covered with a wax seal.
Inside, each of the twelve caramels are wrapped in oversized white waxy paper. It's throwback candy and it's absolutely darling.

These caramels are easy on the taste buds, too.
They're definitely a mouthful and could cause some dental work damage. However, by savoring the taste (and not chewing), I found a lot of flavors emerging from these little squares of goodness. There is a nice balance of salty and sweet - a combo I can't resist.

These would make a great Christmas present, so make sure and keep them in mind!

Exposition Park Pizza Lounge

2010-11-05T13:51:00.005-05:00

We tried Exposition Park Pizza Lounge for lunch today. It is located directly in front of the State Fair on the corner of Exposition.

This place is eclectic and prides itself on great late night pizzas. They recently opened up for lunch, so we decided to check it out.
At 11:45 a.m. we were definitely the only customers in the joint but towards the middle of our meal, one other patron ventured in. Exposition Park has a unique offering of pizzas with names such as Spicy Muchacho, Sufrin’ Hog, Nickel Bag, and Sofa King. They also cook up salads, soups and sandwiches. We started with the wedge salad to spilt. Lucky for us, the waitress served up the salad on two plates. The wedge came with grape tomatoes, banana peppers and homemade croutons. We weren’t feeling very adventurous or starving, so we ordered by the slice – one cheese and one pepperoni. Neither of us were blown away by the pizza. Maybe our mistake was not trying one of their specialty pizzas. Or maybe this place is best saved for a late night bite.

Lawry's

2010-11-02T11:21:00.002-05:00

At Lawry's Restaurant, the ambiance was warm and toasty with dark woods, and we settled into our comfortable chairs and perused the menu immediately. They had wine by the glass, so we made sure to order a fancy $7.50 chardonnay and a $15 Cabernet; neither let us down. The wait staff was superb: friendly without being overbearing. We really liked our server and appreciated her guidance while making choices.

First up: lobster bisque. This was a pretty staunch serving soup, so we went ahead and shared it. The only thing that could have made this soup better, would be the addition of lobster meat to the bowl. However, we would order it again. Can you really beat a cream soup?

Next: The Premiere Salad
With crunchy bacon and pecans, Gruyere cheese, and an Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette, this salad had a nice light taste to it that helped to off set the steak and sides that were coming soon.

The main course: there was a lot going on here, so we're just going to do a quick discussion of sides and steak.
The mac and cheese is made with pepper jack. It definitely has a kick to it, which is good because that really set it apart from other blah mac-and-cheese steak house offerings. Worth a try!

The creamed spinach and creamed corn were non-descript. Would definitely pass next time.

And finally, the filet mingon with fried onion strings and potatoes au gratin. This whole plate is a must have. Lawry's is known for it's prime rib, but this was a pretty good filet and the accouterments were a plus. The potatoes au gratin rivaled the mac and cheese for our "Favorite Dish" at the table.

I'd say the theme of the night: heavy cream.

For the finale, we wrapped up with the banana-coconut cream pie. We're sad to say we couldn't finish the dish, but it did make a mighty fine breakfast the next day. I think that counts as two servings of fruit, so...

I'm going to go ahead and note that there are some superior steak restaurants in Big D, Nick and Sam's is one of my all time favs. They set the bar high. Lawry's has some good things going for it, but I'm not sure it can compete. That being said, we had a very pleasant dinner, the bill wasn't awful, and we enjoyed our dinner. Give Lawry's a try and see for yourself!

Kalachandji's

2010-10-13T10:02:00.005-05:00

Tuesday night we were up for an adventure. We decided to try Kalanchandji’s in East Dallas. This restaurant serves up vegetarian Indian food and allows you to eat inside or in a beautiful atrium opened up to the stars. You definitely do not feel like you are dining in Dallas! The menu changes daily, so make sure and check the website before you go.

Attached to the restaurant area is a beautiful Hara Krishna Temple. Guests are welcome to walk around and view the temple. The only requirement is that you do have to take your shoes off. If you feel like having a unique dining experience, this should be on your list of options!

Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse

2010-10-11T16:44:00.005-05:00

On Monday we lunched at the Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse in the West End,
hereto referred to as Y-No.

When we walked up to the door of the establishment, there was a distinct sewer odor. Could it have been from the underground gasses? Possibly.
Could it have been from a homeless man? Odds are also good.
Being greeted by any sewer related issue - never a good way to start your dining experience.

The odor-ific event continued after we were seated, as our waiter had dabbed "a bit" of cologne on back stage. The waft was so overwhelming, I felt as if I were back teaching middle school. Was I eating chicken fried steak or Stetson? Hard to say.

We started with chips and queso - they were solid. In fact, this was the highlight of the meal.
Can you get good chips and queso elsewhere? Yes.

Soggy fries and the room temperature preparation of my burger had me puzzled. We were the only people in the joint at 11:00 on a Monday - was this burger pre-fab? Even the onion strings were chilly. Big disappointment.

These girls have never - NEVER - walked away from chicken fried steak. We even like the school caf version. Know what we don't like?
CFS that tastes like it's been reheated from last night.

This dining event was a disappointment...even with a coupon.
We won't be back.

Tupinamba

2010-09-29T09:44:00.003-05:00

Monday Emily, Wyatt and I decided to try out Tumpinamba. This neighborhood Mexican food spot is located off of the tollway and Forrest. The inside is spacious, and the service was friendly and warm.

We arrived early since Wyatt was with us, but that just meant that we were still in time for the happy hour special. We each ordered a margarita for 3.95! Emily had the peach swirl and I had the sangria swirl- what a deal! I decided to try the Tupy Tacos. Apparently, this is one of the signature items on the menu. I'm not sure exactly what is in the tacos, but I can say they were pretty delicious. The outside taco is fried and you are served a lettuce, tomato, and cheese salad on the side. You can stuff your taco, or eat the salad separately. Either way you go, you definitely won't be disappointed.

Emily ordered a combo of cheese enchiladas, a Tupy taco, and a guacamole tostada. The guacamole had fresh tomato and real pieces of avocado with just the right amount of garlic. The cheese enchiladas were overly covered in sauce and sans onion, but these shortcomings were overshadowed by the other items.

Even Wyatt had a good time visiting with the waiter and the other patrons! We'll be back!

Dr. Sue's Chocolate

2010-09-23T17:15:00.004-05:00

This week I received a box of Dr. Sue's Chocolate for a gift...might be the best gift ever.

First of all, it's dark chocolate and you know that dark chocolate is good for you...so you don't have to feel bad if you, say, eat half of the box in one sitting.

Second of all, Dr. Sue is a legit MD. She's done studies about chocolate and on top of that, she's researched how to create the most perfect combinations and then packaged them just for you.

Third of all, Dr. Sue's is now found for sale at Eatzi's. You can enjoy the benefits of Dr. Sue's far flung travels without ever leaving your bubble.

Highly recommend these treats. I had "The Bark Collection", which featured Cherry Pecan, Hazelnut Coconut, and Hazelnut Toffee. I'm hooked. Each bite was sweet and salty with a bit of crunch. Amazing!

Give it a try for yourself and take pride in the fact that you're helping your heart. In fact, go ahead and pour a glass of red - create a powerhouse duo.

(Wish I could say I shared this, but, no. I did all of this damage on my own...)

Cafe Expresso

2010-09-17T14:22:00.003-05:00

Cafe Expresso is located near Preston & Northwest Highway, and it's a hidden gem. I've been around that area many times for Blue Plate, Snuffer's, and even Orange Cup, but I'd never seen Cafe Expresso. I think that is what makes it so appealing.

The clientele knew the staff. I overheard one lady order "the usual, please", and the waitress seemed to have no trouble. There was a table full of men in suits, several matronly ladies, and a group of Stay-at-home-Mom's dining with us for lunch on Friday, so it's a very mixed bag as far as the diners go.

The service is slow, so don't go if you're in a hurry. However, the service is so pleasant and friendly, that you don't mind things moving at a slower pace.

Hot bread and butter arrived at the table first - you know we were already impressed.

From there, we tried the Rosemary Chicken Soup with Rice. Again, impressed. This tastes just like something your mom would make on an overcast wintry day. It was perfect. The chicken had been grilled, which gave it a leg up on it's normal chicken soup competition. This is a definite re-order!

From the soup, we moved to the spinach salad with pink peppercorn. That peppercorn was spicy, but it gave a nice kick to something that can be kind of bland. The salad was tasty, but didn't blow my socks off.

We wrapped up with the "create your own pasta" option. You select which pasta shape you enjoy, then you add a sauce and, if you want, a meat. We chose the farfalle pasta with carbonara sauce and pretty much licked the bowl clean. They have a ton of options to choose from when creating your own pasta. This was a winner for us, but you can choose to go lighter or you can choose a dish that they have already paired for you.

Our food was fresh, delivered with a smile, and had a very home-cooking type of appeal.

Cafe Expresso isn't loud - you can have a whole convo with your table mate and no one has to yell. In fact, you might even need to talk quietly if you want to keep it private. There aren't many places in Dallas where that is true. The owner personally came over to the table and chatted with us, a kind gesture on this busy Friday afternoon.

We were both impressed and will definitely schedule a re-visit.

Herrera's Restaurant

2010-09-09T13:48:00.003-05:00

Tornado? What tornado? We were so busy dining at Herrera's last night, we couldn't be bothered with the weather.

Located at 5427 Denton Drive (there are several listings, so don't be confused), this local isn't much to look at.
The inside is a huge space with an arcade, which the husband got excited about, a juke box, a bar, which I got excited about, and then tons of tables and booths. It's not fancy, but it's so good - who cares? Remember when Mia's was less trendy and more neighborhood - that's what this place is about. Easy parking, good food, respectable prices, kind service - we loved it.

They served our hot sauce in containers similar to IHOP's syrup dispensers. Everyone got their own bowl. It's so hot, your eyes water, but man, is it flavorful! The queso was the perfect consistency, very smooth and not heavy. Flavored by the peppers, it managed to be the star of the table.

(Queso accompanied by Herrera's Bean Soup)

Complimentary bean soup was brought, along with house made tortillas. Both were amazing. The bean soup, complete with bacon, was very temperature hot. But my tongue was so scorched from the hot sauce, I didn't even mind.

The cheese enchiladas were perfectly done. The con-carne sauce tasted authentic and wasn't overly tomato packed. The cheese taco was similar to an enchilada covered with queso. Can't go wrong there. The guacamole tostada was the only disappointing feature, but I was so full, I didn't even mind.

The combo fajitas arrived sizzling and with the biggest set-up I've ever seen. Mounds of real cheese, guacamole, sour cream, beans, rice...it was too much for one man to eat.
The rice almost tasted stir fried, but with the salsa-flavor that Spanish rice always has. I've never had rice this delicious.

The two TV's were set to ESPN - we were happy campers.
Definitely headed back.

Nova

2010-09-08T09:19:00.006-05:00

The bar at Nova

Super cute star chandelier & entry way at Nova

To begin with, Nova is precious. It's funky, the decor is eclectic and fun; we both loved it from the second we arrived. We heard it was a converted DQ, but you'd never know that from the inside. A bar lines one wall with drink specials & beer offerings chalked up on the wall. An assortment of booths and tall boy tables make up the rest of the place.

The staff was super friendly and accommodating. More than that, though, this place has a neighborhood feel. The smells coming from the kitchen were inviting, just like home. The people meeting there knew each other and gave hugs in greeting. We just felt comfortable.

And then we ordered. Wowie!
We were very carb conscious, so prepare yourselves...

We started with the hummus and were immediately pleased. The pita was warm, fluffy, and had a seasoning on it that was part oregano, part Heaven. The cucumber/tomato salad was tossed in the lightest olive oil and then peppered. The hummus itself had a hint of garlic, was smooth, and was something we would definitely order in the future. In fact, it may have eclipsed our former favorite and slid into the #1 slot for hummus in Dallas.

For our main course, we split the three mushroom pizza with white truffle oil. This pizza was sized enough to split. The mushrooms were delicious. The white sauce (in place of tomato sauce), was rich without being overwhelming. The surprise element, goat cheese, wasn't mentioned on the menu. You know how we feel about goat cheese. Thanks, but no thanks - and feel free to never put it on anything served to these girls. While we liked the pizza, the goat cheese killed it for us. Next time, and there will be a next time, we're going to check before ordering.

And for dessert: the Asiago cheese fries. They were crisp, golden, not a soggy tater in the group. They had a nice taste, but we would have loved a ton more Asiago.

All in all, dinner was cozy and enjoyable. Our wine by the glass and friendly waitress made a dreary Tuesday completely pleasant. Thanks, Nova!

Nothing Bundt Cakes

2010-08-31T17:03:00.002-05:00

After my weekly lunch at Torchy's, I cruised on down Preston to Nothing Bundt Cakes to get a little something for my sweet tooth.

Display Case - look at all of the little bundtlets at the bottom. Yum!

I was really surprised at how busy this joint was at 1pm on a Tuesday.
They have some great packaging ideas for parties or get togethers...and they ship nationwide.
You can order a 10 inch, 8 inch, or a bundtlet. I love that for $3.99 you can have whatever flavor of cake you'd like - and it is a generous portion.
They had samples out of the cinnamon swirl cake. This was an excellent idea. In my mind, bundt cakes are dried out. Not these guys. They're super moist, rich, and topped with decadent icing.

Decor in Nothing Bundt Cakes

Precious packaging - I love the sticker!

The flavor of the month is white chocolate blueberry...but regardless of which flavor you choose, you can't go wrong. Stop in and try one of these little gems!

Al's Steakhouse and Salad Bar

2010-08-31T16:27:00.005-05:00

Preston and Royal has a new steak place: Al's Steakhouse and Salad Bar.
We tried it out on Monday night. When we arrived, we had to call out our greeting several times before it took. There are two entrances & we came in the back way. At 6:30 there was one other patron: a man at the bar. We had a brief discussion about slipping out undetected, but decided to forge ahead.

After ordering a glass of wine (thought the possibilities for adult beverage are endless, as they have a full bar), we perused the menu.

When we asked about the salad bar, we were told it was "canceled". I would like to remind our readers that the name over the door said "Al's Steakhouse and Salad Bar". The online menu boasts a salad bar for $10. But...there was no salad bar.
No love lost there, however. I'm not a super fan of salad.

Instead, we ordered the chicken corn chowder. Decent, but very Campbell's-esque.

The Caesar salad was good: authentic without being overwhelming.

The steak, cooked medium-well, was okay. Definitely not the best in Dallas, but passable. I was more in love with the scalloped potatoes served alongside, to be honest.

The wild mushroom risotto with white truffle oil was the star of the show. For $6.50, this tasty flavorful dish was our favorite. We almost fought over who took home the left overs. I would make a re-visit to Al's just to give this another try.

For dessert we opted for the Viennese apple-pear strudel with cream Anglaise. Flaky pastry, fat raisins, good sized bits of real fruit, served beside ice cream...I was amazed. I was also too full to finish it. Don't let that happen to you.

Al's has some work to do before it is truly up to standard.
However, on the whole, both the food and the service were pleasant,
especially if you live in the area.

La Grange

2010-08-27T14:40:00.004-05:00

For a while now, I have heard that La Grange is a fun new place in Deep Ellum. Myself and a co-worker decided to give it a try for lunch. La Grange is located on Elm Street and has two store fronts. One is for their musical venue, and the other one is for their restaurant.

The restaurant section is fun and eclectic. When you first walk in, you are greeted with at bar where you place your order and pay. Once the order is complete, the wait staff brings you your food. Pretty simple. I ordered the mushroom melt with matchstick fries. The sandwich was served on thick white toast with mushrooms, melted cheese, and their avocado pico. I thought the sandwich flavors went well together. For 6.50, this a great value!
My co-worker ordered the smoked chicken nachos. This came with chips, cubed smoked chicken, and tomatoes. Fresh guacamole and chipotle queso was served on the side. This is a great way to eat nachos in a “guilt free” way since you can control how much you want of each condiment! The presentation was a nice surprise. Overall, we were both pleased. The atmosphere as fun and the food was tasty and affordable.

Boiler Room

2010-08-25T15:46:00.012-05:00

Tuesday night we decided to have a high school girls dinner to catch up. We decided to meet up at Boiler Room.

Oddly enough, Emily had planned a dinner there herself. That said, get ready for a lengthy post!

Boiler Room is located in Deep Ellum on Elm Street. It is a musical venue, but they also serve food. We arrived a little after 7, and there were plenty of seats. We had a party of 4, and chose to sit at a long table in the middle of the restaurant. They have daily specials and then a regular menu with appetizers, sliders, sandwiches, and entrees. Overall, they have a pretty good selection of food.

Two ordered the sliders in our group. You can mix and match and order either 2 or 3. Melissa went with the chicken fried steak sliders with fries. These come on with a patty of chicken fried steak, creamy gravy, and a dollop of mashed potatoes. Kristen ordered 2 of the chicken fried steak sliders and then one bacon ranch chicken slider.

Jamie ordered the chicken jalapeno wrap. This came with bacon, breaded chicken, jalapenos, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. This was drizzled in ranch dressing in and served up in a tortilla with potato chips and a small fruit salad.

I ordered the veggie wrap. This came with sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. The ingredients were drizzled with a raspberry vinaigrette and wrapped up in a flour tortilla. The wrap was accompanied by potato chips and a small fruit salad. I really liked it and it was only 6.50! The dressing was well proportioned and all of the ingredients were fresh and crisp.

*********************

(The fried pickle/jalapeno basket with ranch)

We started out with the fried pickle & jalapeno basket, complete with ranch. We ate every bit of it...they were good as far as fried pickles go. However, I do like it when the pickles are a tad crisper. These were a little droopy.

Everyone at our table ordered the sliders, too - there were just too many slider options to mix & match. You have the option of adding sweet potato fries, one of my favorite things! However, after we ordered they let us know that they were out of SPF on this particular evening.

My chicken salad slider was good. My chicken fried steak slider was gristly. The spoonful of taters did make it feel like elementary school lunch all over again - the mashers were good.

We ordered the apple pie dessert, only to find they were out of that, too.

All in all, I wish I had tried the special, as recommended by the staff. Pot roast with veggies would have been a better route.

I can't say if I will make a return visit. Prices were great. Service was decent. Food was just mediocre.

Dive

2010-08-23T20:31:00.003-05:00

Monday night we decided to try out Dive in Snyder Plaza. It is located where Balls Hamburgers used to be on Rankin Street. The restaurant definitely has a “beachy” atmosphere with pastel colors and accessories to tie everything in. You place your order at the counter and then wait staff brings you your meal. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly.

They have several different options in the “Skinny Dip” section which include: traditional hummus, roasted eggplant, baby bella and ham, tomato basil, and a cucumber yogurt. We decided to go with the traditional hummus. This generous portion was served with fresh warm pita and crackers. The hummus was creamy, garlicky, and definitely had a kick to it! We both liked it.

I ordered the hearts of palm salad and a side of the boursin mashed potatoes. The salad was served with shreds of romaine lettuce, hearts of palm, avocado wedges, and grapefruit sections. This was all drizzled with an olive oil and sea salt vinaigrette. It was light and refreshing. The potatoes were a hit as well! They were homemade and whipped up with boursin cheese.

Emily went with the spicy shrimp coastal tacos. These came as a set of three accompanied with a spicy slaw. The flavoring of the shrimp wasn’t her favorite, but the side of sauces helped to level out all of the flavors together. She also tried a "Pike" cocktail. This consisted of red wine, iced tea, raspberry puree, lemon juice, orange juice, and Agave nectar. Yum!
Dive offered plenty of sandwich and wrap offerings as well. The place seemed to be pretty crowded with a good number of folks ordering to go. Give this place a try if you are looking for a coastal experience.

J Blacks for Brunch

2010-08-22T15:30:00.003-05:00

Thanks to the recommendation of AC, today we brunched at J Blacks. While they do offer a ton of drink specials, including a bloody mary bar, mimosas, and dollars off their other drinks, we stuck to soda. It was syrupy good.

For brunch they have a variety of breakfast choices. French toast, migas, breakfast tacos. They also offer their full pizza menu.

The Winner Winner pizza was out of this world and I can't say enough about it. I'm headed back just for this masterpiece. Shredded chicken, Boursin cheese, avocado, and a Parmesan crust, this really was the winner.

The Game Day Burger was flavorful. It came with a side of mustard, all of the fixings, and deliciously flavored fries. Make sure to add cheese!

Our waitress was very nice, but definitely overworked. It looked like she was serving every table in the place and, as a result, service was extraordinarily slow. It took over an hour for our food to arrive, and every request seemed to take an eternity. She was absolutely pleasant about it, which helped appease the frustration at the table. Still, take note: it's not quick.
Another side note is that is was extremely warm, temperature wise, in the restaurant. This was something that ceiling fans and moving tables didn't fix.

However, despite the long wait and the hot temps, a revisit for brunch is definitely on the list.

Burguesa Burger

2010-08-22T15:10:00.004-05:00

Burguesa Burger had been calling to me for awhile, but this kind of burger will beat down your self-esteem, so i had to time it carefully. You see, Burguesa Burger isn't your normal burger. Oh, no. It is a burger to feed your hangover. It is a burger that will push you into the next weight class. It is a B-U-R-G-E-R.

The menu does boast a slew of options, but if you find yourself at this tiny drive up location on Inwood Road by Southwestern, you have only one real choice: The Monumental. It has all of the normal burger parts: meat, cheese, meat, cheese, bread, lettuce, onion, tomato... plus avocado, ham, special sauce, refried beans, AND A TOSTADA. My heart hurts just listing the ingredients.
(I did have the Monumental, Jr. which cuts down the meat and cheese by half and was still ridiculous. )

The soda fountain boasts pure sugar cane soft drinks in an array of citrus flavors like grapefruit, orange, lemon-lime, and cola (for those who don't think outside of the box).
When it come to fries, I highly recommend the spicy fries. I'm not sure what blend of seasoning flavored these fries, but it was tasty - smokey, bacon-y, and spicy pepper-y. The fries would have been pretty dull without this added extra.

The menu also listed churros, which I longed to try, but just couldn't bring myself to order. All in all, the burger meat wasn't the best I've ever had, but the experience was so unique, it was definitely worth a try.

Maximo

2010-08-05T10:39:00.003-05:00

Maximo was our restaurant of choice this week because of D Magazine's "Best Of" list. Located on Alpha Road, across from the Galleria, the setting of this venue is amazing. Beautiful colors, neat decorations, and lots of space make up the dining room. One thing my dining companions pointed out: there isn't the constant noise that you have in the usual Dallas restaurants. They were playing music and the dining room was crowded, but you could still comfortably have a conversation.

Voted D Magazine's Best Margarita, the Maximo Heat is a traditional salty-sour blend but with the addition of muddled jalapenos. The jalapenos weren't too hot, but they did add an interesting kick to an old favorite.

This margarita served alongside their chips and salsa, made me glad to be a Texan.
Hot, medium, or sweet are your dipping choices. It's always superb to have salsa choices and these were pretty darn good. The hot version (far left) had the least amount of flavor - but that could be because it burned out my taste buds? The sweet version (far right) almost tasted pickled, but was definitely my favorite.

Maximo Chips & Salsas

This guacamole was created table side with super fresh ingredients. You could pick your level of heat and what things you wanted to go into your guac - something that picky eaters (or traditionalists - who don't like tomatoes in their guacamole) will appreciate.

Guacamole made table side

Pescado Rojo served with a butternut squash tamale

The fish (red snapper) wasn't my favorite, but the tomato on top had a great flavor and the tamale is well worth sampling.

House Salad with Chile-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Lobster Nachos

These were, by far, the best dish on the table the whole evening. The chips held up under black beans, lobster meat, a good amount of cheese, and a jalapeno slice. Amazing! These would definitely be on my list for re-ordering.

Churros with Vanilla Milkshake for dipping

The churros were warm and tasted less like a funnel cake and more like a delicious roll of French toast. The vanilla milkshake, we used for dipping (and added a little to our coffee). It tasted similar to tapioca, and was a good flavor blend with the churros. This dessert, served piping hot, is definitely something to try!

The Original Market Diner

2010-07-30T16:33:00.005-05:00

Feeling like some down home cooking, today we lunched at The Original Market Diner. The inside is old school, crazy crowded (during lunch) and questionably, a fire hazard; the food is well worth the possible risk.

You're seated by a waitress and immediately served water in old school glasses. Then you're plied with cornbread or rolls, both warm and carb-y. A plate with butter product is waiting for you on the table, and thus begins your lunch journey at The Original Market Diner.

Having scouted the menu ahead of time, we knew we were going to split the chicken fried steak plate, which comes with two vegetables. In this joint, mac and cheese is considered a vegetable, God Bless. We had mashed potatoes, fried okra, mac and cheese -and no complaints. Lunch was served with a sigh of contentment from the table - it was absolutely perfect diner food.

There is a sign hanging near the cash register at The Original Market Diner that reads, "Pie Fixes Everything". After sampling their peanut butter pie, I'd have to agree. With pie like this, the world does feel right. Light and fluffy, but rich with flavor, you won't be disappointed!

Everything in this joint was superb - from the service to the last crumb of that pie crust. We will definitely be back (once our artery's have time to recover).

The Libertine Bar

2010-07-14T13:41:00.006-05:00

This was my first visit to Libertine Bar, but Tuesday night is half price food night and we needed a place to head for happy hour. The bar is located on lower Greenville and is one of the few places left in Dallas where you aren’t forced to valet. They actually have a nice size lot across the street which makes it super convenient.

The interior of Libertine Bar is pretty cool. They have a massive beer selection with rotating ones on tap, plus some signature cocktails. We ordered our first round of drinks and then decided that we were starving. Our table chose the steak sandwich, grilled cheese, and the ginger beef salad. The grilled cheese was served on buttery toast with a combo of American, Muenster, & Cheddar cheeses. I went ahead and added avocado as well. The combination was fantastic. The sandwich was served with warm garlic matchstick fries. The salad was served layered- starting with the butter lettuce, mango, ginger beef, and topped off with a thai vinaigrette. The dressing on this salad was great, but the meat was a little too salty. The steak sandwich was comprised of sliced hanger steak, melted gruyere & caramelized onions. The au jus & horseradish mayo were served on the side as well as the sweet potato fries. The recipient was pleased.

Libertine’s food and drinks were pretty tasty, and we were just as pleased with our check!

Rock 'n' Taco

2010-07-13T10:43:00.004-05:00

Monday night we decided to try Rock 'n' Taco. This place is in Uptown on McKinney Avenue where Rocco’s used to be located.

The outside is black with pink lettering and the inside mimics the outside design. The walls are pink with black accent furniture and a few rawhide chairs scattered around. The dining room is fairly small with about 4 booths and 10 or so small tables. In the middle of the restaurant is a bar with flat screen televisions. The neatest part, is the lighted ceiling - purples and blues rain down on you from above -excuse me while I kiss the sky, right?

We were immediately seated and proceeded to have excellent service for our entire visit. We both started with the frozen apricot margarita with salt. This was a great blend of salty sweet and a completely unique flavor! While we were sipping on our cocktails, we were served warm chips with two different salsas. I think by the end of the meal almost every chip was gone.

The Earth, Wind, and Fire Roasted Corn on the Cob was ordered for an appetizer. This is a roasted ear of corn covered in chili powder, cilantro butter , and cotija cheese. They also serve sides of extra butter and cheese to smother on as needed. We thought this was an excellent start.

For dinner, we split the Rock-Your-Own-Tacos. There are a ton of different options on the menu, but this allowed us to try out four different varieties in one dish. We chose the Braised Brisket, Los Gueros ( fajita meat and cheese), Camarones Diablo ( spicy shrimp), and the Picadillo ( ground beef). These are served with a side of cilantro black beans and rice. All of the tacos were very good; the shrimp taco was too hot for us, but they definitely warn you of that on the menu.

Finally, we could not pass up the churros for dessert. You are served a generous portion of churros and whipped cream with a side of caramel and chocolate dipping sauces. WOW. You are missing out if you don’t try these. They simply melt in your mouth.

We thought Rock’n’ Taco rocked, despite some so-so reviews we had read on-line at other sites. If you like tacos, definitely give this spot a try.

Sfuzzi

2010-07-12T10:40:00.003-05:00

Thursday night we headed out to Sfuzzi’s. I have tried to go to this restaurant right after it opened, but the wait was too long. This time we were lucky!

We opted to sit outside by the bar which was a great seat! Cocktails were the first order of business. We tried the blueberry mojito and the Sfuzzi signature cocktail ( peach and champagne). They were both very good and a deal for only $7.00! During the cocktails, we were brought out a bread basket with dipping oil. The bread was warm and the dipping oil was really flavorful.
Next, we both went for a salad. We ordered the chop salad which came with peppers, bacon, tomatoes ad gorgonzola dressing. We also ordered the romaine salad with eggs, green beans, and pepper. We were pleased with both!Following the salads, we had to split a pizza. While they have several other section offerings on the menu, most people around us were sharing different pizzas. The four cheese pizza sounded good to us, so we gave it a try. The cheeses that were on the pizza – parmesan, gorgonzola, ricotta, and mozzarella. Overall, the pizza was mediocre and lacked flavor.
We’ll have to try this place out again! It’s a Dallas hot spot with reasonable prices and a fun atmosphere.

Eddie V's

2010-07-07T10:10:00.007-05:00

Dining at Eddie V's was one of the best experiences we have had in a long time. Every single dish was a home run, the atmosphere was perfect, and the service was superb.

Our waiter, Matt, made the experience enjoyable. He was knowledgeable about the preparations and he was honest and forthright when we asked for his opinion. He was helpful without hovering and he checked in the right amount of times to let us know that he was there to serve. Matt was part of the overall A++ that we're dishing out for this venue.

We started with drinks. We weren't disappointed. There is also a Happy Hour menu that you can peruse at the bar - all affordable and delicious - everyone in that section of the restaurant looked to be enjoying themselves a great deal.

We then moved on to the sweet corn and crab chowder. This was creamy without being overbearing. The corn was incredibly crisp, the bacon gave it a good flavor, and the crab was mellow. It was spicy, but wonderful.

We selected the Gulf Snapper Filet Almondine. What a portion size! The fish was light and thin. It was buttery, appropriately sweet, and very fresh.

Even though Eddie V's is known for their seafood, I took a chance with their filet Mignon. Every single bite was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Nothing was left on the plate. Dallas is known for it's steakhouses, for sure, but you would be remiss to leave Eddie V's off of your list.

For side dishes, we were torn. Every single offering sounded like something we would enjoy. This is where we used Matt's guidance. He suggested the Brabant potatoes, and they were very decadent. Potatoes that are sliced, fried up, tossed with onions and a light smattering of cream sauce, no one at our table was disappointed with this choice.

We also tried the truffled mac and cheese. Mac and cheese can be a highlight or a severe disappointment. We've had both. The highlights are definitely harder to come by, since every steak place offers up some version of this classic dish. Eddie V's didn't let us down. The truffled macaroni and cheese was the perfect blend of mild cheeses, a crusted top, and the truffle oil didn't trump the dish, as it sometimes can. Everything in this mac and cheese dish was in harmony...and our taste buds were singing.

After all of that, we should have stopped. But once again, we turned to Matt for dessert guidance. He suggested the banana's foster dessert. Lit on fire, it was a beautiful finish to a spectacular dinner.

Very rarely do both of us enjoy every single thing that we try. Eddie V's is worth the visit. Maybe you'll see us there - we'll definitely be back!

ST Cafe

2010-06-29T10:21:00.004-05:00

Monday night Emily and I decided to go to ST Café and Bakery. We had both gone a long time ago, and remembered the place fondly. It is located just off of LBJ and Skillman. Once you walk in they have a dessert counter and then two separate dining areas. The tables are modest and the décor is a bit dated.
Emily ordered the special for the evening. This came with several different salads and soup.

I ordered the bacon, mushroom, and spinach quiche. This pastry crust of the quiche was very good, but something was lacking in the filling. It came with a caesar salad and a cup of the chicken soup. The salad was overdressed and the soup was extremely salty.
We ordered the famous rock cake . This cake is a chocolate fudge cake covered in dried ice cream and served with a mocha cream sauce. I was extremely happy with this. Emily got a Godiva chocolate cake and a rum ball. We both agreed that the rock cake is the way to go.
If you make a visit, I would stick to the dessert counter. They seemed to have mastered that area quite well!

Perla's

2010-06-28T16:10:00.005-05:00

We were down in Austin this weekend, and had some fabulous food! My favorite place was Perla’s on South Congress. The restaurant has a huge deck upfront with plenty of misters and oak trees. All of the décor outside is red, white, and blue. Perfect for the season!

We were seated and brought a bowl of corn hushpuppies and tartar sauce. They were pretty good- not too big and not too greasy. Our waiter was extremely friendly, and coaxed us into trying their frozen watermelon cocktail. We both decided it sounded perfectly refreshing, and it was! Served with a hefty sprig of mint and an umbrella- this drink is surely a reminder of summer.
I have never had a raw oyster before in my life, and decided that this would be a good start. We ordered ½ a dozen of 3 varieties. Our waiter was very knowledgeable on the various kind that the restaurant had to offer, and I was pleased with the selection . Paired with a cracker and a dot of sauce, it was a nice combination.
For the meal, we decided to split the soft shell crab BLT sandwich served with fries. This was a huge sandwich served on toasted buttery bread with Lambert’s bacon. The fries were sprinkled with sea salt and parsley and were a nice compliment to the sandwich. We also tried the potato pancake piled high with sour cream and chives! This was very good and reminded me of a creamy linguini. Finally, we ordered some cheese grits. These weren’t my favorite, but they were still satisfactory.
Overall, this place is a lovely addition to the SoCo area. If you are in Austin, put this on your list of stops!

Torchy's Tacos

2010-06-27T16:20:00.005-05:00

We are always on the hunt for Austin style breakfast tacos and can't ever find satisfaction in the DFW area. We've found some places that have come close,
but this morning we hit the mother lode.

Torchy's Tacos hails from Austin, so you know it's got some authenticity working for it. They want it to succeed in Dallas, though, so they've toned down a little of the stuff that "Keeps Austin Weird", and they've established a pretty successful operation.

We started with the queso and guacamole. According to the staff, the guacamole is made fresh at every shift change, and it was fantastic. Nice big pieces of avocado and a little bit of citrus with a kick - served beside salty chips. This Texan's dream come true!

The green chili queso had an incredibly good flavor - a little spicy, a little smokey. The portion sizes on both were perfect - generous without being obscene.

I ordered The Republican, a jalapeno sausage taco that came with fresh pico, cheese, and beans. It was delicious & just the right amount of spicy paired with cool. I also sampled the fried avocado taco - again, with cheese, pico, and beans. Very good, and so big there was no way I could finish both (without shame).

(fried avocado taco - it's huge!)

(The Republican with the Fried Avocado)

Everyone else in our party ordered breakfast tacos. The chorizo taco was said to be good without being too meaty. The eggs were the perfect consistency, the cheese was generous, everything was well worth the drive down to Forrest & Preston. A special note goes out to the sauces - especially the poblano ranch - what a diverse group of good taste!

Our dining companions, also UT grads, were pleased with the outcome (which is good because I've asked them to accompany us on many food adventures that have failed).
P even gave it a thumbs up, high praise from that particular food critic.

The food was exceptional, but I loved, equally, the soda fountain. Any place that has Dr. Pepper made with the Imperial Brand Sugar Cane, black cherry soda, rootbeer, and cream soda all on tap...that gets my vote.

Definitely make the trip to Torchy's!

Mextopia

2010-06-22T18:10:00.002-05:00

Monday night we decided to try Mextopia on lower Greenville. This place is bright and colorful and welcomes you right in. Once inside there is a large bar area and about 15 tables. They seemed to be doing pretty well for a Monday evening. We were first served chips and salsa. The chips were pretty good and served warm, but the salsa was VERY hot. We then ordered margaritas, but they only offered on the rocks. That was fine, it still sounded refreshing to us. Too bad they weren't. The mix was overpowering and too tart.

Since we both love FoodNetwork, we decided to try the Diners, Drive-In's and Dives recommendation. This included a chicken hominy soup with the below plate of additions.We liked this idea, as it allowed for our own customised soup! We opted to put in a little bit of all the flavors ( onions, peppers, oregano, and lime juice). Overall, this had really nice flavor and was one of our favorite items.

The plate also included a beef gordita that seemed to have very little flavor, a pork tamale, and rice and beans. Overall, we weren't blown away by any one item and were a bit disappointed. They have the right idea with the atmosphere, but could stand to work on some flavors.

Cosa Nostra

2010-06-21T15:19:00.003-05:00

I spent the weekend in Rowlett, and had to revisit one of my very favorite local Italian joints, Cosa Nostra. Deno, the owner, is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. He treats you like family from the moment you walk in the door. The restaurant is tucked away in a shopping center off of Dalrock and Highway 66. Inside are about 10 tables and an open grill. You can see the chef’s preparing your food while you are seated.

Once you are placed at a table, you are greeted with a tray of fresh garlic rolls and homemade marinara sauce. This alone is worth the trip! They have a ton of choices on the menu, so some find it hard to make a decision. I always opt for the same amazing macaroni and cheese dish and have NEVER been disappointed. The dish is served hot and bubbly. I’m not sure what the recipe is, but I know it is made with cream and ricotta and simply melts in your mouth. I am a big macaroni and cheese person, but I often find myself disappointed anytime I order it. This, however, is simply a must try!

Other guests at the table were pleased with their choices as well:

Philly cheese steak

Pasta Sampler

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Next time you are out in the burbs, take a moment to try this place out. Word is they will have a new expanded place by the end of the year! We are so happy for Deno and his crew!

FYI - Cosa Nostra is BYOB with a small corking fee .

Cat City Grill - Ft. Worth

2010-06-17T18:15:00.004-05:00

Today my new assistant and I hit the road to try Cat City Grill in Ft. Worth. You may have heard of Cat City Grill because of it's recent review in Texas Monthly - if you follow such things, as we do. Located off of 8th street near the hospital district (and previously reviewed Ellerbe's), Cat City Grill has a great location. Everything is nice and spiffy.

We wondered if Cat City was named after the Panther legend/lore that lent Ft. Worth it's sometimes moniker: Panther City. It is rumored that back during the early days of Ft. Worth a big panther was found just strolling down the streets of town. No one knew where it came from or what it was doing, but the name kind of stuck after that.

Cat City has an eclectic menu. You can find quiche and chicken fried steak on the same page. Hard to beat those kinds of options.

Sue chose the spinach salad. It was layered with all kinds of goodness: mushrooms, cherries, pine nuts, mandarin oranges, Gorgonzola, bacon, plus a wonton that was so interesting in texture and taste that it really made the dish. All of this is topped off with CCG's plum vinaigrette - it's yummy!

I had the lobster po-boy. Tempura fried lobster pieces on a roll, complete with lettuce and tomato, it did not disappoint. Sometimes lobster can be a little too chewy. This lobster was perfect! I also had the Gorgonzola fries: waffle fries topped with Gorgonzola and fresh chopped green onion. This flavor combo was fabulous - and it is offered as an appetizer. Highly recommend.

We finished our meal with the chocolate pecan praline torte. Flourless chocolate cake topped with a pecan praline-candy like mixture and fresh whipped cream. It was dense and sugary - a perfect end.

This place had some unique dishes. The atmosphere was laid back. I liked what they had going on at Cat City Grill.

The newest reviewer...

Eden Cafe

2010-06-07T20:59:00.004-05:00

Emily and I went Eden on Monday night. This particular evening was special, because it was our first dinner since precious Wyatt was born.

Eden is a tiny white house on Lover’s Lane down from Inwood. There are two main dining rooms with tables set up in both. We chose the back room and couldn’t wait to order since everything smelled so good! The waitress brought us a bread basket as soon as we had our first glass of wine. Emily and I were pleased! It was an assortment of blueberry, cinnamon, and zucchini muffins with banana bread. As we tasted each one, we found it hard to pick just one favorite.

We started out with the baked brie- an excellent choice. The creamy brie is wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden brown. It was served with crackers as well as a bowl of fresh blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
Both of our meals came with salads, so that was next up. The salads were made up of mixed greens, tri colored tomatoes, and fresh mushrooms. They make their own dressing which was a creamy basil concoction served on the side. This lovely mixe was perfectly delightful.
I ordered the crab, cheese, and spinach quiche. They have several daily choices, but this seemed like a good combination. It was served with sautéed asparagus and carrots. The quiche was very good, but the crust was the key. It was buttery and held up to the ingredients quite well. Emily ordered the meatloaf sandwich. Usually this isn’t something that we would go for, but it was pretty tasty. It came topped with provolone cheese, avocado slices, and a bit of marinara all served with a side of fruit. We really liked this place, and hope to make a return visit when we can save room for dessert.

FYI- Eden's is BYOB, but they do charge a $5.00 corking fee. Also, they are closed on Tuesdays.

Zinsky's

2010-05-19T07:37:00.000-05:00

Morgan and I ventured over to Zinsky’s at Preston and Royal last night after a long workout.

The place is lined with booths and tables and you are able to sit wherever you like. The back half of the restaurant houses their deli and to go area. We opted to sit back there so that we could see everything going on.

They offer several options on their menu:
1. They serve breakfast all day everyday which makes me very happy!
2. They have several different sandwich options depending on your hunger lever ( one story, two story, griddle, or even hot dogs)
3. They also offer a large variety of soups and salads ( matzo ball will be ordered next time I go)
4. They have hot platters and dinner specials as well

With all of those options, it took us about 15 minutes to decide on exactly what we wanted. But, in the meantime you are served a plate of sweet and sour pickles. It turns out, we both wanted to try breakfast sandwiches. On all of their breakfast sandwiches you are able to choose how you want your eggs, and if you would like an English muffin or an onion roll. Also, they are served with a side of hash browns.

I ordered the Uncle Henry’s Special on an English muffin with an over hard egg. The muffin was toasted and then lathered with chive cream cheese and thick slab bacon. The egg melted the cream cheese slightly and all of the flavors together simply melted in my mouth. Instead of the hash browns, I wanted to try the cream cheese and chive mashed potatoes. Can you tell I love cream cheese? My meal was everything I wanted it to be.

Morgan opted for a lighter breakfast sandwich. She ordered the Irving Special with and English muffin and scrambled egg whites. This came with chicken apple sausage, muenster cheese, and salsa. Instead of a potato side, she opted with a fresh fruit cup. She absolutely loved it.

We both ended up subbing something with our meals, and this was no problem. There were no additional charges and our service was exceptional.

I will definitely go back to try a different section of the menu!

**Warning- their kitchen closes at 8:00 p.m., so make sure you get over there in plenty of time.

Blunch at Tillman's - Woot!

2010-04-28T17:04:00.001-05:00

48 Nights

2010-04-27T11:28:00.007-05:00

Brad and I with Kent Rathbun

If you haven't been to 48 nights, I highly suggest that you go. I have been twice, and have been pleased both times. Summary of the concept from their website:

"The restaurant will be open for six months only, on Mondays and Tuesdays of each week and will be located in a small building on SYLVAN THIRTY. With seating for approximately 30 people, it is hoped that the prix-fixe menus will afford $1,000 per night for the cause.
There will be a weekly rotating schedule of featured area chefs - 24 in total - who would contribute their time to the effort. The team from SMOKE and SYLVAN THIRTY, in partnership with the Mass Care Task Force leadership, wants you to experience an intimate setting with these wonderfully renowned chefs while giving back to a purpose vitally important in these times."

Hors d’ouevres

(I don't have photos of these as they were passed around at the beginning reception)

Lobster Shooters- from his restaurant, Abacus

Seared Foie Gras, Red Onion-Port Marmalade

1st Course:“Bacon and Eggs”Niman Ranch Chipotle Bacon, Scrambled Duck Egg,Black Truffle

Chef Rathbun preparing the 1st course

View from our incredible table

Bacon and eggs

2nd Course:Pan Seared Diver Scallops Roasted Cauliflower-Spring Leek Risotto

3rd Course:Ginger Seared Duck Breast Coconut Sweet Potato Dumplings,Crisp Snow Pea Slaw

4th Course:Purple Haze Goat Cheese TartPort-Berry Soup

At the end of the night we were beyond full, but we had an amazing evening. The food was outstanding, our table was practically in the kitchen, we got to visit with one of the best chef's in the Dallas area, and helped out a great cause! Check out 48 nights for an experience that you will never forget!

Nicola's

2010-04-21T13:01:00.005-05:00

Today we lunched at Nicola's, a new edition to the Preston/NW Hwy area. The inside definitely has grandeur down to an art. Elaborate fabrics, grandiose chandeliers, and marble are the order of the day in Nicola's decorating scheme. It made for a lovely combination.

We started with some of the house bread, complete with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. The bread was fantastic and a great preview of what was to come.

We then moved on to the Caprese salad. While the tomatoes were a little anemic (I think they should be beefy red vs. pink when they're offered as a feature salad), the mozzarella and fresh basil helped make this dish a success. Three hefty slices of tomato and three hefty slices of mozzarella made this an ideal salad to split.

We finished with the Pizza Genova, a pizza made with mozzarella, basil pesto, super salty Kalamata olives, Italian sausage, and sun-dried tomatoes. Since neither of us love pizza sauce, this pizza was the perfect alternative. It was a delicious meal that we couldn't finish - to go boxes all around!

Very solid entrees, a great ambiance, and a delightful wait staff, we definitely recommend Nicola's.

(Side Dish: There is also a Nicola's in Plano located in The Shops at Legacy.)

Norma's Cafe

2010-04-19T16:53:00.005-05:00

Morgan, Mallory and I ventured out to the O.C. ( Oak Cliff) to try some great southern cooking at Norma’s. This spot has been around for over 50 years, and has southern cuisine down to an art. We arrived at about 1:15 on Sunday afternoon to a packed house! You come in and seat yourself wherever you would like. Once a waitress gets a moment, she comes by to take your order. We were already starving prior to arrival, so we requested the bread basket and three diet cokes ASAP. We were immediately pleased. The basket comes with a mixture of 3 buttery dinner rolls and 3 savory cornbread muffins.

Morgan ordered the chicken club with french fries and a dinner salad. The sandwich portion was generous and served on Texas toast. The French fries were seasoned with a house blend that was perfectly scrumptious.
Mallory and I ordered the chicken fried steak and the chicken fried chicken. These entrees were under ten dollars and came with your choice of three sides. We both opted for the mashed potatoes and a side salad with ranch ( this counted as two sides). We were both pleased with the meat portion. I wanted cream gravy and Mallory went without. Either way- the breading was crisp and salty. We followed suit with the mashed potatoes. They were homemade and perfectly creamy. What a treat!
The only thing that we would all three pass on was the side salad. Then again, we likely weren’t in the mood for anything healthy on this particular day! If we would have saved room, we would have loved a piece of their homemade pie or cobbler - I guess that means we will have to make a return visit for sure.

This place does southern cuisine right!