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$$$$ | Uptown |
Dallas celebrity chef Dean Fearing has been winning over new fans with his namesake restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton with three graciously designed rooms: friendly, bustling Dean's Kitchen, the more formal Gallery, and an airy glassed pavilion. Fearing's creations hint at his Southwestern roots, but rely more on his adventurous spirit and relationships with regional and global producers. The maple-marinated buffalo tenderloin is pleasantly sweet, nestled near jalapeño grits and a butternut squash taquito. Every plate reveals a similar layering of flavors, colors, and textures, such as cod atop hijiki rice, stacked with tempura-fried herbs and surrounded by a complex miso-clam broth. For dessert, butterscotch pudding and whipped cream are served next to hot apple fritters and a scoop of praline ice cream.
2121 McKinney Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Turtle Creek |
Here at Mansion Restaurant, simple flavors are layered to produce complex results, such as slow-braised short ribs, poached lobster with risotto, and porcini-crusted filet mignon. Count on dining with DFW's most moneyed folks, who relish the legendary service and exquisite surroundings. The interior design successfully marries contemporary furniture, fixtures, and artwork with the grand, historic feel of the Italian Renaissance–style residence built in 1925. Lunch is less expensive but still fashionable. Views of the landscaped grounds are lovely from the veranda. The outdoor seating is also open at night, lending a more casual feel to one of Dallas's most revered institutions.
2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, Texas, 75219, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Stockyards |
If you can get to the Stockyards, you shouldn't miss dining at Lonesome Dove, where sophisticated and exotic food is served in a setting of brick walls, rustic hardwoods, and a pressed-tin ceiling. Chef Tim Love's creations include kangaroo carpaccio nachos with avocado relish, chili-rubbed foie-gras brûlée, and grilled New Zealand red deer chops served with truffle mac and cheese. Less adventurous options include, at lunch, meatloaf with barbecue sauce, chipotle mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach and a grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich with tomato-basil soup.
2406 N. Main St., Fort Worth, Texas, 76164, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Uptown |
This high-profile restaurant fits the "everything's bigger in Texas" image. The interior is as spectacular as it is warm. The menu, which changes frequently, depending on the best seasonal options, melds Southwestern and Asian cuisines, resulting in creations like lobster shooters flavored with red chili and sake. People come back for the sushi.
4511 McKinney Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75205, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | Deep Ellum |
It doesn't get much more laid back in Dallas than the AllGood Cafe, which doubles as a live-music venue on weekends. Local and Texas music is a big deal here, and tunes take precedence over decor. The kitchen turns out breakfast standards like omelets, giant pancakes, and migas (Mexican-style scrambled eggs), until 3 pm. The lunch and dinner menus include just-right chicken-fried steak and the spiciest, most filling version of King Ranch Chicken (a layered, gooey mess of corn tortillas, chicken, peppers, cheese, beans, and more) in town. Giant windows allow a great view of the street life of Deep Ellum, and there's a little room for outdoor seating.
2934 Main St., Dallas, Texas, 75226, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Uptown |
The in-house bakery at this café turns out fresh breads and pastries. Regulars love the raspberry–chipotle chicken sandwich for lunch; the buttermilk pan-fried chicken breast is a good choice for dinner. Sunday brunch is popular with the young professionals who live nearby. The large, popular patio offers an excellent view of foot traffic.
3301 McKinney Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75204, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | Downtown Dallas |
Marble tables, dark wood accents, French doors, and an Italian marble floor create a sleek look in this underground restaurant, accessible by elevator. (If you're driving, you can use the complimentary valet service outside the elevator.) The granite outdoor patio, with lunch and dinner seatings, has a five-tier waterfall. By day you'll join the Downtown business crowd; at night the restaurant takes on a more romantic, candelit feel. The menu relies heavily on dry-aged steaks and seafood. The bone-in 16-ounce fillet is a popular choice. Steaks are à la carte; side dishes include creamed spinach, jumbo onion rings, and baked potatoes.
600 N. Akard St., Dallas, Texas, 75201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$ | Uptown |
The healthy, organic menu at this laid-back restaurant blends Mediterranean-style cuisine with flavors from the American Southwest. Fabulous breakfast options include cloud cakes (ricotta pancakes with fresh strawberries and crème fraîche) and migas (Mexican-style scrambled eggs). If the weather's nice, ask to be seated on the spacious back patio, where you'll likely spot children playing on the restaurant's lawn and fort.
2800 Routh, St., Dallas, Texas, 75201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | |
There's been a restaurant of some sort in this building since the 1930s; the original pressed-tin ceiling is still in place. The bistro attracts diners from the neighborhood as well as a lot of folks from horse shows and other events at Will Rogers Memorial Center, just 2 mi away. Known for its pasta, wood-roasted entrées, and chicken-fried steak, and weekend prime rib, the restaurant also has seven tables on a patio with umbrellas to ward off the Southwestern sun. Breakfast is available weekends.
4700 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76107, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Sundance Square |
Diners get a modern spin on the Old West at this Fort Worth favorite. The rustic dining room is decorated with saddles, animal trophies, and artistic cacti. Specialties here include stacked enchiladas, tenderloin tacos, and bone-in rib-eye steak. Portions are oversized; an order of the precariously stacked onion rings—thick, tall, and evenly fried—could easily feed four.
310 Houston St., Fort Worth, Texas, 76102, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | Lower Greenville |
Burgers and fries are served in huge portions at this SMU student favorite. Don't miss the cheddar fries, a generous serving of fries covered with melted cheddar, jalapeños, chives, and bacon. The kitchen stays open until midnight during the week and until 2 am Friday and Saturday.
3526 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75206, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Lower Greenville |
This unpretentious urban bistro is known for the romantic intimacy of the indoor dining areas and the laid-back charm of its sidewalk tables. The menu, which changes every few weeks based on the availability of regional ingredients, begins with Grape's signature creamy mushroom soup. The menu might offer a marinated hanger steak served with fries and a watercress salad, crispy duck breast with a rice pilaf, or baked black cod with smoked ham, clams, and a white-wine garlic broth. Regulars rave about the crispy flatbread and the fried calamari (not on the menu, so be sure to ask). Brunch is served Sunday.
2808 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75206, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Bishop Arts |
Don't let the word "roadhouse" fool you—upscale food is served in a quirky, hip Texas setting at Tillman's. Contemporary music plays (sometimes too loudly) while old black-and-white movies are projected on a wall near the bar. Fussy chandeliers hang over sturdy, wood tables; look closely at the animal trophies—they're actually carved from wood. Meals begin with hot roasted peanuts and popcorn coated in truffle oil and black pepper. Be sure to try the moist cornbread, heavy with cheese, peppers, and corn; the thick, gravity-defying burger; and the chocolate birthday cake (even if it's not your special day).
324 W. 7th St., Dallas, Texas, 75208, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Deep Ellum |
The chefs here have culinary school degrees, and they're proud to turn out what some consider to be the best burgers in town. Ingredients are gathered from nearby growers and farmers whenever possible. The menu always includes the basics, half-pound Angus, buffalo, turkey, and veggie burgers. Look for rotating specials, such as a blue cheese and jalapeño burger and a burger topped with green chilies, pepper-jack cheese, and guacamole. Even the ice cream is handmade; it's the base ingredient for adults-only milk shakes spiked with liqueurs.
2615 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas, 75226, USA
