Best Non Chain Restaurants in Dallas
 

Looking for good non chain restaurants in DFW area. All suggestions welcome and I am not looking for any particular cuisine or price range. Thanks, looking forward to all responses.

Yeah, this request is as broad as a steer's hind end.

Go to guidelive.com for restaurant listings in the Dallas area, it has an updated list of its top 100.

The Dallas Observer's DISH section also has listings available on line (google it) and D Magazine (google that) also lists recommended restaurants.

Leave the sarcasm at the door. If you have no opinions on your favorite non chain restaurant in Dallas then don't respond.
I am by no means stupid, I can go to Zagat and other sites but I am looking for Fodorites personal views of their favorite non chain restaurants in Dallas.

I would like to explore the culinary offerings of Dallas so I meant it to be broad. Never know what I might be in the mood for so doesn't make sense for me to ask for a specific cuisine.

I often ask locals in cities this question and have never had this kind response.

We always enjoy going to Celebration on Lovers Lane....great if you enjoy home cooking family style and they always serve a GREAT cobbler!

well - i agree with bigRuss - Huge city - need a little more detail.
Ethnic?
Price Range?
what area(s)?
ETC...

One of my favs there is a local DAllas "chain" - they only own 2 or 3 - not hlike a national chain.....

Taco Diner - They have amazing house made sauces and wonderful fish entrees etc.... I really like the atmosphere too.
My daughter lives there - in Highland Park, I will get some of her favorites - and post back

Hey TS -- TS.

Give a hint as to what you're looking for and you'll get better answers. I also gave you THREE good recommendations for places to search for good restaurants and just get a dumping from you in your comment? You're not worth helping.

York Street on Greenville Avenue (need res'v)
Bolsa in Oak Cliff
Taverna in Uptown (probably a chain, but good!)

Riskey's for barbecue & Longoria's for Frito Pie.

My husband always liked 111 Forks...my Mom travels there frequently and "eats" well. I will check with her.

I remembered one my Mom is always RAVING about...Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Mia's at 4322 Lemmon in Dallas for brisket tacos.

Rise http://risesouffle.com/ in Inwood Village in Dallas for souflees.

My Mom recommends York Street http://www.yorkstreetdallas.com/

Chef and owner Sharon is a friend of hers...

I really enjoyed Saltgrass when I was there. No idea if its a chain.

tchoinier, Saltgrass is a chain, they have one in Austin.

Celebration is yummy.

There are also many many Mexican restaurants that are non-chain but I'll let the locals fill you in.

dh went to Bob's last night..said it was a mighty good steak. No idea if it is a chain or not.

I loved our meal at Cafe Modern, Fort Worth. Here is a link - however their site says they will be closed from Aug 16th to the end of Sept. Too bad as just thinking about this place is making me hungry!

http://www.thecafemodern.com/index.html

Greenz for a good salad. Blue Mesa is good southwest food. I like all the Pappas places. Pappa Bros for steak (expensive), Pappasitos(mexican), Pappadeaux(Cajun). Blue Mesa and Pappas have multiple locations(more of a local or texas chain than a true chain). Eatsys is an interesting place. Mansion on Turtle Creek or The French Room are good for an expensive upscale meal. Heck I like the food court at Northpark Mall. Pacuigo Gelato is pretty hard to beat.

D Magazine does have reviews of all the Dallas restaurants. They cover everything.

I hate Dallas Observer, Guidelive and D Magazine reviews. They are biased. Yelp is better.
There are really great restaurants in Dallas but I recently had great meals at Lumi Empanada/Dumpling Kitchen and Hattie's in the Bishop Arts District. Any of Kent Rathbun's places are typically great, too: http://www.kentrathbun.com/
The French Room is flawless.
It's hard to pick favorites. The best thing about Dallas is that so many restaurants are excellent. There is a lot of lousy Tex-Mex, though!

TxTravelPro,

lousy TexMex in Dallas is like gourmet TexMex in other states, lol :)

Our favorites are:

Abacus
Stephen Pyles
S&D Oyster Co
Steel
Texas de Brazil for breakfast/brunch
Parigi's
Toulouse Cafe
Screen Door
Trece