Having just moved to Dallas recently, I am not too familiar with brunch places. However, I have been put in charge of picking a place for Sat brunch next weekend for 7 people! Here are my criteria:

1. Children-friendly. One of my friend has a 1 1/2 yr old toddler.
2. American food, with healthier options if possible. No greasy spoon type diner.
3. Takes reservations. The last thing I need is to wait >1hr with a cranky toddler.
4. In Dallas proper

Right now I have a reservataion at Blue Mesa Grill, but I'm not too keen on Mexican food and rather eat somewhere else. I've also posted on chowhound, but since there are so many Dallas locals on this board, I figure I'll pick your brains as well! Thanks in advance!

Not sure if you want a buffet kind of brunch. If not

then Dream cafe - there's one in Addison, another is in dallas. Lots of organic stuff - saw quite a few kids around.

Near to Dream cafe is also an Original Pancake house - lots of crepes, swedish pancakes- also good omelettes etc (reasonably healthy if you stick to fruit crepes or eggbetare omellettes)

oops neither of these take reservations. Sorry

Thanks indie. I've heard quite a bit about Dream cafe. Will definitely consider that.

Just to clarify, I'm not looking for a buffet place, but rather just a place with a brunch menu.

It's pretty rare to find a restaurant in Dallas that takes reservations for brunch. Most of them will only have a 10 minute wait at the most unless they are unusually crowded. I've never seen a wait even close to an hour for brunch!

I'd recommend any one of the Le Peep restaurants. www.lepeep.com They are my very favorite place for brunch, and they have lots of healthy options. Unfortunately, ther locations that are still open are all in the suburbs.

My second choice would be Cafe Brazil. www.cafebrazil.com There's one in the West End, one in the Lakewood area, and another on Central Expressway between Lovers and Mockingbird. They have LOTS of choices food-wise, outstanding coffee, and you always see families dining there. They win "Best of Dallas" awards from the Dallas Observer every year!

Well, I decided to give Dream cafe a call to see if they will take a reservation. I mean, the worst thing that could happen is they say no. They ended up taking my name - not a true reservation - but said they will notify the manager that day to expect us. Hopefully that will mean no wait (or not too long).

ChristieP - I think we will pass Cafe Brazil this time. I live fairly close to one of them, so I'm sure I'll get to try it some day.

yk

their ricotta coud cakes are yum as are the austin tacos.
Have fun!!

As Dallas has more restaurants per capita than NYC, you may find something which meets your expectations. Unfortunately, few serve lunch on Saturday.
I would consider Bistro Louise in Ft Worth (perhaps the best Sat. lunch in DFW).
Check www.

D... Microsoft!
Anyway, www.guidelive.com for their best 100 and brunch recommendations.
Hard copy of the Guide is in Friday's DMN each week.
M

mikemo-

Can you enlighten me? I've been on Guidelive's website restaurant section looking for a brunch section, but never saw anything like "brunch recommendations". Can you tell me where I can find it on their website?

yk,
Look at the 100 best list and the Brunch list and interpolate.
Page 10 of the Guide in this AMs DMN has a long list as well.
Sunday lunch at Watel's is wonderful, and very peaceful. Saturday @ ZaZa (Dragonfly) and LaDuni (Sat and Sun) Paris Vendome, Rooster, Ziziki's and Hedary's are worth a look. Beau Nash in the Crescent Court Hot should be good also. I still like Bistro Louise in FT Worth for Sat lunch, and I can spend the PM at Amon Carter or Kimbell.
M

Just want to thank all of you for your ideas. We did end up going to Dream Cafe, and they did have a table reserved for us (even though they normally don't take reservations). People there couldn't be friendlier. I had the cloud cakes, indie, you should be proud of me. They were delicious, and so light (unlike the IHOP pancakes that weigh like lead). I also had their blueberry-apple shake which was delicious. All in all, had a great time.

Mikemo-
Haven't had a chance to try any of the places you suggested yet. Just curious, are you going to any place for the restaurant week?

yk,
Dream cafe is VG - glad you were satisfied.
I'm leaving for my MX MT home for six weeks shortly - after just having rt from 2 long weeks in UK, PT and Galicia, SP.
Jul, Aug and Sept are not my favs in D.
M

yk

Glad you liked Dream cafe.

mikemo, after the 100+ scorcher of a day we had today am dreading the rest of august - no trips out for me

we are taking my oldest daughter to SMU next week for her first semester of college. I am a bit freaked out by it. I am too young to have a child in college!!
We are looking for a great place for Breakfast/lunch near campus.....any ideas?
Thanks

Good morning Anne,
Your daughter will enjoy SMU.
You'll enjoy it more when she graduates and you get a tuition break - my oldest is an alum ('91).
Better to be "too young": I have friends my age and older whose "2nd families" are still in secondary schools.
Anyway, if you have visited the DMN's web site www.guidelive.com you know there are 671 restaurants in the "Dallas North and Park Cities" neighborhood listing.
Your choices increase exponentially if you have a car, but "lunch" choices on Sat and Sun are somewhat limited.
Other than Watel's for Sunday lunch, I rarely do breakfast, brunch or lunch, but my son still lives in the area so I'll get his input and pass that along later.
Hope you are prepared for the Dallas Summer weather.
M

annesherod
There's a Cafe Brazil nearby off of 75. Christie has posted the link in this thread.
There's also a La Madeleine in the strip mall, by the SMU bookstore(Barnes and Noble) which is nice.
My hubby and I both got our Masters at SMU, although we had classes at their off campus locations, we did have to often make the long trek from down to the main campus
I think your daughter will enjoy it.

Anne,
SMU alum son is in Montreal, but he didn't add much:
Peggy Sue BBQ in Snyder Plaza is PG as is La Madeleine.
If you want something more interesting, let us know.
M

I'll agree with everyone else about La Madeleine!

We also enjoy Campisi's Egyptian on Mockingbird (across 75). It is legendary for Italian food!

Also, Greenville Avenue runs parallel to 75, and is packed with great restaurants! Whatever you like, you can find it there. We celebrated an anniversary at St. Martin's Wine Bistro, San Francisco Rose and Ozona are always favorites for burgers and pub food, Kosta's for Greek, and Bangkok City for Thai.

ChristiP, other Dallasites, and I are on different planets food/wine wise as you may know from my prior posts.
M