I will be in Dallas next week on business. One of my favorite nephews has just recently (2 weeks ago) moved to the Highland Springs area and I will be able to spend parts of several days with him. He has not been there long enough to choose restaurants, activities, etc so I would certainly appreciate any help you can give me.

We both enjoy fun as well as fine dining...so any ideas will be welcome. We will probably want to do a nice dinner as well as a couple of easy lunches. He is 23 and loves Italian and Thai food. He will not enjoy a long drawn out formal meal. Something interesting.

He does enjoy cooking so we will probably visit nearby grocery stores or markets as well.

Thanks for you help.
loveyblue

Do you want recs for places near where your nephew lives, or it doesn't matter?

I had to look up where Highland Springs area is.

It's not far from Addison, which has a whole slew of restaurants of various cuisine.

The Grand Lux Cafe at the Dallas Galleria isn't too bad either.

For groceries, you can't go wrong with Central Market (multiple locations). Bring your $$$ though.

We will have access to a car but will be staying at either The Stoneleigh or The Palamor so I would prefer to have dinner plans somewhat close to that area.

loveyblue

We stayed at the Palomar last March for 2 nights - we REALLY liked the hotel - typical Kimpton: great decor, wonderful staff. I hope you get to stay there.
We only had 2 nights, and the first was a late arrival - so we ate at the hotel at Trader Vic's (my husband has a sentimental attachment - silly, but what can you do?) It's actually pretty good. We also had lunch at the hotel restaurant - Central 214 which was surprisingly VERY good. Our last meal in Dallas was at Pappas Bros. Steak House (hey we were in texas . . .) which was good, but not great. Sorry I can't help you more with the restaurants, but I think you will really like the hotel.

I used to go to a no frills Thai place for lunch on Lemmon Ave. Good and cheap food.

Toys Cafe
4422 Lemmon Ave # B
Dallas, TX 75219

I also like La Madeleine even though it's a chain. Solid french-inspired food (self-service). Great place for lunch as well. There's one on Lemmon Ave as well across the street from Toys Cafe at
3906 Lemmon Ave, # 110

Hi Loveyblue-

How about Tei Tei Robata Bar? It's not Thai but Japanese small plates. You pick from a variety different seafoods, meats, veggies and they're served wonderfully grilled. They've got a great sake menu too. If you stay at the Palomar, it's a straight shot down 75 on Knox-Henderson- fun area with some other bars/restaurants.

http://www.teiteirobata.com/

Very fine Italian that's a little pricey but walking distance to the Stoneleigh is Arcodoro at 2708 Routh.

Two neighborhood pizza places of note: Coal Vine at the corner of Maple and Cedar Springs. Grimaldi's in West Village.

Dallas most popular pizza place is Fireside Pies at 2820 N. Henderson.

Momo's Pasta at 3312 Henderson is a great pasta destination.

Consider Gloria's a Guatemalan restaurant with a lot of Mexican influence at the corner of Wycliff and Lemon.

Royal Thai at 5500 Greenville is my favorite in Dallas. A short drive up the Central Expressway.

If your nephew is up for sushi, you have Tom Tom's in West Village that has $1 sushi on Thursdays night. Ideal for a 23 year old's budget.

All 23 year olds are up for cheeseburgers. Put State Thomas Grill on your list.

Central 214 is a great restaurant... I was there Monday. They have the best crab cakes in the world, no breading and big sweet chunks of crab.
Bolla, at the Stoneleigh, is excellent.
I love Shinsei, which is on Lovers and Inwood.
I could eat just about every meal right at Central Market, a few blocks from the hotel at Greenville & Lovers.
I also have a soft spot for Desperado's on Greenville, just south of Central Market.
Dallas doesn't have the ocean or mountains but we have some really awesome restaurants.
Talk to the concierge at either hotel and they will give you great info.

Highland Springs - Never heard of it and I have lived here my whole life. I suspect some developer resurrected an old farming community name!

Kobe Steaks, on Beltline Rd heart of restaurant alley in Addison, Snuffers for burgers, Midway Rd south of Beltline, unless your cholesterol matters to ya.Ojeda's for the BEST
TexMex, Maple Ave in North Dallas, India Palace spectacular Indian cuisine, Preston Road and LBJ Freeway, Nana for "fine", beautiful restaurant great food, top of Anatole Hotel. IIRC, Ewald's is right there at the Stoneleigh, excellent but the nephew might very well be the youngest patron, by far.But hey I like it and I'm 27.I dont mind the stuffy part.

I have a quick question - where is Highland Springs? I googled and all I came up with was a retirement community, and I'm assuming that is not where he is living.

In regards to my last post, I'm just wondering for logistics purposes for dining and traffic.

I'm thinking she meant Highland Village. Or Maybe Highland Park.Thats a pretty hottsie-tottsie part of Big D. I ate at Cafe Pacific one time and man o man, there was a lotta money at them tables that night.wooohooo, nothing like a lot a that good ole Texas moolah.And, YEP, I was outa place for sure.And knew it too.

Thank you to all for such great ideas!

How embarrassed am I...he does, in fact live near Highland Park. I don't know where I came up with 'Springs'.

Again, thank you for your thoughtful replies...I will let you know what he chooses.

loveyblue