Dallas Dining Picks

First the good news: with one restaurant per 133 residents (according to my friend who works for the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau), Dallas boasts the highest restaurant per capita figures in the nation — eclipsing even New York's. The bad news is that the bulk of those statistics are the result of the huge presence of chain restaurants, a.k.a. the Chili's and Olive Gardens of the world.

But it's not all bad. Increasingly over the past few years, many new and innovative establishments have opened and taken hold. Dallas has finally started to embrace Mediterranean, Northern Italian, French, and Asian influences, and boasts it's own take on the gastronomic map, "Southwestern cuisine," generally an upscale and evolving take on Tex-Mex.

With this journal, I'll attempt to give visitors and newcomers to the city my take on some of my favorite dining spots in the city. Although there are admittedly some fine restaurants in the surrounding area, I'm going to concentrate on those that are near downtown Dallas (Uptown, Knox-Henderson, Deep Ellum, and Lower Greenville areas) and are therefore in relatively close proximity to many of the hotels.

And you won't find an entry here unless I've been to the establishment at least twice; most I've been to many, many times.

Please check back often, this journal is "under construction", and I will be adding new entries and photos as time permits.

Quick Tips:

Several parts of town, such as Lower Greenville, the Knox St.-Henderson Ave. area, and Uptown/McKinney Ave., have many restaurants in very close proximity. If you want to wing it, just head down to one of these areas, find a place to park, and take your pick.

GuideLive.com is a well-designed web site that offers an abundance of reviews and info on Dallas area restaurants, including map links.

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is a must in Dallas; unlike bigger counterparts to the north and northeast such as Chicago and New York, the city is spread out and public transportation, although on the upswing, simply lacks complete coverage.

Parigi, which means Paris in Italian, is one of those rare success stories in Dallas: an independent restaurant that has managed to stay open for nearly two decades. And there's a reason for it; the food and service are outstanding. It's probably one of my top three or four favorite restaurants in Dallas.

The menu at Parigi changes weekly. Typically it is pretty small, but entree offerings will usually include at least one dish of each of the following: risotto, pasta, fish, pizza, chicken, and pork. Basically, a little something for everyone. The one mainstay on the menu, however, is beef tenderloin (about $30). The last time I ordered it, it was served with the most awesome mashed potatoes I've ever had. As good as the tenderloin was, I think I may have enjoyed the mashed potatoes more. I'm still not sure how that's possible.... Entrees on the dinner menu are usually in the $18-$30 range, and they max out on the lunch menu at about $14.

They also have a few tasty appetizers. We've enjoyed the carpaccio and the assorted cheese board.

Parigi has a good wine list, or you can bring your own bottle. On our last visit, though, the corkage fee had been upped to a rather steep $15, so you probably won't want to bring something you picked up at the grocery store.

The service at Parigi has been first rate every time I've dined here. On one visit the server misunderstood what I'd ordered. Even though he insisted it would be fine to send the entree back to the kitchen, I went ahead and ate what he'd brought out. Later he brought a complementary dessert to our table. A nice touch.

The dining room is quite small, and doesn't seem to create that deafening "dining room roar" that my girlfriend and I can't stand. Parigi draws a diverse, eclectic crowd, and the dining room usually stays busy later than most other fine dining establishments in town. We strongly suggest calling ahead for a reservation. Parigi accepts all the major credit cards. They also serve brunch on Sundays. Their hours are:

Mon-Fri 11:30am- 2:30pm
Mon-Thu 6:30pm-10:30pm
Fri-Sat 6:30pm-11:00pm
Sun 10:30am- 3:00pm

Click here to check out Parigi's web page.

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 9; Service - 9; Atmosphere - 8

Daddy Jack's Wood Grill is the younger brethren of the original Daddy Jack's on Lower Greenville (1916 Greenville Ave.). While it lacks the divey charm of its tiny predecessor, this restaurant in the Deep Ellum entertainment district has a more upscale feel and a very pleasing ambiance of its own.

Daddy Jack's Wood Grill has a more diverse menu than the original, which serves up seafood almost exclusively. DJWG does share some common dishes with its sibling, including the "Atlantic Salmon with Dijon Caper Sauce" ($17), which has always been my favorite. Eventually I started forcing myself to order something besides the salmon so I could enjoy some of the other excellent dishes here. Most of the entrees are in the $14-$22 range. They also have some great appetizers, such as portobello mushroom salad and mussels in marinara sauce.

On our most recent dinner here, I had the pork tenderloin ($17), and my girlfriend had one of the specials for the evening, mahi mahi. Both were excellent. Our server was friendly and efficient.

If you're a seafood lover, come to DJWG Tuesday-Thursday for "Lobster Madness", a 1lb. lobster served with corn on the cob and a baked potato for the raging bargain price of $10.95.

Parking in Deep Ellum is relatively hopeless. Expect to pay $7 to park in one of the valet-manned lots nearby. One thing I've tried with pretty good success, however, is to look for a metered space on N. Malcomb X Blvd. between Indiana St. and Gaston Ave. next to the Gaston Yard Apartments. This is just one block east and one block north of Daddy Jack's Wood Grill, and if you're early or perhaps a little bit lucky you'll find a parking space here and make the short walk to the corner of Elm and Crowdus streets with a few extra greenbacks still in your pocket.

Daddy Jack's Wood Grill accepts all the major credit cards. They recommend reservations, although we recently went there at 8p.m. on a Friday night and got a prime table for two (next to a window facing Elm St., facilitating Deep Ellum people-watching) with no waiting.

Hours are:
Mon-Fri 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
Tue-Thu 5:00p.m.-10:00p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:00p.m.-11:00p.m.

My 1 - 10 ratings:
Food - 8; Service - 8; Atmosphere - 7

The crowd is young and hip. The music in the bar is trendy and loud. The wait for a table is long. These are things that may not appeal to you, but if you like sushi you owe it to yourself to put on a stiff upper lip and get your behind over to Tei Tei Robata Bar, in my opinion the best sushi experience in Dallas. This is my girlfriend's favorite restaurant in all of Dallas, and is probably one of the top three in my book.

The food here is always wonderfully fresh and beautifully presented. Sushi and shashimi (our favorite) are major menu items here, but they also have wonderful grilled selections as well. We enjoyed a fantastic grilled sea bass on a recent visit. They will usually have at least one special, as well. On our last visit we shared the lobster special ($30) which was spectacularly presented; it was simply the most delicious lobster I've ever had.

A must have for your table is an order of the Washu beef ($19). Six thin slices of uncooked beef are served atop a bowl of rock salt and are accompanied by a very hot rock. Grab a slice of beef with your chop sticks, place it on the hot rock, and let it sizzle briefly (about 10 seconds per side). Dip it in the au jus served with the dish and prepare yourself for culinary heaven here on earth.

Tei Tei Robata Bar is not inexpensive by any means, but well worth a splurge in our opinion. They're open Tue-Sun 5:30pm-11:00pm, and accept all the major credit cards. They do not take reservations, however. If you visit on a weekend, be prepared for an hour to an hour and a half wait minimum. It might be worth it to plan arriving after 9:00pm to decrease the wait time. We're going to give this a try on our next visit.

Tei Tei Robata Bar was named one of The Dallas Morning News Top 10 New Restaurants of 1998.

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 10 Service - 8 Atmosphere - 8

The motto at Tin Star is "Salsa, Smoke and Sizzle." Whatever nifty slogans the marketing folks may have come up with, combine great Southwestern cuisine, fast service, and unbeatably reasonable prices, and you've got something good going. Tin Star executes that relatively new restaurant hybrid known as "fast-casual" as good or better than anyone.

Tex-Mex food can be annoyingly ordinary (think tacos, fajitas, enchiladas), but thankfully the folks at Tin Star have "kicked it up a notch," to coin a pop-culture culinary phrase. Personal favorites include the grilled vegetable quesadillas (portabello mushrooms, poblano peppers, sweet potato straws, roasted corn, cilantro pesto sauce, and more) and the vegetable stuffed relleno (green chile stuffed with jack cheese, roasted corn, black beans, mushrooms, carrots, and more, drizzled with cilantro pesto lemon butter). Intrigued? I thought so. Even better, all of the entrees are in the $7-$9 range.

Tin Star has no servers. Instead, you place your order at the counter and after a few minutes the flashing remote you were handed tells you that flavorful Southwestern fare awaits you. In my experience, the quality of the food has always been at a consistently high level, and the service is fast and friendly. They are located just a couple of blocks from our gym, and all too often we've headed here for a bite to eat after an evening workout. Tin Star offers carry out if you're on the run.

They are also open for breakfast and offer a variety of breakfast tacos and "sunrise platters." Dollar for dollar, Tin Star boasts the biggest bang for the buck of any restaurant in town that I can think of. The food is that good, and it's that reasonably priced. You can check out Tin Star's web site here.

Tin Star was named one of The Dallas Morning News Top 10 New Restaurants of 1999.

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 8 Service - 9 Atmosphere - 7

Taco Diner is a contemporary diner offering terrific Mexican food. A hip decor of tile, metal, modern furniture, halogen lighting, and abstract paintings combine to offer a tasteful ambiance unlike most any other Mexican restaurant you'll find.

The food is fresh, light, flavorful, and reasonably priced. Most entrees are around $8-11. For a great appetizer, try the Mas Elegantes: the tastiest nachos I've ever had. They include marinated chicken and a generous layer of black beans instead of the usual refried variety. Just about everything is tasty and well prepared. They seem to be unusually adept with fish, particularly tilapia. Another favorite is "De Los Cabos," described as a Parisian-Mexican cobb salad.

Taco Diner also serves up some darned fine Margaritas. You can get either the regular on-the-rocks version for those from the old school, or the frozen variety. I prefer the traditional flavor, but many of my friends favor the mango margaritas offered here. Either way, these are quite strong, and don't expect to order more than two. Chances are, the staff will politely turn you down if you attempt to order a third. Trust me, you don't need more than two anyway.

The Villanova location is at the southeast corner of Preston Rd. and Northwest Highway, and is tucked away in the shopping center and not visible from the intersection. Recently, a new location opened in Dallas at West Village, in the Uptown area between McKinney and Cole (3699 McKinney Ave., tel: 214.521.3669). It offers up an identical menu and an equally pleasing dining experience.

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 7; Service - 7; Atmosphere - 8

...And now for something completely different.

If you've been with me so far, I've been covering some moderate to fairly expensive restaurants around town. The Angry Dog, on the other hand, is really more bar than restaurant, but with one key difference that separates it from countless other establishments that have what one might call "sports bar" cuisine: the food is actually very good.

The Angry Dog is a very popular lunchtime spot in the Deep Ellum entertainment district near downtown. If you head to the Dog for a weekday lunch and you're not there by noon, I can almost guarantee you that you'll be waiting at the end of a long line that regularly spills out onto the sidewalk.

Again, there's nothing flashy about the menu. Burgers, nachos, chicken wings, club sandwiches, and salads are the order of the day here. Their signature item is, of course, the Angry Dog, a massive hot dog smothered in a bath of chili, onions, cheddar cheese, and mustard. But for me, the burgers are king of the hill: in my opinion this is simply the best burger to be had in Dallas, without question. They are big, flavorful, and always cooked the way you ordered them (it's one of the few places that will still serve you a burger medium rare if that's the way you ordered it). If you're so inclined, there is a full bar, and they have a selection of beers eclipsing the century mark.

A quick tip, you can eat at the bar. The service is just as speedy, and for a party of two you can usually walk in, move past the long line and find a barstool to your liking.

Although parking is generally a nightmare in Deep Ellum at night, for a lunchtime visit you can almost always find a parking spot on the street in one of the metered spaces.

Their hours are:
Kitchen:
Sun 12pm-10pm
Mon-Sat 11am-12am
Bar:
Sun 12pm-12am
Mon-Sat 11am-2am

The Angry Dog accepts all the major credit cards. You can check out their web site here.

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 7; Service - 7; Atmosphere - 6

If I had to describe La Duni Latin Cafe in one word, it would be "in". La Duni has achieved that difficult but coveted status in the finicky Dallas restaurant scene: it's hot. It's been named one of Esquire's Best 20 New Restaurants in America (December 2001), D Magazine's Best of Big D (August 2001), and one of the Dallas Morning News Top 5 Restaurants.

Don't mistake these accomplishments as a blanket endorsement, however. All is not perfect in La Duniland. I won't post an entry here unless I have visited a restaurant at least twice; I've been to most of the eateries listed here many times. So I waited until my second visit to see if La Duni could get its act together. It couldn't.

My beef here is that the hostesses woefully underestimate the wait. On my first visit, a "twenty minute" wait turned into nearly an hour. On my second visit, a "thirty minute" wait for a table on the heated patio (as opposed to a quoted hour and twenty minutes in the dining room proper) stretched to an excruciating hour and a half. I spoke to someone as they were leaving that night whose party had been waiting for two hours; they never did get a table. Is it intentional? Who knows? What it is, though, is frustrating. On both occassions we were seated only after complaining to the manager.

The shortcomings at the front of the house are unfortunate, because the food is terrific. They feature appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrees from Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and more. Everything is very reasonably priced, with most entrees under $13. On my first visit I ordered the "Pollo al Aljibe", which is roasted chicken with champagne, green orange-citrus and pan juices mojo served with garlic rice, black beans, and plantains. It is delicious and a steal at $11. On my second visit I ordered "Quesadillas de Robalo" ($13), corn tortillas filled with sea bass, picadillo and Latin cheese. It was very good, but no match for the roasted chicken dish. Entrees are attractively presented on rectangular plates. The service, uneven on the first visit, improved the second time around.

The decor is very pleasing. Wall sconces provide attractive lighting accents, and one entire wall in the dining room features a shelf of alternating flowers and candles, making for intriguing shadow play on the wall. Interestingly, booths have high-speed internet connections and power sources, so bring your laptop to surf the web while you're here.

The food makes La Duni worth checking out. Just make sure you have plenty of time (and patience). They do not accept reservations.

Limited parking is available. Expect to pay $3 for valet service.

Hours are:
Tue-Thu 11:00am-10:00pm
Fri 11:00am-10:30pm
Sat-Sun 9:00am- 2:00pm; 5:00pm-10:00pm
Mon-Closed

Email La Duni at manager@LaDuni.com or visit their web site here.

My 1 - 10 ratings:
Food - 8; Service - 4; Atmosphere - 8

On the surface, Half Shells Oyster Bar & Grill may not seem any different from the myriad of other oyster bars of the world. But dig a little deeper and you'll find that the tasty offerings here are a cut above the rest, and represent an outstanding value for the money.

The menu is what one might expect for a place called Half Shells. Starters include oysters on the half shell, fried oysters, peel and eat shrimp, crab cakes, soups, and salads. Entrees such as catfish, shrimp, and oyster dinners, pasta dishes, po-boys, and sandwiches are the order of the day. For the non-seafood lover, the menu also features a few selections that fall under the "Things That Don't Swim" category. Everything on the menu is under $10, with most entrees in the $7-$9 range.

They also offer exceptional daily specials. On my most recent visit, roasted jalepeno soup was on the specials board, and it was wonderful: creamy, flavorful, and with just the right amount of zip without too much heat. And one of my dining companions selected the miso glazed sea bass for her entree, which she said was delicious. I ordered one of my favorites: the blackened chicken po-boy, served with Monterey Jack cheese and three olive pesto; as always, it was excellent.

Inconspicuously tucked away amid the boutiques in Snider Plaza near the SMU campus (just west of Hillcrest Ave.), Half Shells has a loyal regular following. The interior in this small mom and pop establishment is typical seafood joint without being too cheesy: A mixture of exposed brick and yellow-painted walls with dark green trim, and an assortment of signs with humorous tidbits painted on weathered wood. The narrow dining room has a row of booths on one side, and two rows of tables. A bar is at the rear near the kitchen, and features a few esoteric brews and a small selection of wines.

There can be a moderate wait during peak times, particularly for parties of four or more, since there are only a handful of booths and tables capable of seating larger parties.

The food here is consistently excellent, and the service is always efficient and friendly. The manager will usually stop by your table and make sure everything is okay. It's a shame that this little gem has been open since 1995, yet it didn't show up on my radar until a couple of years ago. I didn't know what I was missing. I find myself returning to Half Shells again and again.

Hours are:
Mon-Thu 11:00am-10:00pm
Fri-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm
Sun 11:00am- 9:00pm

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 8; Service - 7; Atmosphere - 6

Big Fish Little Fish offers great seafood with a twist: besides selecting your fish of choice, you also get to choose how it's prepared (grilled, blackened, and in some cases fried), and your sauce (select from caper dill, pineapple salsa, lobster brandy cream, and chardonnay cream, among others). Although the list changes with availability, you'll typically be able to select from among mahi mahi, salmon, trout, sea bass, tilapia, swordfish, shrimp, and more. I suppose it's possible you might select an unfortunate combination, but on a recent visit my blackened sea bass with pineapple salsa proved to be a delicious choice. Most entrees are in the $14-$17 range. All entrees were served with a vegetable medley and a small portion of corn on the cob; good, but not outstanding. Our server was attentive and efficient.

They also offer some tasty appetizers that often surpass the entrees, such as oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktail, and steamed clams. The home-smoked salmon is spectacular and a standout among these. Order the terrific key lime pie for dessert.

I can't say the decor at Big Fish Little Fish is one of my favorites. It can basically be described as "boat house cheesy". Deep blue painted walls are accented with with red trim, photos of marinas and fishing vessels, buoys, and cargo netting strung from the ceiling. It's almost as if the decor is trying too hard to be what it is. There's even a wooden hull Chriscraft with a table inside it in one of the dining rooms. Is this a restaurant or an amusement park? Thankfully, the food far surpasses the ambiance of the place.

Parking is available on the street and in a small parking lot, but finding a spot may be a problem on weekend nights. The Knox-Henderson area is very popular and there are a number of successful restaurants in the immediate vicinity, including Tei Tei Robata Bar.

Big Fish Little Fish is the type of place where you can show up in a pair of shorts and flip-flops yet still know you're going to get a tasty meal. They accept all major credit cards. Their hours are:
Mon-Thu 5:30pm-10:00pm
Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm

My 1-10 ratings:
Food - 7; Service - 8; Atmosphere - 5

If you're a seafood lover, Daddy Jack's deserves to be near the top of your restaurant list on a visit to the Big D. The small menu is almost exclusively seafood here, although they do offer a beef filet if someone in your party doesn't like seafood.

The decor might best be described as "San-Francisco-warf-divey-charm." Neon lights depicting a lobster and a bowl of chowder hang in the windows on either side of the front door. Inside, red painted walls and white trim match the red and white checkered table cloths. A few booths are squeezed in among the simple tables and chairs. Snapshots of customers and staff, including photos of founder Jack Chaplin in the kitchen, grace the walls. It's slightly on the cramped side, but the atmosphere is casual and comfortable. Blues music is piped through the sound system at a comfortable level, loud enough to notice without being intrusive.

But don't let the casual atmosphere think they're not serious about the food here. They offer some great appetizers and salads such as crab cakes ($6), crab claws in marinara sauce ($7), and grilled portabello mushroom salad ($7). Entrees are in the $12-$19 range. My favorite entree has always been the atlantic salmon with dijon caper sauce ($15), the same dish that's offered at sister restaurant Daddy Jack's Wood Grill in Deep Ellum. On my last visit I ordered the stuffed shrimp ($14) for my entree, which was served with a baked potato and steamed corn. I was not disappointed.

They also offer a handful of daily specials. Tilapia and blackened swordfish were among the items on the specials board on my most recent visit.

The wine list is relatively small, offering perhaps two dozen names, and typical of what you'll find in many restaurants. Frankly, the wine list could be a little more extensive.

Reservations are highly recommended. Arriving without one is a bad idea. They'll try to fit you in if they can, but I know people who've been told, "Sorry, no can do." And since the dining room is so tiny, there's no room for you to wait. You'll be asked to wait at the bar next door called The Cavern. They'll phone the bartender when your table is ready.

Parking on Lower Greenville is a pretty hopeless endeavor. Take advantage of the complimentary valet parking Daddy Jack's offers. But if you're the type who cringes at the thought of handing over your car keys to a valet, it's sometimes possible to find free parking on Oram St. or Prospect Ave. between Greenville Ave. and Matilda (one block north and two blocks north, respectively).

Daddy Jack's is casual and cozy, lively without being loud, and the food is always delicious. Every time I return it's like visiting an old friend.

Hours are:
Mon-Sat 5:30pm-11:00pm
Sun 5:30pm- 9:30pm

My 1 - 10 ratings:
Food - 8; Service - 7; Atmosphere - 6