Food Glorious Food

Hi everyone,

I'll be traveling to Dallas in about a week and being a bit of a foodie, would love to hear any dining suggestions. I'm staying in north Dallas and will have a car, so driving is not an issue.
I really enjoy seafood and steak, homemade Italian (southern not northern), home-style fried chicken with all the fixings, and of course BBQ (can't wait to do the comparison to KC's).
The only thing I'm not big on is Mexican (I know, that's too bad).

TIA for all suggestions!

Check the Zagat's ratings on all...I've been to a few of these places for steak: Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Del Friso's, Chamberlains.

For seafood...don't know if you have a Pappadeaux's in KC but they have great seafood, Cajun-style. Amore's for Italian. BBQ...right here, lol.

For homemade Italian go to Momos. Its off Preston and Monfort in Dallas. Its wonderful

Two best Italian restaurants in Dallas are Lucia and Nonna. Neither follows a strictly northern versus southern dynamic, but I would say both tend a bit more toward the north. But they are both very, very good. Lucia is the one I slightly prefer, but it is almost impossible to get a reservation. On the day they put the month's reservations out, they usually are gone before noon. However, you can dine without a reservation at the bar or at a couple of outside tables. The bar is nice because you get to watch the pass and see all the food coming out. Lucia is in S. Dallas. Wine list is eclectic and good, but not particularly deep.

Nonna is more centrally located, in Oak Lawn. Chef is a Texan and his restaurant resume includes a stint and one of my very favorite Italian restaurants in the US, Paul Bertoli's Oliveto in Oakland, CA. Like Lucia, the cuisine is very seasonal, fresh, etc. Menu is posted every night and probably three to five dishes change per day. So you can get a decent idea of what will be on tonight's menu by looking at last night's menu, thought there is not guarantee since roughly 20% of the dishes turn over every day. Wine list is excellent and a bit deeper than Lucia. Both lists are very reasonably priced.

The most adventurous seafood spot is John Tessar's Spoon. Very avant garde dishes that are impeccably fresh. Decent wine list, thought it's too American centric for me. But it's a place well worth eating if you don't mind the price.

A nice local Gulf style seafood option is S&D Oyster company. Excellent and fresh Gulf fish broiled or fried. Decent gumbo, etc. Good oysters, if you consume oysters in the summer.

Pappadeaux's mentioned above, is a regional chain. Decent enough for what it is, but I'm not crazy about it.

Best BBQ hands down is Pecan Ridge. No competition.

If you have other specific questions, just ask. I dine out about four or five nights a week.

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

When it comes to BBQ, the Pecan Lodge seems to be the unanimous recommendation by folks in KC as well.

I'll definitely check out S&D Oyster Company too. As far as seafood, it's exactly what I'm looking for.

TexTushHog, thanks for your recommendations...made a list and I'm gonna try them.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm always opened to trying new places.

I tend to stay away from places that are way too overhyped. They tend to disappoint when you actually try them out. It's the holes in the walls that usually really have the best food.

I have found that everyone's taste is different and the overhyped places tend to have really bland and plain food for some reason.

Italian...

Cane Rosso Deep Ellum
http://ilcanerosso.com/menus/cane_rosso_menu.pdf
http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/ne...o-0185957.html


Fried Chicken...

Babe's Chicken Dinner House
http://www.babeschicken.com/


Seafood...

Daddy Jack's New England Lobster & Chowder House
http://daddyjacks.org/


Steak...

Fago de Chao
http://www.fogodechao.com/locations/dallas


BBQ...

Pecan Lodge Deep Ellum
http://www.pecanlodge.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/br...e-0188241.html

BBQ:

Lockhart's in the Bishop Arts District; Pecan Lodge is excellent as well.

Italian:
Lucia - Chef Uger is a James Beard nominee. (http://luciadallas.com). Nearly impossible to get a reservation, but if you do score one, go.

For more casual italian Urbano Cafe (dallas italian isn't as developed that we have north/south restaurants http://www.urbanodallas.com). Urbano Cafe is BYOB.



Seafood:
TJs Seafood Market (http://www.tjsseafood.com/dinein.html)
Hand's down the best/fresh seafood in Dallas. They have a market and restaurant.

Pizza:
Canne Rosso (Deep Ellum or White Rock Lake/Lakewood)

Fried Chicken:
Babe's or Sissy's Southern Kitchen and Bar (http://sissyssouthernkitchen.com)
Notable mention is Pecan Lodge (they are known for BBQ, but their fried chicken is great)

Fine Dining:
Spoon (http://www.spoonbarandkitchen.com). Tesar is a James Beard nominee.

New Dallas Hot Spot With Great Food:
Gemma on N. Henderson (http://gemmadallas.com)
FT33 in Design District (http://ft33dallas.com)

If you like grocery stores, check out Central Market (Park Lane) in Dallas. Amazing, amazing.

Bon Appetite !

Two best Italian restaurants in Dallas are Lucia and Nonna. Neither follows a strictly northern versus southern dynamic, but I would say both tend a bit more toward the north. But they are both very, very good. Lucia is the one I slightly prefer, but it is almost impossible to get a reservation. On the day they put the month's reservations out, they usually are gone before noon. However, you can dine without a reservation at the bar or at a couple of outside tables. The bar is nice because you get to watch the pass and see all the food coming out. Lucia is in S. Dallas. Wine list is eclectic and good, but not particularly deep.

Nonna is more centrally located, in Oak Lawn. Chef is a Texan and his restaurant resume includes a stint and one of my very favorite Italian restaurants in the US, Paul Bertoli's Oliveto in Oakland, CA. Like Lucia, the cuisine is very seasonal, fresh, etc. Menu is posted every night and probably three to five dishes change per day. So you can get a decent idea of what will be on tonight's menu by looking at last night's menu, thought there is not guarantee since roughly 20% of the dishes turn over every day. Wine list is excellent and a bit deeper than Lucia. Both lists are very reasonably priced.

The most adventurous seafood spot is John Tessar's Spoon. Very avant garde dishes that are impeccably fresh. Decent wine list, thought it's too American centric for me. But it's a place well worth eating if you don't mind the price.

A nice local Gulf style seafood option is S&D Oyster company. Excellent and fresh Gulf fish broiled or fried. Decent gumbo, etc. Good oysters, if you consume oysters in the summer.

Pappadeaux's mentioned above, is a regional chain. Decent enough for what it is, but I'm not crazy about it.

Best BBQ hands down is Pecan Ridge. No competition.

If you have other specific questions, just ask. I dine out about four or five nights a week. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

I always appreciate your recommendations. I usually suggest that people use the chain places for lunch, not dinner. Lunch is a meal, dinner is more of an event, or an experience. Nothing wrong with some gumbo, etc. at Pappadeaux for lunch on the weekend when you're out and about, but lots better options for dinner.

FUCK THIS IS MAKING ME HUNGRY

Tin Star for gourmet tacos!!!!

Campizies (sic) on mockingbird for Italian and then go to the stark club for a fun time. Lol long time ago.