Dallas Restaurant Recommendations

December 16, 2003

I am meeting a dear, sweet client in Dallas, and I would love to treat him to dinner at a wonderful restaurant (he is a gormet chef). I would like to spend about $125 to $150 for the meal. The only restaurant I really know is the Bronx, which is not far from the hotel where we will be staying, but its not the type of restaurant I am looking for. Also, we will be casually dressed, and don't want to wear a tie or anything of that sort. (We are comming back from the Cotton Bowl). In Austin, you can go just about anywhere in casual clothes, but Dallas is such a different story.

Anyone got recommendations for my special treat to my client?

Jon Dean

http://www.manfuck.net

scudman · December 16, 2003

There are a ton of good choices. I'm glad you aren't planning on going to the Bronx for your special treat. Here are a few that I would suggest. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable in jeans in any of them, (although I wouldn't wear a sweatshirt).

1. Dragonfly (in the Hotel ZaZa) is about the trendiest restaurant around right now, but the food is great. The ginger wasabi beef was just voted in a local chef's poll as the "best signature entree" in town.

2. Ciudad (on Oak Lawn) is great gourmet Mexican (not Tex-Mex) and is a lot of fun.

3. The Green Room (in Deep Ellum) is still hip and the food is upscale while the atmosphere is casual.

4. Steel (near Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs) is a little pretentious and maybe a little dressier, but the Asian fusion cuisine is excellent.

5. Ferre (in the West Village) is one of my favorite nice Italian spots. Great food and fairly casual atmosphere with great people-watching.

6. Rooster (off of Lemmon just West of Central Expswy) is a nice change of pace. Although it sounds like an oxymoron, the food is gourmet Southern home-cooking. They take southern cuisine like biscuits, catfish and chicken and add other elements to make it a truly gourmet experience. It's a comfort kind of place in an old house, and one of my favorite spots. The desserts (unbelievable cobbler!) are awesome.

Hope this helps. If I were you I'd go to the Dallas Morning News website (http://www.Dallasnews.com) click on "entertainment" then click on "restaurants" and then go to "restaurants by neighborhood - Dallas North/Park Cities" then sort it by "recommended." It will give you the ones I mentioned above plus a lot more.

Have a great time. It's just too bad the Longhorns aren't going to be in the Cotton Bowl.

Scud

tipster · December 16, 2003

Hey Jon -

Scudman is certainly correct, there a lot of choices.

And thanks Scudman for your recomendations, there are a couple of those you suggested I haven't tried yet, I'm going to add them to my list to try.

Ferre(in West Village) is also one of my favorites, casual and not overly expensive.

Also in the West Village is Paris, a little more up scale than Ferre but still casual as far as dress goes. And as Scudman said the people watching in these restaurants or for that matter West Village is great. West Village is a great place to take someone, it covers a about a block and consists of restaurants, a theater, lots of little trendy shops and then there are apartments on top of the shops. So in addition to dining you can spend some time walking around, watching people and browsing. I was there yesterday with an escort(we just met for lunch)and we always have a good time there. Also in West Village is Nikitas, I haven't eaten there yet so I can't tell you anything about it.

Also at the corner of Cedar Springs and McKinney in the Cresent Hotel/Office complex is Palominos, very good, in your price range, but it may be a little dressy in the evenings for what you want.

And do take Scudman's advice and vist the Dallas Morning News website, lots of reviews of restaurants.

Good luck.

Steven_Draker · December 16, 2003

Jon,

Scud gave you very complete information.

I don’t know what your outfit will be at the Cotton Bowl.

However, if your client likes sushi and fine asian cuisine go for the “Steel”. The food is best of class. Deco is exceptional, great ambiance and very good (a bit loud) music. It’s a great place to impress a client for a date at dinner time. You can go casually dressed.

http://www.steelrestaurantlounge.com/

Steven