Dining out is one of my favorite pastimes! It's not just the act of eating food, it is the entire experience I love: dressing up, soaking up the atmosphere, consenting to the indulgence of an attentive waitstaff, and savoring divine cuisine prepared by a creative kitchen genius. I'm happy to say, Dallas is becoming a city that can satisfy the taste buds of the most discriminating foodie. So, whether you live in the Big "D" or are just traveling through, try one of my favorites for a delightful evening of food and fare.
Abacus (Contemporary American) - Chef Kent Rathbun (famously known for defeating Bobby Flay in Iron Chef America - you can watch a video of the episode on his website) intricately weaves an imaginative menu that continues to surprise me. The newly decorated dining room is sleek and elegant without layers of stuffiness. The menu is updated monthly. Nevertheless, you can count on a signature starter, lobster shooters. If you go, be sure to ask for my friend, Anne (the hostess), and tell her I sent you!
Bijoux (Contemporary French) - Voted one of the best restaurants in Dallas by Bon Appetit Magazine never disappoints. Just returning from a week in Paris, I dined here and thought I was still in France. Chef Scott Gottlich invites you to uniquely indulge in all your favorites by allowing you to order 3 or 5 of anything from the prix fixe menu. It's dining your way! So, if creme brulee is your thing, you are welcome to order 5 creme brulees for dinner! How fun is that! The ambiance is elegant, but simple, and the staff is knowledgeable and engagingly friendly.
Dragonfly (Eclectic Global) - Located in Hotel ZaZa, this is a place to see and be seen! Dragonfly attracts local and visiting celebrities, as well as a younger hip crowd. Its dramatic jewel-toned draped ceilings and equally tantalizing cuisine, makes for a fun and lively place to share dinner with friends.
Screen Door (Southern Gourmet) - OMG, this is better than anything my southern mama whipped up - and she is a fabulous cook! Chef Fitzgerald Dodd digs deep into his southern roots to create a modern-day southern menu that will make your tongue slap your brain. It is an arduous task selecting one meal item from the it-all-sounds-so-good menu. No worries. Chef Dodd will graciously divide your table's selections so that everyone can have a sample. Screen Door is beautifully and comfortably decorated, and the staff is as passionate about the food as I am.
Stephan Pyles (Southwest) - Stephan Pyles is an icon in the Dallas' dining scene. If you love bold flavors and aromatic food, you will love Stephan Pyles. It is tempting to order the signature dishes like the bone-in ribeye with red chili onion rings or the corriander-cured rack of lamb with Equadorian potato cake on every visit. Yet, if you care to branch out, you will find it all fantastic!
