Delicious

Southern food

Walking into Sissy’s feels like coming home — or at least that’s Lisa Garza’s hope for customers. “I want you to come here and feel loved and taken care of,” Garza says. The Memphis-born chef and owner, who grew up watching Julia Child and cooking for her family, is creating a culture through finely crafted, homey details like delicate dishware and in-house canning, which the restaurant plans to start this fall. The restaurant, which opened in late February, may have initially been most famous for its fried chicken, but Sissy’s also showcases its healthy dishes. “Southern food has become this stereotype that it’s not,” says Garza, who wants her restaurant to resonate with Southerners and be a “true reflection of the beauty of the South.” Sissy’s, at heart, is a family restaurant born after the death of Garza’s brother — her “bubba,” the male equivalent of “sissy.” After experience working in high-end cuisine, including a stint as the cook for the Dallas Superbowl’s VIP tent, Garza realized that what people often liked most was simple food. “It clicked for me. It doesn’t have to be so pretentious and really, when you get to that level, it’s not fun anymore,” Garza says. If you can’t decide what to order from Sissy’s menu, Garza says you can’t go wrong with chicken and champagne.

—Lauri Valerio

SISSY’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN AND BAR

2929 Henderson

214.827.9900 sissyssouthernkitchen. com

AMBIANCE: WARM

PRICE RANGE: $14-$24

TIP: THE NEW LUNCH MENU FEATURES FRESH DISHES AND OLD FAVORITES.

1 Garden Café

In the spirit of healthy home cooking, the Garden Café grows its own vegetables and aims to join the slow food movement. While its cheese grits and sweet potato pancakes win over taste buds, its poetry dinners and art installations speak to customers’ creativity.

5310 Junius 214.887.8330 gardencafe.net

2 Chicken House Plus

For hearty fried food, try the Chicken House’s chicken and fries. A local favorite, the mainly drivethrough restaurant also features catfish and fried apple pies. It might be the greasy grub you’ve been craving.

909 N. Fitzhugh 214.370.0800

3 Alligator Café

The New Orleans–inspired eatery treats customers to acoustic blues Thursday through Saturday. The Cajun and creole menu includes gumbo, fried catfish and alligator.

9540 Garland, Ste. 362 214.821.6900 eatgator.com

Hacienda On