LocaLs onLy

These dishes from neighborhood restaurants aren’t on the menu. You just have to know.

story by rachel stone

photos by Danny Fulgencio, elliott Muñoz anD can türkyilMaz

Only so much ink will fit in print. Ask any graphic designer. That’s one reason almost every restaurant serves a dish or two that is not on the menu. Some are famous. Others are the result of cravings, hangovers and happy accidents. Even though one or two might annoy the cook or waiter, these off-the-menu dishes keep customers smiling.

chicken & waFFles at Hattie’s

Hattie’s

418 N. Bishop, 214.942.7400, hatties.com

A Southern-style brunch at Hattie’s is a good way to set the mood for a happy Sunday. One dish that’s always available at brunch but is never on the menu: chicken & waffles.

415 W. 12th

214.941.4304 lacalledoce-dallas.com

Whole grilled catfish is on the menu, but mojarra entera a la parilla, whole grilled tilapia, is not. Another off-the-menu gem is ostiones preparados, oysters on the half shell with pico de gallo and avocado atop each.

610 W. Jefferson

214.946.4238

Milanesa, the Tex-Mex version of chicken-fried steak, is on the menu at El Ranchito as an entrée. But if you ever meet the hangover genius who first ordered milanesa tacos, which are not, buy him or her a corona-rita (grande frozen margarita with a wee Corona upended in it).

Eno’s

407 N. Bishop

214.943.9200 enospizza.com

The meatball sub is so popular it doesn’t need to be on the menu.

Inforzato’s

244 W. Davis

214.943.2233

This little Italian restaurant, the former Hula Hotties, is known for its friendly atmosphere and co-owner Jill Inforzato’s imaginative recipes. She says a regular customer loved the fourcheese sauce she uses in macaroni and cheese so much that he asked her to put it on a pizza. Et voila, mac-and-cheese pizza. It runs as a special now and then, but it’s available any time. Another offthe-menu gem: shrimp Lombardo with peas, artichokes and sundried tomatoes in a lemon-cream sauce.

Gonzalez

367 W. Jefferson

214.946.5333 gonzalezrestaurant.com

This Tex-Mex institution is famous for its big, fluffy flour tortillas, and they always have the Rangers game on. Chips come with a warm salsa that is tasty, but Gonzalez also serves a cold salsa upon request.

Veracruz Café

408 N. Bishop 214.948.4746 veracruzcafedallas.com

Veracruz also has an off-the-menu salsa: chipotle, jalapeño, black pepper and mayonnaise.

El Padrino

330 W. Davis

214.943.8888

On certain dry-throat, fuzzy-head, queasy mornings, a body needs more carbs than a mere taco can provide. If that happens to you, try ordering the Mexican biscuit at this Bishop Arts taco stand. It comes with any egg combination (we like egg and chorizo or huevos rancheros) with cheese and green tomatillo salsa. “It’s very delicious and sure will cure a hangover,” says coowner Juan Contreras.

Former WNBA great Nancy Lieberman visited the North Texas Food Bank in Oak Cliff in April to promote Serving U, a corporate teambuilding program that challenges participants to work together, solve problems and build communication skills by volunteering at the food bank. Representatives from American Airlines and Neiman Marcus volunteered on the warehouse floor.

People

Neighborhood resident Joel Ferrell has been promoted to associate artistic director of the Dallas Theater Center. He will be the lead producer of DTC’s main stage productions, working closely with crews throughout the process. Ferrell began as a freelancer for the theater center in the late ’90s and joined the full-time staff in 2009. He lives near Kidd Springs Park.

Volunteer

The Dallas Zoo accepts adult and youth volunteers throughout the summer. The work includes behind-the-scenes tasks such as animal care along with helping spread the message of conservation. Contact Amy Glover at 469.554.7450 or amy.glover@dallaszoo.com.

The Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts, which runs arts events at the historic Turner House, needs volunteers to help with various jobs involving fundraising, restoration and general operations such as event schedulers, website maintenance, grant writing, landscape design and more. Call 214.946.1670 or email info@ turnerhouse.org.

HAVE AN ITEM TO BE FEATURED?

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com. Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

Bolsa Mercado

634 W. Davis

214.942.0451 bolsadallas.com

Bolsa Mercado serves several delicious sandwiches, but only one is vegetarian: the pimento cheese on sourdough. Not every veggie head wants that, so the staff came up with a concoction for their healthconscious friends. It’s a sandwich with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, layered with cheese, micro greens and pickles. Although they can make it any time, if you order it, be patient. Most likely, the busy staff will have to stop and lovingly slice that cuke just for you.

Campo Modern Country Bistro

1115 N. Beckley

214.946.1308 campodallas.com

The menu at this foodie hotspot changes with the seasons and ingredients available, but chorizo with a poached egg and roasted potatoes is an off-the-menu staple.

Jonathon’s

1111 N. Beckley

214.946.2221 jonathonsoakcliff.com

“The nooner” is a sometime special that is available all the time. Food critics love it, and we can see why. It’s a burger with ham, Swiss cheese, tomato, bacon, American cheese, a fried egg and mayo.