LocaLs onLy

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

story by emily toman

photos by alison Fechtel, Danny Fulgencio & 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.

Princi Italia

This dish has followed chef Kevin Ascolese ever since his days at Sfuzzi in Uptown. Wherever he goes, it goes. “We developed it there, and it has just kind of taken off,” Ascolese says. “We’ve been doing it forever.” Now, as Princi Italia’s executive chef, he continues to make the Italian comfort food favorite for anyone who asks. The dish combines Romano-crusted chicken and linguini with tomato-basil sauce. “It’s like a steak-and-potato dish but with chicken and pasta.” princiitalia.com, 5959 Royal, Suite 707, 214.739.5959

Back Pain Specialist

DR. YARON LOHR medicalchiropracticclinic.com

80% OF AMERICANS SUFFER FROM BACK PAIN. Meet Yaron Lohr, D.C. – new to the neighborhood and able to help with a variety of your back ailments. The Posture Perfect multidisciplinary practice includes medical care, pain management, diagnostic testing, chiropractic care, physiotherapy, and reha- bilitation. Services range from massage therapy, weight loss and personal training to minimally invasive surgeries. Call and mention this ad to set up your FREE health evaluation!

Posture Perfect Health Center 5550 LBJ Fwy., Ste. 150, Dallas, TX 75240 972.792.0204

Optometrist

Dough Pizzeria

By now, everyone knows about Dough’s authentic Neapolitan pies, sanctioned by the pizza gods themselves in Naples, Italy. After you’ve gorged on that, ask for this tasty dessert: Arborio rice pudding with Nutella mascarpone, topped with fresh berries and house-made pecan brittle.

11909 Preston, 972.788.4600 doughpizzeria.com

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Dallas Eyeworks 9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120, Dallas, TX 75218 214.660.9830

Comprehensive Dentistry

ASHLY R. COTHERN, DDS, PA www.drcothern.com

Dr. Cothern is one of a small distinguished percentage of dentists who have invested in postgraduate training at one of the world’s premiere continuing education institutes, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. We care about you as a unique individual and examine you in a way that together we can understand every aspect of your oral health. In our office we love what we do. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

9669 N.Central Expwy., Ste. 220 Dallas, TX 75231 214.696.9966

Ace of spades at Torchy’s Tacos

If you’re lucky, you might briefly spot this creation as a “taco of the month” at Torchy’s, but most people don’t know that it’s available all the time. Loaded with nine ingredients, the ace of spades exemplifies the taco spot’s over-thetop spirit: A flour tortilla is stuffed with jalapeño sausage links, smoked brisket, a fried egg, shredded cheese, green chili peppers, cilantro, queso fresco, sour cream and Torchy’s own Diablo hot sauce.

5921 Forest, 972.720.9200 torchystacos.com

Alaskan salmon at Rex’s Seafood

No, this seasonal staple never appears on the menu at Rex’s. Seafood lovers just know when it’s time for great-tasting Alaskan salmon. It’s available mid-May through mid-October, following the fish’s life cycle. “The salmon swim upstream and go live in the ocean for two or three years,” owner Rex Bellomy says. “Then, they swim back downstream, and we pick them up from where they were born. Wild salmon has a distinct difference in flavor.” Bellomy buys whole salmon, cuts it to order and serves it with any side.

5200 W. Lovers, 214.351.6363 rexsseafood.com

Bob Armstrong dip at Mattito’s

Named and created for the Texas land commissioner who frequented Matt’s El Rancho in Austin, this appetizer has become a legend — so much so that Mattito’s, the restaurant’s sibling, doesn’t need to put it on the menu. Ask, and you shall receive a heaping bowl of ground beef, guacamole, sour cream and queso layered together for optimum dipping.

7778 Forest, 214.377.9576 mattitos.com

Green curry at Asian Mint

At a place known for Asian fusion, it’s nice to curl up with something pure such as the green curry. It’s a more traditional Thai curry compared to red or yellow, served with Thai eggplant and white Jasmine rice. It’s offered as a special some days, but you can order it anytime.

11617 N. Central, Suite 135

214.363.6655, asianmint.com

J Diane Colter, DDS

Dr. Colter specializes in comprehensive dental care for infants, children, teens and children with special needs.

“ We recognize every child is unique and we strive to make sure his or her dental visit feels like it’s tailored just for them.”

Dr. Colter and her staff want children and their parents to feel comfortable about their visit to the dentist in the warm, caring and inviting office of All About Kids Dentistry.

Assessing the needs of a person during the early stages of Alzheimer’s can be difficult. We’re here to help. Villages of Lake Highlands offers Alzheimer’s Support Groups and family nights where you can learn from other families coping with the effects of memory loss. We also offer several educational programs for family members as well as complimentary sitter service for your loved one while you are here.

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Gio’s Café and New York Deli

A Jewish deli that serves spanakopita and moussaka? That’s one of the perks of having a Greek owner. Beyond the menu of corned beef and matzo ball soup, Gio’s co-owner Spiro Gionnopoulos serves up Greek favorites by request. Besides his work at the deli, he also owns a catering business that specializes in everything from Italian to Mexican food. “I can make anything,” he says. 12817 Preston Road, Suite 129 972.387.4467, giosdeli.com

Mi Cocina

If you are one of those who religiously orders the brisket tacos and a Mambo Taxi at MiCo, we don’t blame you. But we do want you to know that there is more out there. Mi Cocina’s Juan “Billy” Aguirre filled us in on a couple of secret items that the chef will happily whip up on request.

The Señor Chico, for example, is a grilled chicken breast with chili guajillo sautéed in garlic and olive oil, with mushrooms, green rice and avocado salad. “It is delicious,” Aguirre assures.

The chile relleno, despite its absence from the menu, is also frequently requested, he says.

“It’s a poblano pepper, deep fried and filled with Monterrey cheese and your choice of shredded chicken or ground beef — if you want to upgrade to fajita it’s possible, too — topped off with ranchero sauce. It also comes with green rice and beans and our famous Mexican coleslaw.” 11661 Preston, 214.265.7704, mcrowd.com

Kathleen’s Sky Diner

This basic oriental dish has been off the menu for 10 years at Kathleen’s Sky Diner, a quirky, trans-global café that probably has one of the most eclectic menus in our neighborhood. “They say supposed to change things up and stay fresh with new ideas,” co-owner Robert Ellington says. Although it has been hidden away on the “supersecret menu,” popularity still hasn’t fizzled for the sesamecrusted chicken, stir-fried with noodles and vegetables.

4424 Lovers, 214.691.2355 skydinerdallas.com

Secret bar sauce at Fish City Grill

Only regulars know about this special dipping sauce for shrimp and oysters at the Dallas-based seafood chain. The salsa-like mixture combines cocktail sauce, Tabasco, horseradish, lime, Worcestershire pepper and a secret ingredient.

10720 Preston, Suite 1012

214.891.9979, fishcitygrill.com

Branzino at Zio Cecio Cucina Italiana

You never know what chef Francesco Farris has up his sleeve at Zio Cecio, that focuses on coastal cuisine from Sardinia. He has several off-menu items that simply don’t store well, so he can’t always keep them in stock. “I don’t promise quantity, but I promise quality,” Farris says. The branzino fish substitutes the large red snapper for the smaller Mediterranean sea bass. It’s salt-crusted, baked in a wood-burning oven and filleted tableside. If you’re lucky, you might be there when Farris has a 20-pound succulent pig that cooks for eight hours until perfectly tender.

4615 W. Lovers, 214.351.1100 ziocecio.com

214.890.7900,

SCOFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

3K through Grade 6 / 214.349.6843 / scofieldchristian.org

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410.

SPANISH HOUSE

5740 Prospect Ave. Dallas / 214.826.4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630/ ziondallas. org

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org to

Baptist

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

All services & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45. Trad. & Blended (Sanctuary), Contemporary (Great Hall), Amigos de Dios (Gym) / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Bible Churches

NORTH HIGHLANDS BIBLE CHURCH / www.nhbc.net

Sunday: Lifequest (all ages) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Wed: Student Ministry 7:00 pm / 9626 Church Road / 214.348.9697

Disciplesof Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship Gathering 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan / www.edcc.org

Lutheran

ZIONLUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL / 6121 E Lovers Ln.

Sunday: Sunday School 9:15 am, Worship 8:00 am, 10:30 am, & 6:00 pm / 214.363.1639 / www.ziondallas.org

Methodist

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC/ 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

9:30 – Sunday School / 10:30 – Fellowship Time

10:50 – Traditional & Contemporary Worship

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

SHORELINE DALLAS CHURCH / 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane

ShorelineDallas.com / 469.227.0471 / Pastor Earl McClellan

Everyone’s Welcome at 9:15am / Children’s & Youth Ministry

Presbyterian

NORTHPARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 214.363.5457

9555 N. Central Expwy. / www.northparkpres.org

Pastor: Rev. Brent Barry / 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday Services

Unity

UNITY OF DALLAS / A Positive Path For Spiritual Living

6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972-233-7106 / UnityDallas.org

Sunday services: 9:00 am & 11:00 am