Dine Divinely in Dallas

Though not historically known as a great foodie city, Dallas has played a significant role as the incubator and headquarters for some of the most well-known restaurants in America.

Casual dining concepts such as Steak & Ale, Chili’s, La Madeline, and Pei Wei set the table in the ‘60s, ’70s, and ‘80s for the industry as we know it today.

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Dallas is also the birthplace of the Southwestern food movement which had a Big Bang moment around 1983 when five chefs including Dean Fearing, Stephen Pyles, and Avner Samuel – each still active in Dallas’ culinary scene today – incorporated ingredients from Mexican cuisine, the culinary undercurrent of the southwest, and combined them with French techniques and classical ingredients.

Their creativity has cast a rich, chili red glow on culinary outlets in our state and beyond. Restaurants that once relied on cowboy/rancher staples such as chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and bacon grease-soaked green beans now offer flavorful tortilla soup, chili-rubbed ribeyes, and dishes punctuated with black beans and cilantro.

Today, Dallas is known as a foodie city, having been validated by BonAppétit magazine and a slew of awards and nominations from prestigious culinary organizations. Why? Relative affordability compared to other big foodie cities plus access to capital investment, miles of sprawling prairie, population increases, and creativity make it an attractive market to start a restaurant and for national chains to try their luck.

Your new neighbors will direct you to their favorite Tex-Mex and BBQ joints but there is breathtaking culinary diversity throughout the city that is worth exploring. From authentic Chinese Dim Sum in Richardson to traditional Mexican food right on Lovers Lane, there are tastes for beginner foodies and the adventurous ones, too.

Sometimes, proximity is the deciding factor on where to dine.

The Park Cities and Preston Hollow are well-planned communities with centralized areas for dining and shopping including Highland Park Village and Snider Plaza which both offer multiple dining options. Inwood Village is also nearby with diverse dining choices.

If you’re interested in exploring a little further, Bishop Arts has exceptional dining options and well worth the 20-minute drive south, while 20 minutes north, you have Addison with an infusion of new restaurants worth exploring.

Snider Plaza, The Plaza at Preston Center, Midway Hollow Shopping Center, Preston Royal Shopping Center, and Preston Forest each offer multiple dining possibilities from fast food to fine dining. The beauty of eating at neighborhood restaurants such as Ramble Room, Neuhaus Café, and Kuby’s is that you see your neighbors, classmates, fellow volunteers, and colleagues breaking bread as families, baseball teams, and Girl Scout troops. It’s where we get to know each other outside of duty, inside of leisure.

Two insider tips about dining in Dallas:

1. If you have to pay for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, you’re at the wrong place.

2. Some of the best hospitality you’ll ever encounter comes from our restaurant folks.

Welcome home, we are glad to have you. Eat well, be well.

Follow Kersten Rettig, a Park Cities-based writer with 30-plus years of experience in food and beverage marketing and public relations, on Instagram @KerstenEats.

Kersten Rettig’s Must-Try List (Just a Sampling):

• Bubba’s Cooks Country, 6617 Hillcrest Road – fast casual southern diner serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Café Pacific, 24 Highland Park Village –classic Continental cuisine

• Escondido, 5950 Royal Lane – The only Tex-Mex in Preston Royal is family friendly and has a great patio

• India Palace, 12817 Preston Road, Suite 105 – authentic, award-winning Indian food

• Knife Steakhouse, 5300 E. Mockingbird Lane. – There are plenty of steakhouses in town, this might be the best.

• Knox Bistro, 3230 Knox St. – authentic French bistro with approachable menu and wine list

• Kuby’s Sausage House, 6601 Snider Plaza – German market with excellent meat and adjacent restaurant

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• Loro, 1812 N. Haskell Ave. – Texas BBQ and Asian fusion restaurant created by two award-winning chefs

• Malai Kitchen, 6130 Luther Lane – Upscale Thai/Vietnamese cuisine in upscale setting

• Meridian, 5650 Village Glen Drive – Brilliant and approachable Brazilian cuisine

• Mesero, multiple locations – elevated

Tex-Mex

• Mi Cocina, multiple locations – a TexMex classic

• Montlake Cut, 8220 Westchester Drive –fresh fish, raw bar, Pacific Northwest inspired

• Nonna, 4115 Lomo Alto Drive – Italian food, fresh pasta, and locally sourced products

• Oishii, 5627 SMU Blvd. (multiple locations) – excellent sushi, Thai, and Vietnamese food

• Parigi, 3311 Oak Lawn Ave. – neighborhood French/American bistro

• Princi Italia, 5959 Royal Lane – Italian classics such as pastas, veal, and salads

• Quarter Acre, 2023 Greenville Ave.

– New Zealand-inspired cuisine with glorious beef, fish, and veggies

• Ramble Room, 6565 Hillcrest Ave. – the Park Cities’ quintessential neighborhood bar and restaurant

• Rise No. 1, 5360 W. Lovers Lane

– charming setting serving souffles, soups, and salads

• Rodeo Goat, 1926 Market Center Blvd. –burgers, beer, and a spacious patio

• Sachet, 4270 Oak Lawn Ave. – Upscale Mediterranean in elegant setting

• Suze, 4343 W. Northwest Highway – a Preston Hollow favorite serving classic Continental cuisine

• The Charles, 1632 Market Center Blvd. – excellent Italian food in a sophisticated scene

• TJ’s Seafood, Preston Royal and 4212 Oak Lawn Ave. – excellent fresh seafood restaurant and fish market

• Trova Wine Bar, 4004 Villanova St. –restaurant with light fare and retail wine sales

• Written By The Seasons, 380 Melba St., Bishop Arts – a love letter to seasonal food, sealed with a chef’s kiss

Family Fun

Beyond those great neighborhood parks, families will find ample children-friendly places to go just a short drive away. Be sure to check out the museums (Pages 66-68). Here are a few other favorites:

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Listed among the top arboretums globally, The Dallas Arboretum is proud to offer the public an array of popular annual events, educational programs for children and adults, and an emphasis on family-oriented activities. The Arboretum’s 66 acres on the shores of White Rock Lake include a complete life science laboratory with endless potential for discovery.

8525 Garland Road, 214-515-6615, dallasarboretum.org

Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden

Children love connecting with nature, and the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden provides a place to run and play while learning about life and Earth science. From the youngest to the oldest, there’s something new around every turn in the galleries that unfold along the eight-acre path overlooking White Rock Lake.

The youngest visitors enjoy the walled garden with a caterpillar maze, a sandbox, giant acorns and insects, mushroom seats and tables, a potting shed, a treehouse, a babbling brook, and a plant petting zoo. In the heart of the garden, Texas Skywalk is an elevated walkway through the trees inviting visitors to discover the benefits and what lives in the treetops. Amaze offers children engaging rewards along the way to the Amazing Secret Garden. Changeable panels make the maze either more or less challenging for different age groups, and questions at turning points speed children toward the goal.

8525 Garland Road, 214-515-6615, dallasarboretum.org

Dallas Children’s Theater

The live theater features a range of shows for kids and families, along with classes and educational programs.

5938 Skillman St., 214-978-0110, dct.org

Dallas Zoo

Home to 2,000 animals of 406 species, The Dallas Zoological Park is a 106-acre zoo located three miles south of downtown in Marsalis Park. Established in 1888, it is the largest zoological Texas. Exhibits include Giants of the Savanna, Wilds of Africa, Koala Walkabout, Zoo North, Gorilla Research Center, and the Children’s Zoo. 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, 469-5547501, dallaszoo.com

(DART Stop: Take the Red Line to the Zoo Station)

Six Flags Over Texas

SixFlagsOver Texas

With 13 thrilling roller coasters, three refreshing water rides, and 11 rides that spin and fly, there is something for the entire family to enjoy at Six Flags Over Texas. This 212-acre amusement park opened in 1961 and is the first amusement park in the Six Flags chain. Open all year long, purchase a season pass that includes Hurricane Harbor.

2201 E. Road to Six Flags St., Arlington, 817-640-8900, sixflags.com/overtexas