To prepare for this fall's Best of Dallas® 2012 issue, we're counting down (in no particular order) our 100 Favorite Dishes. If there's a dish you think we need to try, leave it in the comments, or email me.
Should you find yourself in need of a trip to downtown Plano on a three-day weekend you might want to bring something to eat. Like the antique shops and artists studios full of old ladies learning to paint bad Van Goghs, many of the restaurants are closed here on holidays. Plano's shops and some of the restaurants grasp tightly to tradition and many are closed on Sunday, too.
Not Zanata, though. On a sleepy Monday afternoon while everyone else was recovering from whatever backyard bash punished them the day before, this small pizza place with a suave dining room was open for business, catering to all of four customers.
Skip the pizzas, which resemble nothing of their Neapolitan forebears as the menu claims, and order a grilled cheese instead. A fiery grill is the heat source here and as havarti, brie, provolone and mozzarella test the limits of the sturdy bread that binds them. The over-run bubbles and browns into crunchy, savory bits of dairy-based decadence lesser cheeses could never achieve.
Use your fingers to tear bite-sized chunks from the greasy sandwich and toss them into a creamy tomato soup to chill out for a few seconds before devouring them with a spoon. This is a meal that derives its satisfaction from your deep-rooted desire to hang on to your past. But unlike lazy Sunday business hours, which are slowly slipping into antiquity, the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is as timeless as it is satisfying.
Hungry for more? Check back every morning for another dish, and download our Best Of App for Android and iPhone for more picks on the go.
No. 100: The Cleaver and Block Burger at NHS Tavern
No. 99: The Bone Marrow at the Meddlesome Moth
No. 98: Arepas at Zaguan Latin Cafe
No. 97: Jalapeno Poppers at City Tavern
No. 96: Elotes: Everywhere
No. 95: Dan-Dan Noodles at Royal China
No. 94: Smoked Ham Mac and Cheese at The Porch
No. 93: Chicken and Waffles at Jonathon's Oak Cliff
No. 92: Regina Margherita At Cane Rosso
No. 91: Devils On Horseback At The Chesterfield
No. 90: Ginger Soy Baby Back Ribs at Tei Tei Robata
No. 89: Croissants From Rush Patisserie
No. 88: The Reuben At The Cock & Bull
No. 87: The Brisket at Pecan Lodge
No. 86: The Roast Chicken At Bolsa
No. 85: Chicken-Fried Egg at Union Bear
No. 84: Brisket Tacos At Manny's
No. 83: The Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes at Smoke
No. 82: The Oxtail Ragout at Central 214
No. 81: The Italian Beef At Jimmy's
No. 80: Pulled Whole Hog BBQ Eggs Benedict at Smoke
No. 79: Veal Cheeks At Bijoux
No. 78: Sweet Shrimp At Yutaka
No. 77: Pho At Lemongrass
No. 76: Shanghai Buns at Jeng Chi Dumpling House
No. 75: Pepper Bomb At Goodfriend
No. 74:Veracruz Cafe's Sopa de Atlahua
No. 73: Fish and Chips at the Londoner
No. 72: Italian Combo At Carbone's
No. 71: Breakfast Schnitzel At Crossroads Diner
No. 70: Berkshire Pork Belly Buns at Howard Wang's Uptown
No. 69: Bolognese At Princi Italia
No. 68: Cabrito a la Parrilla at El Ranchito
No. 67: Kimchee French Fries At sSahm Food Truck
No. 66: Just About Any Burger At Off Site Kitchen
No. 65: St. Pete's Chili Dog
No. 64: Mesa's Enmoladas
No. 63: Pork and Octopus at Oak
No. 62: Spicy Crispy Wings At Malai
No. 61: Spicy Fish Soup At Korea House
No. 60: Deviled Eggs At R&D Kitchen
No. 59: Falafel At Fadia Bakery
No. 58: Bistec Con Queso At El Tizoncito
No. 57: The Burger At Local
No. 56: Patty Melt At NHS
No. 55: Guisado Verde Tacos At La Nueva Fresh And Hot
No. 54: CFS At All Good Cafe
No. 53: Ramen At Tei-An
No. 52: Fried Chicken At Sissy's
No. 51: Sampler Plate With Samoon at Judi Bakery
No. 50: Dolmas At Pera Turkish Kitchen
No. 49: The Sloppy Taco At Off Site Kitchen
No. 48: The Fried Bologna Sandwich At Maple And Motor
No. 47: Sour Cream Enchiladas At Mia's
No. 46: Pork Banh Mi At Nammi
No. 45: White Clam Pizza At Nonna
No. 44: Banh Mi From Nammi
No. 43: Pastor Tacos At La Banqueta
No. 42: The Brunch Burger At The Grape
No. 41: The Scotch Egg At Central 214
No. 40: The Nooner At Jonathon's Oak Cliff
No. 39: The Large Tabouleh at Ali Baba
No. 38: The Chile Relleno At Avila's
No. 37: The Brussels Sprouts Fritters At Snack
No. 36: Loukoumathes At Greek Fest
No. 35: Coffee and Doughnuts At Rosemont
No. 34: DIY Fried Chicken Taco at Pollo Campero
No. 33: International Bakery Cuban Dulceria's Cubano
No. 32: The Pork Chop At Acme F&B
No. 31: The Crispy Duck At Bangkok City
No. 30: Panamericana Torta At Tortas la Hechizera
No. 29: Tom Kha Gai At Bambu
No. 28: Hummus and Super Bread at Pepper Smash
No. 27: The Fried Chicken Sandwich At Union Bear
No. 26: The Jerk Chicken At Island Spot
No. 25: Grilled Whole Bronzini At Tei Tei Robota
No. 24: Nova's Smoked Salmon Potato Skins
No. 23: The Wings At Ten Bells Tavern
No. 22: Oak's Ham And Cheese Croissant
No. 21: Brisket Enchiladas At ME Lounge
No. 20: The Black Bean Dip At Gloria's
No. 19: The "Sliced Leg Of Lamb" At Ziziki's
No. 18: Paan At Taj Chaat House
No. 17: Pesto Chicken Salad on a Popover at Dream Cafe
No. 16: La Duni's BLTA Pop Over