Dallas' Most Interesting Restaurants No. 16: Joyce and Gigi's

Leading up to our annual Best of Dallas® issue, we're counting down the 50 most interesting restaurants in Dallas. These spots bring something unique or compelling to the city's dining scene, feeding both your appetite and soul. The intersection of Ross Avenue and Hall Street have changed a good deal...

By Scott Reitz

September 2, 2015

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Leading up to our annual Best of Dallas® issue, we're counting down the 50 most interesting restaurants in Dallas. These spots bring something unique or compelling to the city's dining scene, feeding both your appetite and soul.

The intersection of Ross Avenue and Hall Street has changed a good deal since Joyce and Gigi's first opened in 2013. A coffee shop opened in the space next door, and a paletas vendor was shuttered so a building across the street could be completely renovated. Condos and apartment buildings are now springing out of the dirt up and down Ross.

Through it all, Joyce and Gigi's has served up a creative take on Bolivian and South American food, becoming a fixture in a quickly changing neighborhood.

Among the many ways to start your evening meal here are empanadas stuffed with beef, duck and cheese; croquettes; and an escabeche made tangy with cider vinegar. Next, tear into a hunk of perfectly grilled meat, or duck confit on a bed of sturdy risotto. Whatever you're eating, wash it down with some of the best cocktails available in Dallas, made from freshly squeezed exotic fruits.

Even without the alcohol, this dining room would be warm and welcoming. Lapped in reds and yellows, the space is comforting and homey but not at all frumpy. After the sun goes down you could even say is has a bit of sex appeal.

Your opinion matters! Be sure to weigh in on our Best Of Dallas Readers' Choice poll. Voting ends September 6.

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