I've been thinking a lot about what makes a restaurant experience satisfying. It takes more than good food. Surveys have shown that customers are more likely to return to a restaurant with mediocre food and exemplary customer service than a restaurant that leaves them feeling slighted, no matter how good the food. I'm wondering if restaurants that truly bring something new to a community are also more likely for a revisit -- if only because they keep us from becoming bored.
To that end, I've started compiling a list of restaurants I think are worth a closer look. No. 50: Joyce And Gigi's, No. 49: East Hampton Sandwich Co., and No. 48: 20 Feet Seafood Joint were profiled this week. We'll keep counting them down until we get to our annual Best of Dallas® issue this September.
Elsewhere on CoA we took a closer look at Bar Smyth, the cocktail lounge that's turning heads in Uptown; worked with area bartenders to come up with a few summer cocktails; and came up with a new and improved cleanse that involves vodka and rum.
We also got collectively very, very drunk.
Over on the Eats Blog Leslie Brenner got back together with Jaspers after a tumultuous breakup last year. She's upgraded the Kent Rathbun restaurant from one to three stars. I don't think it will last. The DMN also published a big guide to Dallas' cocktail scene. I think they're trying to challenge us.
Urban Acres is starting a farm stand in Oak Cliff. You can read more about their Kickstarter effort over on Side Dish, where Nancy Nichols also comes out and admits her orzo and wild rice salad addiction. I could use some of that in my life.
The Taco Trail has a dispatch from Mexico City. The post lists five of the author's favorite taco spots around the Distrito Federal.
And finally, Daniel Vaughn pays a visit to Easy Tiger for TMBBQ. I've had the pastrami he writes about in the post and echo the endorsement. If you're in Austin and looking for a sandwich that will make a memory, check out Easy Tiger.
See you on Monday, Aters.
