You can almost smell the scent of brine in the air when you step into Preston Center’s Montlake Cut. The small but mighty vessel, helmed by acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nick Badovinus, is tucked quietly into a corner on Westchester Drive in the space formerly occupied by Spoon, another high-end…
Situated in Fort Worth’s museum district, Hanabi Ramen has been quietly gaining acclaim since it opened in summer 2014, and the praise is entirely deserved. For Japanese food fiends in Dallas, Hanabi is the perfect excuse for a day trip. Just down the road from the Kimbell, Amon Carter and…
When we heard that Taco Bell was introducing a new food-type item called the Quesalupa, we did what any normal food citizens would have done: We asked Dean Fearing to make his version of the Quesalupa for us. Asking fancy chefs to “elevate” national fast food fads is the best…
At first glance, Irving can look like Any Suburb, USA — but a surging Asian Indian population adds a plethora of Indian restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and churches. North Texas has had a strong Asian Indian presence for several decades, but the population skyrocketed from 2000 to 2010. Since…
Seconds after putting in an order for a half-pound burger at Harvey B’s, the kind lady who took my order yells “half!” to the kitchen behind her. It’s all about simplicity, stripped down the very keywords, at Harvey B’s. The menu reads like a collection of the words you’d yell,…
Let’s face it, Thursdays are a fickle mistress — close enough to the weekend to where sleeping in seems within a hair’s breadth, yet far enough away that your workweek still has you in its coffee-stained grip. But occasionally, a food event presents itself and you find yourself snacking on…
If you call yourself a foodie, you’ve been champing at the bit for this new restaurant to open. East Dallas, the time has finally come: Waffle House on Ross Avenue is officially ready for business. Excitement. Helmed by executive chef, This Guy, and sous chef, That Lady, Waffle House offers…
This is where the Alec Baldwin narration could begin: A cream-colored menu with illustrations is placed in front of MAN WHO LIKES BURGERS (Me, 31). A burger illustration wears a crown at the top of the menu. The man looks at the menu for a minute, and points, with one…
Recently opened at the corner of McKinney Avenue and Blackburn Street, Sablon Chocolate Lounge takes inspiration from the Belgian culture and claims high-quality chocolate “is a birthright that should be enjoyed by everyone.” The menu is indulgent in every sense; the selection, the portions and the prices are all staggering…
I know we’re all still reeling from the recent (temporary) loss of Zoli’s NY Pizza, but owner Jay Jerrier — the man who also brought us Cane Rosso, bless his pizza-filled heart — already has something else up his sleeve: ice cream. More specifically, Austin ice cream. *Cue hysterical cries…
There’s a certain romance to a meal wrapped in brown butcher paper. When the butcher reaches across the counter and hands over the weighty little parcel, wrapped oh so perfectly in a way no mere mortal can ever seem to replicate at home, it feels delightfully old school. And since…
It’s getting dark and I’m a little lost. Even the navigation system in my car can’t tell me where to find Winner’s BBQ in Plano. I have to go old school, counting building numbers until I end up at 3200 14th St., where I find Winner’s tucked into a shopping…
Dallas’ fish sandwiches are working hard right now. Don’t snake through the drive-through of the McDonald’s on Gaston for that frightening fish patty with the glob of no-refrigerator-needed mayo. Dallas’ sandwich and fast casual seafood spots are frying fresh cod like beautiful ocean doughnuts; they’re beet-curing salmon and showering lemon…
Let’s talk beef tartare. More specifically, let’s talk about how this dated dish has been the embodiment of obligatory French cuisine first plates in America for over two decades. If steak tartare were a muppet, surely it would be Statler, or perhaps Waldorf; it’s establishment, it’s old-school, it’s boring. But…
There is so much Texas decor screaming at you at Stampede 66, I expected the ghost of Sam Houston to deliver my menu with a firm slap on the back. High on the wall, a high-res video of ranch-hands herding cattle plays on loop. Horses made of wire, like some…
TJ’s Seafood is now offering a chilled seafood tower with an amazing name: Meet the Seafood & Chill. For a mere $115, this stacks-on-stacks-on-stacks chilled seafood tower can be yours. Did I hear you say, “That sounds expensive”? Whatever. $115 is less than you paid for gas this year. It’s…
We here at the Dallas Observer may be occasionally guilty of focusing our food attention on restaurants within two miles of downtown Dallas. When it comes to barbecue, we’ve got our favorites in the city, but our neighbors north of the loop have some great smoked meat options in their…
On any given night inside Wayward Sons on Greenville Avenue, the crowd can be anything from quiet to rowdy and everything in between. One Wednesday evening saw several large parties; at least one on corporate credit, another long-haired, short-skirted squad ordering shots and singing “Happy Birthday.” A second visit yielded far less…
This morning, news came from Jay Jerrier that Zoli’s will have its last day “in its current form” on Valentine’s Day. So, there’s one more reason to hate February 14th. The shuttering of Zoli’s has been widely reported, and we knew it would be in 2016, but now that the time has…
Welcome to “You Like This,” in which we ask chefs two questions: 1) What’s the best-selling dish at your restaurant? and 2) What’s your favorite dish at your restaurant? We hope the answer to the first question will open your eyes to the fan favorites and the Dallas palate, and…
You like barbecue. You like the Super Bowl. Or, you like pretending that you like the Super Bowl because when you say the words “Super Bowl party,” you mean the words “ALL THE FOODS AND BARBECUES.” If you’re not looking to smoke your own brisket or ribs this weekend, lucky…
Welcome to “You Like This,” in which we ask chefs two questions: 1) What’s the best-selling dish at your restaurant? and 2) What’s your favorite dish at your restaurant? We hope the answer to the first question will open your eyes to the fan favorites and the Dallas palate, and…
