Elm & Good

Elm & Good, located on the bottom floor of the historical Kimpton Pittman Hotel on the edge of Deep Ellum, is equal measure a beautiful space and a culinary delight. Chef Graham Dodds is back in the neighborhood where decades ago he was part of the legendary Feed Me, Wine Me at the Green Room. Here he serves modern fare with hyper attention on local produce and wood-fired meats. Dodds will make the most steadfast carnivores not just eat their vegetables but love them. A silky pâté made from sunchokes is polished off with gloss-like Lambrusco gelèe. But fear not meat eaters: grilled quail, blackened redfish or a 44 Farms bavette will quell your appetite.

Top Pick: If it looks like a crab and tastes like a crab, then it must be the Lion’s Mane mushroom cake. Here again, Dodds tricks us into favoring vegetables over meat with a mushroom patty that has the same texture and flavor as crab, topped with a light lemon beurre blanc sauce.