The 9 Best Restaurants in Downtown Dallas

Downtown Dallas may seem like all work and no play, but there are plenty of reasons to stick around, like two-Michelin-starred chefs serving sushi and pizza masters who immigrated directly from Naples.

Longtime landmarks are making room for bold newcomers; the West End is making a comeback (didn't you hear?); and dinner in Dallas' core is back on the table.

These are the best restaurants in Downtown Dallas.

Sushi | Bar & Sushi by Scratch

2115 Jackson St. & 1321 Commerce St. (inside The Adolphus)

Sushi Bar and Sushi by Scratch were founded by the same chef, in the same city and are similarly priced. Both downtown Dallas sushi restaurants serve varying-course omakases, averaging around $150 before taxes, gratuity and an optional drink pairing. While the first few seatings of dinners sold out in seconds at these two spots, there's a little more leeway now and you can get lucky week of, but absolutely get a booking when reservations go live the first of each month.

Partenope Ristorante

1903 Main St.

For two years, Partenope Ristorante has been named one of the top 50 pizzerias in the U.S. by Italian food and beverage journalists, who perhaps know a thing or two about dough, cheese and perfect sauce. This Italian restaurant is owned by master pizzaiolo and Naples native Dino Santonicola and his wife, Megan. For the quality, the pricing is very approachable across all its antipasti, salads, pizzas and pasta dishes. Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. is apertivo hour where they offer $8 wines, $9 spritzes and $6 assaggini (small tastes) at the bar or on the patio.

Monarch

1401 Elm St.

Monarch's wood-fired grilled and modern Italian cuisine is paired with one of the best views of Downtown Dallas and is a go-to for feeling opulent on a night out. The welcome Champagne, the elevator ride up to the 49th floor, the view from the bathroom (if you can believe that); all of it has a certain je ne sais quoi that Dallas high rollers flock to. Reserve a booth by the window, but be prepared for the $125 food and beverage minimum. You pay to play here. If it's a weeknight, pop in for golden hour from 5-6:30 p.m. to get ahead of the cocktail prices and consider ending the night on a high note with the tableside tiramisu. 

Mirador

1608 Elm St.

You know when you're shopping for a $10,000 tennis bracelet and that inconvenient pang of hunger comes right as you're at the height of your shopping spree? No? Well, the ladies who dine at Mirador do. This penthouse restaurant is at the top of Forty-Five Ten, a luxury downtown department store, but any commoner can make a reservation for lunch, brunch or its afternoon tea service. The bites are elevated. It has a nice view of the heart of downtown from its patio (when the weather is right), and while the clientele may be high-brow, the service here can make anyone feel like they've earned themselves a well-earned break after all the shopping.

The Wicked Butcher

1717 Main St.

Wicked Butcher is a steak house in downtown Dallas where swiping your company card has never felt so right. It embraces the cosmopolitan spirit of Texas and is celebrated for its acclaimed dry aging techniques. The menu highlights the butcher's cuts and complements it with an interesting variety of sides like corn creme brulee and mac and blue cheese, made with white cheddar béchamel and blue cheese. There are bold flavors here that seamlessly blend into the art deco design, which makes for an exciting evening mixed with a tableside cocktail or truffle-infused Negroni. 

Brass Ram

2130 Commerce St.

Brass Ram was built on the love for prime rib and serves the cuts front and center every night, instead of just weekends. The polished, retro-inspired dining room is one of the prettiest in Dallas and the menu meets steak purists and indulgent diners where they're at. Its bar program is of equal consideration to the clean and concise dinner menu. Over 70 bourbons and whiskies are served here to complement (ideally) your cut of choice, but there's plenty of wines and cocktails to try with the pasta they make in-house every day, and seafood specials.

The Liam's Steakhouse

1713 N Market St.

One of the freshest new openings in Dallas' West End is the family-owned The Liam's Steakhouse. Three generations brought the menu together, which features New American cuisine with fun twists like seafood-stuffed jalapenos and crab fingers. The dino rib is a head turner in the posh black and gold dining room, but we wouldn't blame you for going with one of their Texas cuts. They even have a soy-based vegan steak, which definitely looks the part.

Sassetta

1530 Main St.

Sassetta aims to be a modern-day trattoria in the heart of downtown Dallas. Its refined, yet down-to-earth dining room is fit for a lingering dinner or apertivo hour for $10 bites and $8 wines by the glass. The chef leads a menu centered on housemade semolina pastas and crisp, perfectly blistered pizzas with inventive toppings. They make the ginger ale in-house here, as well as a handful of traditional Italian soda flavors. But even despite the Italian influence, the whisky program has been slowly growing since it opened a few years ago, and can inspire connoisseurs to expand their tastes.