The Best Things We Ate in February in Dallas

We eat a lot. So when we get excited about something, it's usually for good reason. February was no exception with pizza, chicken fried steak, Rasta Pasta and smoky mozzarella.

Chicken-Fried Steak in Roasted Jalapeño Cream Gravy

The Rackhouse Scratch Kitchen and Whiskey Bar, 4847 Main St., The Colony

We’re simple people. When we hear about a good chicken-fried steak, we go eat it. In February, thanks to a reader tip, we discovered a chicken-fried steak for the ages. The Rackhouse Scratch Kitchen and Whiskey Bar in The Colony was our destination — a cavernous, rustic-chic American restaurant and bar with a killer patio boasting panoramic views of Lake Lewisville. In addition to the string of souped-up American favorites (like venison chili and a bourbon-marinated slow-cooked pot roast) that dominate Rackhouse’s menu, it offers a Texas-sized chicken-fried steak steeped in a marvelous roasted jalapeño cream gravy that elevates it from merely good chicken-fried steak to driving 35 miles up the Dallas North Tollway worthy. Yeah, it’s epic. Afterward, you can cozy up to the bar and immerse yourself in the 70-plus bourbons and whiskeys. - Nick Reynolds

Roasted Cauliflower

Sachet, 4720 Oak Lawn

Hidden under the warm mezze section at Sachet (one of our Top 100 restaurants) is this lovely small dish of roasted cauliflower with grapefruit and oranges as well as olives, black chickpeas, hummus and almond gremolata.  It's a symphony of flavor, texture and temperature in every bite. - Hank Vaughn

Godfather Pizza

Bankhead Brewpub, 13090 Bee St.

Bankhead Brewpub opened in Farmers Branch in December 2023. We committed a cardinal sin by not visiting until February 2025. The Prohibition-era-themed brewpub draws quite the crowd, with waitlists that can stretch up to two hours, but the Godfather Pizza's impeccable cheese pull is worth it. The wood-fired thin crust is mounted with Parmesan, ricotta, sliced house-made meatballs, garlic and basil. Pair it with Bankhead's runny, yet potent ranch for a creamy, dilly and comforting bite. - Desiree Gutierrez

Rasta Pasta

Cafe Nubia, 3920 Rosemeade Parkway

Cafe Nubia serves a cross-section of dishes with flavors from the Middle East, Caribbean and Mediterranean. A Rasta Pasta is a spicy as it is creamy with big chunks of shrimp, andouille sausage, bell pepper and other vegetables swimming in a Cajun sauce. It's a soul-filling bowl and the serving is enough for two. The pasta goes great with a cocktail from the bar. - Lauren Drewes Daniels

Garlic Noodles

Cosmo's, 1212 Skillman St.

The garlic noodles at Cosmo's need to be served a warrant and told to calm down. The noodles are back on the board here (they come and go) so make haste. A simple light butter sauce with garlic is pulled together with a soy-cured egg yolk. Take your chopsticks and poke the yolk and work into all the noodles for a rich, creamy texture.  - Lauren Drewes Daniels

Parmigiana di Melanzane

Partenope, 1903 Elm St.

Parmigiana di melanzane is an appetizer with main-dish energy. Baked eggplant is layered with globs of smoked mozzarella swimming in a bowl of rich, velvety marinara. We asked if the tomatoes were baked in the ovens due to the smokiness of this dish and were told that flavor comes from the mozzarella. Partenope is mostly known for its pizza, and rightly so. But we went back for this dish two weeks in a row. Save the bread for the end to sop up all the marinara. Just don't get it as an app because there's no way you'll want to share it.  - Lauren Drewes Daniels