Restaurant Reviews

Via Triozzi: The Italian Restaurant Dallas Craves

Via Triozzi: The Italian Restaurant Dallas Craves

Cheapsteaks Wears Its Deep Ellum Bona Fides On Its Tattooed Sleeve

Cheapsteaks Wears Its Deep Ellum Bona Fides On Its Tattooed Sleeve

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Quarter Acre Blends Skillful Fare With a Side of Whimsy

By Chris Wolfgang
Aug 14, 2023

The vibe of Quarter Acre is straight out of New Zealand, and the skillful yet whimsical menu is a unique twist compared to some of Dallas' more formulaic restaurants.
El Carlos Elegante Latches onto the Soaring Dallas Dining Scene

By Chris Wolfgang
Jul 11, 2023

From the lively space to in-house masa program, El Carlos Elegante delivers upscale authentic Mexican and South American fare that is worth the price of admission.
Beckley 1115 Is the Local Gem Every Neighborhood Deserves

By Chris Wolfgang
May 31, 2023

Beckley Avenue in West Dallas is becoming a bastion of chef-driven gems with the likes of Restaurant Beatrice, Jonathon's Oak Cliff and Beckley 1115.
Brass Ram Reaffirms Dallas' Love of the Steakhouse

By Chris Wolfgang
Apr 24, 2023

Review: For this month's review we visit Brass Ram, a stunning new steakhouse from Nick Badovinus in the East Quarter.
Cry Wolf Trades Chefs Hats for Ball Caps and Dallas Is Better for It

By Chris Wolfgang
Mar 21, 2023

In this month's review, we visit chef Ross Demers at Cry Wolf in East Dallas, which, low key, showcases Dallas' diverse and vibrant culinary scene.
Of Olives, Bread and Wine: Anise Showcases a Splendid Array of Mediterranean Flavors

By Chris Wolfgang
Feb 21, 2023

When British writer Elizabeth David’s A Book of Mediterranean Food was published in 1950 it introduced much of the English-speaking world to the concepts of Mediterranean cuisine.
Fiatto in Uptown Struggles To Find Its Footing

By Chris Wolfgang
Jan 18, 2023

Food has the power to provoke our memories and help us create new ones, lighting up the dopamine centers in our brains.
Knox Bistro Shifts Our Notions Of French Cuisine

By Chris Wolfgang
Oct 11, 2022

Whether you realize it or not, much of what you experience when dining out has its origins in France. Restaurants themselves are a relatively modern creation and, notably,
Sfuzzi's Fourth Incarnation Reminds Us That What Was Old Is New Again

By Chris Wolfgang
Sep 13, 2022

Most Dallas natives and long-time residents will recognize the Sfuzzi name. The first Sfuzzi restaurant opened in 1987 and quickly gained a rabid following for its blend of great Italian ...
Review: Douglas Bar & Grill Knows the Value of Time, Money and Brisket

By Chris Wolfgang
Aug 16, 2022

We were just a few minutes into our chat with Doug Pickering about his new barbecue spot, Douglas Bar and Grill in Snider Plaza,
Review: Odelay Preaches Tex-Mex to The Masses

By Chris Wolfgang
Aug 2, 2022

Let's start this off by clarifying what Odelay isn't. Odelay is not an authentic Mexican restaurant. There are no chapulines (might we suggest El Oaxaqueño) or birria (might we suggest Maskara's) or carnitas (might we suggest Las Almas Rotas). Odelay is also not an attempt
Review: National Anthem Is a Mix Tape of Greatest Hits

By Chris Wolfgang
Jul 12, 2022

Of course there's a motorcycle. With Nick Badovinus’ knack for transforming dining rooms into feasts for the eyes, we were anxious to see what was in store for National Anthem, his newest venture in Dallas' East Quarter.
Sister Stakes Its Claim as Greenville Avenue's Next Iconic Bistro

By Chris Wolfgang
Jun 21, 2022

For 47 years, The Grape was a Lower Greenville institution in Dallas' dining scene. Brian and Courtney Luscher helmed The Grape for its final dozen years in its role
Review: Toussaint Brasserie Won't Be a Downtown Secret For Long

By Chris Wolfgang
May 3, 2022

It wasn’t that long ago that downtown Dallas was a place for the 9-to-5 crowd to go to work and not much else. Downtown was viewed solely as a commercial district, and when the workers left their jobs in the skyscrapers at the end of the day ...
Review: Even With Service Missteps, Tian Tian Is An Authentic Chinese Food Destination In North Dallas

By Chris Wolfgang
Mar 31, 2022

While Dallas has its share of notable Chinese restaurants, it's unique among major cities in not having a predominantly-Chinese neighborhood within the city limits ...
Review: Everyone Needs a Comforting Hug, and British-Themed Harwood Arms Delivers

By Chris Wolfgang
Feb 23, 2022

It’s hard to pin down exactly when it happened, but over the past two decades or so, the line between a restaurant and a bar has been significantly blurred ...
Review: Sail Away with Suburban Yacht Club & Smartly Executed Fare

By Chris Wolfgang
Jan 25, 2022

It borders on cliché or hackneyed, but the numbers don’t lie: a lot of Californians have packed up their belongings and fled the West Coast to make Texas their new home.
Review: Âme Gives Soul to Indian Fare with a Classic French Flare

By Chris Wolfgang
Nov 16, 2021

The word âme means soul in French; one syllable pronounced with a simple meditative-like uhm. Nestled in the center of the Bishop Arts District ...
Review: Loro Gives a Master Class on Blending Asian Cuisine and Barbecue

By Chris Wolfgang
Oct 12, 2021

It's a risky business the days to fuse styles of food. In these prickly times, what seems like the harmless blending of cooking technics and styles can easily blow up.
Our Departing Restaurant Critic Reflects on Five Years of Great Food and Great Memories

By Brian Reinhart
Sep 30, 2021

So long, and thanks for all the tacos. I’ve been the Dallas Observer’s food critic for five and a half years and 144 formal restaurant reviews, but that ride ends October 1. I’m quitting to pursue my dream career: full-time Instagram influencer. Just kidding. Something else is in the works,...

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