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Restaurants are notoriously bad at the Internet. They have terrible websites, yell at customers on review sites, and some still ignore the web altogether. Social media provides a unique opportunity for restaurants, who can use sites like Facebook and Twitter to push out their menus and best dishes to potential customers in real-time.
And some of them use it really, really well. Instagram is a particularly good way for restaurants to get the point across, because they can just show us delicious-ass pictures of their food that makes us want to immediately dash out the door for a big plate of cheese fries or oysters or whatever they’re selling.
If you need a little more food porn in your life, follow these seven restaurants on Instagram. A word of caution, though: It’s not my fault if you drool all over your phone.
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1. Trinity Groves There are lots of exciting things going on in Phil Romano’s West Dallas restaurant development, and Instagram is a one-stop shop for finding out what’s going on at Souk, Casa Rubia, Resto Gastro Bistro and the other awesome spots in the area. Just try to resist those photos of Kate Weiser Chocolates, I dare you.
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2. The Porch Everyone’s favorite Henderson Avenue watering hole The Porch makes good use of Instagram by posting its ever-changing “Big Board” to let potential diners know what’s going to be on the rotating menu. Of course, you’ll also find yourself scrolling back through the feed infinitely staring at all the beautifully presented entrees and dorky candid photos of the waitstaff.
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The Porch’s sister restaurant Hibiscus is also pretty damn good at Instagram. This feed has the perfect balance of booze and food. My favorite, though, is when it posts porny photos of the top-quality details the chefs incorporate into the menu, like house-made pickles and house-cured charcuterie. If that doesn’t make you want to quit your job and go to Hibiscus RIGHT NOW, there’s something wrong with you.
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4. Spiral Diner Instagram has plenty to offer for vegans, too. Even though the city isn’t exactly a mecca for good vegetarian food, Sprial Diner presents it in a way that even my carnivorous ass wants to chow down. I’m pretty sure I would leave my boyfriend to live happily ever after with one of those cinnamon rolls.
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5. Trailercakes If you dig pretty cupcakes, you’d better be following Trailercakes. Actually, even if you don’t, everyone could use a visual dose of some delicious baked goods in the middle of a crappy day. Sometimes, Trailercakes announces freebies and giveaways just for its Instagram followers, and if you miss out on free cupcakes, it’s your own fault. I told you.
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6. Mudsmith A coffee shop and craft beer spot all in one is basically like a dream come true, even if you’re only longingly staring at the offerings from your boring job. The photos from Mudsmith’s Instagram will make you get your ass in gear about finally becoming your own boss, even if it’s only so you can drink beer at noon.
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7. Fearing’s Your broke ass can’t afford to go to Fearing’s as often as you’d like, but you can scroll through their Instagram feed whenever you’re feeling a little bourgie. Try hard to resist maxing out your credit cards on these ultra-rare, $1,800-a-pound Italian truffles. You still have to pay your rent this month.
These aren’t the only restaurants that are doing it right on Instagram, but they are some of my favorites. If you follow a great spot, leave it in the comments so that I may have even more food porn on my iPhone.
