When it comes to food in Dallas, Texas-style BBQ, Tex Mex and margaritas, and juicy slabs of steak all come to mind.
However, the downtown culinary scene offers a lot more than just this standard fare. From fresh, innovative cooking to contemporary twists on classic cuisine, we’ve got the inside dish on the best restaurants in Dallas.
French Room
“Exquisite.” “Perfection.” “Impeccable service.” “It doesn’t get better than this.” From the outstanding food to the luxurious décor and warm, welcoming staff, you’ll know from the first bite why French Room (located in the luxurious Adolphus Hotel) is the top-rated restaurant in Dallas.
Chef Marcos Segovia oversees an inspired culinary team that creates distinctive, cosmopolitan dishes, from crab cakes and pork belly to duck and beef tenderloin (it melts like butter), right down to perfect dessert soufflés.
French Room is consistently rated the best Dallas restaurant year after year by Zagat – besting all top downtown restaurants for food, service and décor. It’s among a select group of restaurants nationwide with a 29 (out of 30) Zagat rating. That’s pretty close to perfection. And French Room is the only restaurant in Texas to earn the prestigious AAA Five Diamond – and it’s earned it 22 years in a row.
Loyal patrons rave that dining at the French Room is much more than just eating. It’s a personal welcome by the Maître D, a perfect wine and food pairing from the sommelier, and attention to every detail. They’ll even send you home with fresh banana nut bread for breakfast.
For a romantic night or a special anniversary, be sure to go all out with the tasting menu and wine pairing ($165 per person). If the sky’s the limit, start with champagne and a tasting of three caviars ($475).
Abacus
When the head chef has won an Iron Chef competition (Kent Rathbun defeated Bobby Flay in battle), you know you’re in for an innovative culinary treat. You’ll get that and more at Abacus, an upscale restaurant that combines Pacific Rim cuisine with contemporary global flavors for an unforgettable meal.
When it opened in 1999, Abacus revolutionized the Dallas dining scene. More than a decade (and numerous hip concept restaurants) later, Abacus still stands apart as the premier Dallas foodie destination. The food is innovative without being too gimmicky, the dining room deftly balances trendy with sophisticated, and the seamless, professional service is just about perfect.
Not to miss: the Lobster Shooters ($20), a must-try appetizer featuring lobster tails wrapped in wonton wrapper, deep fried and served with a red chile-coconut sake sauce. Start off with a sample of sushi rolls ($20) or Kobe beef carpaccio ($18). For the mains, look no further than the 16 oz. bone in filet mignon ($56), which pairs perfectly with an Argentine Malbec from Abacus’ extensive wine list.
For special celebrations, don’t miss the nine-course tasting menu paired with wine ($195 per person). USA Today named it “One of the Top Meals Around the World.”
Stephen Pyles
Award-winning chef Stephen Pyles spins together the dynamic flavors of Latin, Spanish, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food at his namesake restaurant, creating innovative ‘New Millennium Southwestern’ cuisine.
Located in the Dallas Arts District, Pyles’ cuisine and atmosphere reflect the neighborhood’s emphasis on art and design. The stylized interior blends contemporary lines and geometric shapes in metal and wood with regional accents to create a unique, art-infused dining experience. And the outstanding service perfectly compliments the knock-out dining room.
Start with a dozen oysters (market price), one of the award-winning ceviches ($10-22), or order a sample of all ten ceviches ($95). Pyles’ entrees are a ‘global tapestry of tastes, aromas, textures and flavors,’ ranging from Pan Seared Halibut with quinoa risotto ($36) to grass fed Texas beef tenderloin with mole negro ($42). Not to be missed? The 21-ounce Cowboy Ribeye steak ($49). Pyles exclusively uses sustainable seafood.
Be sure to leave room for dessert. No meal is complete without Pyles’ famous Heaven and Hell Cake, a delectable blend of angel food, devil’s food, peanut butter mouse, milk chocolate ganache, and raspberry puree ($10).
Drop by for Happy Hour at the bar and patio Monday through Saturday, from 5 to 7pm, and enjoy $7 wines and champagne, $8 cocktails and complimentary flatbreads.
Rise No.1
Soufflés reign supreme at this quirky concept restaurant filled with casual luxury. The menu offers 13 types of soufflés, both sweet and savory, along with French-inspired salads, sandwiches, wines, and Champagnes. For a unique and delicious Dallas dining experience, Rise No.1 is a must-visit.
Soufflés are the type of dish that typically send master chefs into a cold sweat. The ingredients must be perfectly blended and baked to the exact time and temperature, or you’ll end up with a soggy, saggy, deflated failure. Open a fine dining restaurant where soufflés are virtually the entire menu? That’s one ballsy move.
Fortunately for you, Cherif Brahmi and the Rise No. 1 culinary team have mastered the art of creating the perfect soufflé texture – and you’ll reap the rewards. Soufflé flavors include lobster, creamed spinach, goat cheese, chocolate, raspberry, apricot, and cassis. Dig in and enjoy the dense, moist, and decadent filing, complete with melt-in-your-mouth pleasure. Not to be missed? The crabmeat soufflé and the cassis dessert soufflé.
From the moment you enter the restaurant to the final bite of soufflé, Rise No. 1, masterfully transports hungry diners from the Big D to the French countryside. The authentic atmosphere effortlessly blends vintage linens, one-of-a-kind European antiques, wine glasses made from recycled wine bottles, a couch-filled waiting area and a French farmhouse-style communal sink. The no-reservation policy all but guarantees you’ll have a long wait at lunch and dinner. But as that first perfectly formed soufflé melts in your mouth, you’ll forget all about the wait. C’est magnifique.
Pappas Bros.
There’s a reason D Magazine recently ranked Pappas Bros the number one Steakhouse in Dallas; several reasons, in fact. From the juicy steaks and chocolate toffee turtle pie dessert to Master Sommelier Barbara Werley, who will perfect pair your steak with wine (from a list featuring over 2,300 wines), carnivores will love this outstanding steakhouse.
When you arrive, bypass the white tablecloth dining room and request a table in the back room near the fireplace. With its low ceiling and cozy vibe, you’ll feel like you’re dining in your own private room.
All the steaks (aside from the filet) are dry rubbed with Kosher salt, pepper and butter. We recommend the 12 oz. filet ($43.95) or 22 oz. bone-in rib-eye ($48.95). When it comes to side dishes, skip the standard skillet potatoes for the macaroni and cheese (Havarti, white cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss) with fresh lump crabmeat. For a flavor collision, try the steak house salad – you’ll get a tasty mixture of Roquefort, candied almonds, steak, fresh oranges, and yes, some salad. And for seafood lovers, don’t miss the Maine Lobster ($21.95/lb) or Rock Lobster (16 oz. for $79.95).
Finish the night off with a cocktail from Pappas Bros.’ fully stocked bar. And with one of the largest collections of rare single malts in the Southwest, Scotch lovers are in for a treat.
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