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Dining in DFW is a beloved hobby, and pockets of great restaurants are spread all over the area. If you'd like to start a lively conversation with locals, ask about their favorite spot for Tex-Mex, barbecue, or pizza. You're unlikely to reach consensus but likely to learn a lot.
In Dallas you'll find plenty of restaurants in the West End Historic District. The area is easy to walk around, but it doesn't claim the best dining options. If you're up for more adventure, walk a bit north of the West End to Victory Park. Or move up McKinney Avenue, through the Uptown neighborhoods. When McKinney hits Knox Street, you've arrived at another restaurant-rich area that spreads east and west. From Knox, head east until the street becomes Henderson Avenue. You'll pass even more restaurants and will eventually dead-end into Greenville Avenue. Head north and you'll be in yet another restaurant-wealthy neighborhood—all within 7 mi. And that's just one sliver of Dallas.
In Fort Worth, restaurants and nightclubs are grouped around Sundance Square (bounded by Houston, Commerce, 2nd, and 3rd streets) and the Stockyards National Historic District, west of the Cultural District.
Dress codes are practically nonexistent—even the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek dropped its jacket-required dress code in 2007. Some restaurants are encouraging longer stays (and higher bills) by offering and promoting more options—come for drinks in the bar, stay for dinner, and linger after in the bar or separate lounge area. Many higher-end restaurants don't serve lunch and are closed on Sunday and/or Monday.
This quintessential family-run Tex-Mex joint in an old home dishes up fresh versions of all the tried-and-true favorites, including cheese enchiladas, brisket tacos, and gorditas, and rice and refried beans. It attracts a loyal crowd that relishes the quick, personable service.
Southwestern and Tex-Mex flavors rule at this lively restaurant across a busy street from the fashionable NorthPark Center. Try painted desert soup (a harmonious blend of corn chowder and black-bean soup in one bowl), beef tenderloin tacos, or goat-cheese enchiladas. The bar is a popular spot for professionals most weeknights. There's a children's menu, and brunch is served on Sunday.
Marble tables, dark wood accents, French doors, and an Italian marble floor create a sleek look in this underground restaurant, accessible by elevator. (If you're driving, you can use the complimentary valet service outside the elevator.) The granite outdoor patio, with lunch and dinner seatings, has a five-tier waterfall. By day you'll join the Downtown business crowd; at night the restaurant takes on a more romantic, candelit feel. The menu relies heavily on dry-aged steaks and seafood. The bone-in 16-ounce fillet is a popular choice. Steaks are à la carte; side dishes include creamed spinach, jumbo onion rings, and baked potatoes.
Escape the nearby strip malls and traffic and spend some down time in this French-styled bistro in Far North Dallas, where folks come as they are. The dining room is decorated with Provençal blues and yellows and floral prints. Try the cassoulet, roasted chicken or duck, or one of many seafood specialties. Leave room for dessert; the menu is almost as extensive as the entrée choices.
There's been a restaurant of some sort in this building since the 1930s; the original pressed-tin ceiling is still in place. The bistro attracts diners from the neighborhood as well as a lot of folks from horse shows and other events at Will Rogers Memorial Center, just 2 mi away. Known for its pasta, wood-roasted entrées, and chicken-fried steak, and weekend prime rib, the restaurant also has seven tables on a patio with umbrellas to ward off the Southwestern sun. Breakfast is available weekends.
Loyal Pappas fans love the contemporary atmosphere here and the cut and flavor of the dry-aged beef. The dining room is less masculine and better lit than typical steak houses but still feels a bit formal and special. The filet mignon, offered in three weights, is the most popular cut of beef, and au gratin potatoes and creamed spinach are popular side dishes. The wine selection is legendary, as are the cigars offered—60 sizes and brands.
The original location has been dishing up smoky brisket and fall-off-the-bone pork ribs from the same ramshackle digs since 1958, attracting fans ranging from President George W. Bush to director Steven Spielberg. Locals know to get there early—when Sonny's is out of barbecue, you're out of luck. The restaurant is a good option for folks who are near the medical district.
This unpretentious urban bistro is known for the romantic intimacy of the indoor dining areas and the laid-back charm of its sidewalk tables. The menu, which changes every few weeks based on the availability of regional ingredients, begins with Grape's signature creamy mushroom soup. The menu might offer a marinated hanger steak served with fries and a watercress salad, crispy duck breast with a rice pilaf, or baked black cod with smoked ham, clams, and a white-wine garlic broth. Regulars rave about the crispy flatbread and the fried calamari (not on the menu, so be sure to ask). Brunch is served Sunday.
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