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Restaurants We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. In general, there is a sales tax of 8.25% added to food and drink bills. However, in reality, this tax varies and some restaurants only add the tax to either food or drink. Tipping of around 15% is expected and in some restaurants this may be added to the bill. The prices quoted below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including sales tax but excluding tips, unless otherwise stated. Gastronomic Cacharel Possibly the most respected French restaurant in North Texas, this sophisticated dining room located on top of an office building in North Arlington never disappoints. Couples celebrate special occasions and business types seal important deals over gems such as snails with mushrooms, grapes and pecans in a cream sauce or sautéed lamb noisettes in a shallot-tarragon sauce with wild mushroom risotto. The set menu changes daily but there is always a large selection of steaks, fresh fish and fowl. The dessert and wine lists are equally divine. 2221 East Lamar Boulevard, Arlington Tel: (817) 640 9981. Fax: (817) 633 5737. E-mail: cacharel@mymail.net Website: www.cacharel-restaurant.com Price: US$55. Wine: US$40. French Room By some accounts the most expensive dinner in Texas, this bastion of refinement stands as one of the most elaborate dining experiences anywhere. As beautiful as the marble-and-gold-leaf decor is the divine cuisine, urged to modernism by a youthful culinary staff. Jumbo lump crab fishcake gets a treatment of lemon grass and ginger lobster sauce, and tomato chutney, and sautéed snails combine with shiitakes, rocket and shallots to get a shot of green peppercorn sauce. Attentive service never fails beneath the watchful cherubs gracing the ceiling frescoes. Hotel Adolphus, 1321 Commerce Street Tel: (214) 742 8200. Fax: (817) 651 3561. Website: www.hoteladolphus.com Price: US$100. Wine: US$50. Jeroboam Filling the lobby of an exquisite 1913 building in the revitalizing downtown district, this immensely tasteful salute to classic French fare is pumped up with trendy touches. Chef Garreth Dickey graces his urban brasserie with genius such as plump, fried oysters topped with satiny béarnaise and freshly grated horseradish atop a giant chard leaf. The 300-entry wine list is an encyclopedic tour through France, with excellent wine in the US$25-US$30 range. 1501 Main Street Tel: (214) 748 7226. Website: www.jeroboam-ub Food: US$40. Wine: US$30. Star Canyon Executive chef Matthew Dunn took the reins from former owner-chef Stephan Pyles and continues to produce showy but gratifying fare in a millionaire’s ranch theme. Hickory-grilled lamb atop a pair of enchiladas stuffed with wild mushrooms is as impressive as corn pudding tamale, topped with seared foie gras and pineapple mole. Fashionably casual, customers await tables at the bar, sipping mango margaritas. The Centrum, 3102 Oak Lawn Avenue Tel: (214) 520 7827. Fax: (214) 521 1583. Website: www.crww.com/starcanyon/starcanyon Price: US$60. Wine: US$35. Steel Fabulous diners draped in carelessly elegant black, glowing candlelight, frosty champagne buckets and celebrity spotting are just a few irresistible elements in this Oak Lawn neighborhood hot spot. A careful melding of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Southeast Asian cuisines results in a menu blessed with sea bass marinated in miso and sake, seared and served with wasabi dipping sauce or monkfish with chilli, garlic, ginger and spring onions, cooked in a clay pot. The Centrum, 3102 Oak Lawn Avenue Tel: (214) 219 9908. Fax: (214) 219 9929. Website: www.steelrestaurantlounge.com Price: US$55. Wine: US$45. Business Abacus The deft touch of executive chef Kent Rathbun and his stunning wine list has earned glorious praise from national press, thanks to such pleasures as lobster and spring onion shooters, John Dory with roasted veggie orzo in charred tomato butter or grilled lamb with jalapeño-coriander oil and blue cheese grits. For an extra treat, guests should try the chef’s selection of nine small courses for US$65, or US$85 with wine, and luxuriate in the palate pampering and the soothing, sumptuous interiors. 4511 McKinney Avenue Tel: (214) 559 3111. E-mail: events@abacus-restaurant.com Website: www.abacus-restaurant.com Price: US$75. Wine: US$60. Café Ashton Café Ashton is a contemporary restaurant decorated in dark woods, with gold fabrics, etched dark blue glass elements and a beautiful granite-top bar. Irish chef Diarmud Murphy works elegant wonders in towering fashions at this gorgeous boutique hotel. A whirlwind of detail finds inspired combinations of fresh and complex foods, such as pan-seared sea bass stacked atop potatoes puréed with fresh crabmeat, all drizzled with a mustard seed butter sauce and decorated with a robust tomato-mandarin orange chutney. Ashton Hotel, 610 Main Street, Fort Worth Tel: (817) 332 0100. Fax: (817) 332 0110. Website: www.theashtonhotel.com Price: US$65. Wine: US$40. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House Satiny cuts of prime beef head the list of palate pleasures at this clubby, leather-and-polished wood corner of luxury. Clientele typically includes the expense-account business crowd and the moneyed gentry who enjoy supping on said steaks, as well as luscious crab fishcakes, fresh fish and enormous à la carte side dishes that could be meals in themselves. Lavish evenings end with brandy and a cigar. 5251 Spring Valley Road Tel: (972) 490 9000. Fax: (214) 934 0867. Price: US$75. Wine: US$35. Mansion on Turtle Creek Acclaim for sublime service, elegant villa-style setting and food in this hallowed hotel remain sky-high, as executive chef Dean Fearing consistently offers thoughtfully conceived and beautifully executed fare. Warm lobster taco with yellow tomato salsa and jicama salad continues to be a signature, but the barbecue-rubbed pheasant with smoked shrimp gordita deserves attention too. The four-course tasting menu for US$90 is also highly recommended. 2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard Tel: (214) 559 2100. Fax: (214) 528 4187. E-mail: themansion@rosewoodhotels.com Website: www.mansiononturtlecreek.com Price: US$90. Wine: US$50. Railhead Smokehouse The debate on what’s better – pork ribs or beef brisket – is a lost cause at the city’s most popular barbecue joint, where power brokers know to order a plate combining both. These hickory-smoked eats, as well as the smoked turkey breast and chicken quarters, go beautifully with ice-crusted mugs of beer and servings of homemade potato salad and beans. Guests should not count on planning a quick trip to this rustic West Side favourite, as it is packed to the rafters, and parking spaces are often a block away, day or night. 2900 Montgomery Avenue, Fort Worth Tel: (817) 738 9808. Fax (817) 732 4059. Website: www.railheadsmokehouse.com E-mail: railhead@flash.net Price: US$20. Beer: US$3. Trendy Angeluna Global cuisine commands the stage at this prime location opposite the renowned Bass Performance Hall. A skillful balancing of Asian touches such as lemon grass, raw tuna and lobster pot stickers against Caribbean influences that include jerk chicken and Southwestern ideas such as jalapeño-fired pasta sauces make this sprawl of contemporary, art-filled dining spaces a big hit among out-of-towners and well-heeled locals alike. A martini menu guarantees a big bar crowd too. 215 East Fourth Street, Fort Worth Tel: (817) 334 0080. Website: www.angelunabasshall.com Price: US$45. Wine: US$40. Café Madrid Dallas’ first authentic Spanish restaurant and tapas bar, this casually cool hangout has evolved with sophistication over the years. The lengthy list of tapas ranges from the traditional potato omelette tortilla with a dollop of garlic-parsley aioli or roasted duck breast with sliced, sherry-laced carrots to empanadas filled with shredded tuna steak and green olive. 4501 Travis Street Tel: (214) 528 1731. Price: US$25. Wine: US$20. Ciudad Inspired by old Mexico’s cuisine riches, the polished menu fashioned by chef-partner Joanne Bondy delivers gorgeous creations such as a ceviche of octopus, conch, giant shrimp, red bell pepper, coriander with a hint of orange and lime, as well as thick lamb chops crusted in cumin and served with a tomato-fennel salsa. Lovely rooms adorned with murals and Saltillo tile create a lush hacienda setting. 3888 Oak Lawn Avenue Tel: (214) 219 3141. Price: US$50. Wine: US$35. Joe T Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant Hands-down the busiest, most famous place for Tex-Mex dishes, Joe T’s, on the historic North Side, has grown in 70 years from a one-room café to a city-block sprawl of Saltillo-tiled dining rooms and landscaped, poolside patios. Families and dates stand in long lines to sip deadly margaritas and choose between the restaurant’s two dinner offerings – platters of chicken or beef fajitas or combo dinners pairing cheese enchiladas with tacos, rice, refried beans, guacamole and cheese nachos. Lunch menu offers a few more choices. 2201 North Commerce, Fort Worth Tel: (817) 626 4356. E-mail: info@joe-ts.com Website: www.joets.com Price: US$20. Margarita: US$5. Liberty Chic and cheeky, this Asian-fusion noodle house is fabulous because the expert here is Annie Wong, whose works include chantaboun noodles combined with shrimp, scallops, crab claws, mussels, calamari, red curry and coconut milk, as well as spicy udon noodles with sweet Chinese sausage stir-fried with garlic and fresh veggies. Decor pops with fun, while the crowd exudes easy stylishness. 5631 Alta Avenue Tel: (214) 887 8795. Fax: (214) 887 8765. E-mail: Cindypipin@aol.com Website: www.libertynoodles.com Price: US$30. Wine: US$35. Budget Bubba’s This small diner, done out in Art Deco style in the fashionable Park Cities’ Snyder Plaza, is ground zero for lovers of pure Southern comfort food. Devotees believe there is no better-fried chicken on Earth, and the homemade rolls and biscuits are dream-worthy. Fried catfish is good too, as is the country-style breakfast. 6617 Hillcrest Avenue Tel: (214) 373 6527. Fax: (214) 373 4292. Price: US$9. Unlicensed. Gonzalez Homestyle Mexican fare at this family business ranges from crispy, puffed taco filled with well-peppered ground beef to shredded chicken enchilada dressed in a snappy tomatillo sauce, earthy chicken mole and lusty breakfast dishes with homemade flour tortillas. A friendly staff moves quickly in the cosy, colourful café, tucked into old downtown Oak Cliff, just a block from the Texas Theater, where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination of President J F Kennedy in 1963. 367 West Jefferson Street Tel: (214) 946 5333. Price: US$10. Margarita: US$5. Kincaid’s Hamburgers A Cowtown institution for 70 years, this vintage corner grocery on the venerable West Side has been publicised around the world for its astounding burgers. The half-pounders are hand-formed from freshly ground beef and served sizzling and drippy inside toasted buns. The pimento cheese-stuffed jalapeños and crinkle-cut fries are delicious too, either eaten the traditional way, standing up with elbows propped against the wooden grocery shelves, or seated at tables. 4901 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth Tel: (817) 732 2881. Fax: (817) 731 3278. Website: www.fwculture.com/kincaids.htm Price: US$8. Unlicensed. Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse A family business dating from 1910, this hometown favourite has won a James Beard Award for regional classic food. The tiny, no-frills location opened in the 1950s, and serves deeply smoked turkey, ham, pork ribs, sausage, pulled pork, sliced brisket, ranch beans, potato salad and very cold beer. Sonny Bryan's is an old smoke shack, with little in the way of decor other than a few beer signs, which add to the overall charm of the place. 2202 Inwood Road Tel: (214) 357 7120. Fax: (214) 352 2307. Website: www.sonnybryansbbq.com Price: US$10. Beer: US$2.50. Z Café A sensationally cooling, blue and white room conjures up images of billowing sails against the Aegean Sea at this petite eatery on the edge of the Knox-Henderson neighborhood. Owner Nicholas Zotos’ family recipes for moussaka and baklava are superb, as is the more Texan Z burger, piled with feta, grilled onion and fresh jalapeño slices, all of which go nicely with dry Greek wine. Pecan pancakes shine at breakfast too. 1924 North Henderson Avenue Tel: (214) 821 0991. Price: US$15. Wine: US$17. Personal Recommendations Dream Café Health-conscious diners love the giant, whole-wheat tortillas packed with scrambled egg whites, smoked bacon and jack cheese at breakfast, as well as the salad of soba noodles, grilled shrimp and spicy Thai peanut dressing at lunch and dinner. Pasta, vegetarian fare and smoothies have also drawn a devoted following at this serene assemblage of cosy dining spaces and patio seating. 2800 Routh Street Tel: (214) 954 0486. Fax: (214) 954 0807. E-mail: mail@thedreamcafe.com Website: www.thedreamcafe.com Price: US$25. Wine: US$20. Gloria’s Festive in an understated manner, this longtime Oak Cliff favourite is in fact a pair of colourful rooms where happy diners feast on sensational Salvadoran and Mexican delights. The tamal is satiny and filled with chicken and potato before steaming inside a banana leaf, and the lush carne asada is tenderised, grilled beef steak with divine black beans. The homemade flour tortillas are unforgettable. 600 West Davis Street Tel: (214) 948 3672. Fax: (214) 946 0819. E-mail: info@gloriasrestaurants.com Website: www.gloriasrestaurants.com Price: US$18. Beer: US$3. Green Room A departure from the loud bars and bohemian cafes that fill the trendy Deep Ellum quarter, this exceptional haven for hip-haute cuisine offers sautéed Vietnamese frogs’ legs in a coriander butter with punchy, crispy, peanut coleslaw, as well as horseradish-crusted sea bass with bok choy in a balsamic sauce. Upscale but relaxed, the Green Room is wildly popular with a smart crowd who love the impressive wine list. 2715 Elm Street Tel: (214) 748 7666. Fax: (214) 748 7704. Website: www.thegreenroom.com Price: US$40. Wine: US$35. Il Sole Striking a lovely balance of sleek and casual, this Tuscan-inspired retreat indulges sophisticated palates with pan-roasted quail with chantrelles, sautéed spinach or rosemary in a Barolo glaze. It also boasts a magnificent wine list, which consistently wins awards from Wine Spectator. Half-glasses of wine allow ample tasting, and a happy bar crowd invites spirited mingling. 4514 Travis Street Tel: (214) 559 3888. Price: US$50. Wine: US$45. La Duni Latin Cafe It is impossible to ignore the front table laden with lavish sweets. A hefty wedge of Venezuelan chocolate truffle cake is highly recommended, perhaps after savoring the grilled Argentinian-style picanha steak with chimichurri mojo or the Brazilian-style roasted chicken bathed in champagne and juice from green oranges. The divine mint-spiked mojito cocktail is the best in town, while the warm setting and leisurely pace are soothing. 4620 McKinney Avenue Tel: (214) 520 7300. Fax: (214) 520 7390. E-mail: Manager@LaDuni.com Website: www.laduni.com Price: US$30. Wine: US$30. |
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