You know what type of food you’re craving, but you just can’t figure out where to go? Sounds like our household’s constant dilemma! (If that’s not you and you’re trying to figure out where to eat based off of a location, go here.)That’s why I have created a list of the best of the best in DFW, broken down by cuisine. From ice cream to pizza, and everything in between. Be sure to bookmark this link for later, I’ll be consistently updating each category with more of the best places to eat in DFW.
Italian
Taverna – We have tried a half dozen of dishes from Taverna, but one of our fall backs is always a pizza. Doesn’t matter what flavor, just gimme a pizza (or pasta dish) from Taverna paired with a glass of wine, and a table on the patio. Your girl is sold.
MidiCi – One of the reasons I fell in love with MidiCi is the idea that you’re there to celebrate being together. They truly want you to enjoy the time and conversation with your dinner friends. I’m not making this up. Their website literally says “We wanted a place for people to meet up, sit back and be social without the media. Because we believe it is moments we remember, not days, not posts, not pictures.”
Pizza
Pie Tap Workshop + Bar – Looking for a Dallas pizza place with a bit more of a date night atmosphere? Pie Tap’s got you covered. My personal order at Pie Tap consists of Hummus and Sausage Pizza. If I’m feeling frisky, I’ll switch the pizza to the BBQ chicken. This isn’t your “order a large pizza for two people and expect leftovers for days” type of pizza place. Austin and I might have 1-2 pieces left over, but normally we end up eating the whole thing.
Urban Crust – Suburbia called, we answered. Living in Richardson, we’ve had to expand our favorite selections a bit. Cue Urban Crust in Plano. It’s what wood fire pizza dreams are made of.
Zalat – When you’ve got friends over and are debating about where to order pizza, I’ll save you the trouble. You can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas here. The crust is light and airy, the slices are large and the pie is filling. Zalat is absolutely perfect for game night with a few couples. It’s also my first recommendation when someone wants Dallas pizza.
RaceTrac– And now I’ll introduce you to the king of gas station pizza, RaceTrac! If you didn’t tell me “hey I got this from a gas station,” I would never know. This pizza, ordered by the slice or as a full pie, is thick and hearty. Meat Lovers, Pepperoni and Buffalo Chicken have all been cooked to perfection… And you know it looks good when a friend from out of town specifically requests this picture from your feed, knowing Dallas Fort Worth has loads of food options. It doesn’t hurt that I can also get ice-cream while I’m picking up the pizza.
Olivellas – Not many places to get Za in Victory Park, but at least there is Olivellas!
Mexican
El Fenix – My favorite chips and salsa in the Victory Park area. The margaritas aren’t the strongest thing I’ve ever had, but they aren’t the weakest either.
Taqueria La Ventana – Don’t make this selection with the idea that you’ll be waited on inside an air conditioned spot, because you won’t. However, this is quite possibly my favorite place to get tacos, chips and queso. They also have a damn good happy hour for margaritas.
Cafe Herera – Family owned and operated, Cafe Herera is truly a treat. From start to finish you’ll feel right at home and you will leave stuffed to the brim. The fajitas are DAMN good. Oh, and they give you tortillas with the chips and salsa… dreams do come true!
Brunch
City Hall Bistro – One word, BRUNCH. Okay that’s not fair… two words, NUTELLA WAFFLES.
Meso Maya – Holy moly guacamole! My brunch standards have changed. If you’re looking for a unique menu, Meso Mayo needs to be in your immediate future. I’m used to the typical Dallas brunch scene and this blew my mind. I have literally been dreaming about all of this food since I left brunch today… Yes, today. I amended this post to include brunch. It was that damn good.
Healthy
HG Supply Co – One of my favorite rooftop views in Dallas. It’s the perfect spot for entertaining a guest who wants to eat on the healthier side.
Ice Cream
Chills360 – The OG of rolled ice cream in Dallas. I crave the Peanut Butter & Jealous on a daily basis. There will be some edible cookie dough by the same owners in mid-July… stay tuned.
Steel City Pops – Creamy, frozen goodness on a stick. There are nearly too many flavors to choose from, as if that’s a bad thing…
Snowbaby– I’ve always been a lover of shaved ice (growing up there was one about 10 blocks from my house I would walk to basically every day in the summer), but creamy shaved ice BLEW. MY. MIND. Try it for yourself…
Frost Gelto – You can’t go wrong with any of the 38 flavors of gelato. Seriously, it’s impossible.
Cocktails
HIDE – They are best known for their specialty cocktails and atmosphere. Honestly though, their cheeseburger has my heart. I also can’t complain about the Dirty Tots or the fries. One warning, it is a fairly small space, so going at a peak time could result in an uncomfortable wait time.
The French Room – My favorite cocktail bar in Dallas is inside The Adolphus Hotel. I’m a big ole lover of the soufflé. I’m also a lover of the bartenders making me cocktails that fit my flavor profile. This is definitely not a place you roll up in your cut off jean shorts and flip flops, but let’s be honest, dressing up for no occasion except to drink isn’t all that bad.
American
Smithy – A new Dallas spot, Smithy is already becoming one of my favorite places to suggest for a chic lunch or dinner. The boozy cocktail list mixed with the decor makes for a very pleasing (to both the eye and the tummy) time.
The Porch Restaurant – This was my go-to spot when I drove over from Fort Worth for meetings. I love the entire menu, and honestly just wish I could tell you what my favorite thing is…
Top Round Roast Beef – I tried a little bit of everything at Top Round. Although roast beef isn’t my go-to meat, I had no complaints. The salad was everything I hoped it would be and more. If I get the salad again, I would skip the dressing.. it wasn’t needed and a bit overpowering for me. The tots were gone in .5 seconds flat, as was the not-pictured custard.
Unique
Dog Haus – Burgers, dogs, ice cream, oh my! If only Dog Haus was a wee bit closer (it’s barely in Richardson, but I’m lazy AF sometimes). It’s a great spot for a Saturday lunch or evening happy hour. Don’t let $8 for a hot dog alarm you. It’s not jut a hot dog, it’s a sandwich. I personally couldn’t even eat a full one and fries. If you are an ice-cream lover, ask the staff to tell you the story behind their milkshakes…
Steakhouse
Perry’s Steakhouse – If you want to wine and dine someone, Perry’s Steakhouse is a prime spot. The servers will take excellent care of you. They helped guide us through pairings for each different course. The food wasn’t too heavy, but it was filling. My favorite part of the Grapevine location is the bar area ambience.. check out for yourself!
Burgers
Harlowe MXM – Cheese. Burger. Goals.
Twisted Root – My first and one true Deep Ellum love. I’ve been eating at Twisted Root since the day I moved to DFW, and despite the other locations, this one is by far the grandest of them all. You can’t go wrong with one of the burgers on their menu. You can go wrong by over-ordering. I typically share a side with my lunch date (sweet potato chips if you were curious).
Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar – Nothing quite beats fried pickles, a burger and a shake.
Village Burger Bar – I cannot get enough of the sweet potato fries at Village Burger Bar! I also don’t mind the patio, the beer selection or the turkey burger…
BBQ
18th & Vine – A little taste of Kansas City in DFW. From meat plates to fried okra, you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.
French
Toulouse Cafe and Bar – Order the crab cake, that’s all I’ve got to say.
Coffee Shops
Halycon Coffee Bar – A (fairly) new coffee shop that popped up on the northern side of Lower Greenville. The vibe is to die for, and there is PLENTY of space to work. They have a bar, food and coffee… so what are you waiting for?
Ottos Coffee and Fine Food – THE CUTEST COFFEE SHOP THERE EVER WAS. I can’t tell you what to order, because everything was great. But then again, I’m a sucker for chocolate croissants, so order those.
Wow Donuts and Drips – It’s not the cheapest place in the world to get your daily coffee, but it sure might be the cutest. Each part of the store is a different aesthetic, which is my personal dream. The iced coffee is customizable, and for the girl who hates black coffee, this rocked my world. It’s no shock by the name, but the donuts will make you say WOW in both the looks and the taste.
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