gavlist's Profile
Dallas Dim Sum
I generally agree. My impression was that the two were ~equally good, but at different dishes... so it depends on what you like to eat. Unfortunately, it's been a while and I can't remember which dishes were best at each.
Sissy's Southern Kitchen
I just remembered that the crab cakes came with a pretty cool variation on sauce gribiche. In my experience, it's usually a fine dice of ingredients - egg, cornichon, capers, herbs, etc. It usually seems less of a sauce, and more like a relish. At Sissy's, it is much more mayonnaise-like - smooth and creamy, but with the flavor of cooked egg yolk. I thought it was good, and an interesting version that I had not seen before.
Sissy's on Henderson - Needs lots of work
I would clarify one point... the chicken isn't any (or much) better than Babe's. There are some other good things on the menu at Sissy's - the crab cakes were outstanding with a pretty unique variation on gribiche - and it's by far from a bad restaurant, based on one dinner. I think that it would be better to compare it to Screen Door or Hattie's, and I'd say that it compares favorably. I'm not an enormous fan of those restaurants either, but I think that all are reasonably decent places to eat, if you're after that sort of food.
Sissy's Southern Kitchen
It's pretty good. But just that - I don't get the raves that Leslie Brenner gives it. The crab cake appetizer was outstanding - almost entirely blue crab, without much in the way of bread crumbs, vegetables or other filler, not breaded, but perhaps dredged in flower and deliciously browned on the outside. The fried chicken was very good - but honestly I'd say that Bubba's does as well if not better. And contrary to what Brenner suggested I didn't find the chicken to be all that great as leftovers - the breading is thick and just falls off of the chicken when it's no longer crispy. Smothered pork chop was tasty, but again... nothing too compelling. Sazerac was overly sweet and underly "seasoned" (bitters, herbsaint) for my taste.
Off-Site Kitchen
many times. It's good. Don't expect a culinary epiphany - in a conceptual way, the food is very similar to what the rest of Neighborhood Services is serving... honest, tasty food with just a touch more creativity and quirk than you might expect.
Of course, the focus of OSK is different - Nick Badovinus has referred to it as "light industrial". I have no idea what that means, but it somehow seems to fit. Burgers and various other meat sandwiches dominate the menu. If you come with a vegetarian (as I have) they will make a grilled cheese sandwich - I'm told it's quite good. But otherwise, there's not much that doesn't contain meat.
The fries are exactly the same was what they serve at Neighborhood Services - which I think are among the best in the city. They may be slightly better at OSK, in fact - cooked a bit darker, which I prefer.
The burgers are great. The patty is in the style of In-N-Out - roughly 1 cm thick - but with noticeably more beef flavor. Occasionally the cut surface of their buns are griddled to the level of crispness that Maple & Motor achieves (which is probably the only thing I find remarkable about their burgers - sorry Jack). Probably not a candidate for the best burger in the city, but at $3.50 for a cheeseburger, I think these are a reasonably good bargain.
My favorite sandwich has been the Brough Ham Fleetwood, which contains both sliced ham and pulled pork shoulder, plus some slaw, etc. There's also a straight-up pulled pork sandwich (the pork is tossed with some sort of bbq sauce), a 48-hour sous vide cooked brisket sandwich, a sandwich made with house-corned beef, a juicy delicious chicken sandwich... also a crispy taco filled with sloppy joe meat, or (as specials) with green- or red-sauced chili. Everything I've eaten there has been at least good if not delicious. In my experience, the sandwiches on rolls or buns are better than those served on sliced bread, which I find to be a little too oily and under-grilled for my preference. It's not bad... just a slight detraction
A warning of sorts... they are not afraid to use "American" cheese. I don't hate the stuff, but in the wrong context it can ruin a sandwich for me. So be sure to read the sandwich description, and ask for a different cheese if you're not happy with what's on there.
Then there's a bunch of fun, quirky stuff. Bottles of 5 different sauces that you can use to augment your food. Spam makes regular appearances on the menu and in specials. Mini pecan and cherry/cola pies. Gatorade or Tang as fountain drink options. Individually wrapped twinkies. Free (charitable donation for wounded warriors requested) soft serve ice cream. And of course, the standard bizarre decor - also "light industrial", I guess.
What else...? Service is super friendly. And they get slammed during lunch from about 12-1 or 1:30, so plan your arrival accordingly. As far as I know they haven't started serving breakfast yet, but the plan is to extend hours from 7am-7pm.
Which Dallas Seafood Market, Rex's or T.J.'s?
I'm glad you did. Seafood sustainability is an important and under-discussed topic. Thanks for bringing it up!
Turkish Pide Bread
they definitely have it at Cafe Istanbul. I think you have to ask for it now - they serve some sort of lavash by default. The pide varies in quality, but the stuff I ate today was delicious. Warm from the oven, medium brown crust (not too pale, nor over-crisp) and a moist spongy texture in the interior.
Restaurants near Anatole Hilton in Dallas
I have not been terribly impressed by 560... the food tastes reasonably good, but it's not terribly innovative. Stephan Pyles and Fearing's are more unique to Dallas - these two chefs were at the forefront of (maybe invented?) southwestern cuisine back in the day. Hattie's could be another place worth considering - they serve upscale southern cuisine. You could also hit up a steak place - I've always liked Del Frisco's on Spring Valley for the combination of atmosphere and food quality, but others seem to prefer Pappas Bros. And, while Japanese food is not particularly Texan, you might want to consider Tei An, which is outstanding... not least for their house made soba noodles.
Assuming you're from outside of Texas, you might also want to seek out some BBQ, TexMex, or Mexican for a casual lunch or dinner.
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Del Frisco's
5251 Spring Valley Rd., Dallas, TX 75254
Stephan Pyles
1807 Ross Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75201
Spring Valley Cafe
4100 Spring Valley Rd Ste 102, Dallas, TX 75244
Restaurants near Anatole Hilton in Dallas
15-20' can get you pretty much anywhere in Dallas. Can you refine your search more - are you looking for fine dining, a fun hangout, good cocktails/beer selection, something unique to Dallas... etc.
Los Angeles 'hound ISO finger lickin' BBQ!
a couple of additional thoughts...
1) Central Texas style bbq has no sauce - it's all about meat+smoke, which to me requires a higher level of skill than dousing something in a good tasting sauce. So I wouldn't skip Lockhart for that reason... although you might skip it because their performance can be a bit uneven... great some days, not good others.
2) If you go to Off the Bone, make sure it's the one near Arlington, not in Dallas.
3) Pecan Lodge (brisket) is definitely worth adding to the list.
4) this is more for the locals... has anyone tried Smoke's BBQ lately? In my initial experiences it was pretty weak - tender ribs, but hardly any smoke flavor. Same for the brisket. But I've recently heard some reports that it's improving. Any thoughts about adding this to the list of suggested spots?
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Off the Bone
1734 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75215
Best place for after dinner drinks.......
For cocktail quality, my first two choices would be Marquee (nicer and more calm) or Cedars Social (younger more vibrant crowd). Victor Tangos would be good too - probably similar atmosphere to Cedars, but I haven't been to VT as often. All three have excellent drinks, both classic and girly.
Lakewood
thanks! I've been a couple of times, and I think it's pretty good... but nothing really blew me away. I'd totally eat there again - but honestly I can't even remember what I've eaten in the past. What are your favorite dishes there?
Lakewood
Are there any places worth eating in Lakewood? I've eaten (a few times) the chicken chile relleno verde at Matt's a few times and thought it was good - although the most recent was rather disappointing. And I've been once to the Cock & Bull which is surprisingly good for a hole-in-the-wall pub, but not really much of a destination. Anything else?
Dinner Close to the Fairmont Hotel
Samar is just another block or so further away, and is more casual than Pyles. But still no t-shirt and flip-flops.
Lunch near Love Field
Cafe Istanbul is a good choice. In the same shopping mall is Rise No. 1 - also good. And, probably equidistant (but in a different direction) is Seafood Shack on Webb Chapel (just south of Forest). I, myself, was not impressed by Club Schmitz - and I haven't heard enough about Celebration to make me want to try it.
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Cafe Istanbul
5450 W Lovers Ln Ste 222, Dallas, TX 75209
Club Schmitz
9661 Denton Dr, Dallas, TX 75220
Seafood Shack
11625 Webb Chapel Rd, Dallas, TX 75229
Mesa (Dallas) Review
nice write up, and I completely agree. I love the food here, and really hope this place stays in business. Not sure if you had any, but it's worth mentioning that the tortillas are hand made and very good - and that the magnificent chips (served with the ceviche) are freshly fried from said tortillas hechas a mano, which gives them a hearty crunch and maybe a vague chewiness... anyway the texture is unlike the chips made form machine pressed tortillas.
If you liked the mole entree, you should try the enmolladas - simply the hand made tortillas, dipped in mole with a bit of grated cotija on top. Very nice, and a little less overwhelming than a giant plate full of mole (although the entree is still very nice). You can also get enfrijoladas - the same thing but dipped in black beans instead of mole.
10 best things to eat in Dallas
even more bizarre. I have eaten at the Tavern most frequently, and have always had excellently prepared food. It can be a little uninspiring depending on what you order, but (like I said) always well made. The beet salad is good... and if you find yourself back there (which sounds unlikely) my favorites are the steak frites (very flavorful steak, awesome fries, and a bargain for the price they charge) and the Schnitz or whatever they're calling it these days. And if they happen to have the pork shoulder ragu as the pasta dish, by all means order it. It's extremely delicious.
NST used to be one of the best cocktail bars in Dallas - but the major talent has moved to Marquee (both Jason and Andrew are there now). I haven't been to the Tavern in a while, so it's possible that the bar quality has declined somewhat. Too bad.
WITH OLIVES? ugh... You can get a good Negroni at Marquee, I guarantee. And most likely at Bolsa and The Windmill.
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Bolsa
614 W Davis St, Dallas, TX
10 best things to eat in Dallas
surprising. I've probably been to the Lover's location, as well as the Tavern on Henderson, close to 15 times each, and almost everything I've eaten has been technically well executed. Fried foods are crisp, proteins are cooked appropriately, sauces are well balanced with salty/sweet/acidity, food arrives warm, and the fries are among the best in Dallas. I've also generally found the bartenders to be at least competent - the only misstep was one of the new bar staff's bizarre concept of what comprises a Negroni.
What did you order, and what specifically did you find to be lacking?
Marcona Almonds
did you check Eatzi's? I wouldn't be surprised if they have them too. Maybe Scardello as well.
Dallas Restaurant Advice (5pm on Saturday)
some ideas - all claim on their websites to serve food at 5pm, but you should confirm. They vary in greatness, but all are places I'd eat (and enjoy). Many are not exactly close to downtown... but they're not much farther than Nonna or Abacus.
Neighborhood Services Tavern
Il Cane Rosso
Meddlesome Moth
Samar
Stephan Pyles (it says Bar - but I'd guess that means you could eat at the bar?)
The Commissary
Komali
Nosh
Redfork is not yet open, but will be in two weeks (allegedly) and claims on their website to be open 11am-2am on Saturday. The exec chef, Jeff Harris used to be the chef de cuisine at Craft and did a really nice job there... should be a place worth checking out.
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Neighborhood Services
5027 W Lovers Ln, Dallas, TX
Stephan Pyles
1807 Ross Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75201
Just a few hours in Dallas
I haven't been to Longoria, but I completely agree about OTB vs. Lockhart.
Nosh tonight
I agree to an extent. Creativity is nice, and Dallas could use more of that. But skillful execution of straightforward, classic preparations is also good, and Dallas could use more of that too. I certainly wouldn't complain if Thomas Keller decided to open a Bouchon here. And I'd certainly rather have low creativity / high performance than the contrary.
Nosh tonight
yeah. They don't go crazy on the specials board either, although it does get a bit more interesting. Grilled (fresh) sardines, sometimes they get in black truffles and make some nice stuff - I've had wagyu meatballs, or celery root soup with black truffle on top. And the regular menu, while a bit boring, is pretty well executed. The food is good, but not terribly creative.
Then again, I'm not sure how much creativity you'd expect. Bistro food isn't supposed to be cutting edge.
Nosh tonight
if it's just you, or two of you, sit at the counter. It's impressive how hard those guys are cranking it out back there.
I usually go for one of the specials from the board, although falafel and his Mother's Salad usually end up getting ordered. The salad isn't anything unusual or out of this world, but it's so fresh and well balanced in flavor that I keep going back to it. The only other thing that I've ordered multiple times is the big fish, which is exactly what it sounds like - better if you can get them to do the Asian version, although the Mediterranean style isn't bad either.
Knox Henderson -- Looking for gift certificates/ideas
Knox-Henderson is essentially one street that is called Knox on the west side of the highway, and Henderson on the east. Each side is more or less walkable, but it's less easy to cross the highway - so if you can figure out where they'll be living it might help to know which sub-neighborhood to target.
On the east side, I'd recommend Neighborhood Services Tavern (American) or Alma (Mexican). Tei Tei or The Porch wouldn't be bad either. If they're coffee drinkers, The Pearl Cup is on Henderson and is among the top places for coffee/espresso in Dallas. Veritas, a wine bar, might also be a good choice.
I'm not really crazy about anything on the west side, so I'll leave those suggestions for other people - but maybe Abacus, or La Fiorentina, or Toulouse?
Options not far from the immediate area include Salum (American) and Komali (Mexican).
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Neighborhood Services
5027 W Lovers Ln, Dallas, TX
Tei Tei Restaurant
2906 N Henderson Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Salum Restaurant
4152 Cole Ave Ste 103, Dallas, TX 75204
Tesar's Commissary--any reviews?
I've only been once, but my experience is consistent with your burger assessment. The meat was delicious - rich, beefy, juicy. The fries are a little weak, and it does cost an extra $2 or $3 to park - but what you get for the money is a bargain. We sat outside, so no problems with the space. I've heard about service problems, but mine server was competent enough to make me not really care.
Chowhound from Philly needs recommendations very near the Hilton in Market Center
just out of curiosity, what is so bad about the bbq at Luckie's? I haven't rushed out there (because of negative comments like the ones above) but recently had a friend with generally good taste recommend the place quite highly. So can you be more specific about how long ago you went, what you had, how many times you had it, and what you didn't like?
thanks!
Chowhound from Philly needs recommendations very near the Hilton in Market Center
they seem to have some reproducibility problems. The brisket can be very good when they're on, but I've had some pretty inedible stuff too. I've noticed that they're quite open to feedback - so if you (or anyone else, since you might not repeat visit) get some brisket that sucks, take it to them and tell them what's wrong with it. I'll bet they are willing to set you up with something else, and maybe they'll improve. Although why they can't spot stringy, unrendered fat themselves (the problem in my case) I have no idea.
