Thanks so much to everybody who posted. I have already added Rangooli to my lunch rotation and look forward to checking out the rest of your suggestions asap.

I'm looking for areas between say Ferndale and Auburn Hills that are interesting to any chowhound. Whether a neighborhood, strip mall, or whatever, any place that's worth driving to and exploring. Also interested in hearing about the farmer's markets (done soon I know) or anything else I should know. Been driving around aimlessly so far without too much success.

Jaspers? It's pricey of course.

Mostly Old Monk. Some go to Common Table.

The curry rice, any of the ramen or fish plates, whatever they have as a special. It's all authentic Japanese home cooking type stuff.

1 Tei-An (Japanese soba noodle, Dallas)
2 La Me (Vietnamese, Dallas near Garland)
3 Mr. Max (Japanese, Irving)
4 Jasmine Thai (Plano)
5 Little Sichuan (Plano)

hmm actually I've seen it just about lined up outside before at lunch. I think they don't do enough business the rest of the time though.

Olive oil.

I like it as well, it holds up to a lot of California olive oils, not as good as a good Spanish, but good enough for salad dressings and such.

Another thing I liked was the cauliflower Kathmandu at Sutra, I make a similar (at least I think so) version at home now.

For me Lockhart Smokehouse is definitely on the list.

pamplie, easily

I'd honestly recommend Pappadeaux over Big Easy. Big Easy has a good roast beef po boy and Pappadeaux's gumbo was weirdly lacking in roux last time I tried it, but they have things like raw oysters (though it's getting late in the season) and their crawfish etoufee is probably better, and Pappadeaux has more on the menu. Big Easy is ok but it's not going to blow you away.

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Big Easy
1915 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75075

I've given their raspberry balsamic or whatever it is as a gift. Also Austinnuts, stuff from Flavors From Afar (now with artizone), or check that new place, Duo or whatever it's called.

Smitty's in Lockhart, Texas. They have picnic benches now, but originally you got your meat and bread wrapped in butcher paper, and squat down in the dirt yard to eat. Still no utensils.

Local is not in the same league as York St. by any stretch of the imagination. It is a nice place and the food is ok and occasionally great but not particularly adventurous.

I feel like there is some place people are forgetting. Tei An can be pretty good.

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York St
6047 Lewis St, Dallas, TX 75206

Coming into Love puts you near Maple, so if you're adventurous there are plenty of decent places to eat there, La Hechizera, Maple and Motor, Avila's, etc. Not the most well to do area of town though so if you're put off by empty streets and people speaking Spanish, you may want to go somewhere else. If your shopping takes you near old downtown (east) Plano, check out Urban Crust pizza. You may want to check out Pappadeux some time if you're unfamiliar with Cajun/Creole food.

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Urban Crust
1006 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074

Yeah I got to try Urban Crust today, I had the Margherita. Very good pizza, great crust, very high quality toppings, not too much, not too little. I look forward to comparing it to Il Cane Rosso.

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Urban Crust
1006 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074

The disco next door is Sambuca, an infamous "cougar den" and one of the most popular places in Plano. It's not going anywhere. I think you made a mistake to try this place out on Saturday night tbh, there's no way I'd do such. I hope to try it sometime next week. And the "dining scene" such as it is, doesn't even compare to uptown which is not exactly Alice Watersville. Thanks for the thorough review. At least I know to avoid the tandoori sauce.

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Sambuca
15207 Addison Rd, Addison, TX 75001

I completely disagree. The differences aren't that subtle and I have no difference to "kid" myself. American sake is inferior from the get go. Even if sake has been sitting for 6 months it hasn't necessarily deteriorated all that much, most sake produced in Japan is intended to be consumed within a year, not a couple months. If you drink quality Japanese sake every day and then try to find something for under $10 a bottle you're going to be greatly disappointed. Japanese breweries use a higher quality rice, water, brewing methods, and have hundreds of years more experience and a much more discerning consumer. Most American sake is made for people who are probably going to be making sake bombs out of it.

I don't personally think they're very good, not the cheaper stuff. You're not going to find much that's very good in that price range for 1.5L imo. The Japanese sakes are vastly superior. I don't think it's worth paying $7 for something that's not really enjoyable over paying $20 less often for something that is enjoyable. Momokawa is drinkable but not particularly interesting imo.

anybody know how late they're open?

get a lot of appetizers, they're more fun than the entrees.

Funny, I had the opposite, thought, that there wasn't, enough, salt, in the rub. I think the clod and brisket are a tad under $7 a half pound which is a bit pricey compared to the hill country, but lots cheaper than say a Kent Rathbun restaurant. I don't really get why the "grease" on the butcher paper is a bad thing, to me, the fattier and jucier the better. I thought overall it was pretty darn good for Dallas, on my scale somewhere around a 7 out of 10, losing points for a slightly less than crack-ly crust, lack of salt, only moderate smoke and beef/pork flavor (although that's just personal preference), and a relatively small amount of connective tissue, enough to irritate slightly if you eat it caveman style. It was still a little cool this morning but not cold, but I will probably keep checking in periodically to see if they can approach the perfection reached at places like Snow's, Franklin, Smitty's, or Gonzalez.. I liked it better than what I got at Pecan Lodge and found it comparable to and possibly slightly better than Meshack's, although I haven't been there for a while.

The preparation of sushi rice can have a tremendous effect on the pleasure experience while eating nigiri. The ideal is a high quality short grain rice that is sticky and holds together well in the hand, seasoned with vinegar (uncommon in American sushi places), and packed as loosely as possible while still holding together when dipped (by hand, not American-wielded chopsticks) into soy sauce (the topping, not the rice). It should have a mild sweetness that enhances seafood (not sugariness) and spread evenly across the tongue in order to carry the flavors of the fish or vegetable across the entire palate, without adding unpleasant chewiness or aftertaste. Generally you don't find this type of sushi rice anywhere in Dallas, or in much of the US.

That's still a good price imo, for good oysters. I can't think of a better deal anyway.

I had oysters at the Pappadeux in Richardson last year and they were really good. Just recently I had a dozen at S&D Oyster on McKinney and they were unimpressive and expensive.

Either way really. I think there is an obvious benefit to dipping. But your CFS isn't gonna get all that soggy if it's poured on right before, it's only if it sits around marinating for 5 minutes before you get it that it's a problem. I thought it was a pretty reasonable article, written by an outsider, for outsiders. Obviously it's not written for Dallas-ites.

Places that I'd want to go (mostly because I haven't been or want to go back) are La Duni & Oddfellows for breakfast, Wingfield's for a burger, Nonna, Maximo, Ozona, Smoke, Tillman's and Bolsa for dinner.

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Bolsa
614 W Davis St, Dallas, TX

La Duni Cafe
4620 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

Enchiladas with chili con carne with crummy margaritas made with syrupy sweet and sour mix and no noticeable lime or tequila. Mediocre chain hamburgers piled with flavorless cheese and bacon, with soggy french fries topped with cold, coagulated cheese. Brisket tacos served on stale flour tortillas for authenticity. Oven roasted "barbecue" doused in store bought barbecue sauce with no discernible smoke flavor. "Sushi" rolls filled with tempura bits, cream cheese, jalapenos, and whatever bits of randomness you can find in the back of your refrigerator.