American bar$$deep-ellumTue-Fri 4pm-2am, Sat-Sun 2pm-2am, Mon closed
Gothic architecture, dark interiors, Eastern European comfort food, and cocktails until 2am in the most atmospheric room in Deep Ellum. The Hungarian food element is the city's only version of this offer.
Order: Hungarian comfort food bites. A classic cocktail or one of the house originals.
Tip: The bar opens at 4pm on weekdays; arrive early for a quieter start. Weekends fill by 9pm.
American desserts and pie$bishop-artsMon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
A specialty pie shop in a 1930s Victorian bungalow in Bishop Arts, with handmade pies that change seasonally. The most beloved dessert destination in the neighbourhood for over a decade.
Order: The seasonal pie of the month. The Drunken Nut on the permanent menu.
Tip: Whole pies can be ordered in advance. The patio is worth waiting for on warm evenings.
Indian vegetarian$lakewoodTue-Fri 11:30am-2pm and 5:30pm-9pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-3pm and 5:30pm-9pm
Dallas's longest-running vegetarian restaurant, set inside a Hare Krishna temple in East Dallas. The daily-changing Indian vegetarian buffet at $15 is one of the city's best food values.
Order: Daily Indian vegetarian buffet: fresh dals, sabzis, house-made chutneys, rice.
Tip: The garden is the most peaceful meal in Dallas. The buffet changes daily. Call ahead if you want to know what is being made that day.
Spanish tapas$$$knox-hendersonMon-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri 4pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-11pm
Spanish tapas and one of the most extensive Spanish wine lists in the US in a casual Knox-Henderson patio bar. The food leans towards sharing and the wine list can take an entire evening to explore.
Order: Pan con tomate with jamón. A poured sherry or one of the Spanish house wines.
Tip: The patio fills early on Fridays. Order the cold dishes and a bottle of Txakoli to start; the hot dishes come out quickly.
French brasserie$$$uptownDaily from 7am (all-day brasserie)
All-day French brasserie at Preston Center, open from breakfast through dinner with a 1,200-sqft covered patio and a casual format that makes the serious French cooking accessible at any hour.
Order: Croque-monsieur at lunch. The Paris-Brest dessert.
Tip: The all-day format means you can treat this as a cafe in the morning, a lunch spot, or a dinner destination without the booking pressure of a dinner-only restaurant.
Modern Vietnamese-French$$$lakewoodTue-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-9pm, Mon closed
Michelin-recommended Mot Hai Ba on Lewis Street blends modern French technique with Vietnamese soul in a casual East Dallas room. Chef Peja Krstic's evolving seasonal menu is among the most inventive in Dallas.
Order: Seasonal pho; spring rolls with heirloom vegetables
Tip: Tuesday through Thursday is the easiest booking window. The seasonal menu changes frequently; the pho preparation is always the dish to watch. OpenTable from two weeks out.