French fine dining$$$$$40-$80 per personDaily from 07:00 (all-day brasserie)Book Walk-in or 1 week ahead
All-day French brasserie at Preston Center under Culinary Director Bruno Davaillon, formerly of the Michelin-starred Bullion. Tasting menu $40-$80 per person.
Tip: Weekday lunch is when the kitchen is calmest and the prix-fixe value is strongest. The covered patio is a year-round option.
New American$$$$$50-$90 per personbishop-artsWed-Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri 17:00-21:30, Sat 10:00-21:30, Sun 10:00-14:00Book 1 week ahead
Chef Matt Balke's Bishop Arts New American in the former Bolsa space, where Southern-inflected cooking and a thoughtful wine list run Wednesday.
Tip: The weekend brunch is more popular than dinner. The covered patio is the most pleasant seat in the house.
Spanish tapas$$$$$40-$80 per personknox-hendersonMon-Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri 16:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00Book Walk-in or 1 week ahead
Spanish tapas and one of the largest Spanish wine selections in the United States in a Knox-Henderson setting. Tasting menu $40-$80 per person.
Tip: The sherry selections deserve more attention than they usually get. The pan con tomate is the right first order.
Italian$$$$$80-$120 per personTue-Sat 17:00-22:00Book 2-3 weeks ahead
The second of Lucia's two fine-dining slots (dinner only), where the full a la carte menu runs with all house-cured and house-made items. At 287 N Bishop Ave.
Tip: Ask for the cheese course at the end. It is not on the menu but the kitchen puts one together on request.
American BBQ$$$$$20-$40 per personWed-Sun 11:00-15:00 or sold outBook Walk-in only ahead
The smoked pork chop at Slow Bone is the single most underrated cut in the Dallas BBQ landscape. A Design District lunch room open until the meat runs out.
Tip: The pork chop is gone by noon on Saturdays. The Design District location means the midweek crowd is lighter than Deep Ellum BBQ joints.
Modern European$$$$$70-$110 per personTue-Thu 17:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00; Sun 17:00-21:00Book 2 weeks ahead
The evening programme at Mot Hai Ba, a Lakewood neighbourhood restaurant with Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and a farm-to-table seasonal menu drawing.
Tip: The wine list is short and well-chosen. Ask the server to recommend a bottle rather than scanning the list; the pairing advice is consistently good.