All-day French brasserie at Preston Center under Culinary Director Bruno Davaillon, formerly of the Michelin-starred Bullion. The Paris-Brest and steak frites carry his training forward in a 4,000-sqft room with 150 seats and a covered patio.
Tip: Weekday lunch is when the kitchen is calmest and the prix-fixe value is strongest. The covered patio is a year-round option.
Address: 8420 Preston Center Plaza, Dallas, TX 75225
Chef Matt Balke's Bishop Arts New American in the former Bolsa space, where Southern-inflected cooking and a thoughtful wine list run Wednesday through Sunday. The blue corn pancakes at brunch are a Dallas cult item.
Tip: The weekend brunch is more popular than dinner. The covered patio is the most pleasant seat in the house.
Spanish tapas and one of the largest Spanish wine selections in the United States in a Knox-Henderson setting. The wine list reaches 400 bottles and the patio is one of the best outdoor dining rooms in Dallas.
Tip: The sherry selections deserve more attention than they usually get. The pan con tomate is the right first order.
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. The wine list by Jennifer Uygur reaches into small Italian producers.
Tip: Ask for the cheese course at the end. It is not on the menu but the kitchen puts one together on request.
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, with 2024 press recognition for that chop.
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.
The evening programme at Mot Hai Ba, a Lakewood neighbourhood restaurant with Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and a farm-to-table seasonal menu drawing from Vietnamese and French cooking traditions.
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.
Evening service at Nonna, the Highland Park Italian with a wood-burning oven producing clam pizza and a pasta programme that earns its Michelin listing nightly. The lobster ravioli has appeared on every best-of list since the restaurant opened.
Tip: The wood-burning oven produces the best heat in winter. Request a table near the kitchen side for the best view.
