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.
Address: 287 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, TX 75208
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.
Walk-in seating at Gemma's bar: the full dinner menu, a well-chosen wine list, and the same Bib Gourmand-level cooking without a reservation. The best way to experience one of Dallas's finest kitchens on short notice.
Tip: The bar seats six. Arrive before 6pm on weeknights to secure a spot without waiting.
The dinner programme at Frenchie, where Bruno Davaillon's Riviera-influenced French cooking runs from steak frites to whole roasted fish in a 150-seat brasserie with a 1,200-sqft covered patio.
Tip: The covered patio is the most coveted table in the house on warm evenings. The wine list leans Rhone and Languedoc.
The Deep Ellum BBQ institution that put Dallas on every national food map. The weekend beef rib, the brisket by the pound, and the lively brick room on Main Street make this the canonical first stop for any serious visitor.
Tip: Arrive at 11am to beat the queue. The beef rib is a Saturday and Sunday special; arrive by noon or it will be gone.
