31. Snuffer’S Restaurant & Bar
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214)826-6850
Address: 3526 Greenville Ave.
Description: A well-worn saloon with at least three generations of dedicated fans, the original of this local chain makes an irresistible, thick burger topped with a variety of cheeses, as well as a fabulous basket of french fries smothered in cheese, jalapeños, and chopped bacon. Get a margarita on the side.
32. Twisted Root Burger
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 741-7668
Address: 2615 Commerce St.
Description: A newer effort in struggling Deep Ellum, this hangout nabbed a Food Network appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. A half-pound burger topped with creamy blue cheese and jalapeños gets high marks, as does a turkey burger topped with chipotle sauce, guacamole, and a thick slice of cheddar. Curly fries and homemade sweet potato chips are good, too. Get a bucket of “cold-ass” beer, while you’re at it.
33. Wingfield’S Breakfast & Burger
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 943-5214
Address: 2615 South Beckley Ave.
Description: Even the big-appetite folks who think they can eat everything in sight cannot finish one of the burgers at this South Dallas joint. It’s enormous and every bit as good as it is huge. The patty’s thick and the toppings are fresh, and the whole thing is super juicy, so much so that the bread typically falls apart. Crinkle-cut fries are the most popular, but you don’t need ‘em. There’s no seating, so either take it home or eat in your car. There’s often a line, so you’re wise to call in your order.
34. French Room
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 742-8200
Address: 1321 Commerce St.
Description: The grand dining room of the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas is worthy of royalty with its rococo, cherub-strewn ceiling and menu of French creations. Sample the lump crabmeat cakes and the flourless hot chocolate cake. Service is sophisticated and unobtrusive. If you can’t bear to leave once dinner is finished, while away the evening over cognac in the lounge adjacent to the restaurant.
35. L’Ancestral
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 528-1081
Address: 4514 Travis Ave.
Description: Authentic and timeless, this mainstay has outlasted many a trendy place in the same Knox-Henderson neighborhood. It does so with flawless service and traditional dishes that include escargot, steak au poivre, Dover sole, and crème brûlée. This is a place to share with someone special or to celebrate an important occasion.
36. Rise No 1
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 366-9900
Address: 5360 West Lovers Lane
Description: All soufflés, all the time, may sound like a bit much. Au contraire—here in this little gem of a dining room in Inwood Village, it’s perfection. Savory delights include the lobster or mushroom soufflés, while the chocolate dessert soufflé is nothing short of ethereal. Grilled steak and spinach salad are options, too. Lovely gift items from France are sold on-site, as well.
37. Bubba’S Cooks Country
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 373-6527
Address: 6617 Hillcrest St.
Description: This converted 1927 Texaco station has been an exceptionally popular place since opening in 1981. And the fried chicken is sure good—hot, crunchy crust outside, juicy and plump inside. The two-piece (all white) dinner with a huge, yeasty roll, a side of smooth mashed potatoes with a thick, peppery gravy, and unadulterated pinto beans is a filling supper for less than 10 bucks.
38. Celebration
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 358-0612
Address: 4503 West Lovers Lane
Description: Bring the kids and all your friends to this friendly ramble of rooms, where big plates of chicken-fried steak, pot roast, baked chicken, and meat loaf are served with family-style sides of mashed potatoes, salad, and more. The green-chile corn bread is downright addictive, so approach with caution. Just be sure to leave room for peach cobbler.
39. South Dallas Café
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 428-8856
Address: 3126 Grand Ave.
Description: Soul food at this Fair Park–area haunt is as good as you’ll find in Texas; though it may be out of the way, this restaurant is well worth finding. Kindly ladies on the serving line spoon up your choice of smothered pork chops, fried chicken, meat loaf, short ribs, fresh collard greens, bountiful sweet potatoes, hot-water corn bread, and darned fine cobbler.
40. Arcodoro/Pomodoro
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 871-1924
Address: 2708 Routh St.
Description: This contemporary Sardinian restaurant in Up-town combines two formerly separated (but sister) restaurants into a building resembling a village piazza, with a stucco exterior and a marble interior. Other attractions include secluded private dining areas, wood-burning ovens framed in Italian tile, and a romantic split-level patio for dining alfresco. The menu features exotic flavors such as berries, myrtle leaves, and calamari in squid ink. The thin-crusted pizzas are legendary.
41. Campisi’S Restaurant
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 827-0355
Address: 5610 East Mockingbird Lane
Description: The Campisi family first brought its thin-crust pizzas to Dallas in 1946 and these remain some of the city’s favorites. Other goodies include baked lasagna and shrimp scampi. While there are newer locations of this outfit, the dated original is the best, due partly to its age factor. Leave time to check out the cool old black-and-white photos covering the walls; you’ll see a celebrity or two hobnobbing in Big D. Trivia note: Jack Ruby dined here on the eve of the Kennedy assassination.
42. Fireside Pies
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 370-3916
Address: 2820 North Henderson St.
Description: This is pizza in a league of its own, thanks to hand-worked dough and expert baking in an oak-burning oven. Toppings include balsamic-roasted chicken, meatballs, smoked mozzarella, whipped ricotta, and Point Reyes blue cheese—and much more. There are grinders that provide at least two meals each, as well as robust salads. An enjoyable wine list includes some nice sangrias. Try for a seat on the patio in good weather. Other locations include stores in Dallas, Grapevine, and Fort Worth.
43. Nonna
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 521-1800
Address: 4115 Lomo Alto Dr.
Description: A petite restaurant at the edge of Highland Park, this jewel can be loud when the house is full. Never mind that because the food’s so good you can stand the rising decibel levels. Do start with the salumi plate, then lose yourself in the butternut squash soup with scallops, the white pizza topped with cherrystone clams, and the roasted pork loin with cannellini beans. The small but sensational wine list will appease even the pickiest wine snob.
44. Javier’S
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 521-4211
Address: 4912 Cole Ave.
Description: Still a favorite after about 30 years, Javier’s provides sophisticated Mexico City–style food. It’s famous for the black bean soup and flavorful red snapper mojo de ajo. It’s dimly lit, with a colonial Mexico ambience and smooth, congenial service. A cigar lounge serves a variety of port wines, tequilas, and cognacs.
45. Mi Cocina
City: Dallas, TX
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (214) 521-6426
Address: 77 Highland Park Village
Description: Owner Mico Rodriguez turned his stylish interpretation of Tex-Mex favorites into a mini-empire, attracting happy addicts hooked on the formidable Lucy-changa, bacon-and-garlic-ridden salsa cha-cho, lovely shrimp tacos, and fabulous grilled meats served with a Latin stir-fry of brilliantly colored vegetables. Beware the delicious, mind-bending, tequila-rich frozen cocktails called the Mambo Taxi, Mambo Limo, and the Dilemma: they’ll make you feel wittier and cuter than you really are. There are multiple locations in North Dallas, Mid-Cities, and Fort Worth.