Favorite restaurants in DFW

With all these polls about burger king, mcdonalds, sea kittens etc. Got me to thinking. We're always looking for some good new restaurants to try in DFW. What are some less known (non chain) restaurants that you would reccomend to others? (that you don't hate). I'll start.

Greek-
Fadis in Frisco on Preston in the shopping center adjacent to Stonebriar. They have great gyros, roasted chicken, lamb, red snapper, great variety of salads and good pita bread. $7-10 bucks a plate. You pick a salad, meat, 2 sides.

Zorbas in Plano on Preston/Plano Parkway. Great hummus, Gyro plates, traditional Mousaka and Pastisio. BYOB $10-15 bucks a plate

American-

Zea woodfire grill in Plano DNT service road @ 121 in the Granite Park shopping center. Great rotisserie chickens, prime rib, thai ribs slow cooked from the morning. The 1 pound blackened prime rib is incredible Really like the corn grits and garlic french fries. Huge really good chocolate cake with a cup of milk for dessert. $15-20 a plate.

Kenny's Woodfire grill in Addison (beltline at Tollway) next to Kobe steakhouse. Similar to Zeas but a bit more upscale. Oscar burger is great (1/2 pound burger topped with a huge lump crabcake). Smoked salmon appetizer is also good and the gouda mac and cheese side is also pretty good. $15-40 a plate.

Seafood-
Big shucks/Aw Shucks in Dallas off lower greenville. Fresh oysters nearly year round, fried everything (sea-kittens a plenty), good patio atmosphere, shrimp cocktail is great. Also like the summer platter (1 pound crab, 1 pound steamed shrimp, cooked sausage, corn and potato) $8-20 a plate.

Flying Fish in Addison off Beltline just east of the tollway. Close by Sherlocks and Flying saucer. Pretty similar to Aw shucks. I think they have all you can eat sea kitten (catfish) days for 8 or 9 bucks.

Angry Dog For Burgers in Dallas. and Next door to that is the Bakers Rib.
http://www.angrydog.com/images/angrydoglogo.jpg

http://www.bakersribs.com/img/header_final2.jpg

Damn... now I'm hungry!

Mexican
Mia's Tex Mex on Lemmon (brisket tacos... mmmmmmm)
Casa Navarro (solid plate lunches with awesome bean soup as a starter)
Rafa's on Lovers Lane (the #8 and #14 lunches will paralyze you)

Steak
Dunston's on Lovers Lane (not sure they've redecorated the place or the waitresses since the 70s, but it's the only place I know where they cook the steaks over an open wood fire right next to the salad bar... FYI, there used to be several locations, but a few of them have burned down over the years)

Out of the Box
Kalachandji's (it's way down in old East Dallas... be brave and check it out)
Barbec's (home cookin' over by White Rock Lake)
Henk's (the little German deli behind the big Half Price Books on NW Hwy)

I think we went to Bakers out in Mineral Wells last time, it was pretty good. Heard Angry Dog has good burgers but super greasy.

OK, I'll bite, but I'm only talking "normal" restaurants, not the high-end, high-dollar ones:

German-

Bavarian Grill (www.Bavariangrill.com): good food (huge portions!), average service, awesome selection of excellent German beer, and oompah music. Hey, wearing lederhosen or not, this place is fun. Henk's (www.henksblackforestbakery.com) runs a very close second. Food is good -- maybe a little better than the Grill -- but space is limited as is the beer selection (still, the probably have 20 German beers available).

Tex-Mex-

There are a ton of really good places, but I keep going back to La Hacienda Ranch. Good food, reasonably priced, in a family friendly atmosphere.

Chicken -

Babe's (www.babeschicken.com/Babes-Chicken-Dinner-House-Frisco.html)

Beer -

If you think beer is a food and want to try a ton of different styles, I love the Flying Saucer (www.beerknurd.com). 1.3 bizmillion beers and reasonably good food (I like the Space Club).

YMMV... :D

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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

I think we went to Bakers out in Mineral Wells last time, it was pretty good. Heard Angry Dog has good burgers but super greasy.

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Yeah... the Angry Dog burgers are kinda greasy and overrated, IMHO. However, the Angry Dog chili dog is friggin awesome!

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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

I think we went to Bakers out in Mineral Wells last time, it was pretty good. Heard Angry Dog has good burgers but super greasy.

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Not too super geasy. But what's a burger without a little grease? You want a super greasy burger, go to JC's burgerhouse, Allen.

Rosa's Cafe. Got hooked in Lubbock, thank goodness we found some over here. For some amazing chicken fingers, Rasing Canes in Lewisville.

Steak- We loved Smith & Wollensky. Still pissed off that they left town. Del Frisco is good if you can afford it. It will take a special occasion to get me back.

Mexican- Maraca's in Wylie. Good food, cheap, great sopapias. Also great for kids, as they have a fenced off area next to it that has a pond, goats, geese, and a camel. take your extra chips with you after the meal and feed the camel. EDIT: RIP... They seem to have gone out of business.


Seafood- Fish Company, inside Bass ProShop in Garland. Good food, good for families. Love the bread.

Other- Grand Lux Cafe at the Galleria. Love this place. Great atmosphere, lots of unique dishes, and everything I have had has been great. My favorite menu items are the Indochine Shrimp and Chicken and the Beignets for dessert.

*Note- All but Maraca's are chains, but very small chains.

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Originally Posted by Kestrel

Babe's

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Check out Massey's on 8th Ave in Fort Worth. It does not have the ambiance of Babe's, but the fried chicken is much better, IMO. Call ahead if you think about it and have them fire it up early, otherwise there is a little bit of a wait for them to cook it.

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Originally Posted by Titus

Grand Lux Cafe at the Galleria...Beignets for dessert.

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We sometimes go just for the beignets. Those things rock! We had a table near us once complain to the manager because the beignets were all air. :punchout:

Highland Park Cafeteria, El Rancho Grande, and Mortons are family favorites.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

We sometimes go just for the beignets. Those things rock! We had a table near us once complain to the manager because the beignets were all air. :punchout:

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Yep... the wife and I have gone to the movies and then to Grand Lux just for beignets after.

Steak: the Keg in Plano at NDT and Park. Best value I have found in town. Not the cheapest but definately one of the best steak houses in town.

Italian: Capricios in Flower Mound, Amici's in Old downtown Carrollton (the owner is the chef, BYOB)

All around: Sonoma Grill and Wine Bar in Flower Mound. Pricey but definately worth the cost.

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Originally Posted by Kestrel

Babe's

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Check out Massey's on 8th Ave in Fort Worth. It does not have the ambiance of Babe's, but the fried chicken is much better, IMO. Call ahead if you think about it and have them fire it up early, otherwise there is a little bit of a wait for them to cook it.

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I can't speak for the Babe's in Frisco (haven't been there), but the Babe's in Garland is very good. The original Babe's in Roanoke is even better, imho. I'll have to check out Massey's.

For the best fish & chips in DFW, try Zeke's Fish & Chips in Fort Worth off Camp Bowie just south of I-30. Your cardiologist won't approve, but they do the best fried cod I've found in the area.

Mr. Wok is a pretty good little Chinese/Japanese place in Plano. Nothing fancy, but they've got some good food. As a bonus, the owner Jack is regular on the S2k board. :wink:

Another thread reminded me of Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse downtown. A great place if you are interested in trying some game meat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Check out Massey's on 8th Ave in Fort Worth. It does not have the ambiance of Babe's, but the fried chicken is much better, IMO. Call ahead if you think about it and have them fire it up early, otherwise there is a little bit of a wait for them to cook it.

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That's one of my favorites. I used to live around the corner and went often.

Pizza:
- Grimaldis (Cityplace & in Allen). Ambiance is different than the Grimaldis in Brooklyn, but the pizza is good. Start with a small salad if there are 3 or less of you. Get a pizza with pepperoni and sweet peppers (always combine a sweet + a salty/spicy here for the best results)
- Goodfellas in Carrollton is a decent 2nd choice (especially if you have a restaurant.com coupon)
- Luigis in Frisco is super close and decent enough -- but make sure you ask for it "well done" or else it's "raw" IMO.

Cheap Mexican (why pay for expensive messican?):
- Taco Cabana (although I order slightly off the menu with a cabana bowl, stewed chicken, black beans and then I add a glorious amount of salsa, pico and jalapenos).

Pho (Vietnamese):
- Pho Pasteur II off Beltline & Marsh in Carrollton

Chinese:
- 1st Chinese BBQ Parker & Coit in Plano (cash only, make sure you get something with the BBQ pork or you've wasted the trip)

Hamburgers:
- JCs (the Plano location @ independence/15th is the best IMO, but they are in Plano and Allen now too). Greasy but good. Tater tots have the right crunch.


A former boss was big on Love and War in Texas, but I've never eaten there.

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Originally Posted by Titus

Another thread reminded me of Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse downtown. A great place if you are interested in trying some game meat.

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Was not al that impressed with it. Thena gain, I did not have the wild game either.

Another good one is Paul's Porterhouse on the Old Resturant Row.

Louie's down on Henderson is, IMHO, the best around. Thin crust, oblong, kinda reminds me of Campisi's, but better, with more options for toppings. Plus, they serve a mean Greek salad.

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Originally Posted by goofygrin

Pizza:
- Grimaldis (Cityplace & in Allen). Ambiance is different than the Grimaldis in Brooklyn, but the pizza is good. Start with a small salad if there are 3 or less of you. Get a pizza with pepperoni and sweet peppers (always combine a sweet + a salty/spicy here for the best results)
- Goodfellas in Carrollton is a decent 2nd choice (especially if you have a restaurant.com coupon)
- Luigis in Frisco is super close and decent enough -- but make sure you ask for it "well done" or else it's "raw" IMO.

Cheap Mexican (why pay for expensive messican?):
- Taco Cabana (although I order slightly off the menu with a cabana bowl, stewed chicken, black beans and then I add a glorious amount of salsa, pico and jalapenos).

Pho (Vietnamese):
- Pho Pasteur II off Beltline & Marsh in Carrollton

Chinese:
- 1st Chinese BBQ Parker & Coit in Plano (cash only, make sure you get something with the BBQ pork or you've wasted the trip)

Hamburgers:
- JCs (the Plano location @ independence/15th is the best IMO, but they are in Plano and Allen now too). Greasy but good. Tater tots have the right crunch.


A former boss was big on Love and War in Texas, but I've never eaten there.

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Any of the hot pots at 1st Chinese BBQ are pretty good. Good mix of meat/seafood/vegetables/tofu and a great sauce. Like a meal in a bowl with some steamed rice. I also really like the fried tofu stuffed with shrimp there. If you like noodles try the combo crispy pan fried noodles.

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Originally Posted by trickyrix

Louie's down on Henderson is, IMHO, the best around. Thin crust, oblong, kinda reminds me of Campisi's, but better, with more options for toppings. Plus, they serve a mean Greek salad.

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I'm sorry but I just don't understand Texas and it's like of thin crust pizza. Everyone I work with just loves Campisi's and I just don't get it. It is crap to me.