In this list of buzzy restaurants in North Texas, four are in Fort Worth — and so many more could have been named. If you remember one thing, make it this: Take a drive to Cowtown this month.
While you’re over there, eat some barbecue. And check out a historic restaurant. Fort Worth has more than twice the number of long-time restaurants that Dallas has, which speaks volumes about the Fort Worth vs. Dallas restaurant scenes.
Hope you’re hungry, let’s dig in.
Anise
in East Dallas
Inside the Drey Hotel — a great little staycation spot in Dallas — is Anise, a Mediterranean restaurant. Dinner should start with hummus or marinated olives, then segue into marinated lamb with labneh, chickpea salad, harissa chicken and crispy eggplant. Anise’s new executive chef Rene De Leon says the menu is “fun and approachable.” We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do; he has an impressive resume, having worked previously at Bullion in Dallas and Alinea in Chicago.
Anise is at 5630 Village Glen Drive, Dallas.
Atípico
near Victory Park in Dallas
Mexico City restaurant Atípico opened over the summer in Dallas, serving an eclectic menu of breakfast bowls, burgers and pasta alongside lattes, cocktails and juice-bar options. If those things seem atypical, that’s the whole idea.
Atípico is at 2300 N. Field St., Dallas.
Bavarian Grill
in Plano
It took longer than expected, but Bavarian Grill in Plano did move from the spot it occupied for 28 years. The German menu and the trains relocated, too, as did owner Jürgen Mahneke. Do as he recommends and order the jägerschnitzel, spätzle, a mixed salad and a beer.
Bavarian Grill’s new restaurant is at 3425 Premier Drive, Plano.
Casita Tex-Mex Bar & Grill
in Northeast Dallas
The outpouring of support for Casita, the little Tex-Mex restaurant behind Half Price Books, has been spectacular to watch. It’s been closed since Dec. 27, 2020, when a fire destroyed the kitchen. Fans would ask me regularly: When will Casita come back? Finally, after being closed for 20 months, Casita has reopened. If you go, listen for co-owner Norma Valles, who sometimes sings in the restaurant.
Casita is at 5807 Blackwell St., Dallas.
Caterina’s
in Fort Worth
What everyone wants to talk about right now is Caterina’s no-phones policy. But that neglects another important point, that the food is great. Chef-owner Tim Love’s Italian-American restaurant excels with its beef carpaccio with truffle, asparagus and artichoke carpaccio, rigatoni alla vodka, and lobster Alison. (Noteworthy: I think the beef carpaccio and rigatoni vodka at Caterina’s are better than those same dishes at Carbone in Dallas.) You do have to lock your phone up for a few hours, but, take it from me: You’ll be OK.
Caterina’s is at 128 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, in the Stockyards.
Cidercade
in Fort Worth
So you’re not headed to Fort Worth to spend a few hundred dollars on carbs and wine? Maybe the play is to go to Cidercade instead. This new arcade bar with pizza is located near TCU and is a sibling bar to the original Cidercade in Dallas. Kids are welcome before 8 p.m. After that, Cidercade turns into an adults-only gaming party.
Cidercade is at 1813 W. Bowie St., Fort Worth. (The original Cidercade remains, at 2777 Irving Blvd., Dallas. Another Cidercade is expected to open in late 2022 in Arlington.)
Doce Mesas
in Northeast Dallas
One of Dallas’ most influential players in Tex-Mex, Michael “Mico” Rodriguez, has opened a new restaurant at Walnut Hill and Central Expressway. For the many fans of his menus, this restaurant feels like a bonus, because we weren’t promised another restaurant from this long-time, complicated restaurant operator. At Doce Mesas, diners will find dishes like ceviche, carne asada and chicken adobo served in a modern restaurant with a generous back patio.
Doce Mesas is at 9810 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. (The original Doce Mesas remains, at 4444 McKinney Ave., Dallas.)
La Bodega Rotisserie and Goods
in Oak Cliff
Our Claire Ballor describes La Bodega as a “cheery little grab-and-go restaurant in Oak Cliff” with an exceptional pulled chicken sandwich. The fries are great, too, she says. This restaurant has been on the lips of many foodies in town. If you haven’t been yet, it’s time to go.
La Bodega Rotisserie and Goods is at 208 W. Eight St., Dallas.
Lexy’s
in West Dallas
You put a gold coin into a vending machine, and, ooh la la!, out comes a mini bottle of Champagne. It’s these kinds of delights that set the tone at Lexy’s in Trinity Groves. Namesake Alexa Rodarte and her chef-husband Julian Rodarte say the restaurant is essentially a feminine steakhouse, where the chandeliers are pink, the banquettes are pastel colors and the cocktails are poured from teapots. Pretty!
(Hear more from Rodarte about the restaurant and his relationship with Phil Romano on our podcast, Eat Drink D-FW.)
Lexy’s is at 3011 Gulden Lane, Dallas (in Trinity Groves).
The Pantry
in Fort Worth
First, follow The Pantry’s co-owner Hao Tran on Instagram. I’m drooling over photos of her dumplings, roasted duck and Vietnamese steamed egg loaf. The menu at The Pantry is expected to change frequently, and days are so far limited to Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I haven’t been yet, but it’s at the top of my list.
The Pantry is at 713 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth.
Rye
in East Dallas
Show some support for the local restaurateurs whose McKinney restaurant Rye is closed because of a fire, and visit their second Rye in D-FW, on Greenville Avenue in Dallas. CEO Tanner Agar and his team serve an alluring menu of brown butter scallops, pork belly lollipops, red wine-braised short rib and the like — each with interesting twists to make the dishes all their own. There’s also a spot on the menu to spend $5 and send beers to the kitchen staff. Might be a good thing to do right now.
Rye is at 1920 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
Spiral Diner
in Fort Worth
Gone is Spiral Diner in Dallas, a pioneering vegan restaurant. But it originated in Fort Worth, and that restaurant is still there. Its owner is plotting a sizable expansion for the plant-based company, with three new restaurants expected to open D-FW in the next year. Here’s owner Amy McNutt’s philosophy: “You do not have to sacrifice taste to eat a vegan diet.”
Spiral Diner is at 1314 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth.
Sweetgreen
in Lakewood Dallas, Deep Ellum and West Village
Sweetgreen is my new favorite salad shop — a place I keep finding myself when my fridge is empty at lunchtime. It looks and feels like so many of the other salad shops in town, in that it’s open and airy, with bowls of colorful veggies on display behind a glass case. For me, the difference is in their salad dressings, like the pesto vinaigrette and hot honey mustard. I dream of the za’atar breadcrumbs sprinkled atop the delicious chicken pesto parm bowl.
Find a local sweetgreen here.
Tre Stelle Coffee Co.
in Far North Dallas
Coffee shop owner Jonathan Ghebreamlak is just 25 years old, a former operations analyst at Goldman Sachs who started roasting coffee beans as a hobby in college. He eventually quit his job and opened a coffee shop designed to honor his dad’s roots in East Africa, where some of the shop’s coffee beans are grown. It’s a lovely place to grab a cup of coffee and get some work done.
Tre Stelle Coffee Co. is at 17390 Preston Road (north of Campbell Road), Dallas.
Window Seat Coffee
in East Dallas
Where’s the last place you saw a celebrity in Dallas? That’s the topic of one of our latest podcast episodes, after Friend of the Pod Nick Rallo spotted gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke at Window Seat Coffee in East Dallas recently. This neighborhood cafe is a great place to pop in for a Tacodeli taco, La Casita pastry or latte.
Window Seat Coffee is at 3018 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
What restaurants should have been on this list? Email sblaskovich@dallasnews.com.
Or, check out past Hot Lists to see which restaurants moved on and off:
- August 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- Where’s July 2022? We took a summer break.
