The Top 100 Places to Eat and Drink Near Meat Papi
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- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Chopped Cheese · Best of Phoenix
- D Magazine 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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Rank 2. Community Beer Co.
Beer Bar
Community Beer Company is a sprawling two-story production brewery and biergarten just northeast of downtown, where the Mosaic IPA has become a local touchstone and families, friends, and dogs sprawl across 70,000 square feet on weekends. Nearly two dozen rotating house beers keep the taps fresh, and the whole place reads like a love letter to how far Dallas's craft beer scene has traveled in a decade.
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Local Beer: Honey Citrus Blonde · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2023 · Best Taproom · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 6. The Mansion Restaurant
French New American
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Rank 7. Fearing's
Southwestern New American
Inside the Ritz-Carlton, Chef Dean Fearing's dining room reads traditional steakhouse but operates by its own rules. A Lone Star mosaic of raw tuna, wagyu, salmon, and barbecued eel arrives like stained glass; baklava s'more pivots toward pistachio marshmallow and burnt rosemary ice cream. American cooking with Southwestern swagger, built on surprise.
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Rank 8. Mamani
Contemporary French
Chef Christophe De Lellis, formerly of Joël Robuchon in Vegas, opened this polished Dallas outpost around elevated bistro cooking and impeccable technique. Dover sole in brown butter and a textbook Paris-Brest suggest a kitchen that respects classical foundations while a serious wine list rewards the curious diner.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Dishes We Wanted Seconds Of: Rosa Sposa · The Best Things in Texas
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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Rank 9. Slow Bone
Texas-Style Barbecue
- Texas Monthly 2025 · The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Barbecue · Best of Dallas
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Rank 10. El Carlos Elegante
Mexican
The wood-fired grill anchors a warm dining room where crab cakes give way to pork al pastor and house-made masa for tableside taco assembly. Charred okra and Mexican chocolate pot de crème round out a menu built on grilled meats and shareable plates, paired with a serious tequila and mezcal program.
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Restaurant Patio · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2023 · Best Tequila Drink: The Negroni-ish · Best of Big D
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 11. Peticolas Brewing Company
Beer Bar
Peticolas is a small locally owned brewery in a West Dallas industrial building that helped put the city's craft beer scene on the map with brews like Velvet Hammer, a deceptively smooth imperial red ale. The split-level taproom is always tuned to some soccer match—Champions League or regional Mexican soccer—and has foosball, ping pong, and shuffleboard upstairs for when the field goes quiet.
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Local Brewery · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Taproom · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Brewery · Best of Big D
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Rank 12. Midnight Rambler
Cocktail Bar
Dark and moody downstairs at the Joule, this subterranean cocktail bar channels speakeasy glamour with a mirrored liquor wall that glows like the crown jewels. The bartenders work with genuine precision on both classics and more obscure drinks, and they'll nail whichever direction you're heading.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Top 10 Nominee · Best U.S. Hotel Bar
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Gabe Sanchez
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Top 10 U.S. Nominee · Best U.S. Hotel Bar
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Rank 13. Katy Trail Ice House
Texas Beer Bar
A sprawling patio off the Katy Trail where the beer list skews all-Texas and the crowd leans outdoorsy and thirsty. This ice house does Texas whiskeys and venison chili with the kind of casual, colorful ease that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Spot on the Katy Trail · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Bar Patio · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 14. Starship Bagel
NY-Style Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery
- Bon Appétit The Very Best Bagels in the US (Yes, Outside New York)
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Rank 16. Bar Colette
Cocktail Bar
Ruben Rolon, who built the drinks program at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, now runs this upscale cocktail bar where every drink takes days to develop and classics get thoughtful reinterpretation. The carefully curated spirits and global wines pair with refined bites like sashimi, and you'll need a reservation to secure a seat at this Dallas standout.
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best New Bar
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Cocktail Bar · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Hugo Spritz · Best of Big D
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Donuts · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Doughnuts · Best of Dallas
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Rank 18. José
Jalisco Mexican
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman
- D Magazine #30 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Splurge Worthy Spots · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Liquor Store · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Place to Buy Booze · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Liquor Store · Best of Dallas
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Rank 21. Catbird
Cocktail Bar
Climb to the ninth floor of the Thompson Hotel and squeeze through a flower tunnel into Catbird, an art deco fever dream of geometric prints, fireplaces, and a bedazzled Russian doll that feels like a surrealist gallery collided with a swanky lounge. Cocktails lean playful—think gin sippers infused with green tea and cold foam concoctions made with mineral water—and the rooftop wraps around the city like you've unlocked a secret level.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
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Rank 22. Sachet
Mediterranean
Sunlight floods this corner room where the service feels as warm as the Mediterranean sprawl on the menu—North African spices, Levantine technique, Italian bones. Octopus arrives with freekeh; lamb settles into gigante beans. If the booths are full, the counter bar offers a front-row seat to the kitchen's assured hand.
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Place to Go On a Monday · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Wine Program · Best of Dallas
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 23. Georgie
Contemporary
Georgie dresses its dining room in peachy retro-modern tones while the kitchen plays with form—crispy potato churros, roasted chicken with sauce vin jaune—without losing sight of ingredient quality and classical technique. The prices are steep, but the attentive service and indulgent desserts justify the splurge.
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Emerging Chef · RJ Yoakum
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Chef · Best of Dallas · R.J. Yoakum
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Place to Celebrate an Anniversary · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer Taquerias, Tex-Mex and More · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
- D Magazine #38 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 26. Partenope Ristorante
Neapolitan Pizza
- 50 Top Pizza 2025 · #17 · 50 Top Pizza USA
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Pizza · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Sandwich: The Super Jeff · Best of Big D
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Rank 27. Stillwell's
Steakhouse
On the seventh floor of the Hôtel Swexan, a clubby steakhouse named for a legendary Texas rancher serves drinks and seafood towers alongside HWD beef from the restaurant's own Akaushi breeding program north of the Red River. The white-jacketed staff move with the precision of a well-oiled machine, letting the meat speak for itself.
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- Wine Enthusiast 2025 · Top 50 New Restaurants
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Honorable Mentions · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
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- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Steakhouse · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Upscale Dessert · Best of Dallas
- Eater Steak · 14 Iconic Dallas Dishes Locals and Tourists Must Try
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The Grapevine moved a mile down the road in 2023 but kept the same crew and same spirit—a sprawling neighborhood bar where you'll find families, regulars, and whoever else wants a seriously strong drink and some karaoke. The kitchen cranks out boudin balls, and there's enough outdoor space that the crowd never feels cramped, which is probably why everyone ends up here eventually.
- D Magazine 2024 · BEst Bar Resurrection · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Come Back · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 31. Coupes
Champagne Wine Bar
Tucked into a Highland Park strip mall, Coupes is a gleaming champagne bar with gold touches and a commanding U-shaped counter that punches well above its modest address. The focus is on French bubbles and quality pours, though cocktails like the bourbon-and-peach Avoir la Pêche keep things approachable alongside the serious wine list.
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Rank 32. MĀBO
Omakase Sushi
- Esquire 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Masayuki Otaka
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Rank 34. Tei-An
Japanese Noodles
In a stark, gallery-like space in the Arts District, Tei-An grounds itself in the ritualism of handmade noodles—soba and udon served hot or cold with both classical and unorthodox accompaniments. The kitchen moves beyond its foundations with equal command, turning out tempura and grilled eel alongside tonkatsu, each dish executed with the precision of someone who has thought through every detail.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Omakase · Best of Dallas
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- D Magazine #8 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 36. nonna
Italian
A modest storefront off a Highland Park thoroughfare reveals itself through blind-covered windows to disclose exposed brick, modern art, and a seasonal Italian menu anchored by constants like white clam pie and Maine lobster ravioli. The pasta selections shift with supply while an all-Italian wine list balances recognizable bottles with less familiar finds.
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- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Indonesian · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Tea Time · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Meal With a View · Best of Big D
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 40. Knox Bistro
French
A bright bistro staffed by French émigrés who understand the assignment: rillettes de poisson at lunch, lapin à la moutarde and canard à l'orange at dinner, a Paris-Brest for dessert that arrives looking like it wandered out of a pastry case in the sixth arrondissement. The room resists heavy-handed Gallic theatrics in favor of something more elegant—a restaurant that lets the food speak.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Dallas Observer Neighborhood Staples and Gems · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
- D Magazine #27 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Fish and Chips · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Bloody Mary · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Veggie Burger · Best of Big D
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Rank 46. Lucia
Italian
In the Bishop Arts District, David Uygur works from Italian foundations, building dishes around seasonal Texas produce and house-made pasta with the restraint of someone who trusts his ingredients. The menu turns with the seasons; wine leans Italian. Jennifer's warmth at the door makes the small room feel like it's been waiting for you.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Chef · David Uygar
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Maggie Huff
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Rank 48. Mister Charles
Italian-influenced French
An opulent Dallas dining room where French and Italian luxury collide—Dover sole tableside, wagyu Wellington, lobster canapés—with the ceremonial flourish of baked Alaska for finale. Skilled service and substantial wine elevate an indulgent, dress-to-impress meal.
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Place for Dessert · Best of Big D
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- D Magazine #9 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 49. Billy Can Can
Texas American
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Chili · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine #21 · The 50 Best Restaurants
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 51. The Old Monk
Beer Bar
A neighborhood institution since 1998, The Old Monk serves impeccable pints of dark beer from around the world beneath monastery pendants and European dark-bar charm, with fish and chips that rank among Dallas's best. The well-run spot on Henderson Avenue attracts generations of regulars who drift from late-night drafts to hungover brunches, and its weekday happy hour has a reputation for danger.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Fish and Chips · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Bloody Mary · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Veggie Burger · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Brunch · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Brunch · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Burger · Best of Big D
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Rank 57. Sushi Kozy
Sushi
Chef Paul Ko's omakase unfolds across a cypress counter in a spare, modern room, opening with composed bites that wander far from tradition—duck confit in phyllo, sea bass crudo with tarragon and apple—before settling into nigiri of restraint and precision: kanpachi kissed with shiso, anago dusted with sansho. The kitchen trades cozy intimacy for elegant refinement.
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Lunch Spot for Dogs · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Restaurant for Kids · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Neighborhood Staples and Gems · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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A narrow slip of a bar in Oak Cliff where bartender Hugo and chef Hugo fuss over cocktails with the same intensity they bring to small plates—the Ron Kon Cafe comes topped with a housemade Mr. Black and Guinness reduction and salted plantain puree. It's the kind of place where you meant to stay for one drink and instead linger through several, nursing oysters and watching two people who clearly love what they do.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Seafood · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Seafood · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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- D Magazine 2024 · Best Cheese Shop · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Cheese Selection · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Cheese Shop · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Side: Grilled Leeks · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Restaurant in Oak Cliff · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Seafood · Best of Dallas
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
- Dallas Observer Splurge Worthy Spots · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Philly Cheesesteak · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Neighborhood Staples and Gems · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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Rank 70. The Meteor Dallas
Coffee
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Rank 73. Ascension Coffee
Coffee
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Steakhouse · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Espresso Martini · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Inedible Menu Item: The Teddy Bears · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Fried Chicken · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Fried Chicken · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2023 · Best Fried Chicken · Best of Big D
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Rank 82. LadyLove Lounge & Sound
Cocktail Bar
Tucked into a quiet Bishop Arts corner with red-dimmed lighting and velvet-and-leather vibes, LadyLove is a lounge that strikes the rare balance of being intimate enough for conversation and lively enough for dancing. DJs spin on weekends, themed nights keep things fresh, and cocktails like the Rude Boy (tequila, aloe-peno syrup, lime) cost less than the beer.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Lesbian Bar That Isn’t a Lesbian Bar · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Dance Party · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Dance Party · Best of Big D
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Rank 85. Christies
Cocktail Bar
A breezy sports bar in a casual neighborhood setting where the drinks are oversized and silly—mimosa soup, sangria towers, and something called the F*** It Bucket—and every corner, inside and out, bristles with televisions. The sprawling patio and rooftop make this an especially good spot to catch the local teams when the weather cooperates.
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Sports Bar · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Regino Rojas
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best Chef: Texas · Regino Rojas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Mexican · Best of Big D
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At a busy Oak Lawn intersection, Barsotti's pairs a striking black-and-white dining room with an open kitchen glimpsed from the curved bar. The contemporary trattoria keeps its focus narrow: housemade pastas—linguini with shrimp scampi, lasagna Bolognese, spaghetti with meatballs—executed with straightforward competence and an all-Italian wine list to match.
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Rank 90. Written By The Seasons
Contemporary New American
In the Bishop Arts District, a bright room hums with the rhythm of a kitchen that lets the season dictate its moves. Carrots arrive dusted with dukkah, branzino glazed in harissa, vegetables commanding the plate with the same authority as protein. The cocktail list shifts with the calendar, and the focaccia alone rewards a visit.
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Vegetarian Friendly · Best of Big D
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 92. Ayahuasca Cantina
Mezcal Mexican
You enter through a cafe's back hallway into a moody speakeasy where every bottle behind the bar hails from Mexico and cocktails trace the country's drinking history from pre-Columbian fermentations through modern riffs. The kitchen matches that ambition with pre-Hispanic dishes like octopus in ink and stone-cooked broths, prepared with enough authenticity that servers will happily decode the menu.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
- Esquire 2024 · The Best Bars in America
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Margarita · Best of Dallas
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Rank 93. Gemma
Contemporary New American
A husband-and-wife team runs this intimate neighborhood spot with the ease of people who've learned their craft in serious kitchens. The roasted heirloom carrots and Idaho trout almondine anchor a seasonal menu that turns simple ingredients into small revelations, while a warm raisin scone and Meyer lemon tart bookend the meal with understated refinement.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outsdanding Hospitality
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Tater Tots · Best of Dallas
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Rank 94. Mercat Bistro
Bistro French
Mercat Bistro occupies a Dallas dining room where marble tables and round-backed chairs summon the unhurried rhythms of a Parisian neighborhood fixture. Escargots, French onion soup, moules frites—the canon is honored without fuss, and the open kitchen thrums with a warmth that rewards those who ask for it.
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Rank 95. Ginger's
Cocktail Bar
Ginger's is a subterranean cocktail lounge in the historic East Quarter where knowledgeable bartenders sling solid drinks against a good music playlist, all without the velvet-rope attitude. The vibe is glamorous but genuinely welcoming—the kind of place that wants you to come as you are rather than dress for the occasion.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Cocktail Bar · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Bar Stools · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 98. Restaurant Beatrice
Contemporary Cajun & Creole
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Cajun · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine #22 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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