Good places to eat in Dallas area?

Meself

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

I live in College Station. In May, some friends from New York will be in the Dallas area (specifically Grapevine) on business, and I'm planning to go up there and take them out to dinner. I'm vaguely familiar with the layout of the Dallas area, but I haven't a clue regarding good places to eat there.

I'm interested in moderately priced ($10-15/person) places that will provide a good taste-of-Texas experience (or at least an experience they won't be able to get up north).

Thanks in advance!

[ShakeNJake]

Esparza's is still there. Best enchiladas I ever had!

[BJClinton]

Is that the one in Round Rock? I went to high school in Pflugerville and we'd at the RR store after every football game.

[Brownie74]

Yesterday the best place to eat in Dallas was my backyard. I BBQ'd. All the fixins' was homemade and the meat was smoked over mesquite. Ya' can't put a dollar value on that. LOL!!

[Brownie74]

If you like Mexican food try Matts Mexican Restaurant in the little Lakewood shopping center at Gaston and Abrams. It's right next to the Lakewood theatre. They serve more authentic Mexican food and not the typical Tex-Mex crapola you get at El Fenix or El Chico restaurants.

It would be wise to call for reservations.

[Ditter]

I have 3 great Indian restaurants for you. The Bombay Brazaree (sp?) is near your hotel at Sage & Richmond Ave. The Indika is on Memorial Dr which is west of you several miles. The Ashiana is on Briar Forest also to the west.
For Chinese food I like P.F.Changs which is on Westheimer a few blocks east of your hotel. I hope you wil have a car while you are here because our new train won't help you at all. LOL

[Humidston]

Alissa, if you're on a company expense acct and the sky's the limit (as in entertaining a client), the MOST OUTSTANDING restaurant is Fuad's, outbound on Westheimer. The chef comes to your table and asks what you want. They have no menu; don't need one. They have it all! (Figure $100/per diner which includes a good wine and (usually) a compt'd dessert of bananas foster) IF you tip the maiter'd (sp??). Fuad's is a small innocuous place, in a strip center, behind The Palm. Rub elbows with the top sports figures and movers and shakers.

Tex Mex - Real low key family type joint - Lupe Tortilla's, where they serve ice cold beer and dynamite Mexican food! (It's at Hwy 6 and Westheimer (outbound from Galleria area). Go casual, expect noise.

MY MOUTH IS WATERING!

[Alissa]

Thank you so much!

[Alissa]

No, I'm on a measly per diem, but maybe we'll try your Tex Mex recommendation. Thank you for the recommendations!

[Guenevere]

#42...The very same :)

[GeronL]

Darn. I am a fast food or home food kind a guy. So, good places?? ha!

[GeronL]

How about Bobs Steak and Chop House for lunch??

[sinkspur]

If you want the "Texas" experience, take your friends to Ft. Worth and eat Mexican at Joe T. Garcia's. It's in the Stockyards. Be prepared to wait in line, no matter what night you go, unless you get there before 7:00. Joe T's is EXTRMELY popular. (Esparza's is good, too, but it's atmosphere is nothing to write home about).

There's also a wonderful steak restaurant there (that serves the best Buffalo you'll ever eat) in your price range, The Lonesome Dove. It's on Main St., but you better make reservations, as it is VERY popular.

Ever hear of Grady Spears? He's a famous Southwestern chef, has a TV show, and got his start under Dean Fears at The Mansion. He has an outstanding restaurant at the Remington (?) Hotel in downtown Ft. Worth, The Chisholm Club. Some unique Southwestern dishes, though it is just a bit above your price range.

There's PF Chang's Chinese in Grapevine. It's not any Chinese you're used to, though. Upscale, in your price range, and outstanding service. Again, make a reservation, as the wait is an hour, every day of the week.

I'd stay away from The Gaylord. The three restaurants there are still shaking down, and they are all well above your price range.

Someone suggested Silver Fox or Kirby's. They're outstanding, but well out of your price range.

The best fried chicken in the entire known universe is at Babe's in Roanoke, a fifteen minute drive from Grapevine. It's worth the trip, if you're in the mood for fried chicken, lots of it, and some down-home atmosphere. Again, very popular on weekends, so get there around 5:00 if you don't want to stand in line.

For lunch, try the restaurant at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, near Grapevine Mills Outlet Mall. Great burgers, and they have a microbrewery on site.

For a fun Italian experience, try Buca de Bepa in Grapevine. Lots of food for the price, it's pretty good, and the atmosphere is raucous. They advertise "meatballs as big as your head." We take friends there from out of town, and they love it. Again, very popular, so be prepared to wait a while.

For a nice, tasty breakfast, try the Snooty Pig in a shopping center on 121, just south of Grapevine. We go there at least twice a month on weekends.

I live one city over from Grapevine, so FReepmail me if you need phone numbers, or when you're in town. Don't even bother with going into Dallas; there are plenty of wonderful culinary experiences out here, and the traffic is easier, too.

Depending on when they're in town in May, the Byron Nelson and Colonial Golf Tournaments are on, and pro-am days are outstanding, especially if you want some prime observation of the fairer sex. Tickets are easy to get for the Pro-Am, too.

[sinkspur]

If you want to venture a bit above your price range, there are some wonderful restaurants in Southlake (one city over from Grapevine). Red Sage has Southwestern food, but you bring your own wine or beer, so it lowers the overall bill.

Josephine's and City Cafe are also great, and, for a unique experience, try Urban Tapas.

No need to go into Dallas.

[Donaeus]

How are the prices at the Gaylord Texan eateries?

The prices are $$$. My parents paid $40 at the Riverwalk Cafe for breakfast but they said the spread has every dish imaginable, the food is high quality and it's served buffet style (all-you-can eat).

I have not been to the Saltgrass in Grapevine but the one near us has slipped some and we weren't pleased with the food quality the last several times. There is an Outback Steakhouse right off the 114 split (going towards Ft. Worth) which is not exactly Texas but they have great steaks, chicken and shrimp. My sister really likes Cool River, an upscale but not too pricey Mexican restaurant, in Las Colinas. I'll ask her about some other places because she's much more familiar with that area than I am. Will get back to you soon.

[SpookBrat]

I remember their enchiladas well. My favorite were the cheese and onion enchiladas. Sigh. No good Mexican food in Jacksonville, FL.

[Allegra]

Oh, yeah ! So how are things going for you in Iraq ?

Just fine. We're having a blast!

(OK...I've got to stop doing that...but I just can't resist sometimes...)

We really are doing OK under the present circumstances. :-) Have a mrgarita for me.

[ShakeNJake]

I feel your pain ... I always hated to travel up north because of the dearth of real Tex-Mex. Chi-Chi's is a nasty place to eat. They have no idea what the food should really taste like. I did find a great place in Chicago owned by former Fort Worthers. Those cheese and onion enchiladas are my favorite too!

Ditter: for the best Indian food in DFW, go to Akbar's at I-75 and Parker Road (Ruisseau Village shopping center) in northeast Plano. We have to get our fix at least once a week. They have lunch buffet every day including Sunday.

[Ditter]

Thanks Jake, I'll tell my son. He is the Indian food lover. I hear you about Chi-Chi's, it STINKS. They have no clue. I had better Tex-Mex in London. LOL If you ever get to Galveston there are my 2 fav Mexican food places. Santiagos on Broadway & El Napolitos off 61st.

[MeekOneGOP]

.... We're having a blast!

LOL ! ;^)

.... Have a mrgarita for me.

Celebrated my 50th birthday last night. Had some suds, will that do? ;^)

You be careful over there !

[Allegra]

Celebrated my 50th birthday last night. Had some suds, will that do? ;^)

Suds will do just fine. :-)

HAPPY 50TH!!