[1L]

Forget the City Guide. I'll give you the lowdown on the best places to eat in the Dallas area:

Burgers: Balls Hamburgers (Snyder Plaza -- north of SMU, and another at the corner of Midway and Northwest Highway)

Home Style: Celebration (on Lovers Lane between Lemmon and Inwood -- small place and gets crowded, but worth 30-45 minute wait)

Steaks: I think Bob's Steak and Chop House is generally considered the best steak place, but Del Friscos runs a close second. Bobs is on Lemmon, and Dels is in North Dallas -- check the phone book.

Mexican: I have it on good authority that one of the best authentic Mexican places in Dallas is at the corner of Inwood and Forrest in North Dallas (northeast corner). I don't know the name, and I haven't been there. If a little less authentic will do, you can't go wrong with Mias on Lemmon and Rafas on Lovers Lane. I don't drink, so I can't tell you who has the best margaritas, but I don't think you will have a problem at either of these two places.

Barbeque: Peggy Sue's on University in Snyder Plaza. Ate lunch there today. Pretty small, but should be ok on weekends. For Ribs, I would venture north to Lewisville near Vista Ridge Mall for Tony Romas. Red, Hot and Blue serves Memphis style BBQ, but I can't think of where a Dallas location is. Look it up in the phone book.

Italian: Spagetti Warehouse in the West End. Enough said.

Pizza: Well, some people like Campisis -- 2 locations, 1 on Mockingbird, and 1 on or near the corner of Lovers and Inwood. It is flat crust, oval shaped style pizza with plenty of toppings. I can deal with it, but it's not my favorite. Nothing deep dish comes to mind.

That's about all I can recommend. Other Dallas area folks I'm sure will chime in, but I can vouch for all of these places unless otherwise mentioned.

[LurkerNoMore!]

You've covered all my old SMU hangouts!

[DallasMike]

Nuevo Leon is a good, dependable Mexican food place. They're closed on Sundays.

 

I like the mole at Las Lomas. It's quality is kind of uneven though -- sometimes it ranks up there with the best mole I've ever had, other times it's a greasy gutbuster. I haven't been to the new location. The older location, at least, is decidedly authentic and I usually find myself the only native English speaker there.

 

Pappas is certainly one of the 3 or 4 best steakhouses in Dallas, but be prepared to pay dearly for it.

 

I've never been disappointed by Royal Thai Spice Bistro.

 

If you're feeling seriously carnivorous, try Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brazil.

 

For continental-style German food (no oom-pah music or rosy-cheeked beer wenches), try Hofstetter's Spargel Cafe.

 

I'm not a big fan of Campisi's either, but the original one on Mockingbird was the hangout of choice for the Dallas mob and Jack Ruby.