I'm optimistically titling this part 1 under the assumption that more things will come to me. So far, my favorite restaurants are all I can think about (other than standard life things like specific friends etc.) I think I am so excited about all the things I'm looking forward to in Portland that many of the things I enjoy about Dallas, such as the Arboretum or White Rock Lake, are there in better form.
Stephan Pyles
He may spell his name wrong, but his eponymous restaurant is a downtown Dallas staple. The drinks are usually good, the appetizers and desserts are great, and the entrees are out of this world. The restaurant itself is cute, with nice lighting and trees, and a completely unused deck outside the bar. Seriously, no one goes out there. Probably too hot. My husband loves their cappuccino more than anyone else's on earth. They usually have a seared foie gras on the menu that is the best foie gras I've ever had. You have to try their cesar, with vertical stalks of romaine, a baked parmesan shell, and the crispy jalepeno polenta cubes. Recently (beginning of summer 2015) they debuted a tasting menu at dinner that was one of the best I've ever had. For dessert, their 'coffee and beignets' are always excellent. The coffee is actually a coffee flavored creme brulee, the beignets are excellent, and there is an espresso cup filled with cajeta to dip the beignets in. Truly a heavenly dessert.
Interestingly enough, after we decided to move we went to SP for dinner and had one of the more disappointing meals we've had. The green salad was indifferent, my strawberry basil fizz cocktail was more confused than muddled and not good, and dinner was enh. I can't even remember what I ordered.
Mercat Bistro
A little French bistro tucked by St Ann's, in between downtown and uptown? OK! The location is beautiful and they have really done their patio right - cute tables, cute lighting, and you can almost forget how close you are to high-traffic streets (but you can hear them). They have an industrial fan cooling the patio which makes the temperature almost tolerable. The couches off the patio are cute, as is the human-sized chess set. The dishes are adorable, with small water glasses, gold-rimmed china, and old fashioned champagne glasses. The patio is so cute we've never eaten inside.
The food, though. The food and the beverages. We've been for dinner once or twice but what really gets us back to Mercat is the brunch. You like sweet cold coffee? Get the shaken espresso. It's terribly named but it tastes so good! Sweet, vanilla, iced, creamy, coffee goodness. You want a breakfast cocktail? Get the St Flora. It's served in the previously mentioned old-fashioned champagne glass and comes in a mini-carafe. Today I got two glasses out of that mini carafe, quite generous for the price. It's basically champagne with elderflower liqueur, with a raspberry. There may be something else in it but I don't know and I don't care - it's so good.
The croque madame is incredible, easily the best I've ever had. It's too much food; the most I've eaten is half. The ham, the lightly toasted thick slices of sourdough, the emmenthal cheese, the fried egg on top - amazing. What really sets it apart is the salad you can get instead of potatoes. Bibb lettuce with a very simple vinegar really cuts the creaminess of the croque madame. My husband always gets the benedict, which he loves. Walking to Mercat from our downtown apartment is one of my favorite things.
Nobu
Sure, Nobu isn't a Dallas exclusive. I've had Nobu on a cruise ship (literally one of the fanciest ships in the world. No joke.) I've had Nobu in Vegas. I've had Nobu in Dallas. Amusingly, cruise ship Nobu may be the best Nobu I've had, mostly because they just focus on the new style sushi and sashimi and get rid of any fluff in the menu. But the advantage that Dallas Nobu has is that it is also walking distance from our apartment. Dallas Nobu is in the Crescent, which is beautiful but has been annoyingly under renovation for at least a year. The valet hasn't been as smooth as normal and the shifting facades around the Crescent are getting irritating but all of those are worth it - especially since we can walk - for the food. Nobu's new-style sushi is just really, really good.
A couple things to note; Nobu suffers from the same overly-dark ambiance I mentioned in my last post. The bar is awkward but has good happy hour specials and decent cocktails. Also, Dallas has some pretty good sushi. Not the fanciest sushi in the country, but surprisingly good. Unfortunately most of that good sushi is not in downtown or uptown Dallas. Nobu stands out because it is really good, pretty consistently.
Some of the hot appetizers are just not worth the price if you're not getting a happy hour deal. The tasting menu is really good and if it is your first time at Nobu, that's a good intro into their menu, which can be tricky to navigate. It is definitely one of those menus that wants you to craft a meal experience. If you just want sushi, order the sushi and don't get distracted by all the courses. If you are feeling adventurous, go for the tasting menu or go with someone who knows the menu. This is definitely a restaurant where you can go very astray if you just pick random things on the menu, which is unfortunate because going astray at Nobu can be a very expensive mistake.
Having said all that, if you know your way around their menu or if the chef is on his game and the tasting menu is on point, you can have an incredible meal. If you know sushi and have some favorites, you can consistently have a good sushi dinner for a reasonable price. Two things you should definitely order: The wagyu beef pot stickers are amaaaazing and for dessert, the miso cappuccino is all kinds of good. Here is how they describe it: "Milk chocolate miso brulee, vanilla ice cream, candied pecans, and cappuccino foam." So, so good. Nobu opens for dinner at 6 so if you are oddballs like we are, you can go earlier and eat at the bar. You can easily get in without a reservation on most nights. Again, I highly recommend doing the happy hour at the bar, you can get some tasty food for quite a discount.
Oak Lawn Coffee
This is the best coffee in Dallas. Hands down. We have not been to every single coffee shop but we have had Pearl Cup, Crooked Tree, and Ascension, all of which get quoted as 'the best'. Unfortunately anyone who says that does not actually like good coffee (more on that in a future post about what I WON'T miss about Dallas.) Oak Lawn Coffee is not the cutest coffee shop and it's definitely not in the trendiest location, but the seating is comfortable enough and there are power outlets. They have some food if you get hungry but really the food isn't why you go; you actually go to THIS coffee shop for the coffee. They make the best latte in Dallas and the barista(s) are friendly without being annoying. You'll find hipsters chatting each other up or talking to the barista, but most people are here writing, hanging out...drinking coffee. Because the coffee is really, really good. Do not come here for food, scenery, to be seen, or so you can say you've been at a trendy Dallas spot; only come here if you have been wondering where the good coffee is. Do you like coffee? Do you have transportation? Go to Oak Lawn Coffee and get a latte. Do you have a pet? There is a pet food place next door. Do you like your car? Don't park under the vents at the building across the parking lot from the coffee shop because you'll get pet hair on your car (and don't accidentally breathe in while walking under the vents.) I don't remember if it's a groomer or a vet or what but holy hell the vent blows out a lot of pet hair.
Ascension Coffee
Ok, ok. I will miss Ascension. But not because of their coffee. The concept is awesome - coffee shop, wine bar, food, all in one. They do fancy roasts, they import beans from wherever, they are kind of a gastropub, they serve trendy microbrews, and it's adorable because it's in the Design District. But the coffee is god-awful. Come here for food, beer, wine, or chai lattes but do not come here for coffee. Their avocado toast at brunch is what has made them famous, and it is quite good. If you want brunch go late or early because even with valet the situation gets completely out of control and you will certainly have to wait for a table. We always go at weird times and made the mistake once of trying to go during brunch and we just drove on by because it was so crazy. Fun fact: their dinner menu is actually better. The Moroccan lamb meatballs are delicious. Their salads are really good. They have a tasty baked mac and cheese. The penne and chicken is rich and filling. The cheese plate was disappointing, don't even bother unless they are featuring something you like. They change up the cheese plate so just read the menu carefully or ask them what they are dealing with that day.
Ascension has little tables, big tables, working tables, indoor tables, outdoor tables...you can come here and stay a while, nursing a glass of wine, ordering cheese, writing your manuscript and cursing their coffee. It's a fun place to arrange meetings with random people who will think you are trendy and tasteful. The espresso drinks are pretty (but taste terrible) so don't bring coffee drinkers here unless you want them to judge you.
I will truly miss my love/hate relationship with Ascension.
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