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The Best of DFW: Restaurants
- Stephanie Padgett
- Feb 26, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 28, 2021
My husband and I moved to Dallas (Plano, if we are going to be specific!) a few years ago, and since we moved here- we have found ourselves constantly falling in love with this city all over again.
Dallas/DFW has no shortage of incredible restaurants- and since Covid, so many of them have struggled to stay afloat which absolutely breaks my heart. One of my blogger girlfriends, Payton @mellowyellow on Instagram, asked fellow DFW bloggers to share their fave DFW restaurants to share the love and support them. So grateful for you, Payton!
In honor of Payton putting this together, I wanted to sit down and share a list of Hayden and I's personal favorite restaurants as well!
PSA: These restaurants have all been tried by my husband and I, and we couldn't vouch for them more!
Plano Restaurants:
Meso Maya (they also have 4 other restaurants throughout DFW!): My husband and I originate from CA, and we are used to impeccable and authentic Mexican. When we moved to Texas, we were worried that we wouldn't find that among all of the Tex-Mex options. Fear not, friends! Meso Maya is about as authentic as it gets.
Top choices: Chicken Enchiladas and Pollo con Mole.
Tommy Bahama: This is a Legacy West staple in my opinion! The atmosphere, the live music, and the food are all incredible. We have always had great customer service and care from the wait staff, and the food always comes out in a reasonable amount of time. The live music takes me to Hawaii or Southern California and makes me dream of sipping a tropical drink with my toes in the sand.
Top choices: Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer; Blackened Fish Tacos; Mahi Mahi Tacos; Parmesan Crusted Sanibel Chicken (my favorite and I never get anything else!)
Haywire: Another Legacy West staple! Hayden (my husband) and I have been a regular at Haywire since we moved here, and we always celebrate our Texaversary (the anniversary of us becoming Texans, of course) at Haywire.
Top choices: Grilled Chipotle Meatloaf (their meatloaf is perfectly crispy, flavorful, and intriguing) and Chicken Fried Chicken
Rodeo Goat: Rodeo Goat is a craving of ours minimally once a week. If you are in the market for outstanding burgers bursting with flavor and uniqueness- look no further.
Top Choices: Everything. But if I had to pick: Ranch House all day long. It's a burger with bacon and onion marmalade, arugula, spinach, white cheddar, and ranch mayo. 1000000% to die for.
Whiskey Cake: The atmosphere in here is amazing- it's personally one of my favorites for brunch! It's almost always packed, so you'll need a reservation.
Top Choice: For brunch, I love the Farmhouse Benedict or Chicken and Waffles. If I go for dinner, I'm a fan of the Whiskey Braised Short Rib.
Legacy Hall: (This isn't technically a restaurant, but rather 24 different restaurants in one building!) Leave it to Plano to have their own food hall called Legacy Hall at the Shop at Legacy. Inside are 24 artisanal food stalls run by local chefs, along with craft cocktails, beers, and live music! There is truly something here for everyone.
Top Choice: Degenhardt's Brat Haus!! SO GOOD. Joshua Degenhardt, a German-born second-generation sausage-maker, has expertly crafted the perfect brat. He is the sweetest, most hard-working owner who makes the best food.
Densetsu: Ah, Densetsu. Truly a favorite of ours. We have yet to find a Plano sushi restaurant as interesting and as flavorful as Densetsu! Their rolls are HUGE, and chock full of flavors and unique textures. If you choose to dine inside, the ambiance is fantastic and you should definitely sit near the sushi makers! It's so fun to watch them create their master pieces. This place is a complete 5 stars from us- and to boot it is extremely reasonable in price.
Top choices: Lone Star Roll, Baked Salmon Roll, I Love You Roll
Sixty Vines: Sixty Vines is a DFW classic in my opinion! They have a few locations, and I've been to both the Dallas and the Plano one. The customer service and atmosphere are always a win win for me- and is the perfect place for girls brunch or date night.
Top Choice: Spicy Sausage Pizza, Short Rib Pappardelle, or Double Cabernet Burger. My husband always gets the burger!
Taverna Rossa: When I say we go here once a week, I am not lying to you. This has become my husband and I's go to- when we are celebrating, when we've had a rough day, or just
when we are craving the best pizza in Plano (and honestly DFW in our humble opinion).
Top choices: So hard to pick!!! We always do a half and half pizza and switch off between Pink Piggy, Al Pastor, Smokey Pie
Bavarian Grille: My German husband loves this place. It's definitely a fun joint, and always super crowded- so would take that in mind if you are going during Covid times. This restaurant is home to the largest schnitzel in Texas! I will warn you, their website and view of their menu is not the most appealing, but I promise the food makes up for it!
Top Choice: The Schnitzel, of course!
North Italia: Mmm, North Italia. It is always jam packed and booked on Open Table, so you need to reserve your reservation a week + in advance! WORTH IT THOUGH. Reasonably priced Italian with a really fun and inviting atmosphere.
Top Choices: Parmesan Chicken or Roasted Salmon
Ruang Thai: We love this hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. They are super fast with their service and food, and we have rarely had issues being seated in a timely manner. The individuals who work there are so sweet and so passionate about their food!
Top Choice: Pad Thai with Chicken and Green Curry.
Frisco:
Hutchins BBQ: Mmm, Hutchins. A staple in DFW in my opinion! Hutchins is the best BBQ joint around, and everything is insanely fresh and seasoned to perfection. I will warn you, you'll leave Hutchins smelling like BBQ for probably a week. Worth it.
Top Choice: Everything.
Addison:
Ida Claire: I love Ida Claire. Any time I go to Addison for girls brunches this is my number one pick! I've probably had everything on the menu at this point, you can't go wrong.
Top Choice: Chicken and Waffles, Southern Quiche, or Nashville Hot Chicken.
Hudson House: I've been to HH for brunch and for dinner, both are amazing options, but my preference is brunch! I often find myself at HH for girls brunches and celebrations.
Top Choice: Lemon Pancakes (I'm hungry just reading that), or Ham Eggs Benny
Panevino Osteria: Panevino is an amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant I found a few months ago, and since discovering it, I've been 7x haha. It's absolutely delicious, affordable, and the atmosphere is intimate and inviting. It is my top choice for Italian in DFW.
Top Choice: Parmesan Crusted Chicken or Wood Fired Plank Salmon.
Neighborhood Services: They have a few locations throughout DFW, most notably the Addison location and the location next to Dallas Love-Field Airport. Hayden and I have a tradition where whenever a family member flies in, we have to take them to Neighborhood Services near the airport. They switch out their daily specials, which makes it really fun to go different days of the week to see what they've come up with!
Top Choice: Short Rib Enchiladas, Chicken Cobb-Esque (it's huge!), or Beef Tenderloin. They now have Fried Chicken on the menu for Sundays, and I definitely need to try it!
I hope you enjoy this list, and if you go to any of the spots on this list, tag me and let me know your thoughts!
X,
Stephanie
Style and Stephanie
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