Hook Line & Sinker

Hook Line & Sinker

Ever wanted to escape to the coast… just for Dinner and leave the everyday Dallas life for an hour or two?
Why haven’t you tried Hook Line & Sinker in Uptown then?

It’s been around for years and it’s still one of the best places for a quick seafood fix in Dallas. HLS is nothing like your ordinary uptown joint: Wooden park benches on the patio, old fishing boat motors line the railing, whiteboard menu above the open kitchen and the wide selection of hot sauces and horseradish… oh and did I mention $3 Beers!

So far, I’ve only been once. My partner in crime has been going for years, so I left the ordering to years of experience. And there was no disappointment.
1 pound of boiled shrimp and 1 pound of boiled crab legs… all for $23??!
Included in that you also get your choice of two sides.. we oppted for the boiled new potatoes and corn on the cob.
Hello- how can you go wrong?!
Along with the wide selection of hot sauce, there is plenty of cocktail sauce to go around and warm melted butter for your crab legs and corn.
Another menu favorite is the grilled Tilapia with rice and grilled veggies- you'll just have to make a few trips to taste so much greatness.
It’s a finger-lickin-good, roll-up your sleeves, peel and crack your own dinner kinda place. And yes, all this work is totally worth the taste, flavors and sauces you will treat your mouth to.

Headed back for another round: ASAP.

Neighborhood Services Tavern

Neighborhood Services Tavern

If you are looking to step out of your usual dining routine, and not go too over the top with crazy foods, then Neighborhood Services Tavern should be your next stop.
I’m pretty sure there is nothing bad on the menu here… I’ve been a hand full of times now and still haven’t found something I wouldn’t order again.

The Menu is set up a little differently than others… yes there are appetizers, entrées and desserts, but then there is also daily specials and (i.e. every Wednesday night is home-made Meatloaf; every Friday night is RIB NIGHT!) and then there are also 5 other specials that vary nightly: an east coast, west coast, pasta, beef, veggie and something else special that you can’t go wrong with.

As for appetizers, the spicy meatball tray is out of this world. Also the three different kinds of chick-pea (hummus) dips with flat bread are quite tasty!
When it comes to the main dish… you can’t go wrong with one of the nightly specials. However, if you like Chicken Fried Steak (which is the Thursday Night Special) be sure to arrive early… they sell out of this one. Yes, that’s how good it is.The Cleaver & Block Burger (ground chuck and brisket, cheddars, caramelized onions, frites) is scrumptious. We had the sliced Filet last time and it was De-lish!
This is a warning: YOU MUST SAVE ROOM FOR DESERT.

I can’t remember what it’s called, but they serve a rice crispy treat sandwich filled with chocolate/coffee ice-cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with coconut shavings… Devine.

The little quirky touches of NHS Tavern are what make your dining experience so much more better (Yes, I just used the term ‘more better’!) This might sound strange… But you need to check out the restroom when you have dinner here. It’s different than any other restaurant restroom in town. A book on tape is playing on the PA system, there are all sorts of things you might need… toothpicks, mouthwash, other things I can’t recall, and the décor is brilliant. Another added touch is way you receive your bill: it is delivered under the cover of a miniature hard-back volume of an Encyclopedia.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post: GO TRY THIS PLACE.
I think tonight would be the perfect night to give it a go. A) Its Thursday: Chicken Fried Steak Night. And B) they don’t take reservations anyway, so you don’t have an excuse that you didn’t plan ahead;)

NICOLA

NICOLA

There is a new Park Cities ‘Place to be Seen’ for the ‘older’ crowd on Preston Road: Restaurante Nicola.
Think upscale Maggianos and your there. 
It’s very open (so you can be seen) and loud – think big Italian eatery with an Americanized concept and you have Nicola.
This is not one of our favorite places in Dallas… so prepare yourself for some not so positive thoughts on our evening out. 



It seemed that our server would disappear behind a black curtain and not reappear for a very long time… He didn’t pay great attention to detail was very confused about the menu and what the kitchen was able to prepare that night. The specials… were more of a struggle. The menu was filled with a lot of options, most of which were heavy-set courses that would have suited a winter menu more so than a spring/summer time menu; From the portion size to the heavy cream sauces and flavors.

The best choice on the menu that we made was the Antipasto Misto Della Casa. Great cheeses, meats and veggies were served cold on a big platter. (Oh and they serve APEROL- one of my favorite Italian drinks! Please enjoy with Prosecco on ice! It’s very refreshing and tasty)!After the appetizer we either made poor choices off the menu, or the food was just not that good. And I’m pretty sure our waiter made less and less appearances at our table as the evening went on.

All and all… there would have to be a serious reason to return to this restaurant for a meal.

Side note: this place clears out early!

AURORA- The Sad News

AURORA- The Sad News

Well incase you didn’t hear the word on the street… AURORA is closing.
This is truly devastating news.
This place is so amazing- and its sad that great, great food cant make it in Dallas.

There is a plus side to this story though.
Drum Roll Please…

YOU HAVE UNTIL THE END OF JULY TO VISIT AND TASTE THE GREATNESS THAT IS AURORA!

So here’s the game plan:
1.Make a reservation at Aurora.
2.Treat yourself- Trust us, it’s totally worth it.
3.Let us know what you thought about dining at AURORA.

Very sad to see them go, but this just means GREAT food in the month of July!

EDDDIE V’S

EDDDIE V’S

It might be a chain restaurant, but its new to Dallas: Eddie V's.
Located directly next to the Preston Hollow Equinox gym you will find one of Dallas' new hotspot.
It's a dark, cozy and a very sophisticated dining experience.
While the bar has live music and a very lively crowd (think your typical 30K Dallas Millionaires) the dining room is separate, subdued and stylish.

Each table is assigned three waiters… maybe a fourth to bring out the desert later!
One for the bread and water service, one for menu options and selection choices and one for wine and drink orders- you never really know who will be at your table next.
Our table was right by the kitchen- which is blocked off by a huge glass partition- you can see the kitchen excitement and hustle without hearing all the drama- it was a great view!

The food was delish- from start to finish.
We started off with the Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and the Lump Crab Cake. Here the defining moment of the meal… (For one of us at least ;) ) The ATOMIC HORSERADISH (That was definitely just the fresh ground radish and nothing else). I'm pretty sure my partner in crime lost his hearing for a few seconds. Yes, Ladies and gentlemen it was that Hot/Spicy. But so good, that we kept the horseradish on the table for the rest of the evening for dipping purposes with all other courses!

While Eddie V's is known as a Prime Seafood house- we have been on a beef kick lately- and their Steak Menu is no joke.
We spilt the 12 ounce filet along with some oh-so- tasty side dishes: Steamed Broccoli, Truffeled Macaroni & Cheese and Au Gratin Potatoes.

This is a great new place in town- and a must try for sure.
The food is delish- the service is great and the overall experience is very enjoyable- Don't think you can go wrong here!

THE MANSION BAR

THE MANSION BAR

As noted in the previous post: Dallas dining choices are very limited after 10pm when almost 99% of all kitchens in the city shut down.

But fear not- we are here to send your scrumptious suggestions with great atmosphere and even better flavors!

After a night at the Fort Worth Opera House- Bass Hall- we trekked back to Dallas for a late night hunger buster. While the options are slim, you can always count on a hotel bar to have a late night kitchen and hunger fix. However, please choose your late night hotel bar wisely- there are some promiscuous bars in Dallas that you can/should steer clear of around midnight. :)

There is however a delightful late night menu at The Mansion Bar (The Mansion on Turtle Creek).We indulged in a cheese platter and homemade burger with Out-Of-This-World Truffle French Fries! Which are perfectly flavored; not too salty, not to ‘truffley’ and perfect when dipped in a little ketchup. And yes, it’s entirely acceptable to ask for ketchup at The Mansion!

To add icing on the cake… the atmosphere is cozy and dark (this ‘man-cave') and the live music is phenomenal. The night we dined here, the gentlemen at the piano covered everything from Sir Elton John, Coldplay, Lady Gaga to Train. He was great- even got people off their feet and dancing.

Side note: There is great ‘people watching’ at The Mansion. I would go into details, but you’re just going to have to trust us on this one. You will not be disappointed!

AURORA

AURORA

If you are from Dallas or have lived here a while and have not heard of the greatness that is AURORA, don’t worry- it’s a well kept secret that we are about to expose. This place is so good- I don’t even know where to start….hmm... well maybe I’ll start by telling how why we ended up there for dinner the other night:

The world premiere of the Moby Dick opera was in Dallas at the magnificent Winspear Opera House , we had tickets, we're all dressed up and managed to sit through the first half of the performance. But come intermission, we looked at each other and it was clear we didn’t need to stick out the second half.

However, the problem with not eating before a performance in Dallas, is that almost every single kitchen closes at 10pm. It was 9:45pm… we made our way to the car trying to think of a place that would still seat us. My partner in crime came up with Aurora, we both hadn’t tried it so we called and announced our arrival!We sat down at 9:55pm and didn’t get up to leave until somewhere close to 1am.Ladies and gentlemen- this place is phenomenal!

From the understated stated building and front door- you would never expect to find such outstanding cuisine and tastes on the inside!The kitchen is open for every table to see, the service is out of this world and I can’t even being to explain the flavors and pairings that you will experience when you treat yourself to dine here.

On this occasion, my partner in crime spoiled us to the chefs tasting menu. And NOTHING was questionable. You would think the tasting menu would leave you hungry afterwards- this was quite the opposite. We were perfectly satisfied. Every course was a surprise- a great surprise at that. The flawlessly pan seared foie gras was a true highlight of the meal.
If you have tried foir gras before and not enjoyed the taste (like me) this will change your mind – trust me.

The service, attention to detail and overall experience was like no other dining experience in Dallas.
Save your pennies and treat yourself to this- you will not regret it.

KENICHI

KENICHI

After a win for the Dallas Mavericks (a few weeks ago now) we walked from the American Airlines Center over to Victory Park to eat at one of the last standing restaurants on the block… KENICHI.

Always a must when eating Japanese food: Start with Edamame.
Then to be followed by some amazing sea food!

Although, we mixed things up a little this time and started off our taste buds with a little 'ishiyaki' HOT ROCK @ 1000 degrees stone seared Kobe Beef. They bring the little (almost red with heat) HOT ROCK to your table and you sear the meat to your liking. Add a few sprinkles of seasoning and dip in some secret sauces… YUM-O!

We followed that up with a very delicate Black Cod Misozuke, marinated in miso for 72 hours and roasted. Oh my, the flavor on/in/around this fish was outstanding!!!
Second to best of the evening was the Seared Sea Scallops, with truffled kabocha puree and tempura gari. Let me just tell you: the fusion of tastes and textures in this dish was out of control… DELISH!

The one item on our menu that was less than impressive was the desert choice.
We selected 'Genny's Asian Pear Bread Pudding'.
Um.. it was ok, not great by any means.

Favorite desert in Dallas, by far, is still the Banana Pudding at Local!

When we sat down for dinner, we were one of only 3 tables.
By the time we were finishing off our desert we were the only table left... until JJ Barea and a few of his friends showed up! On our way out the bar had filled with some of Dallas' other basketball players as well.
Looking for an after Maverick game hang-out (that offers great Japanese menu items as well as a few 'Jerseys'?) we suggest you give KENICHI a try.

Guaranteed: Tasty Japanese food (Players not always included).

COAL VINES

COAL VINES

Rainy, mid-week, and still the 'uptown' Dallas crowd came out for dinner. We met at Coal Vines in Uptown for a quick bite of pizza and as always good conversation!
However, the quick bite turned into a long, shoulder to shoulder, wait at the bar… constantly being shuffled by the busy wait staff and thirsty people trying to get a drink from the sole bartender.
Once we did get our table… probable around 40min later… it came along with the sweetest waitress- ERICA- a smile and a yummy glass of red wine!

Warning: Coal Vines is small and incredibly loud. The play great music but it can be hard to carry on a conversation you don't want both tables next to you to part-take in.

We were served in no time and had to eat accordingly; the table was minimal and our appetites were bigger than the table space would allow ;)
It's a good place for a quick bite to eat, although I would pick a not-so crowded evening to give it a taste test. The pizza crust is thin and crunchy. They have a great specials board- for both wines and dinner menu items.

HOUSTON'S AND R&D KITCHEN

HOUSTON'S AND R&D KITCHEN

Houston's, there's probably one close to you… I feel like they are on two of the busiest corners in Dallas:
Beltline and the Tollway as well as Northwest High Way and Preston.

Now, if you haven't been by for a visit, it's a must.
You should be prepared for a little wait around dinner time… it does fill up quickly and the bar packs them in for drinks and meals at the bar.
Even on a Wednesday evening, which is when we stopped by, we had a 20 min wait. Not to worry, the bar staff will take good care of you and wines by the glass are very reasonable and tasty!

Since it was mid week, we just wanted something quick and yummy Houston's was a great choice.
(I was even in post-workout attire… and yes it was acceptable!)

You can't go wrong with Houston's.
We ordered a Burger and Ribs.

The burger was outstanding (for a restaurant burger… not to be compared with a 'whole in the wall' burger by any means).
And the ribs are amazing… The meat just falls right off the bones, that how well prepared they are.

If we were to complain about something it would have to be the wait-staff was a little on the attitude side.
Nothing a fun evening and good conversation cant mask!

Houston's is a staple in Dallas and it's a must try (at least once)!

While we're on the subject of Houston's- There is a R&D Kitchen in Dallas as well. They are in the same restaurant group as Houston's –Hillstone.
I would almost suggest your time is better spent at R&D.
They are the 'test kitchen' for Houston's and have a very creative/changing menu.

If I were to pick a favorite off the menu here… it would be the Veggie Burger.
Now, I know my burgers and will travel far for the best burger in town- but as far as veggie burgers go- this is my all time favorite.
I can't explain the taste correctly, but the patty has nuts, mushrooms, colorful veggies and a hint of lemon all chopped up finely, served on a bun piled high with all the trimmings and a 'secret' sauce that is secretly divine!

DISH

DISH

This time we decided to try something new in a different part of town.
So off we went to the newly renovated courier cedar Springs and Douglas. And we made our way into the purple-lit building that houses DISH.

We went on St. Patrick’s Day… and since the scene there is purple, we missed all the green fun!
It was still plenty loud there though for some reason…Who knows, maybe just bad acoustics?

But we didn’t miss a beat on the Menu- that’s for sure!

Here were our selections for the evening- and before you say anything, yes we tried too many carbs!

We started with the MOZZARELLA FLATBREAD
Paul’s Mozzarella, Pepperoni, and local Basil

Up next:
CRAB DIP
Lump Crab, Wild Arugula, Cheese

As for the Main courses:

SEARED NATURAL JUMBO SEA SCALLOPS
Roasted sweet corn, bacon, poached egg, Parmesan with pearl cous cous

BBQ BRAISED SHORT RIBS
Lucky Layla buttery mash potatoes

And of course… Desert!

SMOKED PECANS BROWNIE
Henry’s maple ice cream, chocolate Espresso souce

WARM BANANA CAKE
Bruleed Bananas, salted caramel souce

We love trying new things… and this was defiantly new.
I’m not sure they hit your typical Dallas crowd with this one… it’s a little much Miami. Think a mini Ocean Prime vibe?

The prices are decent and the food is tasty- its defiantly worth your time to make a trip and try a tasty new DISH!

NICK AND SAM'S

NICK AND SAM'S

Never…never does it disappoint!

And how could it, as one of dallas’ finest places to dine Nick and Sam’s you will be delighted from the moment you walk through the double doors until the valet pulls around your car upon your departure.

Although you might not know this, but the building used to be a morgue… there are even rumors that the secluded wine room is haunted. But trust me every flavor that you pop in your mouth at this place is very enchanting!

I have yet to actually spend time reading the menu, because my partner in crime orders all of his favorites when we dine here. And I have learned to trust his choices in food.
From the past times we have dined there.. here are a few of the delightfully tasting this we have indulged on:

Osetra caviar

Jumbo lump crab cakes

Fresh mozzarella beefsteak tomatoes and basil

‘Damn good’ fries

Maine lobster mac-n-cheese (it’s better minus this lobster!)

Filet mignon 10oz (I can even finish is, its that good!)

As for deserts…
I cant remember what we had a while back, but on our last visit this past weekend we ordered the way to large and extravagant chocolate Cake… There were four of us and we didn’t even make a dent in the slice they served us!

I would recommend Nick and Sam’s (probably) any day!
It is defiantly a great place to celebrate your next special occasion, a romantic night out and its especially a great place for foodies- everything is scrumptious!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention… Sick and Sam’s is where I discovered my currently very favorite red wine: Orion Swift Cellars 2008 ‘The Prisoner’.

ABACUS

ABACUS

Although it’s been a few weeks ago… the tastes, smells and contemporary atmosphere are still a close memory. We had something to celebrate - A BIRTHDAY- so we knew Abacus would do the trick- it was not a disappointment. While we love trying new things and places, sometimes you just need to go where it’s going to be a success.
So Abacus it was.

One of his favorite places in town, we met for an 8 o’clock reservation hoping to miss the dinner rush so we could take our time.

Wrong-o. For some reason they were bound to get us out of there ASAP.

But first things first…
The flavors did not disappoint!The portions on the other hand, were a little skimpy.

Here’s what we made up as our menu for the evening:
LOBSTER-SCALLION “SHOOTERS”
RED CHILE-COCONUT SAKE

HEARTS OF ROMAINE CAESAR,HOUSE DRIED AMAROSA TOMATOES
SHAVED PARMIGIANO REGGIANO

CREAM OF CORN CHOWDER SOUP
WITH ROASTED CARROTS

And here’s the best kept secret of Abacus:

WOOD ROASTED BUFFALO TENDERLOIN ON RED WINE BUTTERSERVED WITH TRUFFLE WHIPPED POTATOES AND BABY VEGETABLES
(We both had one of these suckers!)

Of course we also had a side of:
APPLEWOOD SMOKED BACON “MAC AND CHEESE”

While we really wanted this for desert:
THE GOODIE BOX
-SNICKERDOODLES-
ALMOND-PISTACHIO-DRIED CHERRY FLORENTINES
-CHOCOLATE-NUTELLA “SAMMIES”
-OATMEAL-DRIED CRANBERRY COOKIES

It was all gone… so we had this:
SPIKED BANANA-BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE STRUDEL
BANANA-NUTELLA CRUNCH ICE CREAM

Here is my take:Besides the fact that they were trying to get us out of there as soon possible, it was YUMMY!

A little over rated, but yummy!I give two-thumbs up to the Lobster Shooters for ‘shiz’…. And the sauce it comes with: DELISH! (Defiantly keep the sauce to dip the bread with…. Just a suggestion).


My other fav was the Buffalo…. Not that I would eat it every time I have meat but trust me meat eaters will be indulged. It’s not on the menu every time you dine there, so be sure to ASK your server for it! The truffle whipped potatoes were a bit too "truffley" for my appetence.


Useless Information Factoid: An Abacus is a counting tool used in Asia by merchants since 2nd century BC.

What’s your fav dish at abacus?
And how was your experience/evening there?!

LOCAL

LOCAL

If you don’t already know, the Dallas area is (over)filled with dining options… So on the rare occasion you find something out of the ordinary, knock-your-socks-off, excellent overall.. The place you want to make your new favorite- we had to share this experience with you.

As a side note, we are both from Dallas- Working, living and making the most of the Dallas/Fort Worth Food scene. We love to try new places… giving them all a fair chance… but we do have the select few favorites we try over and over again… With the blog, we will try and bring a taste of our ‘appetizing adventures’ to you, so that your taste testers can be steered in the right direction!
Most likely we’ll be very blunt, give our full and honest opinion. So feel free to let us know your honest opinion if you have tried the same places we tasted!

Back to tonight’s appetizing adventure… On a whim we decided to go out for dinner after work, it was my turn to choose… and LOCAL it was. Hidden in Deep Ellum, in the old BOYD HOTEL, is a perfectly kept secret of the best food in town. Chef Tracy Miller out does herself to say the least!
Since we are both foodies, we like to try one of everything, so tonight we went with the seven-course tasting menu. In short- it was out of this world.

ON THE MENU.
Amuse-Bouche:broccolini soup

Soup of the Day:roasted vegetable soup

Salad:balsamic roasted candy striped beets
local arugula, paula’s fresh chevre 
+ toasted pinenuts

First:
maine lobster cake
crispy beet + frisee slaw
+ meyer lemon dill cream
seared hudson valley foie gras
+ house_made texas
toast
oregon pinot + tawny port steeped texas strawberries
OR
scratch ravioli of thyme_scented 
roasted butternut
squash
spinach, prosciutto + acorn squash salad
+ sage_butter sauce
intermezzio tangerine_sorbet

Second:
herb marinated pan_seared
nantucket bay scallops
yukon gold, acorn
+ butternut squash risotto,
gene’s micro arugula + simple citrus butter glaze
AND
grilled farm_raised filet mignoncaramelized onion risotto + roasted garlic butter_balsamic finish

Desert:
classic banana pudding
bruleed bananas, fresh whipped cream
+
housemade vanilla wafers

Nothing here was sparred. The flavors were in perfect balance; not once did either of us ask for the saltshaker. (Fresh cracked pepper on the other hand is always a good thing).The atmosphere, the service and the overall vibe were an absolute delight! Its not too loud, nor did we ever feel rushed - The service did not fall short at any given time during the evening, from recommendations, to attentiveness and friendliness. The Chef herself even sat us at the table!
Local has been around for the past seven years, and this was the first time we made the effort? I hope you don’t make the same mistake and wait as long as we did to try this appetizing treasure…