Top 5 Restaurants in DFW?? (Dallas, Arlington: houses, live in, food)

[Guingirl]

Okay...so what are your top five favorite restaurants in the area??

Since I am not there yet, I will just tell you the ones that I have been to that I really like, so they aren't in any order.

1. Texas Roadhouse - Love the atmosphere, food great. I love the whole vibe.

2. Mariano's Mexican -Arlington - pretty yummy Mexican food.
3. Cracker Barrel - Okay..ya'll can give me a California noogie on that one. We don't have any here and my hubby (who's family is from Birmingham) loves their grits!!
4. Campisi's - Yummy pizza and great salads.
5. Riscky's - Need I say more??

Another question that I have is are there any Mongolian BBQs in the area??

Thanks!

[momof2dfw]

YUM, Mongolian BBQ. Yes we do have some. Ghengis Grill is a chain that we do have here. Then there are other indep. places around. LOVE GG though.

[GoPadge]

Carrabba's Italian Grill.

[NYExpatriate]

Avoid those corporate chain restaurants! It's a sad trend in Dallas, and elsewhere, that local "best" surveys tend toward national chains like P.F. McChangs and the like. There's nothing wrong with those places, per se - but there's also nothing very good about them, either. Support local, family-owned establishements that offer menus not devised by market researchers in a corporate kitchen. Some of DFW's finest are:

1. Babe's Chicken Dinner House (several locations). An absolutely fantastic, home-cooked meal. None better.
2. Gloria's Salvadoran & Tex Mex (several locations).
3. Steakhouses: Kirby's, Randy's (in Frisco), Del Frisco's, Pappas Brothers
4. Cindy's NY Deli (okay, I'm biased here, but finding a good deli in Dallas isn't very easy)
5. Mi Cocina, Javier's, Nuevo Leon, and about 200 little mom & pop places for Tex Mex

IMO, getting good Italian food in Dallas is as rare as getting good Tex-Mex food in, say, Scandinavia. Again, I'm quite biased here, but most Texans simply have no experience with anything approaching what you would find on any streetcorner in New York or Boston's North End (it's a very common complaint from those of us from the Northeast). I'm still looking.

[mgd323]

^Have you tried Sicilianos in Garland? One of the best Italian restaurants I've found. Also, my dad really likes Two Guys in Dallas/Farmers Branch off I-635. I'd like to know of your opinion on those two if you've been.

[NYExpatriate]

Originally Posted by mgd323

^Have you tried Sicilianos in Garland? One of the best Italian restaurants I've found. Also, my dad really likes Two Guys in Dallas/Farmers Branch off I-635. I'd like to know of your opinion on those two if you've been.

mgd323,

No, I've haven't tried either of these - but thanks for the recommendations! We all have our own tastes, but I am Italian-American, and grew up with a higher standard for Italian food, I guess. My friends here tease me about being so picky, but I remind them they would feel the same about barbecue, or really good Tex-Mex if they were stuck in the Northeast. Every region has it's strong points.

The "Tex-Ital" I've found in Texas is apparently based on the concept that Italian food consists of a mountain of overcooked pasta smothered in a gallon of melted cheese and heavy sauce.

I have found that many Texans appear to gravitate toward big chain restaurants (of any cuisine type), whereas in the Northeast, we'd maybe choose a local family diner (another thing that almost doesn't exist here). I've waited 45 minutes to get a table at some really, really mediocre-to-poor chain establishments in the DFW area (usually not by choice). They're constantly packed with people that seem happy enough, I guess...

[mgd323]

Do you live in a relatively new area? I can understand your statement if you do, but I think if you lived in an established area you will find more family owned restaurants (though I'm sure it's nothing like the Northeast). Also, the closer towards downtown you live the less chains you will see. I hate almost all chain restaurants so I take offense to that statement no matter how true it is.

But anyway, we really do try to make good Italian food, but usually we fail.
If you find one that suits your tastes please let us know.

[momof2dfw]

Not me. Give me the local hole in the walls anyday. We have plenty of them but you just have to know. Some don't advertise as they are in the same comfortable spot and don't want to change the dynamics or the atmosphere.

Babe's. OH YEAH!!!!!!! Homemade biscuits and sorghum. YUMMIE!!! We go to the one in Garland as it is very close to the house. I've yet to taste anything there that is not greatness.

Napoli's in Garland on Centerville & Northwest Hwy. The rolls are HEAVEN!!! No kissin after eating those or the ones at Siciliano's. Eddie at Napoli's has been on Channel 8 and is always around greeting people.

Luigi's in Rockwall. Shrimp Diavlo. Say no more.

Sals in Dallas is another good Italian place.

Steak - Bob's Steak and Chophouse.

Homecookin - besides Babe's there is Hubbards Cubbard. The original in downtown Garland on Main St (aka Hooters of Garland). And the newest location in Rowlett on Hwy 66.

Mexican/Tex-Mex:
Luna de Noche - multiple locations.
Despardos - the Despardo tacos are great
but the #1 place in my book now for Mexican is Casa Milagro on Plano Rd. The owner is part of the Luna de Noche family. They have tons of brisket items on the menu. Brisket tacos in corn tortillas. Scrumptious.
Aztec Tortilla on Forest Ln in Garland - great homemade tamale's
Plano Tortilla Factory


Okay, time for lunch

[GoPadge]

Hey, I'm open to local mom and pop restaurants, I just happen to like the flavors at Carrabba's. Especially the Sirloin Marsala and the Lamb Chops.

I've eaten at a Mi Cocina and while it was good, I didn't feel it was great. But then, can a lunch burrito honestly be great?

Unfortunately I can't speak to the local restaurants. Now if you want to talk Eastern NC style BBQ, there was no better than Bob Melton's in Rocky Mount, NC. (I hate that they closed.) Or theres Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC for fine seafood, or for the freshest in steamed oysters there's the Bowens Island Restaurant just before you get to Folly Beach, down near Charleston.

[mgd323]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Casa Milagro on Plano Rd. The owner is part of the Luna de Noche family. They have tons of brisket items on the menu. Brisket tacos in corn tortillas. Scrumptious.

No truer words have ever been spoken!