Dine Like a Local.
Savor the Experience.
Established by passionate local entrepreneurs, these restaurants consistently provide delicious cuisine with friendly hospitality and stellar service. And, in a reflection of Dallas’ penchant for mutual support, the owners of these tried-and-true destinations are buddies. Here’s a look at the eateries where they and the rest of the city love to eat.
Dallas Institutions
Twenty-eight-year-old Al Biernat’s is beloved for its tantalizing blend of superb steaks and seafood, gracious hospitality, and convivial ambience. The Texas Rangers celebrated their World Series victory here on the edge of Highland Park, and it’ll undoubtedly sparkle with celebrities during the World Cup. Enjoy deluxe pregame and watch parties in Al Biernat’s Field House, an enclosed patio conceived especially for the series. And, don’t miss the legendary coconut cream pie.
Recommended by the prestigious Michelin Guide, Nonna has been renowned for delectable Italian fare since 2007. The menu changes daily, and pasta is crafted exclusively in house. “It’s inspired by regional Italian cuisine through Texas ingredients and the best of what we can get in produce, wild-caught seafood, game, and locally great stuff,” says founder Julian Barsotti. With a sheen of olive oil and salt, Nonna’s crusty pagnottiello bread alone has vanquished many a low-carb diet. Its mood sibling next door, Tubu, dishes Nonna’s full menu along with live music.
One of the oldest restaurant brands in the city, family-held Campisi’s was created by an immigrant grocer who introduced pizza and Italian cuisine to Dallas more than 80 years ago. Its knockout “All the Way” pie, slathered with sausage, salami, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers, can be savored at nine locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, including the venerable site on Mockingbird Lane. “It’s all small-batch cooking with fresh products and our great grandmother’s bread recipe,” notes owner David Campisi.
Classic, masculine, and upscale, Bob’s Steak & Chop House on Lemmon Avenue has been a local treasure for so long — 32 years — that its clientele spans at least three generations. Its number-one dish is prime beef tenderloin filet seasoned and grilled to perfection, and all entrees are plated with the restaurant’s signature glazed carrot. “We have a legacy,” says founder and host Bob Sambol, “and our customers love the tradition.”
Dallas’s fine dining market is highly competitive, which makes St. Martin’s 46-year longevity a powerful testament. This romantic restaurant serves French-American cuisine on candlelit tables cloaked in white cloths to the accompaniment of a live pianist. Co-owner Pasha Heidari, whose father started St. Martin’s, highlights the champagne-brie soup, lobster and leek terrine, caviar with all the accoutrements, rack of lamb, salmon with crispy leeks, and vanilla soufflé with chocolate sauce. St. Martin’s is situated in East Dallas/Bryan Place following many years on Lower Greenville Avenue.
Authentic continental Mexican cuisine and fabulous margaritas have made Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano a go-to since Javier Gutierrez established it on Cole Avenue in 1977. “I wanted to introduce people to the food that I grew up with in Mexico City,” he says. Decorated like an upscale hacienda with carved wooden furnishings, Javier’s is famed for fileta cantinflas: beef tenderloin stuffed with Chihuahua cheese and seasoned butter and topped with chile mulatto sauce. Marinated grilled quail and red snapper mojo de ajo, which is sauteed in garlic, are also bestsellers. Javier’s has long attracted adult birthday revelers, and many a business deal has been cut and toasted in its iconic cigar bar.
Texas Vibe
A shaded urban oasis dotted with picnic tables, Katy Trail Ice House boasts an expansive beer garden plus a 50-foot bar and 50 brews on tap. The laid-back Uptown cantina has a neighborhood following for its juicy beef-and-pork cheeseburgers, making it a happening hangout every day of the week. Visit Thursday through Sunday for the house specialties: wagyu brisket that’s slow smoked overnight, homemade jalapeño cheddar sausage, and distinctive sides like warm German potato salad, crispy Greek slaw, and creamed corn.
This acclaimed yet humble institution in Snyder Plaza celebrates true Tex-Mex, the comfort cuisine invented by Mexican-American home cooks more than a century ago. “No chains, no shortcuts, no apologies,” affirms co-owner Jonathan Marshall. “Every item on the menu is a commitment to quality.” The brick-walled space has a relaxed, friendly vibe, and the loyal clientele comes for standards like wagyu beef fajitas, cheese enchiladas, and the “Trinity” trio of spicy beef tacos. Purists will appreciate Bandito’s signature margarita — a blend of tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and a bit of cane sugar.
A country music hot spot, this welcoming Uptown restaurant presents local and national acts all day Saturday and other nights, too — all at no charge. The menu emphasizes American faves with flair, like cheddar fondue topped with smoked brisket and spinach, chipotle-pepper Caesar salad with grilled salmon, and a brisket burger. A big draw is the Rustic’s sprawling tree-lined backyard outfitted with picnic tables, a stage, and an 18-foot screen that broadcasts big games, including World Cup matches featuring the U.S. team.
Margaritas, Mexican and Tex-Mex
Las Palmas in Uptown is all about Dallas, showcasing elevated Tex-Mex meals amid a low-lit decor that references local dining style from the 1950s to 1980s. Its location in an 1894 Mediterranean-style home also has history, having previously housed Southwestern chef Stephan Pyles’s Baby Routh. Las Palmas plates Tex-Mex classics plus elevated iterations, like its famed Texas wagyu beef fajitas. “Everything is done on a wood-fired grill, and everything is done with quality in mind,” affirms co-founder Pasha Heidari.
A vibrant favorite since 2017, José on West Lovers Lane honors modern regional Mexican cuisine plus tequila and mezcal — with an impressive 300-plus selections in the bar. “Every detail is intentional — the 80-foot tile mural, the handcrafted ceramics, and of course, the cuisine,” says cofounder Brady Wood. “Our chef-driven menu is seasonal and constantly evolving, built around heirloom masa and bold, authentic Jalisco flavors that you just don’t find done at this level anywhere else in Dallas.” Wood predicts a festive scene during the World Cup, especially when Mexico is on the pitch. “Stay tuned,” he says. “We’re going to make some noise.”
Acclaimed Nonna and Barsotti’s restaurateur Julian Barsotti, a Dallas native, created Odelay to spotlight the Tex-Mex staples he craves when away from home. “Tex-Mex is our comfort food here in Dallas both in terms of gathering and community and the food itself,” Barsotti rightly observes. “It’s all of my favorites plus a bit of New Mexico.” Translation: wagyu short rib birria tacos, pan-fried wagyu tacos, mesquite-grilled red snapper, quail stuffed with jalapeño and wrapped in bacon, and more. There’s also a wildly popular chicken caesar wrap sparked with chipotle, queso fresco, and crisp tortilla strips. Find Odelay on West Lovers Lane.
A communal vibe, warm hospitality, and high-quality Tex-Mex have made Mi Cocina a storied destination since 1991. The brand is so prominent that it has 22 branches throughout Dallas-Forth Worth, including at hotspots Highland Park Village and Klyde Warren Park. Standouts include “Sunset” fajitas, brisket tacos, crispy chicken enchiladas verdes, and the legendary, potent “Mambo Taxi,” a frozen margarita swirled with house-made Pinot Noir sangria. “We are excited for the energy the World Cup will bring to North Texas and are looking forward to welcoming both Dallas locals and visitors from around the world,” says co-founder Ray Washburne.
Highland Park Village
Venerable entrepreneur Alberto Lombardi opened his first restaurant in Dallas back in 1977 and now operates 14 brands in Texas plus one more in Mexico. Named for the year of the building it occupies, Bistro 31 was an instant success when it debuted in 2011. Says Lombardi, his strategy was direct: “You think about what the customer likes.” Here, that’s a Mediterranean-centric menu featuring branzino en cartouche (baked in parchment), Dover sole meunière, a daily homemade pasta, lobster ravioli, and lots more. This sophisticated spot percolates night and day. Pop upstairs to sibling Lounge 31 for a bit of sushi.
The tuxedoed waitstaff is one indication that this refined Italian-American restaurant wants guests to feel important. Another is its signature dish: 100 layers of house-made cheeses, pasta, and ragu carefully composed into an ethereal lasagna. In Fachini, says founder Julian Barsotti, “I wanted to knock it out of the park.” Located upstairs on the second level, the elegant dining room is a study in retro classic with shaded chandeliers, leather banquettes, and bentwood chairs. There’s even a balcony for balmy days and nights.