Top 12 Best Restaurants in Dallas

The list of the best restaurants in Dallas is as under. These are some of the best restaurants we could find keeping the luxury, food, and prices in mind.

Restaurant NameCuisine TypeSpecial Features
LuciaItalianHomemade pastas, cozy ambiance
Petra and the BeastEastern EuropeanProgressive cuisine, daily menu changes
EncinaRegional MexicanSophisticated recipes, industrial space
Lucia PizzaItalianSourdough Neapolitan crust, casual vibe
Town HearthNew AmericanSeasonal ingredients, chic setting
Al Biernat’sSteakhouseAged prime beef, first-class service
Tillman’s RoadhouseSouthernTexas-sized portions, live music
Fearings RestaurantSouthwesternElevated regional flavors, tasting menu
CBD ProvisionsAmerican brasserieFarm-to-table menu, sophisticated design
HomewoodNew AmericanSeasonal menu, chic warehouse ambiance
BoulevardierFrenchCozy bistro, robust European fare
BullionFrench and AmericanOpulent tasting menu, dazzling decor

Lucia

Name and Location: Lucia is a contemporary Italian restaurant located at 408 W. 8th Street in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Texas.

History and Significance: Opened in 2010 under acclaimed Chef David Uygur, Lucia has offered a tasting menu focused on light, seasonal Italian cuisine utilizing local ingredients. Its adventurous flavors and intimate setting make it a Dallas dining destination.

What to Expect: Menus change daily but often include dishes like squid ink tortellini, handmade pasta specials, charcuterie boards, and desserts like olive oil cake or tiramisu. The historic home-turned-restaurant has a cozy fireplace lounge and adjacent pizza bar. Reservations are recommended.

Visitor Information: Lucia serves dinner nightly 5-10 PM, closing Sundays. The Pizza Bar offers counter seating Tuesday-Saturday starting at 4 PM. Street parking is limited, so ride shares or taxis are recommended.

Tucked away along the backstreets of Bishop Arts District lies Lucia, an intimate Italian restaurant dishing up delightful homemade pastas paired with friendly neighborhood vibes. Housemade squid ink linguine tossed with seafood in garlicky white wine sauce offers a sublime, smoky richness. For lighter fare try the vegetable-centric options like eggplant involtini stuffed with ricotta and basil. With less than 20 tables amidst cozy brick walls decorated with wine crates, Lucia’s quaint size means reservations are a must. But the wait is worth it – the from-scratch cooking, indie music soundtrack, and charming patio garantisco a magical Dallas dining experience.

Petra and the Beast

Name and Location: Petra and the Beast is situated at 601 N. Haskell Ave in Dallas’ East Village urban neighborhood near Downtown.

History and Significance: Opened in 2014 by chef Misti Norris, Petra’s intimate East Village location pioneered the city’s modern vegetable-focused dining trend with creative small plates celebrating Texas produce through seasonal menus at communal tables.

What to Expect: Ever-changing dishes utilize ingredients like sweet potatoes, beets, greens, wild mushrooms and heirloom carrots in inventive ways accompanied by natural wines or craft cocktails like the Damsel’s Fate with vodka and strawberry balsamic. Reservations recommended.

Visitor Information: Open for dinner Wednesday–Saturday 5–10 PM. Closed Sunday-Tuesday. Street parking, ride share recommended. Intimate room with just 32 indoor counter seats plus 12 outdoor tables.

Blazing a trail along Dallas’ contemporary dining scene, Petra and the Beast thrills palates with its progressive take on rustic Eastern European cuisine coupled with whimsical presentations. Regale your visual senses with artfully constructed dishes like Picture of Dorian Grey, a reverse mirror image of cured salmon and buttermilk espuma. Sink your teeth into tender Wagyu beef goulash or their signature must-try pasta – chewy maltagliati tossed with rich bone marrow, roasted mushrooms and pops of pickled mustard seed. With an extensive boutique wine list and menu changing daily focused on high quality ingredients and technique, Petra’s originality makes it one of Dallas’ most unique and exciting new restaurants.

Encina

Name and Location: Encina is an upscale New American restaurant located at 2917 Fairmount St in Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood.

History and Significance: Envisioned by chef Nick Badovinus as an earthy, seasonal ingredient-driven menu, Encina opened in 2013 championing sustainability and small farmers. Its rooftop lounge offers downtown views through wall-to-ceiling windows.

What to Expect: Menus shift with daily offerings like duck confit salad, handmade agnolotti pastas, grilled fish with romesco sauce or smoked brisket pot roast along with signature cocktails and an international wine list. Reservations recommended.

Visitor Information: Encina serves dinner from 5-10 PM Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday, extending to 11 PM on weekends. Valet parking available behind the restaurant off Fairmount St.

Helmed by celebrity chef Stephan Pyles, Encina redefines expectations of regional Mexican food with sophisticated recipes honoring homestyle traditions. Sultry smoked chicken enchiladas blanketed in complex ancho and guajillo chile sauces demonstrate Encina’s knack for elevating rustic dishes into culinary masterpieces. Try tetela empanadas stuffed with tender barbacoa or rich squash blossoms baked in corn masa. Encina’s stunning Design District industrial space matching the kitchen’s fire is perfect for enjoying hand-shaken margaritas, tasty tacos and some of Dallas’ most vibrant and flavorful interpretations of south-of-the-border cuisine.

Lucia Pizza

Name and Location: Lucia Pizza is the casual eatery adjacent to Lucia restaurant situated at 408 W. 8th Street in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Texas.

History and Significance: Opened by Chef David Uygur in 2013, Lucia Pizza offers artisanal wood-fired pizzas baked at 750 degrees in an Italian Valoriani oven as a more laid-back sister establishment sharing Lucia’s building. Its corner locale helps anchor the walkable Bishop Arts community.

What to Expect: Crispy thin-crust pizzas like the classic Margherita plus creative seasonal specialties are complemented by starters, salads, Italian wine and cocktails in a casual counter-service setting accented by vintage details. Walk-ins welcome.

Visitor Information: Lucia Pizza is open Tuesday-Saturday 4-10 PM for walk-ins. Street parking is very limited in the Bishop Arts area, so ride shares or taxis are best.

Despite Dallas’ renown for steakhouses and Tex-Mex, few restaurants exceed Lucia Pizza when craving comfortably familiar Italian cuisine. Their bubbly sourdough Neapolitan crust strikes that perfect balance between crisp and chewy. Traditional margherita and pepperoni pies make way for more adventuresome fare like the Forrest Gump blending creamy alfredo sauce with spinach and chicken. With a casual neighborhood vibe across two locations plus a vodka-soaked Bloody Maria pizza brunch, Lucia entices with the nostalgic aromas of good times around the dinner table. When desiring the pleasures of shared pizza made simply right, Lucia delivers.

Town Hearth

Name and Location: Town Hearth is located at 1617 Market Center Blvd in Dallas’ Design District.

History and Significance: Open since 2012, Top Chef contestant Nick Badovinus’ flavorful rustic American cuisine served in Town Hearth’s historic exposed brick building has helped revive the Dallas Design District as an arts and dining enclave.

What to Expect: Expect reinterpreted comfort food classics on the seasonal menu like roasted chicken, meatloaf, fish stew or shrimp and grits with daily specials and desserts like their famed salted caramel cookie skillet. Extensive bourbon options available at the bar.

Visitor Information: Serving lunch, brunch and dinner 11AM-10PM daily. Closed Mondays. Street parking or valet available. Walk-ins welcome but reservations recommended, especially on weekends.

Situated on trendy Henderson Avenue, Town Hearth embodies urban sophistication through New American cuisine in a chic, converted warehouse setting. Menus change seasonally based on fresh, local ingredients. Recent standouts include Texas quail stuffed with brioche alongside brussels sprouts agrodolce. Their dry aged ribeye cooked over open fire epitomizes premium cuts enhanced by proper preparations. With a swanky atmosphere including exposed bulb lighting, art deco touches and barrel-vaulted ceilings, Town Hearth seduces with strong drinks and sharable plates blurring the nostalgia of comfort foods with creative refinement. For date-worthy ambiance matched by craveable dishes, Town Hearth excels.

Al Biernat’s

Name and Location: Al Biernat’s is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant located at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave in Dallas, Texas.

History and Significance: Opened by renowned chef Al Biernat in 1998, its exceptional service and menu sourcing prime cuts established this Dallas institution’s reputation as one of Texas’ premier fine dining destinations known for aged steaks, fresh seafood, an award-winning wine cellar and elegant interiors.

What to Expect: Signature oak-roasted bone-in ribeye and golden sea bass grace a menu focused on quality and preparation of fine ingredients rather than complexity, complemented by a 17,000+ bottle wine cellar and polished atmosphere.

Visitor Information: Dinner served Monday-Saturday 5:30-10 PM. Jackets preferred for gentlemen. Valet parking available. Reservations essential, with days of advance booking needed for weekends and holidays.

When only exquisitely aged prime beef expertly prepared will do, Dallas carnivores choose Al Biernat’s. This upscale steakhouse built its reputation on Midwestern beef mastery coupled with first-class service across white-tablecloth dining rooms. Treat yourself to center-cut filet mignon, succulent bone-in ribeye or massive 22oz cowboy rib chop before finishing with their epic signature salt brick chocolate cake. With an award-winning international wine list and menu brimming with seafood towers, hearty sides and premium starters, Al Biernat’s timeless mastery proves why it remains Dallas’ quintessential special occasion restaurant.

Tillman’s Roadhouse

Name and Location: Tillman’s Roadhouse is situated at 2933 Crockett St in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.

History and Significance: Opened in 2009, Tillman’s laid-back roadhouse vibe serves elevated Southern comfort cuisine like upscale fried chicken in an 1880s red brick building meant to evoke Fort Worth’s Western hospitality and cowboy spirit.

What to Expect: Weekday happy hour or weekend brunch on the dog-friendly patio offers deals on dishes like chicken fried lobster tacos, catfish po boys, burgers and whiskey cocktails alongside live music in a memorable Western setting ideal for large groups.

Visitor Information: Open Monday-Friday 11AM–2AM, plus weekends 9AM-2AM for brunch through late night dining. Street parking available. Call ahead for patio reservations when bands play.

For downhome Southern cuisine with Texas-sized portions, Tillman’s Roadhouse charms patrons with cowboy stylings and live music. Get into the Lone Star spirit with their massive 96oz margarita – try finishing this party drink solo and win a photo on their wall-of-fame. Enormous platters of slow smoked brisket, falling-off-the-bone baby back ribs and handmade jalapeño cheddar sausages satisfy any barbecue cravings. Nightly bands keep boot scootin’ energy high across two music halls perfect for line dancing. With its Roll Tide burgers and southern hospitality, Tillman’s spirit makes guests “feel alright, feel alright, feel alright!”

Fearings Restaurant

Name and Location: Fearings Restaurant is located at 2121 McKinney Ave in Uptown Dallas, just north of downtown.

History and Significance: Opened in 2007 by Dean Fearing, pioneer of Southwestern cuisine and winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2000, Fearings has brought five star modern ranch cuisine focusing on Texas ingredients to landmark Ritz-Carlton Dallas.

What to Expect: Enjoy starter tasting plates or entrées like cowboy ribeye with cactus butter or venison tamales in the sleek yet relaxed dining room or sunny courtyard anchored by an interactive kitchen. Extensive wine and cocktail menus change seasonally.

Visitor Information: Dinner served Wednesday-Saturday 5:30–10PM, plus a Sunday Jazz Brunch. Business or resort-casual attire. Free self-parking or valet offered. Reservations recommended, especially for patio seating.

Since opening over 30 years ago, Fearings remains Dallas’ quintessential special occasion restaurant infusing Southwestern inspiration with contemporary refinement. Delectable dishes like cornmeal crusted calamari with jalapeño aioli and tortilla crusted redfish demonstrate chef Dean Fearing’s knack for elevating regional flavors through masterful preparation. For the full experience, splurge on the seven course tasting menu showcasing Fearing’s greatest hits from his signature tortilla soup to cowboy ribeye topped with roasted poblano chimichurri. With impressive Wine Spectator accolades and dessert souffles so heavenly they’re known as “Sex in a Pan”, Fearings satisfies on every level.

CBD Provisions

Name and Location: CBD Provisions is located at 1530 Main St in downtown Dallas at The Joule Hotel.

History and Significance: At downtown’s modern CBD Provisions led by Chef Richard Blankenship, diners can enjoy American brasserie cuisine with Texas influences in a 1920s renovated landmark building housing avant-garde artworks and features like a hand-blown glass chandelier.

What to Expect: Lunch, weekend brunch and dinner offer seasonal fare like tuna crudo, chicken roulade, Wagyu burgers, sea bass or veal sweetbreads complementing creative cocktails and the curated wine list. Sidewalk seating available.

Visitor Information: CBD Provisions serves meals daily 6:30AM-10PM. Reservations recommended for dining room seating. Valet parking available at adjacent Joule Hotel on Main St. in downtown Dallas.

Anchoring downtown’s Communities Foundation of Texas headquarters, CBD Provisions wows with executive chef Richard Blankenship’s farm-to-table American brasserie menu served amidst stunning architecture and design. Lofty ceilings, chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Dallas’ skyline provide a sophisticated backdrop bites like Lobster Fritters with charred lemon and succulent Brick Chicken cooked under bricks in the wood-fired oven. Their extensive craft cocktail program starring signatures like the “Executive Decision” with rye, cognac and amaro please after-work professionals. For exquisite locally sourced New American fare alongside unique demonstrations of urban renewal, CBD Provisions delivers big.

Homewood

Name and Location: Homewood is located at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave in Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood.

History and Significance: Opened in 2022, the latest restaurant by acclaimed Dallas chef Matt McCallister features seasonal cooking using an oak-burning grill and rotisserie in an inviting space housing a terrace bar, lounge and private dining options ideally suited for both intimate and large gatherings.

What to Expect: Share plates of grilled, smoked and roasted meat and seafood small plates, with larger entrées like dry aged ribeyes or whole roast chicken complemented by cocktails highlighting herbs and other kitchen ingredients. Warm hospitality encourages lingering.

Visitor Information: Homewood serves dinner from 5–10 PM Tuesday–Saturday. Reservations online or by phone are recommended, especially for patio seating. Valet and paid self-parking on site.

Venturing just north of downtown into the Dallas Design District, Homewood excels through New American cuisine focused on simplicity and quality served in an airy, chic warehouse dotted with living trees and hanging plants. The menu evolves with the seasons but often features their stellar Hearth Baked Chicken served under a cast iron lid allowing natural juices to create an unforgettable crisp and succulent bird. Extensive vegetarian options, in-house baked bread and a curated wine list emphasize Homewood’s dedication towards approachable sophistication through clean flavors and conscientious preparation. For urbanites seeking respite from big city pressures, Homewood soothes body and soul.

Boulevardier

Name and Location: Boulevardier is located at 408 N. Bishop Ave in Dallas’ charming Bishop Arts District.

History and Significance: Opened in 2013 by co-owners famed for other Dallas bars, Boulevardier brought craft cocktails, European café vibes, sidewalk seating and live music to a historic corner building to help revitalize the Bishop Arts neighborhood.

What to Expect: Sip lavender gin fizzes, Aperol spritzes or French 75 champagne cocktails alongside raclette boards with charcuterie, paté, pickles and bread or light snacks like flatbreads. The sunny ambiance encourages staying awhile.

Visitor Information: Open Wednesday–Sunday 4PM–midnight for walk-ins. Street parking is extremely limited, so ride shares, taxis or the nearby DART streetcar line are best modes to reach Boulevardier.

Housed in the historic Bishop Arts lounge Soda Bar, Boulevardier transport diners across the Atlantic to a cozy French country bistro. Daily blackboard specials like Fork Tender Beef Bourguignon or Roast Leg of Duck showcase Boulevardier’s knack for robust, soul-warming European fare perfect for pairing with Old World wines. Patrons packing the intimate space adorned with vintage advertisements, floral wallpaper and candlelight feast upon shared starters of escargot, pâté en croûte and salade Lyonnaise salad tossed tableside. For Gallic charm in Dallas’ trendiest (and tiniest) new restaurant, make reservations immediately to experience Boulevardier’s intimacy and authentic continental cuisine.

Bullion

Name and Location: Bullion is situated at 400 S Record St in downtown Dallas’ Farmers Market district.

History and Significance: Opened in 2012, Bullion’s club-like, leather-lined atmosphere with a glamorous French Quarter vibe serves upscale interpretations of Cajun and Creole cuisine courtesy of celebrity chef Bruno Davaillon in the landmark Dallas Farmers Market.

What to Expect: Share plates like duck rillettes or foie gras dumplings precede elevated entrées ranging from Gulf shrimp to Niman Ranch filet mignon and desserts like their signature Hazelnut Dacquoise. Extensive wine options and craft cocktails like the Earl Grey Cobbler complement meals.

Visitor Information: Dinner served Monday–Thursday 6PM–10PM and until 11PM on weekends. Reservations essential. Valet parking convenient or use paid garages. Upscale smart casual dress code enforced.

Glitz drips from every surface at Bullion nestled inside historic 400 Record building downtown. But beyond the bold decor lies an equally dazzling tasting menu celebrating French and American cuisine from rising star Chef Bruno Davaillon. Across multiple artfully composed courses, the kitchen flexes immense talent through complex layering of flavors and techniques from housemade pastas in truffle broth to Texas Wagyu striploin glazed with red wine. Extensive wine pairings culminating in Cognac or Malt Whisky allow each bite to shine fully. For white-glove pampering through an opulent culinary journey, Bullion brings five star dazzle to Dallas’ fine dining scene.

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