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DFWTexEx

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Posts posted by DFWTexEx

  1. Sucks that you are going this weekend because it will be bitter cold and the fun of Bishop Arts is just walking around, popping into shops, eating something, and getting pie at Emporium or chocolate at Dude, Sweet.  But, because of the cold and the time of year, a lot of places should be wide open.  On Open Table, Stock & Barrel has lots of spots on Saturday night.

    Genie's Bishop Grill was the chicken fried steak place.  They closed down about 10 years ago and there is a Hunky's there now for old-fashioned, diner style classic hamburgers.

  2. You won't recognize the Bishop Arts area, Streetcar development at Zang and Davis has really changed things up.  Some people are uptight about the gentrification and displacement, but a lot of is driven by Hispanic families selling their homes at big profits.  It's complex, but the changes have made the area much safer, more walkable, with lots more retail, dining and entertainment choices.  I have lived in North Oak Cliff since 2004 and it's been fun.

    La Calle Doce is definitely still solid.  Good stuff.

    Charco Broiler is still there and iconic.  For what it is (low end Bonanza style meat that you order in a line), it's fun.  We get the steak sandwich.  And, it's one of the last places where you will get a baked potato and a salad with thousand island dressing with your meal.  

    EL Ranchito is still great, for Norteno style grilled meats.  At night, they have 1 or 2 mariachi groups walking around. Some people think that because of this it's too noisy, but I love it.  It's always festive with large family groups celebrating things.  It does get packed.

    Tons of excellent higher end food all around (Bolsa, Nova, Stock & Barrell, Boulevardiere, Hattie's, etc....Lucia too, but you can't get in without a reservation at least a month in advance)

    For a middle ground, go to Taco y Vino.  It's on the outskirts of Bishop Arts (Zang and 8th, more or less).  Very good tacos, good bear and wine selection.  Moderate prices.  Or just walk around Bishop Arts, go in the shops and get some pizza at Enos or a sandwich at Parker.  

    If you are there at night, catch a show at the Kessler (Davis in Winnetka Heights) or see something at the Texas (Jefferson near Bishop)

    Ask away if you need more info.

    • Like 1
  3. And here we go....

    Griggs is in

    I was at the launch event last night.  Nicely done.  He spoke about the coalition that he has helped build to stop the tollroad, fix the pension fund, settle the DPD/DFR salary lawsuit, get a housing policy in place, and bring transparency to city hall.  As I posted above, keeping that coalition together will be key.   His support of DPD, pro financial restraint views will have to bring in some conservative voters.  He definitely has a good campaign plan and management team.,  Among the candidates, only he and Solis have actually won elections.  At this point, I would expect that the runoff will be Griggs and one of the pro-establishment candidates (Ablon?), unless Solis can somehow rally the Hispanic vote.  I don't think anyone has ever actually done that city-wide, but maybe. 

    Also, WTF with the visitor and convention people spending $150 million unsupervised.  Their CEO makes about $300K more than the City Manager and their budget is more than the budgets for code compliance and libraries.  Crazy bullshit.

    • Like 1
  4. If you are open to something other than summer sun, that's a perfect time to head south of the equator.  We went to Argentina in late July/August and had to pack winter clothes.  It was a fantastic break from the heat.  We stayed in BA mostly, but went out to an estancia to get out in the country, ride horses, etc.  I am not sure what the mountains are like at that time of year,  but the city was really nice.  Great food and walking for sure.

  5. I’ve had plenty of fantastic meals.  Some at expensive, highly rated, famous restaurants.  Some, simple and perfect at places with names I can’t even remember (ask me about the huachinango at some nameless hotel in San Blas, Mexico).

    But, the topic is “Best Dining Experience”, which calls for one answer and that the answer is about the overall experience and not just the quality of the food.

    For me, that’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns.  The history, the place, the walk, course after course of the most thoughtful food from the farm, precisely executed (even if that meant a raw vegetable with just a hint of salt).  The meal lasted almost four hours and it flew by.  I had no idea it was 1:00 a.m. when we left.  It was like an adrenaline rush.

  6. My report:

    NOLA:  we went there for my birthday dinner before the VT Sugar Bowl in 1995.   It was a special occasion place then and everything about that night was spectacular.  For nostalgia, we went back for my birthday dinner before this Sugar Bowl.  They overhauled the restaurant in 2017.  It's  much more casual now with pizza and global small plates.  We sat on the third floor, essentially in a storage room.  Food was pretty good (best dish was roasted octupus with "Elotes" style corn).  Service was very good.  Fun people at the adjoining 2 tops made for a enjoyable night.

    Cochon:  spectacularly disappointing.  I had never been.  Based on the reviews, awards, etc, my expectations were sky high.  Maybe it was an off night, but just about everything went wrong.  Every dish came out lukewarm / room temp.  Wrong dishes were served.  Wrong wine was served (partially our fault for not paying attention).    Awkwardly long ass gaps between courses.  Signature cochon dish was an inedible salt bomb.   We didn't  complain but, to their credit, they could sense that things were not right.  Same thing was happening at the table next to us (they did complain and sent several things back).  Manager apologized halfway through the meal and they ended up comping us a few items.   Not sure I will return.

    Couvant.  Opposite of Cochon.  I had no expectations.  It was a last minute table on New Year's Eve.  We loved it.  Service was great.  French bistro food, done really well.  Terrific oysters with a mignonette that had a nice crunchy bite to it were my favorite.  Skate was buttery and rich.   Good place.

    Antoine's.   Still perfect.  My favorite meal.  Our server, Sterling, has been there for 52 years. He had quite a bit to say about the "young ones" that don't listen to him.   The oysters rockefeller and pommes souffle were as great as always.  And the fish dishes look simple, but are just right.  The Ramos gin fizzes to end the meal were perfect.  I can't wait to go back.

    Marigny Brasserie.  Good find on Frenchman for lunch.  Sat at the bar and watched the Saints, with good gumbo and po boys.  Not a dive, but casual and good.   

  7. I’m at this game. Go Owls! 

    No piped in music.  Other than a bit of pyro for the national anthem, no production whatsoever.  Just college bands, cheerleaders and the game on a nice, cool sunny day.  So pure and clean.   Whatever happened to this?

    • Like 4
  8. 14 hours ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

    First day he just taped up everything, covered the floors etc. He knocked out the actual painting in about 8-9 hours on Saturday. But yeah... cost a grand. I actually dig it and the kids think it's cool so I'm good with it all. 

    If you live in a neighborhood that does home tours and if your house is ever on it, I'd pay to see this and everything else in your house.

  9. Resurrecting this thread as the mayor race starts to heat up.   Who's in?

    Albert Black - prominent business man; first black to lead the regional chamber

    Regina Montoya, political player with lots of connections, GC at Children's, former Clinton aide

    Larry Casto, former city attorney and the apparent candidate of the Citizens Counsel money (although the Council said that for the first time it would not be endorsing anyone...not surprising since that endorsement has not been as helpful as its money). Is he taking the support and money that Bobby Abtahi wanted?

    Mike Ablon, a developer who did nice things in the Design District....the real estate development community's dream candidate

    Jennifer Staubach Gates - Did the Halloween costume really eliminate her?

    [Scott Griggs]* - The apparent new urbanist leader of the next wave of city leadership; portrayed as an Oak Cliff liberal, but is really the most economically conservative, pro police member of the City Council (and is certainly the smartest).  Will try to create an "across the aisle" coalition, but will start with Hunt and Kingston on his team.

    *unannounced

     

  10. C-Man's review of Sammy's is actually spot on.  I ate lunch there at least once a week in the mid to late 90's.  It was always enjoyable because of the atmosphere and sides and despite of the meat.

  11. 41 minutes ago, Landomatic said:

    Google map shows I’m over 6 miles and almost 20 mins from there so I worry about it getting cold no matter what service I use.

    True, but reheated Royal China is still probably better than anything else out there.  We are too far for any of the delivery services, so it's take out for us.   I drive from Royal to Oak Cliff like it's a f'in emergency.

    • Like 1
  12. 17 minutes ago, ztejas said:

    Has anyone ate at Sammy's right by the Fed Reserve? Seems like it's usually popping but also it looks like the crowd is the white collar uptown crowd so not sure about their judgement of good BBQ.

    Go get a double serving of the zucchini casserole and an iced tea.  It'll be great and  you'll be happy.  If you deviate from this, it will not go well for you. 

  13. 3 minutes ago, Landomatic said:

    Huh.  Up On Knox?  Fine China?  List seems questionable.

    Petra was just named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Esquire, which is pretty huge.  Definitly looking forward to trying it.  Will not expect the chicken caesar.

    Haven't heard much about Up on Knox.  Fine China got destroyed in the DMN review (consistent with what I heard from friends).  But, the chef there was awesome at Top Knot.  Maybe she righted the ship.  

  14. The D list is out:  Dallas' Best New Restaurants

    Restaurant of the Year:  Bullion

    Macellaio

    Billy Can Can

    The French Room

    Up on Knox

    Fachini

    The Charles

    Zayatinya

    Fine China

    Petra and the Beast

    I  have only been to three of these).  I can't argue with Bullion being up there.   It is really remarkable.  Billy Can Can was fun and the food was delicious.  Macellaio had some good moments but a very aggressive, upselling and over pouring waiter ruined the night and we may not go back despite big fans of the Ugyurs and Lucia.  Misty Norris at Petra is getting all sorts of press again, like she did at Small.  I am an adventurous eater, but her stuff can be pretty aggressive even for me.  She pushes the envelope.  We will try it, but with "foodie" friends.  That is not the place you go for a chicken caesar.

  15. Happy to recommend several places, but can you provide some more guidance?  Are you looking for restaurants for the whole family?  How old are you boys?  Will you have an adults night out?  In what are of town are you staying?  Budget?

    My family is from your neck of the woods and I am down there a lot.  Good thing you are not asking for Mexican food recs, because nothing in Dallas compares to what you can get in the Valley.  Nothing.

    What I'd do for some shrimp from the Oyster Bar now, or the caldo de res (with the comida corrida) at the International!

  16. 5 minutes ago, Drew said:

    My In-Laws usually do Thanksgiving. Honestly they're great people to hang with. No issue there.

     

    This year they said they're not cooking.  So I thought we'd do something small and watch the game.  Nah, now they're talking about taking us all up to Windstar in OK.  For Thanksgiving...not sure if that sounds fun or not.

    Oh man.   My parents are Winstar fans.  Since they discovered it, they rarely stay with me for more than a day when they come to visit.  They say hi, take one of our cars and go up there.   I have joined them a few times.  It can be a horrible place.  The crowd is a typical casino crowd.  It used to be that the food was the worst part of the experience (along with the unacceptable antes on the table games).  Other than El Fenix, there was nothing to eat in the place unless you liked the fried bologna at Toby Keith's restaurant.   BUT, they recently added a Micky Mantle's / Kirby's set up.   Now, there is a quiet place to get legitimate cocktails, nice wine, and upscale steakhouse fare.  The happy hour is terrific (excellent lamp chops).  If you go for Thanksgiving, be sure to eat there.   Do not eat at any of the hotel restaurants or buffets if you can avoid it, except for maybe a basic breakfast.

    I have not been to the nightclub, but we did try their attempt at a Vegas style pool lounge party one weekend night last summer.  It was laughably sad.  I actually felt sorry for them.  They had the LED lights, dancing girls, all of that.   And a bunch of senior citizens sitting on the lounge chairs probably wanting them to turn down the music.

  17. 2 hours ago, Sparky said:

    98a14b_7c4bb6148d4f4fdb959d1600b1560c10~

     

    Looks like it's a lounge area.  I remember channel 5 did their big NYE show from there last year.  But sounds like it's not worth fighting thru the food for a view.

    I agree.   That's what I tried to say when I said it was a nice place to start or end the night. I wouldn't eat there.

    • Like 1
  18. It’s true that the food at Saint Rocco’s is terrible.   Very expensive Macaroni Grill quality stuff, but the NYC / Frank Sinatra atmosphere and very good service is enough for some people. 

    That all being said, they have a terrace / rooftop bar that has a fantastic view of the bridge and downtown.  It’s on the third floor or so and it’s a very nice place to start or end the evening. 

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