In the early 1970s, Arthur’s was the sexiest restaurant in Dallas. For those who could afford to dine at the luxurious steakhouse, it was the ultimate spot for fine dining, steaks, and expensive wine. Those of us who wanted to be near the action, but couldn’t afford to eat there, hung out in the bar. The restaurant, which opened in 1948, has moved three times and is currently operating exactly where it needs to be—in Addison, where an older clientele enjoys the nostalgia of the menu and the mood. A huge crystal chandelier hangs in the darkly lit main dining room, which is surrounded by tropical fish tanks. The muffled live music from the separate bar and club is just loud enough for you to recognize the tunes. We tapped our toes to “New York, New York” as we dove into an appetizer of four jumbo shrimp in a Thermidor sauce of white wine, cream, and Dijon mustard. The shrimp was fresh; the sauce a perfect rendition. “Blue Moon” wafted across the room as we finished our raspberry sorbet palate cleanser and struggled with our entrées. The half duck breast was cooked to a dull gray. The medallions were so tough that I couldn’t chew them. The Cowboy rib-eye was, according to my cowboy, “just a piece of meat with no seasoning.” Desserts were nice. A white chocolate cheesecake on a crust of crushed Oreos was devoured within minutes, but the chocolate mousse could use a darker chocolate base. The light, airy mixture was like a chocolate-flavored whipped cream. The wine list is full of the usual suspects—La Crema, Jordan, Stag’s Leap—but they are holding onto a few classics. If any of you wistful big spenders are still out there, they have a Château Mouton Lafite Pauillac 1993 for $750. And you can finish it in the lounge. The dance floor is open every night.
For more information about Arthur’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, visit our restaurant guide.
