Restaurant Listings

You’re hungry and only Chinese food will do. Or maybe it’s Thai or some Texas barbecue. Whatever you crave, Dallas probably has the place for you. Here’s information from the restaurants to help you choose.



KEY TO SYMBOLS:



$Inexpensive, dinner entrees under $10

$$Moderate, most entrees $10 to $25

$$$Expensive, most entrees $25 or more

(Based on a typical dinner for one, not including drinks, tax and tip. )



Multiple Locations



8. 0 RESTAURANT AND BAR, 2800 Routh, 214-979-0880. 1ll East Third at Commerce, Sundance Square, 817-336-0880, Fort Worth. Ocho quesadillas with spinach and mushrooms. “Mas Chicken Salad, ” with balsamic sun-dried tomato vinatgrette, veggie enchiladas, chipotle chilimade with Shiner Buck beer, sweet jerk chicken. Too much? Try the “Green Plate” (vegetarian). Quirky cuisine; it’s a mix of Cajun/Creole, Southwest, Tex-Mex, Italian, and much more, $

ECLECTIC



CAFE BRAZIL, 6420 North Central, 214-691-7791. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; open 24 hours. 2221 Ahrams, 214-826-9522. Weekends until midnight. Open until 10 p. m. weekdays. 2815 Elm, 214-747-2730. Sunday through Tuesday, until 1 a. m.; Fridays and Saturdays open 24 hours; Wednesday and Thursday until 3 a. m. Big Brazilian-style breakfasts and fragrant coffees are the attraction here, and you can enjoy them any time. Try the French toast with fresh fruit, homemade breads, breakfast empanadas. Or build your own crepes or omelet! The menu also offers hearty soups, salads and sandwiches, plus a worldwide collection of coffees with featured specials that change daily. No alcoholic beverages. $

COFFEEHOUSE



CRESCENT CITY CAFE, 2615 Commerce at Good-Latimer, 214-745-1900. Monday-Thursday lunch only, Friday and Saturday dinner and lunch, closed Sunday. 2822 McKinney, 214-969-1885. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Most popular: muffaletta and o’ boy sandwiches. Signature dish: Crawfish étouffée. Don’t miss the beignets. Children’s menu: mini-sandwiches, corndogs, chicken fingers. Muffaletta hot on 8-inch, fresh-baked Italian bun with salami, mozzarella, provolone and olive salad topping. Real steal: one-quarter muffaletta and gumbo. $5. 50. $

CAJUN CREOLE



DEEP ELLUM CAFE, 2706 Elm, 214-741-9012. 5001 Belt Line, Addison, 214-392-0894- Lunch and dinner. Trendy spot with a trend-surfer’s menu to match: Sifigapore-style noodles, jerked pork chop marinated with scotch bonnet (habanero) chilies, lime, and Jamaican spices served with grilled bananas, coconut rice, Vietnamese grilled chicken salad. Morn-style stuff: pot pie, chicken and dumplings, chicken-fried steak, grilled banana bread with vanilla ice cream and ginger butter sauce. $$

ECLECTIC



PATRIZIO, 25 Highland Park Village at Preston, 214-522-7878. 1900 Preston Park at Preston and Park, 214-964-2200. Lunch and dinner, closed holidays. Original art, tile floors, Oriental rugs, marble tables, fresh flowers on the mantel over the fireplace. Charming outdoor patio at Highland Park location. Don’t fill up on the pepper-oni bread, you need room for baked ziti or tiramisu. Updated pasta and pizza plays to a crowd at these yuppie feeding grounds. $

ITALIAN



SAMBUCA, 2618 Elm, 214-744-0820. 15207 Addison, 214-385-8455. Monday to Friday lunch and dinner, late night Sunday to Wednesday, open to 12 a. m., Thursday until 1 a. m., Friday and Saturday until 2 a. m., closed holidays. Sexy new digs in Addison with a similar menu to Deep Ellum original. Favorites include spinach and sun-dried tomato linguini with smoked chicken, grilled tiger shrimp spiked with harissa sauce, salmon over spinach and gor-gonzola, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, lamb couscous with Calamata olives. Thirty-something trendsurfers will feel right at home. Live jazz nightly after 8: 15. Reservations except Friday and Saturday nights. Call for wine dinner schedule. $$

MEDITERRANEAN



SAM’S CAFE, 100 Crescent Court at McKinney and Maple, 214-855-2233. 8411 Preston at Berkshire in Preston Center West, 739-2288. Lunch daily and Saturday, dinner every night, Sunday brunch. Southwest-style grill with an imaginative menu, including chili-rubbed fresh tuna, crayfish cakes with pico de gallo and black beans, and a Southwest style calzone stuffed with chicken, roast pepper, and goat cheese. The cinnamon bufiuelo is filled with Mexican vanilla bean ice cream and warm caramel. $$

SOUTHWEST



Downtown



DAKOTA’S, 600 North Akard at Ross, 214-740-4001. Lunch and dinner. Most popular: swordfish, lamb, five-pepper chicken. Signature dish: lamb chops with minted angel hair pasta. Menu lists calories and fat on the Dakota signature dish: citrus-marinated chicken with herhed wild rice and asparagus. Go for the vegetable lasagna. Use the saved calories for vanilla bean cheesecake with gingerbread crust and minted pistachio sauce, apple pecan chimichanga, or Kahlua low-fat, mile-high pie made with Haagen Dazs frozen yogurt. $$

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



DICK’S LAST RESORT, corner of Ross and Record in the West End, 214-747-0001. Open 11 a. m. -2 a. m. Put on a bib and order up one of this restaurant’s infamous buckets of messy ribs, chicken catfish, shrimp, or crab legs. A live gospel bunch on Sunday typifies this place’s penchant for off-beat fun and entertainment. The brunch features salads, breakfast and dinner items, and yummy desserts.

AMERICAN



GREEN ROOM, 2715 Elm at Crowdus, 214-748-7666. Lunch weekdays; dinner seven days, 5: 30 p. m. to 11 p. m.. A green neon sign outside says “room-a cryptic way of saying “Green Room. ” Despite the funky digs, there’s grown-up cooking going on here under the practiced hand of Christopher Pyun, a Culinary Institute of America grad who comes to Dallas after stints at Le Cirque and Daniel in New York City. His plan is to create French style food with less pricey ingredients. Look for spicy Creole input: ravioli with crayfish and andouille sausage, swordfish with fennel in shellfish saffron sauce, crème brulèe. Wines by the glass and an interesting list of beers make this a popular place. $$

FRENCH NOUVELLE/CREOLE



NEWPORT’S, 703 McKinney Avenue, suite 101 in The Brewery, 214-954-0220. Lunch weekdays, dinner seven days. Seafood is the feature here, prepared simply or lavished with spicy sauces and seasonings. Best bets: chipotle tuna or blackened snapper with crabmeat, topped with lobster sauce. Always bustling and busy, hut expect good service. Tablecloths, fresh flowers and soft jazz combine for a relaxing ambience. Call for wine dinner schedule. $$

SEAFOOD



Northwest



ADELMO’S, 4537 Cole at Knox, 214-559-0325. Lunch and dinner, dinner only Saturdays; closed Sunday and holidays. You’ve never had veal until you’ve ordered Adelmo’s 20-ounce USDA prime veal chop with green peppercorns, priciest pick on an otherwise moderate menu. (You pay for the side Of beef it could have been. ) Rack of lamb, lobster ravioli, crab cakes spiced with hot harissa and pesto, lamb sausage on couscous gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce, créme brulée for dessert. Cuisine is an artful blend of French, Italian, and Middle Eastern. $$

MEDITERRANEAN



ARCODORO BAR, 2520 Cedar Springs at Fairmount and Routh, 214-871-1924. Lunch and dinner to midnight (2 a. m. Friday and Saturday). Pomodoro’s little sister shares chefs Victor Orms and Salvatore Gisellu, who serve up thick pizzas, roast chicken from their wood oven, plus lots of vegetarian choices, and tiramisu for dessert. Latin music and Italian frescoes bring loyal locals and European expats who eat late, Full bar. $

ITALIAN, NORTHERN



BEAU NASH, (Hotel Crescent Court) 400 Crescent Court, Maple and McKinney, 214-871 -3242. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner 365 days, Sunday brunch. Classy brasserie, up-to-the-minute menu. Power breakfasts, exec lunches, late night jazz, and weekend brunches. $$

INTERNATIONAL



BOB’S STEAK AND CHOP HOUSE, 4300 Lemmon at Wycliff, 214-528-9446. Dinner, closed Sunday. Dark wood and leather booths, white tablecloths, Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline in the background. Most popular: filet mignon. Signature dish: cote d’boeuf. Bob’s brings business people on weekdays and special occasions. “Cigar friendly. ” $$

STEAK



CAFE MEDITERRANEE, 5950A Royal at Preston, 214-692-7716. Lunch and dinner weekdays; dinner Saturday, brunch weekends. Mediterranean and Moroccan flavors beckon in this appealing restaurant with Italian, Greek and North African influences. Begin with King David Salad-not simply a salad, but an assortment of Middle Eastern appetizers: hummus, tahini, felafet, dolmades. Choose the layered Mediterranean Pasta Ricotta Pie as an encore, grilled ribeye with portobello mushrtooms, vermicelli, and grilled vegetables, pistachio-crusted red snapper Moroccan style with raisin-dotted asparagus, or grilled duck breast with polenta and gorgonzola. Side dishes include rice pilaf and eggplant, veggie couscous, risotto with asparagus. Desserts: mascarpone cheese cake, apricot baklava, lemon pistachio tart topped with raspberry coulis. Non-smoking. $$

MEDITERRANEAN



CAFE PANDA, 7979 Inwood at Lovers, 214-902-9500. Lunch and dinner. Spicy Szechwan dishes and other favorites including Peking duck, quail, hearty Hunan beef, tangy seafood chowder, sweet and sour tangerine beef. Tableside coffee and tea ceremonies, fried ice cream, classical music, pink tablecloths, and excellent service. Gourmet takeout and fax orders for nearby delivery. $

CHINESE



CALLUAUD’S, 5405 West Lovers at Inwood, 214-352-1997- Lunch and dinner, closed Sunday. Smoking permitted only in bar area. Innovative “Gourmet Leger” menu offers terrine of pheasant and vegetables, fresh ravioli with wild mushrooms, eggplant caviar style wrapped in smoked salmon, veal tenderloin coated with fresh herbs and roasted with feta and sun-dried tomatoes, boneless quail on baked apples and pilaf. Or try these favorites from the regular menu: lobster soufflé, rabbit, sweetbreads, escargot, classic onion soup. Wonderfully presented rack of Iamb, Dover sole. Indulge on Lover’s as if near the Eiffel Tower. C’est magnifique, $$$

FRENCH



DREAM CAFE, 2800 Routh at the Quadrangle, 214-954-0486. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. A harmonic convergence of environmental friendliness and nutritional inventiveness fuses southwest and southeast Asia with a heavy dose of California dreamin’. Cool! Lots of politically correct vegetarian dishes, of course, but fish and chicken too. Breakfast choices range from the gra-nola-strewn to the butter-soaked traditional. Wholegrain but still decadent desserts, great coffee selection and blender-whizzed fruit smoothies for snacks. $$

HEALTH FOOD



FOG CITY DINER, 2401 McKinney at Maple, 214-220-2401. Lunch and dinner daily. Anyone who’s visited the San Fran original will recognize the stylish spoof of American comfort food, redone for Dallas with a Southwest spin: sirloin chili, BBQ scallops, grilled pasilla pepper stuffed with five cheeses and topped with avocado salsa, diner chili dogs, and crisp mahogany chicken with homemade rice-a-roni. What, no chicken fried steak? Don’t miss the chocolate chili tart with coffee ice cream. A worthy tribute to the quirky San Francisco chrome palace. $$

NEW AMERICAN



HOFSTETTER’S, 3840 West Northwest Highway, #400, between Marsh and Midway, 214-358-7660. Lunch and dinner, closed Sunday. Classic Beef Wellington, Wiener schnitzel, jager (veal) schnitzel, veal Zurich, and bratwurst are the standbys. Fall brings game: pheasant, wild boar, venison, and rabbit. For vegetarians there’s a richly indulgent vegetable platter with spaet-zle (then follow it with Viennese pastries). Forest green tablecloths, French windows, and lots of plants make this a lunchtime favorite with senior male execs during the week. Other times, a mix of families and couples. (Kinder-menu for children. ) $$

GERMAN



HOTEL ST. GERMAIN, 2516 Maple at McKinney, 214-871-2516. Dinner Friday and Saturday with reservations and other nights for private parties. In nice weather there’s a walled New Orleans-style courtyard. It’s the perfect place to indulge on crab custard and creamy bisques, fresh seafood. They claim to serve the best potatoes in Dallas, Regular clientele, mostly local prosperous business people who appreciate the polished old world service. Special dinner for $65 arranged specially in advance. $$$

FRENCH NOUVELLE



KATHLEEN’S ART CAFE, 4424 Lovers at the Tollway, 214-691-2355. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Funky place with art on the wall and meatloaf in the oven- Home-style warmth comes paired with originality. Self-taught chef-owner Kathleen Ellington loves to bake and cumes up with such delights as ancho chili fudge pie (fudge with a kick), sesame-crusted catfish, meatloaf pizza, chili rellenos, smoked pork chops with apple brandy-wonderful early morning breakfasts and brunches, too. Lots of inexpensive Texas wines to try. Down the street at Kathleen’s Art Bakery, most dishes are available as take-out. $

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



LAWRV’S THE PRIME RIB, 3008 Maple at Carlisle and Wolf, 214-521-7777. Lunch and dinner, no lunch on Saturday; Sunday brunch. Edwardian English dining room with brass chandeliers, unique dome ceiling. There are potted palms, fresh flowers, silver dining carts, all geared to make you feel pampered and privileged. The bar is like an upscale cozy pub, Prime rib, thick steaks, and enormous hand-carved roast beef sandwiches are the main features. You can get takeout or evening delivery. Save room for dessert; it should be the English trifle with strawberries. Winner of the Wine Spectator Great Wine List Award, Lawry’s boasts an extensive list that’s moderately priced. $$

STEAK



LOMA LUNA CAFE, 8201 Preston, 214-691-1552. Lunch and dinner. Like a trip to Santa Fe without the airfare. Warm adobe decor suggests a hacienda. Smoke-sweet scent sharpens your appetite for the house specialty: meats, seafood, and chicken, gently grilled over pecan shells. Have yours Santa Fe style with posole (hominy) and beans. Desserts are unique: Indian bread pudding or cajeta sundae (homemade vanilla ice cream sauced with sweet caramelized goat’s milk). $

SOUTHWESTERN



MlA’S, 4322 Lemmon at Wycliff, 214-526-1020. Lunch and dinner, closed Sunday and major holidays. Mia, short for “Mama Mia” (my momma), co-owns this Dallas standard with her husband, chef Butch, and her son, manager Paul. $

TEX-MEX



NATURA CAFS, 2909 McKinney at Howell, 214-855-54S3. Breakfast Saturday and Sunday, lunch and dinner every day, closed holidays. High energy, environment-conscious, fun atmosphere. Go see the 10-foot tall faux asparagus forest in lieu of a palm tree. Bar with fireplace; open-style kitchen in the dining room. Most popular: red snapper tacos, chicken penne pasta, smoked tomato sauce, ahi ground tunaburger on kaiser roll, shrimp with black beans. It’s good for you food that is fun. $

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



PAUL’S PORTERHOUSE, 10960 Composite at I-35 and Walnut Hill, 214-357-0279. Lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday 11 a. m. to 10 p. m., Saturday and Sunday 4 p. m. to 10 p. m. Beyond the perfectly seared red meat you’ll find non-steak innovations and sophistication that belie the wagon wheel decor: southwest style cabrito (goat), charbroiled pecos rabbit, red river game hens, Texas quail, or spicy, blackened prime rib. Extensive winelist at some of the lowest prices anywhere; most rated 95 or better by the Wine Spectator. Rustic decor features original Winchester rifles, Remington bronzes, and pre-Columbian an. Winner of the Texas Beef Council’s “Best steakhouse” prize, geared toward inventiveness as well as excellence. $$$

STEAK



POPOLOS CAFE, 707 Preston Royal Shopping Center at Preston and Royal, 214-692-5497, 1401 Preston, Piano. Lunch and dinner, seven days. Smoking only at the bar. This is the comfortable sort of place where you could happily eat every night: white tablecloths, candlelight, fresh roses on each table, quiet jazz at low level, original paintings, and the kind of food you never tire of. For a pretty perch, nestle into the heated/cooled screened sun porch built around a huge tree. Chef Mark Gonzales shows his Napa Valley roots in his able version of Italian nuova cucina with lots of low-fat, low-cholesterol entrees. Many enticing vegetarian dishes, too. Try the extra hot and spicy “pizza for the brave, ” or meatless lasagna with wood-fire grilled vegetables. Most popular dish: angel hair pasta with shrimp. $$

MEDITERRANEAN



THE RIVIERA, 7709 lnwood, 214-351-0094. Open seven days, dinner only. Smoke free. The Riviera continues to flag down awards with its practiced rendition of classics: updated rack of lamb with chutney, escargots with torrelloni, quail, and polenta. It’s one of the top five Dallas restaurants according to readers of Conde Nast Traveler. It’s also won the Wine Spectator Great Wine List Award. $$$

FRENCH/ITALIAN



RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE, 5922 Cedar Springs at Inwood, 214-902-8080. Open seven days, dinner only. Most popular: corn-fed steaks. Signature: shrimp rémoulade, BBQ shrimp. Yes, there is a vegetable platter, even though it’s not on the menu. Attracts business and professional people, special celebrations. This is the home of serious steaks. Country French building overlooks meandering stream. Upholstered antique church pews in the oak bar; white tablecloths and brass candles with frosted shades in the dining room; 1, 200 bottles of wine on view behind an arch foretell an extensive wine list. $$$

STEAK



SIPANGO, 4513 Travis, 214-522-2411. Lunch and dinner weekdays. Ron Corcoran, Keith Jones, and Matthew Antonovich have hit upon a recipe for success that has made this one of the trendiest restaurants around. The entire menu is imaginative, from the pastas with a definite Mediterranean Hair to selections from the oak fired grill to the wood-fired oven pizzas. Even if you feed on the attention, you’ll enjoy the tastes. $$

CALIFORNIA/ITALIAN



STAR CANYON RESTAURANT, 3102 Oak Lawn #144 at Cedar Springs, 214-520-7827. Lunch and dinner. Here’s where the stars at night shine big and bright, but none more sparkling than homeboy celebrity chef Stephan Pyles himself presiding over the restaurant’s open kitchen where a scurry of young chefs slice, dice, stir, and whirl native ingredients into jalapeno-stuffed smoked quail, wood-roasted rabbit enchiladas, Gulf Coast red snapper on Texas jambalaya dol-loped with chilipiquin aioli, chile relleno filled with black bean chili, steak ’n’ cowboy beans, all with attitude… the ultimate Dallas dining experience at accessible prices. $$

NEW TEXAS



YELLOW, 2719 McKinney at Worthington, 214-871-1772. Lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner only Saturdays, closed Sundays. East meets West cuisine with the sure hand of chef-owner Avner Samuels (who’s better at creating dishes than restaurant names. The last, “Da Spot, ” closed after only a few months. ) As always, the dishes are imaginative, polished, and perfectly presented: scared ahi tuna, foie gras with mung beans, or duck with tamarind plum sauce. For his fans’ sake, lets hope this one lasts. $$$

NEW AMERICAN



ZIZIKI’S RESTAURANT AND BAR, 4514 Travis at Armstrong, 214-521-2233. Lunch and dinner until midnight, closed Sunday. Cross a Greek diner with a Soho-style bistro and a trendy wine har, throw in some Italian blood and a Hawaiian upbringing and here’s what you get: Chef Costa Arahatzis’ eatery. Fad-free fusion that scours the Mediterranean and Aegean for inspiration, then lightens up on the oil. All your Greek favorites, plus pasta originals. Open kitchen with Italian tile hand-crafted bar. $

MEDITERRANEAN



Northeast



AL DENTE CAFE, 1920 Greenville, 214-821-6054. Bargain neighborhood place with the kind of Italian fare you remember (even to the prices). Mussels and calamari, veal cacciatore, baked ziti, Gamberoni Fra Diavola. Got the picture? When you’re in the mood for candle-in-a-Chianti-bot-tle cuisine, this place won’t disappoint. Lovely oak bar, intimate dining. $

ITALIAN



CAFFE PAPARAZZI, 8989 Forest at Greenville, 214-644-1323. Lunch and dinner, closed holidays. Contemporary black and white decor softened with tropical foliage and oil lamps: Soft Mediterranean music. Specialties: lamb, seafood, and pasta nova. Most popular: spinach, mushroom asparagus lasagna. Vegetarians rejoice! Luscious gnocchi and cannelloni, too. Lunchtime favorite of nearby medics. Outdoors on nice days. Full bar, booths. $$

ITALIAN, NUOVA CUCINA



DADDY JACK’S, 1916 Greenville at Ross, 214-826-4910. Dinner seven nights. Owner/chef Jack Chaplin re-created a typical backstreet Boston chowderhouse, right down to the live lobsters. Perfectly prepared fresh fish, sea-scented lobster bisque, and clam chowder will have you talking like a Yankee local. Featured in season: fresh soft-shell crabs, stone crabs, oysters, scampi, mussels marinara, grilled tuna with lobster brandy sauce, salmon with Dijon caper cream sauce. $$

SEAFOOD



GERSHWIN’S BAR & GRILL, 8442 Walnut Hill at Greenville, 214-373-7171. Lunch and dinner. White tablecloths, oil lamps, fresh flowers on every table, the romantic tinkle of the piano, stylish samplings for appetizers, an au courant menu: tenderloin with garlic-whipped potatoes, blackened salmon, grilled yellowfin tuna with avocado cilantro sauce, snapper en papillote, “Beggar’s Purse” filled with lobster and shrimp in a creamy bisque. Trendy pizzas and pastas. Popular Sunday brunch; outdoor dining in good weather. $$

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



MATT’S RANCHO MARTINEZ, 6312 La Vista Drive at Gaston, 214-823-5517. Lunch and dinner, closed Monday. Busy, papular place puts a healthy new spin on old standards: flautas are grilled, cowboy beans are fat-free. “Lite” fajitas, even all-veggie fajitas. But then there’s buttermilk-battered chicken-fried steak, frog’s legs, chile rellenos stuffed with beef, chicken, shrimp, or vegetables, plus Texas pecans, raisins, and Jack cheese. $

MEXICAN



NERO’S, 2100 Greenville at Prospect, 214-826-6376. Dinner every night. Fresh seafood with pasta or rice, and veal chops an inch and a halt thick with your choice of sauces: Masala-mush-room, port wine spiked with cracked pepper, or a zesty green peppercorn butter. Most popular: Linguini fra diavola: pasta with sea scallops, shrimp, and mushrooms. Bur don’t miss the chicken breast stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and spinach, all topped with creamy garlic sauce. The “pink garlic bread” gets its color from tomato and grated mozzarella. $$

ITALIAN



ROYAL TOKYO, 7525 Greenville, 214-368-3304. Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday buffet 11: 30 a. m. to 2: 30 p. m. Authentic sushi bar, the largest in Texas. Tatami room offers kimono-clad servers in the traditional manner (wells for yourfeet; no need to sit cross-legged!) Hibachi food cooked at your table. Big draws: Black Angus beef, the karaoke bar. Extensive, well-written menu explains cuisine and customs to Westerners. $$

JAPANESE



ST. MARTINS WINE BISTRO, 3020 Greenville, 214-826-0940. Lunch and dinner, Sunday brunch. Extensive selection of wines by the glass, moderately priced, to pair with such elegantly executed entrees as shrimp and scallops in a creamy wine sauce, baby lamb chops with Dijon-garlic bordelaise, tournedos, fresh pasta, homemade paté, excellent cheese choices. Check the blackboard specials. $$

FRENCH



TERILLI’S, 2815 Greenville at Vickery, 214-827-3993. Lunch and dinner, late night to 1 a. m. Friday and Saturday, Sunday brunch 11: 30 a. m. to 3 p. m. Business lunch spot by day; Italian bistro/supper-club by night. Live jazz nightly. Chicken primav-era most popular. Try the “ltal-chos, ” nacho-size chips of pizza crust with a variety of Italian toppings. Outdoor dining, too. $$

ITALIAN



YEGUA CREEK BREWING COMPANY, 2920 North Henderson. 214-824-BREW. Lunch and dinner. Open to midnight, Thursday through Saturday until 2 a. m. Pig heaven for beer aficionados. Choose from a selection of homebrewed selections, all fine complements for the adroitly prepared entrees with a Southwest sting. Try salmon in beer batter and “beerbecued” buffalo brisket tacos, or black bean ravioli topped with Asiago cream sauce. They’ve outdone themselves with pizza ideas: smoked venison and boar sausage with ancho chilies and wild mushrooms. Try it all outside on the patio. It’s a bucket o’ fun. $

SOUTHWESTERN

Oak Cliff



SWEET GEORGIA BROWN, 2840 East Ledbetter, 214-375-2020. Lunch and dinner every day; open to 1 a. m. Fridays and Saturdays. Collards, corn-bread, black-eyed peas, fried chicken, barbecue ribs… this isold-time down-home southern cookin’ with no cholesterol updates. Owner Walter Williams, formerly of the Detroit Lions, named it after his grandmother and modeled the menu on her kitchen. There’s a fresh harvest of veggies every day-about 15 choices-some slow-cooked with a hamhock, others sl-l-low baked in casseroles. Fresh fruit cobbler is included in the plate price: $5. 49, entree and three side dishes. Gospel music makes a rousing background; it’s live on Sundays, 2 to 4 p. m. No alcohol; no credit cards. $

HOME COOKING



Far North



ACCOLADES, 19009 Preston, 214-713-7090. Lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner only Saturdays, brunch only Sundays. Dallas restaurant vets Victor Mari Alonso (La Tosca and Trieste) and Chef Christian Svalesen (Ristorante Savino) team successfully in this stylish North Dallas gathering place with all the right elements: great bar, smart New American menu with Mediterranean and Northem ltalian influences. Example: salmon Napoleon with Swiss chard, green peppercorn-studded lobster on angel hair, New Zealand venison with black currant sauce, flourless chocolate torte, “Dreamsicle parfait”: housemade vanilla ice cream swirled with tangerine sorbet. $$

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



BLUE MESA GRILL, 5100 Belt Line at the Tollway, Addison, 214-934-0165. Lunch and dinner 365 days. Worth the trip just for the two versions of nuevo adobe pie: chicken, cheese, and roasted peppers baked in fresh com masa, and a vegetarian version with whole black beans, tomatillos, and mushrooms. The digs are adobe style with Southwest artwork, mesa colors, lots of cacti, Santa Fe-style outdoor dining. $$

SOUTHWESTERN



CAFE ATHENEE, 5365 Spring Valley at Montfort, 214-239-8060. Lunch and dinner six days; closed Sunday and holidays. Romantic English library decor: dark paneling, white tablecloths, warm chandeliers, fresh flowers, potted palms, soft music. Senior execs and affluents come for business lunches, quiet dinners. Most popular: gypsy appetizer platter, homemade Romanian sausage. Signature: sole a la scorpio, chicken martini (low-fat), grandmother’s stuffed cabbage, white caviar salad. $$

EASTERN EUROPEAN/CONTINENTAL



CHAMBERLAIN’S PRIME CHOP HOUSE, 5330 Belt Line, Town Hall Square at Montfort, Addison, 214-934-2467. Dinner, closed Sunday. Free valet. Fashioned after a ’50s-style European brasserie: polished brass, dark woods, and deep burgundy tones. Most popular: tenderloin stuffed with portobello, lamb and horseradish-mashed potatoes, peppered venison steak, slow-smoked prime rib. Dallas-bom namesake chef (Mansion, Crescent Club, and Agnew vet) is co-owner. $$

STEAK



COPELAND’S OF NEW ORLEANS, 5353 Belt Line at Prestonwood/Montfort. 214-661-1883. Lunch and dinner. Busy, hustling Dallas site of the popular Cajun chain in attractive brass-greenery-Tiffany-lamplit setting. Pleasing adaptations of Cajun classies: gumbo, shrimp étouffée, blackened redfish, audouille sausage with red beans and rice, plus. pasta, rihs, burgers, Po’ boys, croissant sand-wiches, pecan cookie-crusted cheesecake, sweet potato bread pudding Specialty drinks and coffees, creative kid’s menu, “lite” and veggie offerings. Sunday brunch bar, booths, seasonal outdoor din-ing. child seats, take-out, local delivery. $$

CAJUN



DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE, 5251 Spring Valley at the Tollway, 214-490-9000. Dinner, closed Sunday. The carnivore’s castle. White tablecloths, candles, lots of tourists, frequent flyers, and visiting firemen in search of the quintessential Texas steak experience. Here it is. Mega-lobsters, too. $$$

STEAK



FERRARI’S VILLA, 14831 Midway near Belt Line, Addison, 214-980-9898. Lunch weekdays; dinner six nights closed Sundays. Has been turning out classic old country pizzas and fabulous focaccia breads since 1983, alony with succulent seafood, steaks and chops, chicken and veal, authentic pasta dishes. $$

ITALIAN



HUNTINGTON’S, (at the Westin Hotel) 13340 Dallas Parkway at LBJ, 214-851-2882. Lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner Saturday, closed Sunday. An elegant respite in a beautifully appointed dining room with lots of greenery and fresh flowers, wingback chairs. You’ll be cradled in comfort, sur-rounded by soothing music, and spoiled withatten-tive service. The menu promises Dover sole meu-niére, ruck of lamb, wild boar and other game, long-horn beef, even pan-scared ostrich with sun-dried blueberry chutney. Winner of the Wine Spectator Great Wine List Award, it otters an extensive, yet moderately priced selection. $$

AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY



MAY DRAGON, 4848 Belt Line at Inwood, Addison, 214-592-9998. Lunch and dinner 365 days. One of the most scrutable Chinese menus even descriptions so complete you can use it as a cookbook. Almost as many dishes, too! Most popular: sesame chicken, crispy whole red snapper in Hunan sauce, Peking duck, Hong Kong-style steak. Roll your own: lettuce with shrimp, chicken, pork or vegetarian. Giant fortune cookie filled with chocolate mousse. Piano music Friday and Saturday nights. $$

CHINESE



Ml PIACI, 14854 Montfort, Addison, 214-934-8424-Lunch and dinner Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday dinner only. Homemade Bologna-style pasta (with eggs), and hand-stirred risotto dishes with imported short grain rice are featured. Try the salmon and sea scallop risotto. Or the cap-pellacci: giant ravioli filled with fresh crabmeat, finished with lemon cream and asparagus. Brodo frutti di mare is the classic fishermen’s stew, enough for two. Simple pleasures: new potatoes roasted with rosemary and olive oil. $$

ITALIAN



LOCATION GUIDE



MULTIPLE LOCATIONS: Look in this section for restaurants with two or more locations.



DOWNTOWN: Bounded roughly by I-30, I-35, Woodall Rogers, and Central Expressway, also includes Deep Ellum.



NORTHWEST: The area west of Central Expressway, north of downtown, and south of LBJ. Includes the Oak Lawn, Lemmon Avenue, and McKinney Avenue areas as well as the Park Cities.



NORTHEAST: The area east of Central Expressway and north of I-30. Includes East Dallas, Lakewood, Garland, and Mesquite.



OAK CLIFF-SOUTH: The area south of I-30. Includes all southern suburbs.



FAR NORTH: The area north of LBJ. Includes Addison, Carrollton, Richardson, and Piano.



MIDCITIES-FORT WORTH: Arlington, Bed-ford-Euless, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, and Irving.