Mufso Dining Guide To Some Of The Best Restaurants In Dallas

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 17, 2001

Fish Bowl

3214 Knox St., (214) 219-2782. Neptune's best wishes were bestowed on this seafood spot, offering fusion dishes from the Seven Seas and a soupcon of swank. Located in the bustling homedecor neighborhood and sharing a parking lot with Starbucks, the posh spot has a design that is both whimsical and as soothing as a calm ocean voyage. Dinner only.

Gloria's

3715 Greenville Ave., (214) 874-0088. Salvadoran mixes with Mexican at this casual, fun, nearly cantinalike eatery. Banana-leaf tamales are a specialty, and the service always is warm and friendly. Lunch and dinner.

The Green Room

2715 Elm St., (214) 748-7666. A location in the hip Deep Ellum area -- lots of bars, bands and tattoo parlors -- belies the sophistication of the eclectic New American dishes. Many guests consider the four-course, $36 "Feed Me" menu, putting themselves in the capable hands of the chef, as a great deal. Try after-dinner drinks on the rooftop. Dinner only.

Javier's

4912 Cole Ave., (214) 521-4211. Providing a menu of interior-Mexican cuisine long before it was cool, this old-timer continues to please the crowds with its precisely sauced, south-of-the-border menu. Imagine "Like Water For Chocolate" in a restaurant format. Dinner.

Jeroboam Urban Brasserie

1501 Main St., (214) 748-7226. This hip, downtown bistro has a French connection right down to the pommes frites. It's a creation of The Entertainment Collaborative, which produced Deep Ellum's popular The Green Room as well. The citified decor assists the joie de vivre. Lunch and dinner.

La Calle Doce

415 W. 12th St., (214) 941-4304. Mexican seafood is the draw at this Oak Cliff converted house. The address is easy to recall; in Spanish the restaurant's name means "12th Street." The very informal atmosphere means crowds on weekends, so expect a wait. Lunch and dinner.

Le Paris Bistrot

2533 McKinney Ave., (214) 720-0225. Gallic cuisine is hot, and this is the most recent newcomer in a near-downtown location. A tiny menu in a tiny spot, with offerings that are as refreshing as stepping out of the Metro. The charming surroundings in a small, uptown storefront add to the feeling of France. Lunch and dinner.

Liberty Noodles

5631 Alta, (214) 887-8795. This Asian-fusion noodle shop in East Dallas combines locally noted Thai chef Annie Wong with nightclub-restaurant impresario Jeffrey Yarbrough, now head of the Texas Restaurant Association, to create a laid-back restaurant with full-throttle tastes. The place bustles with an eclectic crowd of Greenville Avenue locals and foodies from afar. Lunch and dinner.

Lola

2917 Fairmont St., (214) 855-0700. With a small home European atmosphere and a New American menu, this elegant gem sets itself apart from its big-box competitors. Dinner only. Closed Sundays.

Lombardi Mare

5100 Belt Line Road, Addison, (972) 503-1233. This Far North Dallas Italian seafood spot, created by Alberto Lombardi, has a broad seafood menu and a lively bar scene. Seafood lasagna and hearty cioppino are typical dishes. Check out the goldfish overhead. Lunch and dinner.