By Steven Doyle
Dallas loves new restaurants, and the month of October saw many new hot spots with the trend extending through into November. We filtered through some of the very best new restaurants as a personal guide to the very best. Put your eatin’ pants and enjoy the journey.
Boulevardier is a beautiful French bistro located in the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff, and has quickly become one of the hottest restaurants in the Dallas area. Chef Nathan Tate is cranking out high end cuisine at compelling prices. We loved the lamb neck, a meat pile of simmered meat that is moist and large enough to share. Start with amazing appetizers such as the crawfish beignets and a rotating selection of incredible oysters, grilled or raw. The bar is thumping.
Tried and True is a fun new spot owned by the same chef who operates Neighborhood Services and Off Site Kitchen. In the small space there is a pool table, and foosball that is paired with a large ration of bar snacks. The menu is large, hearty and extremely affordable for a fun date night or just kicking back with friends. The cocktail and beer selection is incredible.
FT33 is the brainchild of Dallas hot shot chef Matt McCallister who was previously the exec at Stephan Pyles. Located in the Design District FT33 is a high end restaurant for everyone. Fanciful plated entrees reflect McCallister’s bent on the artistic and whimsical. Be there no doubt that these dishes are substantial at the same time. The wine list is bold and the cocktails are cool. You will spot this season’s Top Chef contestant Josh Valentine on pastry duty.
SER Steaks+Sprits replaced Nana atop the Anatole as their flagship restaurant. Boasting the finest view in Dallas, the restaurant is weeks old and a shining star on the top steak house route. This restaurant isn’t for the squeamish in wallet, but damn it is really that good. Look for an unusual cut of Wagyu called Spinalis which is the meaty cap of the rib eye. Still wanting to enjoy the view but wanting to save a few bucks? Take a spot at the bar and order from that special menu.
Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar has been open for business for several months and continues to crank out fun low country cuisine such as fried chicken sold by the bucket and shrimp and grits. Located on Henderson Avenue the restaurant remains as busy as many of the top restaurants in the corridor. The cocktails are gentrified as the surroundings which beckon guests back to a time when hospitality was at its peak. We really dig the amazing side dishes.
Ocho Kitchen+Cocktails is the new generation of Mexican in a city full of poor choices of sloppy refried beans and oily enchiladas. Everything at Ocho is hand-crafted, even down to the freebie chips everyone so enjoys. The 8 Bar above the restaurant has a secret entry from the parking garage to usurp the valet stand and for discrete get-a-ways. The fish tacos are massive and affordable. This place is for the sexy people.
Look for a few new restaurants that are opening this week including Stephan Pyles latest incarnation, Stampede 66 which promises a cool taco bar and fine Texas dining. John Tesar will soon open his new spot called Spoon. Tesar does some amazing things with seafood, and he promises nothing short of the very best. We did sample his version of French fries, the potato soufflé which is a puffy crunch of potato.