The Porch

I have noticed lately that restaurants with a unique American flare are opening up left and right in Dallas.  Could this be the sign of a new trend?  I have made it my recent mission to try all of the "adult" grilled cheese and macaroni this city has to offer.  The Porch definitely takes the cake when it comes to gourmet American cuisine.  Located in the heart of the up and coming Henderson area, The Porch has it all when it comes to great food, drinks, and atmosphere.  

Like some of the other restaurants I have recommended, The Porch also does not take reservation.  The restaurant does feature a large bar area with specialty cocktails and various types of wine.  The Black and Blue martini and the Paloma are both good choices for passing the time! 

For dinner, you should start out with the spinach dip or the popcorn chicken.  I have tried almost every main course on the menu, but I am going to start by (naturally) recommending the grilled cheese and tomato soup and the smoked ham and cheese macaroni casserole.  Both of those items are absolutely to die for!  If you are surprised by the amount on unhealthy food I tend to suggest, get used to it :)! For my red meat lovers, the Au Jus sandwich and the NY strip are always excellent choices.  And if you feel like being healthy, the fried chicken cobb (which isn't actually healthy at all) is also wonderful. 

Above all, the atmosphere at The Porch cannot be beat, with a very upbeat dining area and a gigantic (surprise,surprise) porch.  After your dinner, even though you will surely be stuffed, grab a few Starburst on your way out! I hope you love The Porch as much as I do!

It's 9:28 and OU still sucks \m/

http://www.theporchrestaurant.com/menu.php

NoRTH - Austin Edition

Although I thoroughly enjoy eating in Dallas, I have to admit some of my favorite restaurants of all time can be found in Austin.  Austin has some of the most unique restaurants I have encountered, and in honor of the 5 years I called Austin my home, I will be blogging about some of the best Austin has to offer from time to time. 

I had trouble deciding which of my favorite Austin restaurants I wanted to share with you first, but I decided to start with one I could coin as my favorite Italian restaurant of all time (although most people will say I often speak in superlatives).  That being said, it might be worth it to get in your car and drive 3 hours to eat at NoRTH.  Located at The Domain, this Italian favorite will leave you wanting more.  As an integral part of the Fox Restaurant Concepts (and probably the most widespread), NoRTH has added a modern flare to traditional Italian food.  To start, you should definitely order the melt-in-your-mouth (literally) Zucca chips which are thin slices of zucchini fried like potato chips.  For the main course, I highly recommend the chicken parmesean with butter rigatoni, which is large enough to share between two people!  The restaurant offers an extensive wine list, but I like the sparkling prosecco with your choice of peach, berry, or passion fruit flavor. 

Even though you will probably have a wait for dinner since the restaurant doesn't take reservations, the location of NoRTH is ideal for shopping around The Domain.  After we ate, I definitetly requested to my waiter (who obviously has a lot of pull at the company...) that NoRTH, along with some of the other Fox restaurants, should come to Dallas.  Who knows, maybe one day they will listen!  Either way, if you ever find yourself in Austin, you should give NoRTH a try.

Despite the results of the game this weekend, I will close with a very proud Hook 'Em Horns!

http://www.foxrc.com/north.html

Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen

Lately, I have noticed whenever anyone suggests a place to eat I have already blogged about, I usually say no because I should try somewhere new instead.  That is why, for those of you who know me well, I have not (and may not ever) blog about Grimaldis :)

My newest post is about Lumi Empanada and Dumpling kitchen located on McKinney in uptown.  This restaurant is found in an adorable little house, which is perfect for an outing with friends or a romantic evening.  Lumi features tapas style entrees in addition to larger portions.  I have tried almost every item on the menu, and I have yet to find something I didn't enjoy.  As far as dumplings, I recommend the duck and leek dumplings with a plum dipping sauce, but for my non-adventurous readers, the traditional pork are also incredible!  I also love the Ahi Tuna nachos, which have a little bit of a kick to them!  You should also try the saucy edamame and the Ba Noi eggrolls if you're still hungry.  The small plates range in price from $6-8, so they are very reasonably priced.

Aside from the food, the drinks at Lumi are equally amazing.  My favorite is the Lumi Lychee, but the mojitos are great too if that is more your style.  I know you will enjoy this restaurant as much as I do!

http://www.lumikitchen.com/home.html

Village Burger Bar

Located in the heart of West Village (along with the Shops at Legacy and Watters Creek Allen), Village Burger Bar has added a unique twist to the traditional burger. As the burger has become a staple of our culture, Village Burger Bar does not disappoint when it comes to this American tradition.  Although it might be hard to mess up a burger, it is equally hard to make one that tastes this good. 

The menu features specialty burgers such as the blue burger, a turkey and a chicken burger, in additon to a build your own burger option on the menu.  

If your in the mood for something else, Village Burger Bar has a variety of salads and paninis to choose from as well.  As for a side, I would recommend the sweet potato fries, which are some of the best I have ever tried.

And you know I wouldn't forget to mention drink specials!  Village Burger Bar has $3 specialty margaritas every Friday (all day), which includes Chamboritas and Pamaritas.  If your looking for a quick, casual place for lunch or dinner, Village Burger Bar will surely hit the spot!

http://www.villageburgerbar.com/index.htm

The Blue Fish

After a few days of serious thought, I decided my favorite sushi restaurant was an obvious choice for my second recommendation.  I know sushi is not everyones cup of tea, but this restaurant truly has something for everyone.  The Blue Fish has many locations in the Dallas area.  The atmosphere is casual and trendy and you never know who you might see there :)!

Hanging out with Dirk at The Blue Fish

My favorite sushi rolls are the Titan roll and the Sundae roll, which are both pretty large rolls! In addition, the Ahi Tuna tower is absolutely to die for.  Blue Fish has some of the freshest tasting fish you will find being this far from an ocean!  If you're looking for a great deal, Blue Fish is the place to be on Thursday nights for $1 sake.  And if sushi is not your thing, a few of the Blue Fish restaurants (like the one on Frankford and the Tollway) have hibachi! I don't know about you, but I don't think you can ever go wrong with hibachi.  Make sure you add the chicken fried rice instead of the steamed- you will not regret your decision.

As if it can get any better, Blue Fish has 2 for 1 pieces of sushi (and is now open 7 days a week ) for lunch. And for the non-sushi lovers, Blue Fish offers a bento box with soup, salad,  a california roll, hibachi chicken, rice, and tempura veggies for only $12!

If you haven't stumbled upon Blue Fish yet, than you should make your way there as soon as you get the chance.  You will not regret it :)!

http://www.thebluefishsushi.com/

Nick and Sam's Grill

I decided to start out my blog with a no brainer, Nick and Sam's Grill, located in uptown on Fairmount. This is easily one of the best and most affordable places to eat in Dallas, and it is great for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The atmosphere is young and energetic, but still casual enough to relax!

The brunch features an omelet bar, Captain Crunch french toast, and bottomless blood orange mimosas for only $7! The brunch scene is pretty crowded, especially when the weather is nice, so grab your mimosa at the bar and make the wait a little more exciting.

The menu for lunch and dinner is equally delicious, with my favorite item being the "Grown-Up" grilled cheese and tomato soup.  If you get the chance, you should also try the macaroni and cheese, which I usually cannot pass up.  In addition to great food, the skinny margaritas are very good (and not just for girls despite the name).  Everyone should definitely try one or two :).  Don't let the "skinny" name deceive you, this drink sure packs a punch!


I hope you Enjoy!

www.nick-samsgrill.com

Welcome to my blog!

I was sitting at work the other day suggesting places to go to lunch, and a friend decided it would be a great idea to blog about my extensive (not to mention ridiculous) knowledge of Dallas restaurants. As I pondered how I got to the point in my life where my biggest talent was eating, I decided it would be a great public service to share my food facts with others.  Have you ever been sitting around with your friends wondering where you should go to dinner and realized you were stuck in a restaurant rut?  Well my goal is to give you somewhere you can easily look and find a great place to go! I hope you enjoy!