East Dallas Restaurants

Monica’s Aca y Alla deftly translates the vibrant, exotic spirit of Mexico into new and inventive, fusion-style contexts. Diners are welcomed into a boisterous dining room, where pulsing salsa music mingles with lively conversation, and lush red walls and yellow banquettes cloak the space in inviting, sunny warmth. The menu is similarly invigorating, blending the traditional flavors of Mexico with globally diverse ingredients and culinary styles to create dishes that are exuberant and flavorful. With live Latin jazz every weekend, salsa dancing, and exceptional happy hour specials, Monica’s Aca y Alla embodies the enchantment of an equatorial escapade without the …

Tex-Mex may be standard fare in these parts, but Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano reminds us that there’s so much more tastiness that lies south of the border. Javier’s celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Mexico City through a menu that trades in the burrito and the enchilada for the complex spice blends and masterful pairings of authentic continental Mexican cuisine. Set in a dining space reminiscent of an Old World hunting lodge, the Javier’s menu showcases succulent seafood, prime cut meat, and comforting chicken specialties. Follow up your feast with an after dinner drink and smoke in the Javier’s Bar and …

Tucked beneath the Dallas Central Expressway is a stylish hot-spot known as the Sunset Lounge, a place for live music, sophisticated drinks and a late night crowd. Featuring new DJ’s every Friday night, the Sunset Lounge is a chic and hip place to grab a drink and dance the night away. They feature a dinner menu for upscale bar snacks, including paninis, flatbread pizza and other appetizers. Their signature drink menu, however, is what keeps patrons coming back to the Sunset Lounge. Known as a place “where hot bar meets cool lounge,” the Sunset Lounge’s cocktails and live music beats …

The people that presented you with Kirby’s Prime now present Woodfire by Kirby’s, a unique dining establishment specializing in wood fire pizzas and fine American cuisine. If that weren’t enough to entice you, Kirby’s bakes their pizzas extra thin with a crispy crunch to them, as well as adding unique modern and southwestern influences to their already exciting menu. The same level of excellence is brought to the restaurant’s Sunday Brunch, offering hearty buffet and a la carte options. Refreshing cocktails aren’t the only thing served in the upscale bar area of Kirby’s; different live music acts play every Friday …

The continuous evolution of Central 214 menu items reflects a celebration of each season, and incorporates locally grown ingredients year-round. Chef Tom Fleming honors serving only organic beef, pork, and poultry to provide the freshest rustic American regional cuisine, much to the delight of diners. His dedication also enables Central 214 to take a responsible role in what the Central 214 they call Earthcare: an environmentally friendly system that includes preparing organic foods, offering a selection of organic and biodynamic wines, and recycling everything from glass, to using recycled paper for menus, and even excess cooking oils are recycled into …

Residing in Dallas’ upscale Highland Park Village, Café Pacific is an established seafood eatery with rich history and warm décor. Marble floors and dark mahogany wood greet diners upon entrance. Lining the walls are pieces from the owner Jack Knox's personal art collection, and filling the menu are savory dishes, made with fresh, local ingredients. Entrées such as Grilled Asparagus Skewered Tiger Shrimp, Prime Aged New York Strip, or Garlic Rosemary Pan Roasted Chicken- display a need to delight a number of diverse pallets. A staple for over 29 years, Café Pacific has made a lasting commitment to create a …

Steak, seafood, and macaroni and cheese highlight the menu at the pacific-inspired Hibiscus restaurant. The restaurant has turned old retail space into a modern yet cozy dining room complete with a brick oven and a china cabinet, just like where mom kept the good dishes. With high ceilings and accommodating booths, the large size of the restaurant reflects the size of the dishes they serve. This chic chophouse specializes in such generous portions of their signature comfort food that you won’t walk away hungry. If you’re that rare exception and have room left after your meal, try the Raspberry Cheesecake …

A continually changing blackboard menu of contemporary bistro fare and eclectic creations has secured The Grape as a celebrated neighborhood eatery for over 35 years. Noted as the first of its kind in Dallas, this welcoming establishment conjures the iconic feel of European and New York-style bistros and wine bars to provide a communal dining experience for its patrons. Dishes like the Warm Baked Brie, the Bistro Steak Frites, and the Chef’s Honey and Thyme Pork Meatballs entice diners with their heartwarming taste, while the thoughtful wines-by-the-glass selection encourages all to try something new.

The Tei Tei Robata experience begins when one walks right into the lush garden and cobblestone path that lures them straight into the restaurant. Once inside, patrons can find seats amongst artsy glass work that separates booths and rooms. The sushi and Sake bar is open and provides an unobstructed view to watch the chefs do their work as they chop and hand-roll the meals. Aside from sushi, Tei Tei also specializes in the Northern Japanese style of Robata, which features grilling fish over open fires. Feel free to dine privately or in groups in the Tatami Room while enjoying …

Owner and Executive Chef Tracy Miller spent six years turning her contemporary American café, Local, into what it is today – an upscale and intimate space that offers straight forward, approachable, clean, and composed dishes that aim to intrigue and inspire. Each meal begins with warm spiced nuts and a Petite Soup Amuse, and ends with a Cranberry Thumbprint Mignardise. Other delights include the Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras with House-Made Texas Toast, the Hazelnut-Mustard Crusted Halibut, and the Braised Pork Osso Buco. Local is housed in the historic Boyd Hotel, and embraces the long artistic past of the building …

Designed with European sophistication, St. Martin’s Wine Bistro has a unique ambiance and menu. It offers a refined environment that accommodates romantic dining exquisitely with intimate booths and live piano music, while catering to exquisite tastes with impeccable food and top-of-the-line wine. The chefs prepare French-American Cuisine nightly, with selections such as Sauteed Scallopini Veal in a Lemon-Caper Butter Sauce, and Roasted, Farm Raised Breast of Chicken, Sherry & Wild Mushroom Beurre Blanc. Their Champagne Brunch on Sundays includes Creole Crab Cake, Egg Frittata and Pecan-Crusted Trout. Whatever the occasion, St. Martin's Wine Bistro ensures a distinctively classy experience.

Chef and owner Abraham Salum has introduced a restaurant that seeks to “set standards, rather than follow them.” The rich amber tones of the dining space invite you to settle in and take in the view of Salum’s open kitchen. His modern American menu is sophisticated and intriguing. Dishes like the Grilled Berkshire Pork Loin Chop with roasted potatoes, cipollini onions, and a pomegranate glaze, and Bourbon Bread Pudding with toasted almonds and orange cream sauce inspire and entice. The ever-evolving wine list Salum has designed, emphasizing international vintages, make his dishes shine even more brightly.

Abacus’s contemporary dining room is defined by rich textures, cool tones, and an earthy aesthetic. Leather, wood, and stone form a simple yet lighthearted backdrop for a dining experience that is nothing short of transporting. Executive Chef Kent Rathbun’s lively and engaging menu takes cues from around the globe, with Asian, Mediterranean, and Pacific Rim influences as well as a selection of both creative and traditional sushi. Playful innovation underlies dishes such as Salt-Crusted Calimari Fondue with Spicy Yellow Curry Sauce and “Bacon and Eggs,” comprised of Niman Ranch chipotle bacon and a scrambled duck egg. With an exceptional wine …

This casual French eatery has been open since 1983 and delighting locals and tourists every step of the way. Casual elegance with a true French neighborhood feel has helped to keep L’Ancestral French Restaurant a favorite in Dallas for so many years. The restaurants earthy colors, soft lighting and quaint stone patio are reminiscent of the French countryside. As for the cuisine, you won’t find any Americanized French cuisine at L’Ancestral. Simple and fresh ingredients are used to create truly inspiring French dishes that perpetuate the romantic and intimate atmosphere of this traditional and authentic French dining experience.