72 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 Russo’sCoal-FiredItalianKitchen This Houston-based eatery does offer a well-rounded menu, including Arancini (delectable Sicilian rice balls loaded with herbs and Romano cheese in a rich Bolognese sauce), fantastic Calzones, and standard Italian entrées (Chicken Piccata and the like). That said, the real draw to Russo’s isthepizza,thankstoitsnearly1,000-degreecoal-firedoven,whichgives us that chewy, but crispy, crust we love. Try the Prosciutto and Kale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Feeling carnivorous?The Paesano Napola- tana will leave you feeling sated. Russo’s is family-friendly, and they cater tobothbigandsmallparties. 700E.CampbellRd.|Richardson (972)235-7992 www.russoscoalfired.com Mediterranean MamaPitaMediterraneanGrill If you’re looking for affordable and delicious Mediterranean food, Mama Pita is waiting for you. Eas- ily customizable plates, salads and pitas allow you to pick and choose whateversidesyoucrave,fromlight and crispy falafel and flatbread to creamy hummus and tzatziki. Kafta (beefkabobs)aretenderanddelicious—perfectfordippinginoneofsev- eralgarlickysauces(trytheyellowtahini/carrotdip).Counterserviceisfast and friendly, and the open and airy atmosphere makes it a nice place for dining-in.Or,ifyouprefer,orderonlineaheadoftimeandtake‘erhome. 5800LegacyDr.,Ste.C6|Plano (972)403-1609 www.mamapita.com Zoë'sKitchen The name "Zoë's Kitchen" has become synonymous with quick, healthy and delicious Mediterranean food for busy people on the go; it’s also a perfect choice for family takeout, offering something for everyone’s taste buds.Startwithaclassichummustrioappetizer,whichincludestheclassic version, basil pesto and harissa red pepper—served with pita bread, pita chipsandplentyofcrispveggies.Kabobsareflavorfulandfilling,whether you go with skewers of moist chunks of chicken, beef, seafood or veggies. There are loads of options for vegetarians, Paleo eaters and those eating gluten-free, and check out the website for additional information on food sensitivitiesandallergens. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.zoeskitchen.com Mexican CasaMama Ifyou’relookingforafamily-friendlydininglocationofferingbothauthen- tic Mexican recipes (specifically, from the Santiago Maravatio Guanajuato region) andTex-Mex favorites, Casa Mama is the right place for you.You’ll findallyourfavoriteMexicandisheshereandafewpleasantsurprises,too, includingrichandfillingGuisoPorkStew,homeyTortillaLasagna,Chipotle Enchiladas, and Ribeye or Salmon Tacos. White Queso is one of the best around, served with light, crispy chips—take it up a notch by adding in ground beef, chorizo or brisket. House made salsa is unique and comes withafreekick.Serviceisknownforbeingexceptionallyfriendly,andstaff ishappytoaccommodateanyspecialorders. 19129PrestonRd.|Dallas (469)828-1045 www.casamamas.com Chuys What started in Austin in 1982 as fun/funky Tex-Mex joint—where you could grab a beer and chips or a comforting mix of familiar entrees, has since grown into what you might call a Tex-Mex empire, with locations across Texas and 14 other states. Still, Chuy’s hasn’t lost its charm. And a lot of love goes intoChuy’sfood—fromhand-pulledchickeninallentrees,tohand-rolled fresh tortillas, to any of the 10 signature sauces made fresh daily—those extra steps really make a di erence in both taste and quality. If your appe- tite’s cavernous, you’ll de nitely want to try a “Big As Yo’Face”Burrito or famousElvisGreenChileFriedChickenbread-edwithLay’spo-tatochips, deep fried and smothered with green chile sauce and cheese. A small but refreshingselectionofsignaturedrinksstillmakesChuy’saperfectplaceto kickback—anytime,anyplace. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW HulaHut Located on beautiful Lake Lewis- ville, a visit to Hula Hut feels a lot like a mini beach vacation: think tiki torches, bamboo huts, grass- thatchedbarsandhangingcolored lights galore. Mexonisian-style cuisine (i.e. traditional Tex-Mex with a Polynesian twist) means that there’s something for every- one, should you choose to bring a group. While you and your significant other are kicking back with a fishbowl-sized Hu-La-La signature cocktail made for two with three different types of rum (hello, Uber!), nosh on some Palm Tree Hugger Nachos loaded with cheese and other goodies. There are plenty of options for vegetarians, and Fajitas and Tubular Tacos areintenselysatisfyingaswell. 210E.EldoradoPkwy.|LittleElm (214)618-4852 www.hulahutlittleelm.comMr.Mesero MesoMaya Chef Nico Sanchez’s passion for food reflects beautifully in his regionally prepared dishes, such as Pescara Veracruz and Mexico City-style Pozole Verde. Flavors are both bright and complex; for example, Pollo con Mole with a hand-seared bone-in chicken breast, topped with rich sauce and servedwithsweetplantain.Margaritasarestellar(trytheavocadoversion with fresh pineapple and lime juices), and there’s also an award-winning selectionoftequilasforthosein-the-know. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.mesomayo.com MexicanBarCompany NewListing This open dining concept where dining room meets bar, patio and lounge area features vibrant origi- nalmuralsandalivelyatmosphere. Start with a mix-and-match of the unique guacamoles and hop right into the “Born in Texas” tacos on freshly made tortillas (the pancita/ pork belly is fantastic). You’ll find all your other favorites, too, including spicy chorizo flautas, enchiladas and several options if you’re feeling sea- food-y. Nice cocktail menu (don’t miss the“Big Nose”on fire) including a goodselectionoftequilas. 6121W.ParkBlvd.,Ste.RS-10|Plano (972)972-4466 www.mexbars.com MrMesero Featuring both “American standards and Mexican classics,”this cozy, but popular, McKinney Avenue spot is favored by the in-crowd, making it a wonderful place for a date night or meeting up with friends. During non- peaktimes,it’salsoanicefamilydestination.Whentheweather’snice,the outdoor patio is especially popular to enjoy a Micorita, a house specialty madewithHerraduraJimadortequila.OtherfavoritesincludeBrisketTacos and the flat grilled Mico“12”Strip Steak, served with serrano and grilled cherrytomatoes. 4444McKinneyAve.|Dallas (214)780-1991 www.mrmesero.com UrbanRioCantina&Grill AstheyoungersisterrestaurantofdowntownPlano’spopularUrbanCrust, UrbanRioopenedwithhighexpectations—anddoesn’tdisappoint.Torti- llas and tamales are made with hand-ground masa, and even the bolillo rolls for the tortas (sandwiches) are made in-house. Start with either Fried Guacamole Bites or a rich bowl of the Rio Queso with or without chorizo-stylebeef.Quesadillasareasignaturedish,serveddouble-stacked “club style” and stuffed with house-smoked brisket, Chimichurri grilled chicken or sautéed veggies. Cocktails are refreshingly unique, and the open-airbarisagreatplacetoenjoylivemusicandalovelyviewofhistoric Plano. 1000E.14thSt.,Ste.100|Plano (972)422-4466 www.urbanrio.com VelvetTaco When it comes toTexas cuisine, ta- cos are tops (along, of course, with barbecue)andinDallas,VelvetTaco is a favorite. “Multi-cultural ingre- dients” allow diners to experience a little bit of Mexico, India, Cuba, Japan and more—all wrapped in a house made tortilla. Start with theRedCurryCoconutQuesowithpickledonion,Thaibasilandcrispyblue tortillachips—it’ssublime.Thengostraightintowhatyoucamefor:tacos. Seriously, they’re all good, but stand-outs include Annatto Shredded Pork with grilled pineapple on a hibiscus tortilla and Fried Paneer with tomato chutneyandtikkasauce. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.velvettaco.com Seafood Lefty’sLobsterand ChowderHouse Long considered a neighborhood gem, Lefty’s serves the kind of seafood you’d expect to find some- where on the East Coast: clam chowder, lobster bisque (Can’t decide between the two? Ask for half and half), whole main lobster (Lefty’s uses cull lobsters that have one claw—hence, the name) and fried shrimp. Hearty salads are made heartier with the addition of chicken, salmon, shrimp or lobster—and if you’re simply not feeling fishy, go for a perfectly cooked filet mignon or burger. Lefty’s numerous accolades speak for themselves, and it gets a lot of regulars, especially on weekends—so be sure to make a reservation online.Openforlunchanddinner,andthebarstaysopenlate. 4021BeltLineRd.|Dallas (972)774-9518 www.leftyslobster.com SeaBreezeFishMarket&Grill Finding truly fresh fish in Dallas can be challenging, but Sea Breeze makes it sooo easy. Selections are flown in daily, representing only thefreshestseafoodavailable.Part retail fish market, part sit-down restaurant with full bar, at Sea Breeze you can purchase fish to prepare in your own home...or let theexpertsdoitforyouwhileenjoyingaglassofwineorcocktail.Besure to start out with the Sesame Crusted Yellowfin Tuna Nachos with avoca- do wasabi, sweetThai chili, and lemon zest—or maybe you're more of a Smoked Salmon Deviled Egg person; you can't go wrong with either one. TheLobsterRollisatopseller,itstraditionalsplit-topbunfilledgenerously with buttery lobster salad.There's a nice selection of soups and stews, in- cluding a stellar cioppino, and gumbo that will remind you of your Cajun granny(ifyouhaveone). 4017PrestonRd.,Ste.530|Plano (972)473-2722 www.seabreezefish.com SeaBreezeLobsta&ChowdaHouse For the past decade, the Oruch family has brought North Texans the freshest seafood selection in the region at their acclaimed Sea Breeze Fish Market&Grill.  The menu at this newer restaurant showcases a limited menu of special- ty items including the New England Lobster Roll—a simple sandwich of wild-caught Maine lobster simply dressed with mayonnaise, celery and tarragon on a buttered bun brought in from New England.  We also rec- ommend the Connecticut Lobsta Roll—butter poached lobster on a bun. The tasty rolls are joined by shrimp cocktail, peel & eat shrimp, a smoked salmon dip and the restaurant’s celebrated Clam Chowder.  Come for the foodandfortheEastCoastvibe. LegacyHall 7800WindroseAve. |Plano (972)473-2722 www.seabreezefish.com goodEATS