GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2018 71 Italian & Pizza Carrabba’s Because sometimes, you’ve just gotta have Italian. Whether you’re carb loading with a rich plate of lobster ravioli or keeping it Paleo with a thick and juicy steak or seafood and a side of grilled asparagus, Carrabba’s ap- peals to families and business professionals alike. Life-just-got-easier op- tions, such as online reservations, several under 600-calorie entrées, and a gluten-free menu, make Carrabba’s both accessible and upscale. Don’t miss the Italian lettuce wraps with wood-grilled chicken, vegetables and ricottasalata,drizzledwithportwinereduction.NewownerMarcoMarti- nezhasapassionforcustomerserviceaswellashiscommunity,sobesure tosay“Ciao”onyournextvisit. 17548DallasPkwy.|Dallas (972)732-7752 www.carrabbas.com DoughBros.ItalianKitchen What goes better with craft beer than craft pizza? At Dough Bros., pizza and calzone dough is made fresh daily—they even use locally sourced honey.StartwiththeheavenlyKaleArtichokedipservedwithpitapoints, then go for one of the classic pizzas such as Margherita orThe Bro (meat lovers’delight). You can also build your own from a lengthy list of fresh ingredients such as spicy ranch sauce, banana pepper, broccoli and even house made mac and cheese (on a pizza!). Not feeling dough-y? Try the Mediterranean Chicken Salad with tomato, artichoke, black olives and ‘shrooms or any of the delicious entrees such as Panko Crusted Chicken Parmesan. 5181KellerSpringsRd.|Dallas (469)248-0058 2851PlanoPkwy.|TheColony (469)353-8182 www.doughbro.com Grimaldi’s There was a time when you could only get Grimaldi’s famous coal-fired brickovenpizzainNewYork.Butthatwasthen.Today,thereareGrimaldi’s almost everywhere, it seems.While the menu is somewhat basic (pizzas, calzones, salads), it’s also consistent. But what we like about the Allen lo- cation is that it overlooks the little park atWatters Creek where live music isoftenplayedduringwarmermonths. 836MarketSt.|Allen (214)383-9703 www.grimaldispizzeria.com Kenny’sEastCoastPizza If you’re from the east coast, there’s no doubt about it: you’re going to be verrrrypickyaboutyourpizza.That’swhyNorthDallashasdrawnthelucky straw in pizza eating, because Plano is where native Bostonian (and one of Dallas’fave restaurateurs) Kenny Bowers opened his own pizza place. While the menu also offers Italian American favorites featured on the menusofhisothersuccessfulrestaurants,expectaselectionherefocusing mainlyonthepie—pizzapie,thatis;cookedinaclassicBakersPrideDeck Oven. Handcrafted cocktails and Grey Goose on tap, too? We’re lining up atthedoor. 4701W.ParkBlvd.,Ste.101|Plano (972)519-9669 www.kennyseastcoastpizza.com Kenny’sItalianPlace This is the real deal when it comes to Southern American Italian com- fort food (think: Parmigiana, Picatta and Marsala) in a fun and friendly atmosphere. A nice selection of pastas ranging from vegetarian to killer “Midnight”meatballsaswellasseafood,steaksandchopsmakeKenny’sa perfectchoice,whetherit’sfamilynightordatenight.Manydishescanbe prepared“light”(ifyou’resoinclined),vegetarianorglutenfree. 5100BeltLineRd.,Ste.764|Dallas (972)661-9380 www.kennysitalian.com Piada When you hear the words “street food,” you probably think about Vietnamese, Thai, or Mexican. Rarely, do you associate street food with Italian, so it’s nice to find a place founded on that very concept. It all starts with Piada’s superthinpizzadough—notquite tortilla, not quite lavash—but wonderfully chewy and light. From there, a plethora of topping options (delectable meatballs, fried chicken, steak, avocado, greens, etc.) turns the dough into your choice of either a folded/layered sandwich known as aTasca (pocket) or a Piada (wrap). Street sides are also good and very fresh, including Orzo Crunch or Roasted Corn. Piada’s reasonably-priced menu makes it a favorite for a quick bite or a sit-down dinner in a fast, casualatmosphere. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.mypiada.com Ruggeri's Ruggeri's has been a favorite destination for authentic Italian cuisine for more than twenty-five years, whether you're looking for a cozy week- night spot for mouthwatering pasta or somewhere to celebrate a special occasion. Soft-Shell Crab Oreganato is a delicious starter, sautéed with lemon, plenty of garlic and oregano. Moving on to pasta, go for Ravioli Fresco del Gioro—tender dough pillows stuffed with sausage and ricotta and topped with a light tomato basil sauce. But the true menu star just mightbethe16-ouncevealchopwithwildmushroomsandMarsalawine; it melts in your mouth. Craving veal but can't conquer 16-ounces? Go for Vitello di Scampi—veal and shrimp living happily on the same plate, in a light and luscious lemony butter sauce. Traditional Italian desserts (Tira- misu,CappuccinoPie,Spumone)satisfyyoursweettooth,too. 5950-ARoyalLn.|Dallas (214)750-0111 www.ruggerisrestaurant.com 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 inarichBolognesesauce),fantasticCalzones,andstandardItalian 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. Easily customizable plates, salads and pitas allow you to pick and choose whatever sides you crave, from light and crispy falafel and flatbread to creamy hummus and tzatziki. Kafta (beef kabobs) are tenderanddelicious—perfectfordippinginoneofseveralgarlickysauces (try the yellow tahini/carrot dip). Counter service is fast and friendly, and theopenandairyatmospheremakesitaniceplacefordining-in.Or,ifyou prefer,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 ElChicoCafé Back in 1926, Adelaida Cuellar opened a small chili and tamale stand at the Kaufman County Fair and the rest, they say, is history.There may now bealmost50ElChicorestaurantsaroundtheworld,butthebrandhasnot forgotten what’s important to its customers: homey Mexican food, pre- mium beverages and warm, friendly service.Top Shelf guacamole, made tableside, is always a favorite. Combos are plentiful, and while we love everything from the fajita chicken to the jack and cheddar chimichanga, we’dberemissifwedidn’ttellyoutogoforwhereitallstarted:Threebeef tamalestoppedwithchileconcarne,cheddarandonions. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.elchico.com HulaHutNewListing 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 andTubularTacos areintenselysatisfyingaswell. 210E.EldoradoPkwy.|LittleElm (214)618-4852 www.hulahutlittleelm.comMr.Mesero 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 Seafood Lefty’s Lobster and Chowder House 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