Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8472 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2016 CROSSROADS DINER Earlier this year, Crossroads relo- cated to the NE corner of Preston and Campbell, making this former Walnut Hill favorite even more conve- nient for north Dallasites.Yes, the famous sticky buns are ooey, gooey, and over-the-top, studded with chopped pecans, cara- mel, and cinnamon—but this is a diner after all. You can’t go wrong with the made-from-scratch, blueberry pancakes and hearty frittatas, but you’ll also want to try lunchtime fare such as My Mom's Egg Salad Sandwich or the sublime Crispy Fried Chicken andWarm Brie sandwich.This busy place doesn’t take reservations, but simply download the Nowait app and you'll get a text when your table is ready! 17194 Preston Rd., Suite 101 | Dallas,TX 75248 crossroads-diner.com DREAM CAFÉ This favorite breakfast-lunch-dinner-brunch spot, equally popular among young, energetic families and sleepy singles sporting disheveled hair, offers something for everyone: vege- tarianentreessoheartyyou’llnevermissthemeat;gluten-free dishes; breakfast items for dinner (Chicken and Waffles with bacon gravy?); and plenty more. Just looking for a nosh? Try the Blue Cheese Chips loaded with apple-smoked bacon and scallions or the Thai Crab Fritters with lemongrass, lime leaf, buttermilk, and chile. With friendly service and cocktail offer- ings, the dream is very much alive. Addison, Uptown, Lakewood thedreamcafe.com NORMA’S CAFÉ Since 1956, Norma’s has been serving up its own brand of delicious fare and down-home hospitality.Fromgiantomelets stuffed to the brim, to burgers, sandwiches, and so much more, narrowing down your choices can be a challenge. Ev- eryone loves Norma’s biscuits, but don’t eat too many of them or you won’t have room for things like the Chicken Fried Steak (one of DFW’s best), Open- Faced Pot Roast Sandwich on Texas toast served with mashed potatoes and smothered with gravy, or the ubiquitous diner Patty Melt, positively oozing with Swiss Cheese and smothered onions. Don’t forget the pies!You can’t leave without indulging in one of Norma’s Mile-High Cream Pies™; the coconut version is an otherworldly experience. NEW LOCATION: Caruth Plaza/Dallas Addison, Frisco, Oak Cliff normascafe.com THE RUSTIC (UPTOWN) The gigantic patio is always packed! Enjoy down-home food made from scratch daily. The menu features seafood from the Gulf, steak sourced from local ranchers, and dairy and produce grown by local farmers. The bartenders stay busy, pouring the mostprolificcollectionoflocalbeveragesintown,including40 beers on tap. 3656 Howell St. | Dallas,TX 75204 (214)730-0596 therustic.com PIADA When you hear the words“street food,”you probably think about Vietnamese,Thai,orMexican.Rarely,doyouassociatestreetfood with Italian, so it’s nice to find a place founded on that very con- cept. It all starts with Piada’s super thin pizza dough—not quite 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 yourchoiceofeitherafolded/layeredsandwichknownasaTasca (pocket) or a Piada (wrap). Street sides are also good and very fresh, including Orzo Crunch or Roasted Corn. Piada’s reason- ably-pricedmenumakesitafavoriteforaquickbiteorasit-down dinnerinafast,casualatmosphere. Frisco, Richardson, FortWorth mypiada.com MI COCINA Great chips, zippy salsa, friendly service, and the infamous Mambo Taxi (an intoxicating—literally— blendofSauzaSilvertequila, lime juice and housemade sangria with Pinot Noir, brandy and fruit juices) have ensured that every single person in Dallas (or so we imagine) has been to Mi Cocina at least a dozen times.While the Brisket Tacos are legendary, and the Queso Blanco with Picadillo Beef is the bomb, for the fitness-minded, the housemade soups and hearty salads are also excellent. Feeling fishy?The searedTila- pia Filet with Orange-Garlic Mojo is solid. We’ll also take any- thing they offer, as long as its smothered in Mi Cocina’s silky- smooth mole sauce. Multiple locations in DFW micocinarestaurants.com MR. WOK From Tom Chung Ramen to Egg Foo Young and everything in between—everything is good. Do not miss two of their most popular dishes: Peking Duck and Beggar’s Chicken. The succu- lent duck is carved tableside and made daily; when they run out, they’re out—so get there early. After the meat’s been carved, your server will ask whether you want the bones in a soup or stir-fried. Ask for a little bit of both—you’ll thank us. Beggar’s Chicken is a whole chicken stuffed with Chinese sticky rice that’s been stir-fried with shallot, Cantonese sausage, veg- gies,andfive-spicepowderandthenwrappedinlotus,bamboo leaves, and bread crust, sealing in the juices and flavors during it’s 22-hour basting (yes, 22). Order the Chicken two days in ad- vance; it’s worth the forethought. BYOB. 2600 14th St. | Plano,TX 75074 mr-wok.com FIFTH STREET PATIO CAFÉ (FRISCO) This is a terrific place for patio dining—and they’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We adore the Bananas Foster French Toast, the Kentucky Hot Brown and the Frisco Cheese- steak (notice—we like decadent food!). Waits can be long, especially on weekends, but the food and the vibrant scene are definitely worth it. 8621 5th St. | Frisco,TX 75034 (972) 377-3483 5thstreetcafe.com PDQ You know how it is when you’re hungry and want something quick, but you also want it to be on the healthier side, and, oh yeah—youdon’twanttogetoutofyourcar?ThinkPDQ. While this acronym typically stands for“Pretty Darn Quick,”(and they are!) in this relatively new, but rapidly expanding concept, it stands for“People Dedicated to Quality.” While the menu is de- cidedly poultry-driven, it’s also surprisingly varied, with several good-for-you fruits and veggies tucked into unexpected but delicious places. Zucchini fries and Blueberry Coleslaw (try it!) sit unpretentiously alongside hand-battered chicken tenders served with made-fresh-daily sauces. The heavenly Handheld Thanksgiving is actually the Grilled Turkey Sandwich, with all theseasoningsoftheholidaylayeredinsideasignaturetoasted brioche bun. The salads are generous, fresh, and filling, and to satisfy your sweet tooth, try a handspun milkshake. Dine in or drive-thru. Locations in Frisco, Plano, Murphy eatpdq.com RUSSO’S COAL-FIRED ITALIAN KITCHEN 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), fantas- tic Calzones, and standard Italian entrées (Chicken Piccata and the like). That said, the real draw to Russo’s is the pizza, thanks to its nearly 1,000-degree coal-fired oven which gives us that chewy, but crispy, crust we love. Try the Prosciutto and Kale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Russo’s is family-friendly, and they cater to both big and small parties. 700 East Campbell Rd. | Richardson,TX 75081 russoscoalfired.com UPSCALE DINING When it’s time for date night, a celebration, or a family treat, here are some dining destinations that offer more sophisticated fare and ambiance. SMOKE (PLANO, DALLAS) What’s not to love about Smoke? At the Plano locale, the food is delicious, the service is spot-on, the décor is warm and cozy, and the beautiful, covered patios are romantic and also a great place for people watching. The Dallas location is smaller and charming with a retro feel (it’s adjacent to the Belmont Hotel), offering many of the same menu items as the Plano outpost and all of the same, excellentTexas-sized hospitality. PLANO 2408 Preston Rd. | (972) 599-2222 DALLAS 901 FortWorth Ave. | (214) 393-4141 smokerestaurant.com goodEATS NEW LOCATION!!