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 MARCH | APRIL 2017 Norma’s Café Since 1956, Norma’s has been serving up its own brand of delicious fare and down-home hospitality. From giant omelets stuffed to the brim, to burgers, sandwiches, and so much more, narrowing down your choices can be a challenge. Everyone 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 PattyMelt,positivelyoozingwithSwissCheeseandsmotheredonions. Don’t forget the pies!You can’t leave without indulging in one of Nor- ma’s Mile-High Cream Pies™; the coconut version is an otherworldly experience. Addison, Frisco, Oak Cliff, Park Lane normascafe.com Snug on the Square Snug is like a hug, tucked into a square. Does that make sense? May- be it will when we tell you Snug offers delicious hand-crafted coffee beverages and ginormous portions of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, hearty soups, sandwich melts and salads—and both breakfast and lunch are offered every day, all day. If you live in McKinney, you’re lucky—youcanjuststumbleintothesquareforaSnugbrunchanyole time you like (up until 3 pm on Saturdays).The rest of us will make our visitaminidaytrip,firstfillingupatSnug,thenburningoffthosecalo- ries with a few strolls around the courthouse square, stopping in at all those cute, independently-owned shops.Waits can be long, especially on the weekends, but it’s worth it. Located in McKinney snugonthesquare.com FRENCH Bonnie Ruth’s Bistro Français et Pattisserie Can’t get to Paris? Then get to Bonnie Ruth’s, where you’ll en- joy classic French bistro cuisine, music and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Menu favorites include Croque Monsieur with decadent béchamel sauce, Steak Frites (ala 10 ounces of NY Strip, pan seared and served with red wine jus) and of course, Onion Soup Gratinée made with veal stock, caramelized onion and topped with meltedGruyere.Heavenly.TheThursday,FridayandSundayDateNight menu is an exceptional value at just $69 for two, including a bottle of house wine, one hors d’oeuvres, two delicious entrees (choose from SeafoodCrepes,DuckTwoWays,Bone-InPorkChopswithCalvadosand more), dessert to share and coffee. And don’t forget to swing by the adjacent patisserie to pick up some post-date deliciousness. 916 Garden Park Dr. | Allen (214) 383-6777 | bonnieruthsallen.com rise n°1 Who doesn’t love a really good soufflé? And this is definitely the place for one. Whether you go with a savory version like Truffle Infused Mushroom or Herb & Spicy Sausage, or a sweet soufflé like Chocolate or Grand Marnier (we would definitely suggest at least one of each), these are souf- flés just like your grandmother used to make, if she happened to be French. Or a chef. Or both. If you’re really lucky, you’ll enjoy one of their spectacular seasonal soufflés, like Cranberry Champagne. And of course, you simply cannot miss the in- advertent appetizer for which the restaurant has become most famous: Marshmallow Soup. Though not technically marshmallows, small puffs of baked goat cheese float effortlessly on a delicious red broth topped withgreenpesto.Yum. 5360West Lovers Lane | Dallas risesouffle.com ITALIAN & PIZZA Campisi’s When it comes to pizza, Campi- si’s is a Dallas favorite, but don’t forget about the rest of the menu. Since 1946, the Campisi family has served up classic and beloved Italian favorites, from meatballs to artichoke hearts and everything in between. Pasta portions are generous and easily shared, and all entrées come with a salad, bread and your choice of pasta. In recent years, Campisi’s has expanded to include gluten-free pizza crusts, and most lunch specials, priced at just $9.99 including entrée and drink, keep business folks, students and stay-at-home moms coming through the doors every weekday. Multiple locations throughout DFW campisis.us Carrabba’s – North Dallas 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 appeals to families and business professionals alike. Life-just- got-easier options, such as online reservations, several under 600-cal- orie 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 ricotta salata, drizzled with port wine reduc- tion. New owner Marco Martinez has a passion for customer service as well as his community, so be sure to say“Ciao”on your next visit. 17548 Dallas Pkwy | Dallas carrabbas.com Grimaldi’s There was a time when you could only get Grimaldi’s famous coal-fired brickovenpizzainNewYork.Butthatwasthen.Today,thereareGrimal- di’s almost everywhere, it seems. While the menu is somewhat basic (pizzas, calzones,salads),it’salsoconsistent.Butwhatwelikeaboutthe Allen location is that it overlooks the little park at Watters Creek where livemusicisoftenplayedduringwarmermonths. 836 Market St.,Watters Creek | Allen (214) 383-9703 | grimaldispizzeria.com Kenny’s East Coast Pizza If you’re from the East Coast, there’s no doubt about it: you’re going to be verrrry picky about your pizza. North Dallas has drawn the lucky strawinpizzaeatingbecausePlanoiswherenative Bostonian (and one of Dallas’fave restaurateurs) Kenny Bowersissoonopeninghisownpizzaplace.Whilethemenuwillalsoof- ferItalianAmericanfavoritesfeaturedonthemenusofhisothersuccess- fulrestaurants,expectaselectionherefocusingmainlyonthepie—piz- zapie,thatis—cookedinaclassicBakersPrideDeckOven.Handcrafted cocktailsandGreyGooseontap,too?We’realreadyliningupatthedoor. 4701W Park Blvd | Plano (972) 519-9669 | kennyseastcoastpizza.com Kenny’s Italian Place Thisistherealdealwhenitcomes to Southern American Italian comfort food (think: Parmigiana, Picatta and Marsala) in a fun and friendly atmosphere. A nice selection of pastas ranging from vegetarian to killer “Midnight” meatballs as well as seafood, steaks and chops make Kenny’s a perfectchoice,whetherit’sfamily night or date night. Many dishes can be prepared“light”(if you’re so in- clined),vegetarianorglutenfree. 5100 Beltline Rd. | Dallas (972) 661-9380 | kennysitalian.com Piada Rarely do you hear the words“street food”associated with Italian fare, so it’s nice to find a place founded on that very concept. 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, etc.) turns the dough into your choice of either a folded/layered sand- wich 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, casual atmosphere. Frisco and Richardson locations | mypiada.com Roman Cucina The best way to describe Roman Cucina is just this: simple, delicious andfamily-friendly.TheDallaslocation,withstringsofpartylightsand comfy black leather booths, reminds us of something we might see in a Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, and the arched patio provides a lovely place for dining al fresco.The newer Allen location boasts a spa- cious dining room as well as an intimate banquet room, both perfect for larger parties. At both locations, you’ll find straightforward Italian fare: pastas, subs (worthy of a notable mention, especially the meat- ball), soups and salads, and classic entrées like Steak Milanese and EggplantParmigiana.Butunlikealotofotherold-schoolItalianjoints, this one also accommodates egg-free, gluten-free and dairy-free sub- stitutions at low or no additional cost on many of their items. A small but well-priced wine list and cocktails are also available. 7989 Belt Line Rd | Dallas 201 E. Bethany Dr | Allen romancucina.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), fantastic Calzones, and standard Italian entrées (Chicken Piccata and the like). That said, the real draw toRusso’sisthepizza,thankstoitsnearly1,000-degreecoal-firedoven which gives us that chewy, but crispy, crust we love. Try the Prosciut- to and Kale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Feeling carnivorous? The Paesano Napolatana will leave you feeling sated. Russo’s is fami- ly-friendly, and they cater to both big and small parties. 700 East Campbell Road | Richardson russoscoalfired.com Spezzo A chic Italian joint to grab a quick bite or linger—your call. Pizzas are fresh and fast, and hearty traditional sandwiches like Chicken Parm or The Gina Parm (with assorted Italian cold cuts and fresh mozzarella) are served on yummy semolina rolls from Empire Bakery. Spezzo’s choiceoftwoappetizers—friedcalamariwithmarinaraandspicygar- lic aioli or white bean soup—are solid.Wine, beer, cocktails, espresso and gelato also available. 4901W. Park Blvd. | Plano (972) 596-8942 | spezzoitalian.com MEXICAN NEW LISTING! Digg’sTaco Shop Dallasites have pretty particular opinionswhenitcomestotacos, sofindingatacoshopthatpleas- es everyone in your group can be challenging. But Digg’s has taken care of that with plenty of menu items for vegetarians, Paleo enthusiasts, carnivores and kiddos.TheTex-Mex standards are definitely there, but you’ll also find some tasty, spicy surprises, such as habanero shrimp with mango, the Bahn Jovi (basically, their take on aVietnamese pork on a tortilla) andgrilledAlaskanflounderwithserranochilesauce.Salsasandqueso are solid, but be sure to try a side of plantain chips with house dip, too. Saladsandbowlsprovidehealthyoptionsforlow-carbersandforthose who don’t mind carbs, the jelly donut holes are addictive. 6309 Hillcrest Ave. | Dallas 7325 Gaston Ave. | Dallas diggstacos.com goodEATS HOT SPOT!