GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MARCH | APRIL 2018 73 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 Viet- namese,Thai,orMexican.Rarely,doyouassociatestreetfoodwithItalian, so it’s nice to find a place founded on that very concept. It all starts with Piada’ssuperthinpizzadough—notquitetortilla,notquitelavash—but wonderfully chewy and light. From there, a plethora of topping options (delectablemeatballs,friedchicken,steak,avocado,greens,etc.)turnsthe dough into your choice of either a folded/layered sandwich known as a Tasca(pocket)oraPiada(wrap).Streetsidesarealsogoodandveryfresh, 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. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.mypiada.com Ruggeri's Ruggeri's has been a favorite destination for authentic Italian cuisine for morethantwenty-fiveyears,whetheryou'relookingforacozyweeknight spot for mouthwatering pasta or somewhere to celebrate a special occa- sion. 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—tenderdoughpillowsstuffedwithsausageandricottaandtopped with a light tomato basil sauce. But the true menu star just might be the 16-ounce veal chop with wild mushrooms and Marsala wine; it melts in your mouth. Craving veal but can't conquer 16-ounces? Go for Vitello di Scampi—vealandshrimplivinghappilyonthe same plate, inalight and luscious lemony butter sauce. Traditional Italian desserts (Tiramisu, Cap- puccinoPie,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 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. 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 tender and delicious—perfect for dipping in one of several garlicky sauces(trytheyellowtahini/carrotdip).Counterserviceisfastandfriend- ly,andtheopenandairyatmospheremakesitaniceplacefordining-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 Mediterra- nean food for busy people on the go; it’s also a perfect choice for family takeout, offering something foreveryone’stastebuds.Startwith a classic hummus trio appetizer, which includes the classic version, basil pesto and harissa red pepper— served with pita bread, pita chips and plenty of crisp veggies. Kabobs are flavorfulandfilling,whetheryougowithskewersofmoistchunksofchick- en, beef, seafood or veggies. There are loads of options for vegetarians, Paleo eaters and those eating gluten-free, and check out the website for additionalinformationonfoodsensitivitiesandallergens. 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 Dilla’s Ifyoulikequesadillas,you’regoingtoloveDilla’s.UTAlumKyleGordoncre- ated the concept behind Dilla’s while still in college, where he consumed morethanhisshareofthebelovedMexicansnack.Buthere,you’reinforso muchmorethanthetypicaltortillaandmeltedcheeseconcoction—think ingredientslike:smokedbrisket,Portobellomushrooms,hatchgreenchile peppers, bacon, and fries (yes, folks, fries on a quesadilla!). Portions are generous,socomehungry. 2008MidwayRd.|Plano (972)473-4601 3930PrestonRd.,Ste.140|Frisco (469)362-6123 www.dillas.com Mr.Mesero Featuring both “American stan- dards and Mexican classics,” this cozy, but popular, McKinney Avenue spot is favored by the in- crowd,makingitawonderfulplace foradatenightormeetingupwith friends. During non-peak times, it’s also a nice family destination. When the weather’s nice, the outdoor patio is especially popular to enjoy a Micorita, a house specialty made with Herradura Jimador tequila. Other favorites include Brisket Tacos and the flat grilled Mico “12” Strip Steak, servedwithserranoandgrilledcherrytomatoes. 4444McKinneyAve.|Dallas (214)780-1991 www.mrmesero.com Seafood Lefty’sLobsterandChowderHouse Long considered a neighborhood gem, Lefty’s serves the kind of seafood you’d expect to find somewhere 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. Open for lunch and dinner,andthebarstaysopenlate. 4021BeltLineRd.|Dallas (972)774-9518 www.leftyslobster.com SeaBreezeFishMarket&Grill FindingtrulyfreshfishinDallascanbechallenging,butSeaBreezemakes it sooo easy. Selections are flown in daily, representing only the freshest seafoodavailable.Partretailfishmarket,partsit-downrestaurantwithfull bar, at Sea Breeze you can purchase fish to prepare in your own home...or let the experts do it for you while enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail. Be suretostartoutwiththeSesameCrustedYellowfinTunaNachoswithavo- cado wasabi, sweetThai chili, and lemon zest—or maybe you're more of aSmokedSalmonDeviledEggperson;youcan'tgowrongwitheitherone. TheLobsterRollisatopseller,itstraditionalsplit-topbunfilledgenerously with buttery lobster salad.There's a nice selection of soups and stews, in- cludingastellarcioppino,andgumbothatwillremindyouofyour Cajungranny(ifyouhaveone). 4017PrestonRd.,Ste.530|Plano (972)473-2722 www.seabreezefish.com Sea Breeze Lobsta & Chowda House For the past decade, the Oruch family has brought North Texans the freshest seafood selection in the region at their acclaimed Sea BreezeFishMarket&Grill.  The menu at this newer restaurant showcases a limited menu of spe- cialty items including the New England Lobster Roll—a simple sandwich ofwild-caughtMainelobstersimplydressedwithmayonnaise,celeryand 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 TheKeeper Sustainable seafood and a tropical tiki bar create the just-right combina- tiontogiveyoualittletasteofyourlastbeach-yvacation.Themenu's"Just FlewIn"sectionofferstheday'sfreshestselections,bothartfullyprepared andutterlydelicious.Therearealsosomeunexpectedseafoodmenuchoic- es, including shareable portions of Crab Fried Rice with crispy Spam and topped with a perfectly cooked egg, and the Hamachi Crudo—buttery, rawHamachitoppedwithapple,avocado,chilies,yuzusauceanddelicate microgreens.Housesaladsarefreshandseasonalingredient-inspired,and ifyou'resimplynotinthemoodforfish,TheKeeperoffersasuperbGrilled HalfChickenwithTomatoButterSauce. 5840LegacyCircle,Ste.D100|Plano (469)210-5337 www.thekeeperplano.com TheOceanaireSeafoodRoom While this may be considered more of a date night place, if you happen to bring your in-laws here for a night out, they’ll never forget it. The freshest seafood in a sleek setting makes The Oceanaire the perfect spot for a luxurious dinner with top-notch service. Menu of- ferings are based entirely on freshness and availability, so arrive prepared to“justgowithit.”Thereareseveralsidesyouwon’twanttomissincluding ChardonnayRoastedMushroomsandShells&CheesewithSmokedGouda andApplewoodBacon.Theirfullbarmightjustmakeyouforgetyouprom- isedtopickupthetab. TheWestinGalleriaDallas 13340DallasPkwy.|Dallas (972)759-2277 www.theoceanaire.com