GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MAY | JUNE 2018 67 Burgers GrubBurgerBar While this is definitely a darn good burger bar, a few surprises on the menu take it up several notches. For lighter fare, the AhiTuna Salad is tossed with a kicking-it wasa- bi-teriyaki vinaigrette. And you certainly wouldn’t expect Craw- fish Pistolettes at a burger joint, now would you? And then there’s made-from-scratch étouffée, wrapped in a French bread roll and served withhousemadeMississippiComebackSauce.Veggieburgersareactually flavorful and a nice alternative to beef, as is the Jive Turkey Burger with pesto, chipotle aioli and avocado. Optional burger toppings are fun and inventive,fromfriedeggstoghostchilisauce. 4925GreenvilleAve.,Ste.150|Dallas (972)370-3636 8255PrestonRd.,Ste.300|Plano (972)535-5157 www.grubburgerbar.com Hopdoddy Hopdoddy believes“happy burgers”start with“happy cows”– humanely raised and without any added chemicals or hormones. In fact, just about everything at Hopdoddy is“happy:”local and organic vegetables, handcut fries, made from scratch buns (including gluten-free options) and craft beers.There’s no table service, per se, but staff helps you find a seat and is more than“happy”to bring you refills or anything else you need.Waits at thePrestonCenterlocationcanbelongatlunchbutworthit. 6030LutherLn.,Ste.100|Dallas (214)363-2337 3227McKinneyAve.,Ste.102|Dallas (214)871-2337 5100BeltLineRd.,Ste.502|Addison (972)387-2337 www.hopdoddy.com Kenny’sBurgerJoint Whether you’re in the mood for a really great, classic burger like Zed’s Straight Up or something a little different like Mushroom Brie or Black & Blue(withCajunspicesandbleucheese),Kenny’sdoesn’tdisappoint.Load- ed Cheese Fries are the bomb here, and if you’re really feeling indulgent, don’tforgetthethickcutonionrings—they’reepic. 1377LegacyDr.,Ste.120|Frisco (214)618-8001 5809PrestonRd., Ste.588|Plano (972)378-0999 www.kennysburgerjoint.com VillageBurgerBar Remember Monk’s on Seinfeld, the café where the group gathered reg- ularly to nosh and chat? That’s how it is at Village Burger Bar in Watters Creek. Yes, the food is stellar (Cheffed-Up Gourmet Burgers, Truffle Fries andDecadentShakes),butit’salsoaplacewherefamilycomesfirst.Many customerspopinseveraltimesaweektowatchgamesandletthekidsrun around.ItsAllDay/EveryDayhappyhourisalsoadraw. 957GardenParkDr.|Allen (469)854-6616 www.villageburgerbar.com Cafes,Diners,&CoffeeHouses BreadWinnersCaféandBakery Isyourfamilyhavingatoughtimedecidingwhat’sfordinner(orbreakfast orbrunch)?Bring‘emonovertoBreadwinners.SouthernLumpCrabCakes with spicy remoulade? No problem. Free-Range Roasted Chicken with fresh herbs, seasonal vegetable orzo, and peppadew vinaigrette?Yep. Big, juicyGreenChileJalapeñoBaconBurger?Ofcourse!Howaboutsomething moreobscure,likeSmokedGoudaFonduewithbasil,orPorkBellySliders? Breadwinnershasthose,too. Don’tworry,ifyou’vegotahankeringforbig, hearty breakfast items, such as Beeman Ranch Akaushi Strip Steak & Eggs or one of several Eggs Benedict varieties, you won’t be disappointed. Stop by the mouth-watering bakery on your way out for a little something to enjoylater,allbyyourself. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.breadwinnerscafe.com Cindi’sNYDeli If you’re looking for authentic New York deli food, go to Cindi’s. Now. Oh, and it just happens to be owned by a lovely Vietnamese woman named Anh Vo. House made bagels and breads, Reubens, patty melts, generous omelets and matzo ball soup are just a few of the things that keep trans- planted New Yorkers and original Dallasites alike flocking to Cindi’s— morning,noonandnight.Themenu’shuge,sosufficeittosay,ifyou’vegot a taste for something, Cindi’s probably has it—and it’s all good. Breakfast servedalldayandcateringavailable.WithlocationsthroughouttheMetro- plex,there’ssuretobeaCindi’snearyou. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.cindisnydeli.com CoffeeHouseCafé This is the perfect setting for“coffee talks”with friends, weeknight dinner with the family, date night or just about anything else. Coffee is Europe- an style, handcrafted, shade grown, mostly organic and all that—but there’s so much more. You’ll also see French press drinks, cold brews and pour overs, as well as delicious“adult”coffees, featuring tasty add-ins like Bailey’s,Frangelicoandvanillavodka.Whynotstopinafteramovie,when you’re not quite ready to call it a night? Or, maybe you’re in a hurry? No problem; this place even has a drive-thru, offering both beverages and breakfast/lunchitems.Andpoochesarealwayswelcomedonthepatio— aslongastheydon’tdrinktoomanyespressos. 6150FrankfordRd.|Dallas (972)232-2333 www.coffeehousecafe.com CrossroadsDiner Crossroads relocated to the northeast corner of Preston and Campbell, making this former Walnut Hill favorite even more convenient for North Dallasites.Yes, the famous sticky buns are ooey, gooey, and over-the-top, studded with chopped pecans, caramel, and cinnamon—but this is a dinerafterall. Youcan’tgowrongwiththemade-from-scratch,blueberry pancakes and hearty frittatas, but you’ll also want to try lunchtime fare such as My Mom's Egg Salad Sandwich on wheat toast or the sublime Crispy Fried Chicken and Warm Brie sandwich. Crossroads welcomes kids andlargeparties,and,whilethisbusyplacedoesn’ttakereservations,sim- plydownloadtheNowaitappandyou'llgetatextwhenyourtableisready. 17194PrestonRd.,Ste.101|Dallas (214)346-3491 www.crossroads-diner.com DeliNews Sometimes, you’ve just gotta have a sandwich – a really big, juicy one on pillowybread,piledhighwithdelimeats,cheeseandcondiments.AndDeli News,atrueNewYork-styledeli,restaurantandbakeryhasservedthebest forthepasttwenty-twoyears.They’vegoteverythingtheex-NewYorkeris looking for: whitefish, chopped liver, pastrami and more. But they do din- ner, too. Dine in or take out (they also cater) from their hot food menu in- cludingbeefstroganoff,boiledchickeninthepotwithmatzoballs,stuffed cabbagerollsandbraisedshortribs.Whatareyouwaitingfor? 17062PrestonRd.|Dallas (972)733-3354 www.delinewsdallas.com DreamCafé This favorite breakfast-lunch-din- ner-brunch spot, equally popular among young, energetic families and sleepy singles sporting di- sheveled hair, offers something for everyone: vegetarian entrees so hearty you’ll never miss the meat; gluten-free dishes; breakfast items for dinner (Chicken and Waffles withbacongravy?);andplentymore.Justlookingforanosh?TrytheBlue Cheese Chips loaded with apple-smoked bacon and scallions or the Thai CrabFritterswithlemongrass,limeleaf,buttermilk,andchile.Withfriend- lyserviceandcocktailofferings,thedreamisverymuchalive. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.thedreamcafe.com GlobalPeaceFactory If you think the name of this place refers to a hippie-dippie alternative to “that other factory” (you know, the one with cheesecake), think again. “Factory” is just for fun, because Global Peace is anything but. A fairly small space with highly customizable drinks, interesting ingredients and super-friendlywaitstaffarewhatbringfolksbackheretimeandagain.We said interesting coffee ingredients, and we meant it: lavender or coconut syrup. Honey. Brown Sugar.There are also plenty of milk alternatives. But what makes Global Peace a standout for us is that it donates a portion of itsproceedstopeaceworkcharities.Prettycoolforaplacethatservesreally hotbeverages. 1377LegacyDr.|Frisco (214)705-2664 www.globalpeacefactory.com Nerdvana We’re not sure what makes us nerdier: our love of Nerdvana’s borrow- or-buy board games library or the fact that we get super excited about a hot beverage served in actual coffee mugs. Never mind. Nerdvana gets a big thumbs up. Much of the seating in this wide-open space is commu- nity-style—perfect for socializing and playing games—with plentiful outlets for all your electronic devices.Teas and fresh juices round out your beverageselection,andtheTexasToastsaredefinitelyworthatasting.We swoonedovertheDivineApplePecanversion. 5757MainSt.|Frisco (214)618-8130 www.nerdvanafrisco.com PearlCup When Carlene Saelg and Rita Davis moved to Dallas from Austin in early 2007, they began looking for a“real”coffee shop—the kind that served strong, mostly espresso-based drinks that weren’t bitter, provided a com- munityatmosphereandwelcomedthosewhowantedtoopenupalaptop orbookandhangoutforawhile.Whentheycouldn’tfindone,theyboldly openedPearlCup.Usingonlythebest,localTexasroasters,PearlCupisthe perfectvenuefortruecoffeesnobs—andwemeanthatinthemostcom- plimentary way. Of course, you must try their creamy, dreamy signature drink:ThePearlLatte™. 2701CusterPkwy.|Richardson (214)468-8182 www.pearlcupcoffee.com WhiteRockCoffee Whether you’re searching for a cool, caffeinated hangout after burning somecaloriesatWhiteRockLakeoraquickwalk-up/drive-thruwithplen- ty of specialty drink options, like Iced Caramel Mocha and Mango Peach GreenIcedTea,WhiteRockaimstoplease.ThemainlocationonNorthwest Highwayoffersplentyofseating(there’salsoasmallbalconyupstairsifthe downstairs is full), freeWi-Fi, fresh muffins, bagels and pastries and if you hitthemattherighttime,freelivemusic,too.It’salsoagreatplacetopick up a pound of locally roasted microlot, organic or direct/fair trade beans foryourhomebrews. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.wrcoffee.com FirstWatch Sure, these days you can get trendy and healthy menu items like avocado toastatjustaboutanywhere,butatthisplace,it’sover-the-topgoodwith smashed avocado, extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and Malden sea salt. A seasonal menu focusing on fresh produce offers lighter fare in warmer months and comfort food in cooler months, making it a perfect choice any time of the year. Carnivores shouldn’t miss the scrumptious Millionaire’s Bacon—four slices of hardwood smoked bacon baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a maple syrup drizzle, and the PowerBowlmadewithprotein-packedquinoa,veggiesandlemonchicken breastisaperfectchoiceforlunch. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.firstwatch.com HugsCafé EverythingaboutHugsmakesuswanttosmile—fromthefriendlystaff,to theexceptionalcustomerservice,tothegiant“HUGS”signonthewall,and ofcourse,tothefood.OwnerRuthThompsoncreatedtheHugsconceptas alunch-onlyplacewhereadultswithspecialneedscouldfindmeaningful workandthenusedhercookingbackgroundtocreatetrulydeliciousmenu items. You’ll find daily soups, fresh salads and decadent sandwiches that are piled high with tasty fillings. Our favorite just might be The Chickie Hug, made with Hugs’ signature chicken salad, cucumber, fresh spinach andtomatoonyourchoiceofbread.UltimatePicnicPotatoSaladisamust- try side, and everyone raves about the Signature Wedding Cake Cookies. ClosedonMondays. 224E.VirginiaSt.|McKinney (469)301-6900 www.hugscafe.org