one un-fried option: Hickory Smoked Chicken. Sides are unlimited and servedfamily-style,justlikeGrandmausedtomake,including,creamed corn, green beans (don’t expect al dente), mashed potatoes with gravy, and fluffy biscuits.Without a doubt, Dallas loves Babe’s, so there can be a wait, especially on weekends, but seating moves quickly. For food this good,atjust$12.99/personforadults,it’sdefinitelyworthit. MultiplelocationsinDFW babeschicken.com ChickenScratch Ifyou’relookingforslowfastfood and a cool Austin vibe, Chicken Scratch (CS) is the place to be. TheForkandKnifeChickenFinger BiscuitSandwichislikeChick-fil-A on steroids only in this version, thechickenishormone-free,nev- erfrozenandlocal,andthebiscuit is made from scratch. Not feeling “fried?”No problem. CS offers big salad bowls and pecan wood rotisserie plates, too. Grab an adult bever- age next door atThe Foundry and hang out at the outdoor picnic tables. Whenyou’vehadyourfill,enjoyanall-naturalfreshfruitpopsicle. 2303PittmanSt.|Dallas (214)749-1112 www.cs-tf.com Sissy’sSouthernKitchen&Bar Really, everything we’ve tried at Sissy’s is good. Really, really good. And the owner, Lisa Garza Selcer, couldn’t be more hospitable. But for fam- ily dining, the way to go at Sissy’s is with a bucket of her famous fried chicken.You’ll get ten pieces for just $25 and it comes with your choice ofcoleslaworwhippedpotatoesandgravy.Throwinsomeofherfamous squash puppies with Texas honey butter and jalapeño jelly and voilà! Dinnerisserved. 2929NHendersonAve|Dallas sissyssouthernkitchen.com SugarbaconProperKitchen When we think of Sugarbacon, wethinkofupscalecomfortfood in a warm, rustic setting. Let’s start with the signature appetiz- er: sugarbacon. Picture a perfect little cube of house-smoked Berkshire pork belly, glazed in smoky ancho BBQ sauce, sitting atop spicy bread and butter pickles on a tiny piece of toasted bread. Berkshire pork is known for its rich taste—thought by some to be the “Kobe beef of pork.” One bite of it and you’ll know why. But try not to get stuck in the appetizer section, or you’ll miss out on several other delicious offerings, such as the collard green salad with bacon, bleu cheese and pickled apple or the mighty fine SB burger made with local Wagyu beef and topped with, you got it, sugarbacon. sugarbacon.com 216W.VirginiaSt.|McKinney 6400GastonAve.|Dallas TheHeights We could practically live at The Heights. From homey break- fasts, such as a custom scramble or Lakewood migas, to hearty salads, juicy burgers and a killer club sandwich, to steamed mus- sels and chicken pot pie with a jalapeno cheddar biscuit—this is the type of cozy neighborhood spotwhereyoucanmeetafriendforlunch,grabacupoflocallyroasted FullCityRoostercoffeeandapieceofpietogoorenjoyarelaxingdinner and cocktail. Executive Chef Karin Porter (formerly of Dallas’belovedThe Graperestaurant)aimstodeliver“Southerncomfortfoodsensibility,”and everythingwe’vetastedhitthemark.Openlateonweekends. 2015AbramsRd.|Dallas www.theheightslakewood.com Rick’sChophouse Located in the beautiful Grand Hotel & Ballroom in downtown McKinney, Rick’s is absolutely a date destination for lunch, cock- tails and dinner. Comfy leather couches, live music from local artists Thursday through Satur- dayandhandcraftedcocktailsare just part of what makes Rick’s so popular but it’s a chophouse, af- terall,andtherealemphasishereisonthefood.Mouthwateringsteaks, juicy burgers, fresh seafood (including Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes served with Roasted Corn-Crawfish Bisque and Bacon-Wrapped Trout) along with classic, hearty salads like the Iceberg Wedge with Maytag Bleu CheeseDressingarejustafewofthethingsyou’llloveatRick’s.Andsince you’vealreadybookedthesitter,whynotincludeanovernightstayatthe historichotel?Rick’sservesSundaybrunch,too. 107NorthKentucky|McKinney (214)726-9251|rickschophouse.com goodEATS SEE OUR • AGES 6 WEEKS THROUGH GRADE 12 • 27 ACRES OF CAMPUS • IPAD CAMPUS • CURRICULUM FOCUS: LITERACY, MATH, SCIENCE,AND TECHNOLOGY (STEM) • EXCEEDS NATIONAL AND STATE TEST SCORE AVERAGES AT ALL LEVELS • 500-SEAT FINE ARTS CENTER • EAGLE STADIUM SPORTS COMPLEX • 12 ACRES OF SPORTS FIELDS PRINCE OF PEACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL & EARLY LEARNING CENTER WWW.POPCS.ORG • 972-447-0532 • NEARTHE NORTH DALLASTOLLWAY & PLANO PARKWAY Discover POP Tour! CALL TO SET-UP A Want to be reviewed in our dining guide? EmailTricia@goodlifefamilymag.com. Checkoutallofourrestaurantreviewsat goodlifefamilymag.com!