goodEATS SnugontheSquare Snugislikeahug,tuckedintoasquare.Doesthatmakesense?Maybeit will when we tell you Snug offers delicious hand-crafted coffee bever- ages and ginormous portions of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, hearty soups, sandwich melts and salads—and both breakfast and lunch are offeredeveryday,allday.IfyouliveinMcKinney,you’relucky—youcan just stumble into the square for a Snug brunch any ole time you like (up until 3 pm on Saturdays). The rest of us will make our visit a mini day trip, first filling up at Snug, then burning off those calories with a few strollsaroundthecourthousesquare,stoppinginatallthosecute,inde- pendently-ownedshops.Waitscanbelong,especiallyontheweekends, butit’sworthit. LocatedinMcKinney snugonthesquare.com FRENCH BonnieRuth’sBistroFrançaisetPattisserie Can’t get to Paris? Then get to Bonnie Ruth’s, where you’ll enjoy classic French bistro cuisine, music and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Menu favoritesincludeCroqueMonsieurwithdecadentbéchamelsauce,Steak Frites(ala10ouncesofNYStrip,pansearedandservedwithredwinejus) and of course, Onion Soup Gratinée made with veal stock, caramelized onion and topped with melted Gruyere. Heavenly. The Thursday, Friday andSundayDateNightmenuisanexceptionalvalueatjust$69fortwo, including a bottle of house wine, one hors d’oeuvres, two delicious en- trees (choose from Seafood Crepes, DuckTwoWays, Bone-In Pork Chops withCalvadosandmore),desserttoshareandcoffee.Anddon’tforgetto swingbytheadjacentpatisserietopickupsomepost-datedeliciousness. 916GardenParkDr.|Allen (214)383-6777|bonnieruthsallen.com Cadot ChefJean-MarieCadot,anativeof Paris,grewupinafamilythathas been in the restaurant, hotel and bakery business since 1758— and no, that’s not a typo. In other words, Cadot knows food, and the offerings at his eponymous restaurant in North Dallas are French comfort at their finest. Be suretostartwiththeOnionSoupGratinée,arichbrothwithsilkyonions, smothered in bubbling cheese. After that, any choice is the right choice. From Duck Terrine with Pistachios, Foie Gras and Truffle, to Flounder CrustedwithParmesan,tootherFrenchclassics,suchasSteakFriteswith Peppercorn Sauce or Coq Au Vin—each dish is both lovingly prepared andexpertlyexecuted. 18111PrestonRd.Suite120|Dallas (972)267-5700 |cadotrestaurant.com risen°1 Whodoesn’tloveareallygoodsoufflé?Andthisisdefinitelytheplacefor one.WhetheryougowithasavoryversionlikeTruffleInfusedMushroom orHerb&SpicySausage,orasweetsoufflélikeChocolateorGrandMar- nier(wewoulddefinitelysuggestatleastoneofeach),thesearesoufflés 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 spec- tacular seasonal soufflés, like Cranberry Champagne. And of course, you simply cannot miss the inadvertent 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 deliciousredbrothtoppedwithgreenpesto.Yum. 5360WestLoversLane|Dallas risesouffle.com ITALIAN & PIZZA Campisi’s When it comes to pizza, Campisi’s is a Dallas favorite, but don’t forget abouttherestofthemenu.Since1946,theCampisifamilyhasservedup 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 pas- ta. In recent years, Campisi’s has expanded to include gluten-free pizza crusts,andmostlunchspecials,pricedatjust$9.99includingentréeand drink, keep business folks, students and stay-at-home moms coming throughthedoorseveryweekday. campisis.us MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW Carrabba’s–NorthDallas Because sometimes, you’ve just gotta have Italian.Whether you’re carb loadingwitharichplateoflobsterravioliorkeepingitPaleowithathick 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-calorie entrées, and a gluten-free menu, make Carrabba’s both accessible and upscale. Don’t miss the Italian lettuce wraps with wood-grilled chicken, vegeta- bles and ricotta salata, drizzled with port wine reduction. New owner MarcoMartinezhasapassionforcustomerserviceaswellashiscommu- nity,sobesuretosay“Ciao”onyournextvisit. 17548DallasPkwy|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. 836MarketSt.,WattersCreek|Allen (214)383-9703|grimaldispizzeria.com Kenny’sEastCoastPizza Ifyou’refromtheEastCoast,there’snodoubtaboutit:you’regoingtobe verrrrypickyaboutyourpizza.NorthDallashasdrawntheluckystrawin pizzaeatingbecausePlanoiswherenativeBostonian(andoneofDallas’ fave restaurateurs) Kenny Bowers has opened his pizza place.While the menu will also offer Italian American favorites, expect a selection here focusingmainlyonthepie—pizzapie,thatis—cookedinaclassicBak- ers Pride Deck Oven. Handcrafted cocktails and Grey Goose on tap, too? We’realreadyliningupatthedoor. 4701WParkBlvd|Plano (972)519-9669|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’s aperfectchoice,whetherit’sfamilynightordatenight.Manydishescan beprepared“light”(ifyou’resoinclined),vegetarianorglutenfree. 5100BeltlineRd.|Dallas (972)661-9380|kennysitalian.com RomanCucina The best way to describe Ro- man Cucina is just this: simple, delicious and family-friendly. The Dallas location, with strings of party lights and comfy black leather booths, reminds us of something we might see in a Brooklyn, New York neighbor- hood, and the arched patio pro- videsalovelyplacefordiningalfresco.ThenewerAllenlocationboastsa spaciousdiningroomaswellasanintimatebanquetroom,bothperfect for larger parties. At both locations, you’ll find straightforward Italian fare:pastas,subs(worthyofanotablemention,especiallythemeatball), soups and salads, and classic entrées like Steak Milanese and Eggplant Parmigiana. But unlike a lot of other old-school Italian joints, this one alsoaccommodatesegg-free,gluten-freeanddairy-freesubstitutionsat lowornoadditionalcostonmanyoftheiritems.Asmallbutwell-priced winelistandcocktailsarealsoavailable. 7989BeltLineRd|Dallas 201E.BethanyDr|Allen|romancucina.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 Ital- ianentrées(ChickenPiccataandthelike). Thatsaid,therealdrawtoRus- so’s is the pizza, thanks to its nearly 1,000-degree coal-fired oven which givesusthatchewy,butcrispy,crustwelove.TrytheProsciuttoandKale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Feeling carnivorous? The Paesano Napolatana will leave you feeling sated. Russo’s is family-friendly, and theycatertobothbigandsmallparties. 700EastCampbellRoad|Richardson russoscoalfired.com MEXICAN NEWLISTING! CasaMama If you’re looking for a fami- ly-friendlydininglocationoffering both authentic Mexican recipes (specifically, from the Santiago MaravatioGuanajuatoregion)and Tex-Mex favorites, Casa Mama is the right place for you. You’ll find all your favorite Mexican dishes hereandafewpleasantsurprises,too,includingGuisoPorkStew,homey TortillaLasagna,ChipotleEnchiladas,andRibeyeorSalmonTacos.White Queso is one of the best around, served with light, crispy chips—take it upanotchbyaddingingroundbeef,chorizoorbrisket.Serviceisknown for being exceptionally friendly, and staff is happy to accommodate any specialorders.Don’tmisstheall-dayTuesdayhappyhourortherelaxing Sundaybrunch. 19129PrestonRd.|Dallas (469)828-1045 1445LosRiosBlvd.,Suite301|Plano (972)943-3900|casamamas.com Chuy’s What started in Austin in 1982 as a fun/funky Tex-Mex joint, perfect for grabbing a beer and chips or a mix of comforting entrees, has since grown into what you might call aTex-Mex empire, with locations across Texas and 14 other states. Still, Chuy’s hasn’t lost its charm. A lot of love goes into Chuy’s food—from hand-pulled chicken in all entrees, hand- rolled fresh tortillas, to any of the 10 signature sauces made fresh dai- ly—those extra steps really make a difference. A small but refreshing selection of signature drinks makes Chuy’s a perfect place to kick back anytime. chuys.com MultiplelocationsinDFW Digg’sTacoShop Dallasiteshaveprettyparticularopinionswhenitcomestotacos,sofind- ing a taco shop that pleases everyone in your group can be challenging. ButDigg’shastakencareofthatwithplentyofmenuitemsforvegetari- ans,Paleoenthusiasts,carnivoresandkiddos.TheTex-Mexstandardsare definitely there, but you’ll also find some tasty, spicy surprises, such as habanero shrimp with mango, the Bahn Jovi (basically, their take on a Vietnameseporkonatortilla)andgrilledAlaskanflounderwithserrano chilesauce.Salsasandquesoaresolid,butbesuretotryasideofplantain chips with house dip, too. Salads and bowls provide healthy options for low-carbers and for those who don’t mind carbs, the jelly donut holes areaddictive. 6309HillcrestAve.|Dallas 7325GastonAve.|Dallas|diggstacos.com NEWLISTING! DILLA’S If you like quesadillas, you’re going to love Dilla’s. UT Alum Kyle Gordon created the concept behind Dilla’s while still in college, where he con- sumed more than his share of the beloved Mexican snack. But here, you’re in for so much more than the typical tortilla and melted cheese concoction—think ingredients like: smoked brisket, Portobello mush- rooms, hatch green chile peppers, bacon, and fries (yes, folks, fries on a quesadilla!). Portions are generous, so come hungry, and for the truly ravenous, go for the Gorilla Fries or Chips—both come nacho-inspired and smothered in hatch chile queso. Low carb and vegan options avail- able. 19129PrestonRd.|Dallas (469)828-1045