72 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2017 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2017 73 AMERICAN eight|11place Ifwalkingintoeight|11feelslikeyou’vesteppedintoafriend’shouse(in Austin),there’sagoodreasonforit:1)itactuallyusedtobeahouseand 2)thechefs/ownersarefromthere.Aclassic,intimateinteriormakesthis a very cozy place to unwind; or, venture outside and share a table with fellow music lovers. Menu items include Salads, Bites (think: Pimento CheeseSliders)andhousemadeFlatBreadssuchastheChorizoHerowith local goat cheese, red onion, cilantro and roasted yellow peppers.This is the kind of place where you can kick back and enjoy the cool vibe while sippingonwinesbytheglass/bottleandlocalbeersontap. 7080WMainStreet|Frisco (469)888-4037|eight11place.com Kenny’sWoodFiredGrill Everyone loves Kenny’s restaurants, including the Burger Joint, Italian Kitchen and Smoke House. What makes the Wood Fired Grill location perfect for date night, though, is its classy supper club décor and simply put, the food. Steaks, chops, burgers and fish are all perfectly prepared anddelicious.EverymealstartswithKenny’sfamouspopoversandinour humbleopinion,shouldincludetheirhalf-poundjumbolumpcrabcake. It’s too delicious not to order! Try a Grey Goose martini – their vodka is keptontapat28degrees.Smooooth. 5000BeltLineRd. | Dallas (972)392-9663|kennyswoodfiredgrill.com LazyDogRestaurantandBar Reminiscent of a Jackson Hole, Wyoming après-ski lodge, this Addison outpost at the Village on the Parkway offers something delicious for everyone. From comfort food classics such as burgers and big salads to heartierfareincludingLambStroganoffandHousemaidVeggieLasagna, Lazy Dog feels like the perfect place to replenish all those calories you burnedoffontheslopes(ormorelikely,holidayshoppingattheGalleria). VillageontheParkway|Addison (469)754-1300|lazydogrestaurants.com PDQ You know how it is when you’re hungry and want something quick, but you also want it to be on the healthier side, and, oh yeah—you don’t want to get outofyourcar?ThinkPDQ. While this acronym typically stands for “Pretty Darn Quick,” (and they are!) in this relatively new, but rapidly expanding concept, it stands for “People Dedicated to Quality.” While the menu is decidedly poultry-driven, it’s also surprisingly varied, with several good-for-you fruits and veggies tucked into unexpected but delicious places. Zucchini fries and Blueberry Coleslaw (try it!) sit unpretentiously alongside hand-battered chicken tenders served with made-fresh-daily sauces.The salads are generous, fresh, and filling, and tosatisfyyoursweettooth,tryahandspunmilkshake. LocationsinFrisco,Plano,Murphy eatpdq.com SixtyVines What could be better than a great glass of wine? How about a great glass of wine—on tap? Not only does this mean that each glass pro- vides the best possible taste at the perfect temperature, reusable kegs equallessspoilageandlesslandfill.Butlet’sgettothefood:Smallplates like Manila clams with creamy white wine chowder broth or wood-fired cauliflowerwithlemondillyogurtareperfection.Hungrierappetiteswill find plenty to choose from too, such as fregola served risotto style, then topped with crispy wild mushrooms. The burger, made with Akaushi beef, is something you’ll dream about later, and entrees, such as chick- en, fish and chops, are solid choices. Perfect for both large parties and intimategatherings. 3701DallasPkwy|Plano sixtyvines.com WhistleBritches The logo says a lot: Chicken. Bis- cuits. Beer. But what it doesn’t convey is that Chef Omar Flores and his team pickle brine each and every bird, creating one of the juiciest, most flavorful chick- en experiences we’ve ever had. And at Whistle Britches, it is all about chicken: half chickens, wholechickens,roastedchickens,friedchickentenders—evenchickens glazedwithpomegranatemolasses.Sidesandstartersarecomfort-driv- en, such as pickled jalapeno pimento cheese, served with saltines. Or deviled eggs with country ham. Three cheese mac. Grits with gouda. Are you hungry yet? Brunch, lunch and dinner served, along with a nice selection of cocktails, beer and wine. Desserts are straightforward and totallydecadent. 6110FrankfordRd. |Dallas whistlebritcheschicken.com ASIAN HowardWang’s While the Grills and the Brasserie offer slightly different menus, Howard Wang’sisfamousfornicely-sizedportionsofwell-seasonedAsianFusion food, served in a sleek, contemporary atmosphere. Large round tables makeittheperfectplacetomeetupwithfriendsafterwork,orhostabig family gathering. Whether you opt for something hearty, such as Kung PaoChicken,orBeefandBroccoliStirFry,orlighterfare,suchassteamed chickenandvegetableswithsauceontheside,you’resuretoleavesatis- fied.There’saniceselectionforvegetarians,too.Afullbar,includingbeer, wineandmixology-drivencocktails,roundsoutyourmealperfectly. hwrestaurants.com 4343W.NorthwestHwy.,Suite345|Dallas (214)366-1606 1471E.SouthlakeBlvd.|Southlake (817)488-4666 3223LemmonAve.,Suite103|Dallas (214)954-9558 Mr.Wok From Tom Chung Ramen to Egg Foo Young and everything in be- tween—everything is good. Do notmisstwooftheirmostpopular dishes: Peking Duck and Beggar’s Chicken. The succulent duck is carved tableside and made daily; when they run out, they’re out— sogetthereearly.Afterthemeat’s been carved, your server will ask whether you want the bones in a soup orstir-fried.Askforalittlebitofboth—you’llthankus.Beggar’sChicken is a whole chicken stuffed with Chinese sticky rice that’s been stir-fried with shallot, Cantonese sausage, veggies, and five-spice powder and then wrapped in lotus, bamboo leaves, and bread crust, sealing in the juicesandflavorsduringit’s22-hourbasting(yes,22).OrdertheChicken twodaysinadvance;it’sworththeforethought.BYOB. 260014thStreet|Plano mr-wok.com RoyalChina A family-owned Dallas favorite since 1974, Royal China offers an exten- sivemenuofpopularChineseandChinese-Americanclassics,suchasCa- shew Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Shrimp with HoneyWalnuts—and all are consistently delicious. But it just might be the noodles—house made,fromscratch—thatkeepsexistingfanshappiestandnewerones clamoring for more. Try the Dumpling Sampler and/or Xiao-Long-Bao (soup dumplings) – each one gives you a wonderful, chewy bite of dumplingandinside,broththatismeanttobeslurpedonceithascooled a bit.This is the kind of place where you find yourself asking your server what the guy at the next table ordered, so you can have it next time. Serviceisexceptionallyfriendly.Fullbar,too. 6025RoyalLn.,Suite201|Dallas (214)361-1771|royalchinadallas.com TuktaThai Delicious food, a veggie-friendly menu (don’t worry, there’s meat too), brisk service and a putting green?Yes, a putting green (apparently, the owner’s daughter is quite the golfer so, there you have it). Quirkiness aside, Tukta Thai’s Pad Thai is one of Richardson’s best and the Curry Friend Rice and PadWoon Sen are equally good. Its BYOB policy makes it a budget-friendly place to dine in, or skip the putting green and do take-out. 9625PlanoRd.|Dallas (214)342-0121|tuktathairestaurant.com BARBEQUE Kenny’sSmokeHouse No doubt about it—Texans love barbecue. But the thing that makes Kenny’s Smoke House so special is that it offers more than just standard Texas barbecue fare.Tasty eats like smoky Pulled PorkTostadas are fea- tured alongside must-have brisket, sausage and ribs. Even sandwiches andsaladsgettheSmokeHousetreatmentwithingredientslikesmoked turkey and smoked bacon, and don’t miss the Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese.Afamilystyleto-gomenumakesthisagreatpartyoption,too. 5760LegacyDr.|Plano kennyssmoke.com SMOKE What’snottoloveaboutSmoke?AtthePlanolocale,thefoodisdelicious, the service is spot-on, the décor is warm and cozy, and the beautiful, covered patios are romantic and also a great place for people watching. Andsinceit’sdatenight,afterall,don’tmissthefireroastedoysterswith scampi butter, chorizo and ash salsa. The Dallas location is smaller and charming with a retro feel (it’s adjacent to the Belmont Hotel), offering manyofthesamemenuitemsasthePlanooutpostandallofthesame, excellentTexas-sizedhospitality.smokerestaurant.com 2408PrestonRd.| Plano (972)599-2222 901FortWorthAve.|Dallas (214)393-4141 BURGERS NEWLISTING! 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 Ahi Tuna Salad is tossed with a kicking-it wasabi-teriyaki vinaigrette. And you certainly wouldn’t expect Crawfish Pistolettes at a burger joint, now would you? And then there’s made-from-scratch étouffée, wrapped in a French bread roll and servedwithhousemadeMississippiComebackSauce.Veggieburgersare actually flavorful, as is the Jive Turkey Burger with pesto, chipotle aioli and avocado. Optional burger toppings are fun and inventive, from fried eggstoghostchilisauce.Anddon’tmissthe“killermilkshakesandgen- erousappetizers,enoughtomakeaseriousdentinyourappetite. 4925GreenvilleAve.,Suite150|Dallas (972)370-3636 8255PrestonRd.,Suite300|Plano (972)535-5157 www.grubburgerbar.com NEWLISTING! VillageBurgerBar Remember Monk’s on Seinfeld, the café where the group gath- ered regularly to nosh and chat? That’s how it is at Village Burger Bar in Watters Creek. Yes, the food is stellar (Cheffed-Up Gour- met Burgers, Truffle Fries and Decadent Shakes), but it’s also a place where family comes first. Many customers pop in several times a week to watch games and let the kids runaround. 957GardenParkDr.|Allen(469)854-6616 5700LegacyDr./Plano(972)801-2772 www.villageburgerbar.com Hopdoddy Hopdoddy believes “happy burgers” start with “happy cows” – hu- manely raised and without any added chemicals or hormones. In fact, just about everything at Hopdoddy is “happy”: local and organic veg- etables, handcut fries, made from scratch buns (including gluten-free options) and craft beers.There’s no table service, per se, but staff helps youfindaseatandismorethan“happy”tobringyourefillsoranything else you need.Waits at the Preston Center location can be long at lunch butworthit. hopdoddy.com PrestonCenter|6030LutherLn.,Dallas (214)363-2337 3227McKinneyAve.|Dallas (214)871-2337 5100BeltLineRd.|Addison (972)387-2337 Jake’sUptown:Burgers,Beer&Atmosphere Now this is where you take out-of-town visitors for a really great, no muss/nofussTexas-stylehamburger.Yeah,thereareacoupleofobliga- tory salads on the menu but really, who cares? If you’re at Jake’s, you’re there for fried, battered and delicious. Even desserts are fried. Really, it all goes back to the famous poppy seed buns, all crunchy and toasty. “Vegetables”includeFriedPickleChipsandevenFriedGreenBeans(See, Mom?We’reeatingourgreens!).TherearegiantTVscreenseverywhere, showcasing a plethora of near and far sports channels, and beer is al- ways frosty—whether in bottles or on tap. Servers are friendly, and you’rewelcometostayforaslittleoraslongasyoulike. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW jakesuptown.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 (with Cajun spices and bleu cheese), Kenny’s doesn’t disappoint. LoadedCheeseFriesarethebombhere,andifyou’rereallyfeelingindul- gent,don’tforgetthethickcutonionrings—they’reepic. kennysburgerjoint.com 1377LegacyDr.|Frisco (214)618-8001 5809PrestonRd. |Plano (972)378-0999 CAFÉS, DINERS & COFFEEHOUSES BreadWinnersCaféandBakery Isyourfamilyhavingatoughtimedecidingwhat’sfordinner(orbreak- fastorbrunch)?Bring‘emonovertoBreadwinners.SouthernLumpCrab Cakes with spicy remoulade? No problem. Free-Range Roasted Chicken with fresh herbs, seasonal vegetable orzo, and peppadew vinaigrette? Yep.Big,juicyGreenChileJalapenoBaconBurger?Ofcourse!Howabout something more obscure, like Smoked Gouda Fondue with basil, or Pork Belly Sliders? Breadwinners has those, too. Don’t worry, if you’ve got a hankering for big, hearty breakfast items such as Beeman Ranch AkaushiStripSteak&EggsoroneofseveralEggsBenedictvarieties,you won’tbedisappointed.Stopbythemouth-wateringbakeryonyourway outforalittlesomethingtoenjoylater,allbyyourself. Uptown,InwoodVillage,Plano,NorthParkCenter breadwinnerscafe.com CaféBrazil WhilethisDallasstapleoffersavariedmenuofappetizers,soups,salad, entrees, desserts, coffees, and more, ingredients lean heavily toward Mexico—not Brazil. We’re okay with that though because tasty, com- fort food options abound. Breakfast portions are generous, and most entreesincludeasignaturesideofcrispyRoastedRosemaryPotatoesor FriedSweetPotatoes.Migaswithhousemadechorizoreallyhitthespot. Severallocationsareopen24hoursontheweekends,andtheUniversity Parklocationisopen24hoursalways.It’snoteasytofindthatinDallas! MultiplelocationsinDFW|cafebrazil.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. Housemade bagels and breads, Reubens, patty melts, generous omelets and matzo ball soup are just a few of the things that keep transplanted New Yorkers and original Dallasites alike flocking to Cindi’s—morning,noonandnight.Themenu’shuge,sosufficeittosay, if you’ve got a taste for something, Cindi’s probably has it—and it’s all good. Breakfast served all day and catering available. With locations throughouttheMetroplex,there’ssuretobeaCindi’snearyou. FivelocationsthroughouttheMetroplex cindisnydeli.com CoffeeHouseCafé This little jewel box offers de- licious breakfast, lunch and dinner at reasonable prices in a delightful setting. It’s the per- fect place for date night or just about anything else.Their coffee is European style, handcrafted, mostlyorganicandallthat.Ifyou feel like a date night at home, they even offer a drive-through. It’s all good. But really, you had us at drive-through. 6150FrankfordRd. |Dallas (469)248-0554|coffeehousecafe.com CrossroadsDiner Earlier this year, Crossroads relocated to the NE corner of Preston and Campbell, making this former Walnut Hill favorite even more convenient for north Dallasites.Yes,thefamoussticky buns are ooey, gooey, and over- the-top, studded with chopped pecans, caramel, and cinnamon—but this is a diner after all. You can’t go wrong with the made-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 and large parties, and, while this busy place doesn’t take reservations, simply download theNowaitappandyou'llgetatextwhenyourtableisready. 17194PrestonRd.|Dallas crossroads-diner.com DeliNews Sometimes,you’vejustgottahaveasandwich–areallybig,juicyoneon pillowy bread, piled high with deli meats, cheese and condiments. And Deli News, a true NewYork-style deli, restaurant and bakery has served the best for the past twenty-two years.They’ve got everything the ex- NewYorker is looking for: whitefish, chopped liver, pastrami and more. But they do dinner, too. Dine in or take out (they also cater) from their hotfoodmenuincludingbeefstroganoff,boiledchickeninthepotwith matzoball,stuffedcabbagerollsandbraisedshortribs. 17062PrestonRd.|Dallas (972)733-3354 delinewsdallas.com DreamCafé This favorite breakfast-lunch-dinner-brunch spot, equally popular amongyoung,energeticfamiliesandsleepysinglessportingdisheveled hair, offers something for everyone: vegetarian entrees so hearty you’ll never miss the meat; gluten-free dishes; breakfast items for dinner (ChickenandWaffleswithbacongravy?);andplentymore.Justlooking for a nosh?Try the Blue Cheese Chips loaded with apple-smoked bacon andscallionsortheThaiCrabFritterswithlemongrass,limeleaf,butter- milk,andchile.Withfriendlyserviceandcocktailofferings,thedreamis verymuchalive.NowwithalocationinLakewood. Addison,Uptown,Lakewood thedreamcafe.com FroggCoffeeBar&Creperie Cause sometimes you need a crepe,too!Andwhenthecraving hits, it’s time to head to Frogg. If the Nutella and Stuff crepe (with foster and caramel sauc- es, whipped cream, apples and cinnamon) isn’t enough to make you jump in your car, maybe the friendly and knowledgeable baristas will win you over with one of their delicious hot beverage op- tions, topped with beautiful latte art designs. Heartier appetites will appreciate their delicious soups, sandwiches and filling omelet crepes. ThisplacefeelslikealittlesliceofEuropeanheaven. LocatedinAllenatWattersCreek froggcoffee.com HighlandParkOldFashionedSodaFountain Craving nostalgia, along with THE best half ham salad/half pimento cheesesandwichintown?Withoutadoubt,thisiswhereyouneedtobe. Inbusinessforover104(!)years,whichinDallastermsispracticallylike theMesolithicera,verylittlehaschangedinthelastcenturyatHPOFSF, except for the gracious addition of central air-conditioning. Oh, if those original bar stools could talk! Moms and business moguls alike mingle over Frito chili pies, superior shakes and what we think simply has to be house made vegetable soup—it’s that good. And whether you’re cravingamalt,cooler,float,freeze,sodaorsundae,they’reallsublime. 3229KnoxSt.|Dallas highlandparksodafountain.com Lekka It’s a restaurant/bar. It’s a gallery/gift shop. It’s Lekka! Whether you’re looking for unique gifts, Himalayan salt lamps (you need one!), or the perfect spot to meet up with friends for a hearty salad and sandwich, tremezzini (pita bread stuffed with, for example, mozzarella and artichoke) or a slab of decadent pie or cake, Lekka has something for everyone. Enjoy the spacious patio on warmer days—though inside is equally inviting. We mentioned the desserts, right? Rightly described as a “Slice of Heaven,”pieces of pie are generous and worth a visit all by themselves. Choose from Banana Caramel Pecan, Key Lime, Dou- ble Chocolate Fudge and many others—all made from scratch. Open for lunch and dinner every day with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. lekkashop.com 17606PrestonRd.|Dallas (972)735-8425 OPENINGSOONat1921NHendersonAve. inDallas Norma’sCafé Since1956,Norma’shasbeenservingupitsownbrandofdeliciousfare 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 Patty Melt, positively oozing with Swiss Cheese and smotheredonions.Don’tforgetthepies!Youcan’tleavewithoutindulg- ing in one of Norma’s Mile-High Cream Pies™; the coconut version is an otherworldlyexperience. Addison,Frisco,OakCliff,ParkLane normascafe.com SnugontheSquare 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 goodEATS Dining Guide Our editors scoured the greater Dallas area for tried-and-true dining destinations that are family-friendly (even teens!), affordable and delicious. Herearesomeofourfavorites. goodEATS