GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2019 71 Toomanymenuchoicestodecide?StartwiththeOriginalSamplerPlatter with something for everyone in your party including Chicken Satay, Sun Wrapped Shrimp, Calamari, Bags of Gold, Monsoon Roll, Sunshine Roll, and Veggie Tempura. Big Bowl Soups are a meal in and of themselves, and standout entrees include Pad Kee Mow (wide rice noodles, eggs, ba- sil, and veggies in light soy sauce and paprika) and Panang Beef (flank steak simmered in coconut panang curry). There’s also a nice cocktail menu—wekeepcomingbackfortheLycheeMartini. 5700LegacyDr.,Ste.A1|Plano (972)398-2807 www.samuithai.com Barbecue HutchinsBBQ It’s rare to find aTexan who doesn’t take BBQ seriously, but the Hutchins family manages to take it to the next level. Meats slowly smoked over pecan and oak woods and pits that run 24/7 ensure every pig, cow, tur- key and chicken tastes as mouthwatering as it looks. By the plate or by the pound, you'll find freshly made sausages, brisket, ham and ribs, and for goodness' sake, don't forget to add in a dozen or so brisket stuffed jalapeños (available on weekends). Sides are homey and filling, and the catfish—really good—is a nice alternative for any pescatarians in your group. 1301N.TennesseeSt.|McKinney (972)548-2629 9225PrestonRd.|Frisco (972)540-1920 www.hutchinsbbq.com 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 Pork Tostadas are featured alongside must-have brisket, sausage and ribs. Even sandwiches and salads get the Smoke House treatment with ingredients like Smoked Turkey and Smoked Bacon, and don’t miss the Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese. A family style to-go menu makes this a greatpartyoption,too. 5760LegacyDr.,Ste.4|Plano (972)473-7478 www.kennyssmoke.com 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 Ahi Tuna Salad is tossed with a kick- ing-it wasabi-teriyaki vinaigrette. Andyoucertainlywouldn’texpect Crawfish Pistolettes at a burger joint, now would you? And then there’s made-from-scratch étouffée, wrapped in a French bread roll and served with house made Mississippi Comeback Sauce. Veggie burgers are actually flavorful and a nice alter- native to beef, as is the Jive Turkey Burger with pesto, chipotle aioli and avocado. Optional burger toppings are fun and inventive, from fried eggs toghostchilisauce. 4925GreenvilleAve.,Ste.150|Dallas (972)370-3636 8255PrestonRd.,Ste.300|Plano (972)535-5157 www.grubburgerbar.com Hopdoddy Hopdoddybelieves“happyburgers”startwith“happycows”–humanely raised and without any added chemicals or hormones. In fact, just about everything at Hopdoddy is“happy:”local and organic vegetables, hand- cutfries,madefromscratchbuns(includinggluten-freeoptions)andcraft beers.There’snotableservice,perse,butstaffhelpsyoufindaseatandis morethan“happy”tobringyourefillsoranythingelseyouneed.Waitsat 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 (with Cajun spices and bleu cheese), Kenny’s doesn’t disappoint. Loaded Cheese Fries are the bomb here, and if you’re really feeling indulgent, don’t forget the thick cut onion rings—they’re epic. 1377LegacyDr.,Ste.120|Frisco (214)618-8001 5809PrestonRd., Ste.588|Plano (972)378-0999 www.kennysburgerjoint.com Snuffer’s If loaded cheese fries—the kind with tons of gooey cheddar, chopped bacon,jalapenos,andchives—areyourthing,thenyouprobablyalready knowaboutSnuffer’s.Butletusnotforgetthatthisisaburgerplace,too, so try not to fill up on those fries. We drool over the sweet and tangy Dr. Pepper BBQ Bacon Burger; the Green Chile Cheeseburger is also out- standing.Or,skiptheburgersandgofortheTexasGiantChiliDogorBlack Angus Steak Strips with cream gravy. You can thank us after you’ve hit the treadmill. Or, opt for one of the lighter menu items, like the Chicken StripSaladwithgrilledfajitachickenorGrilledChickenPlatterwithveggie medley. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.snuffers.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 customers pop in several times a week to watch games and let the kids runaround.ItsAllDay/EveryDayhappyhourisalsoadraw. 957GardenParkDr.|Allen (469)854-6616 www.villageburgerbar.com Cafes,Diners&Coffeehouses AscensionCoffeeNewListing “Ascension” implies something that has risen to a higher level – and the coffee at this place is certainly given highest priority. WelovehowfolksatAscensionde- scribecoffeeas“complexlikewine, communal like beer, but habitual like water.”The food menu is also given emphasis with chef-driven, on-trend items such as burrata and tomato jam on toast, and on week- ends,bakedricottahotcakes.Feelfreetolingeratthisevery-day,all-day, neighborhooddestination. TheStar 3625TheStarBlvd.,Ste.300|Frisco (972)292-9766 MultipleotherlocationsthroughoutDFW www.ascensiondallas.com CityCafé NewListing! This neighborhood gem is a great place to impress out-of-towners in a fancy-but-not-too-fancy way. A classic interior and quiet ambi- ence are the perfect backdrops to expertly prepared food, starting with the Signature Fresh Tomato Soup, moving right along to the Crab Louis Salad with stacked av- ocado—simplytodiefor.Ifyou’realiverlover(lol),you’llflipfortheCrisp ChickenLiverSaladwithbabyspinach,cornandwarmbaconvinaigrette. Seafood entrees are exceptionally fresh, and there’s a generous selection ofwinesbytheglass,too. 5757W.LoversLn.|Dallas (214)351-2233 www.thecitycafedallas.com Cindi’sNYDeli If you’re looking for authentic NewYork deli food, go to Cindi’s. Now. Oh, and it just happens to be owned by a lovelyVietnamese woman named AnhVo. House made bagels and breads, Reubens, patty melts, generous omeletsandmatzoballsouparejustafewofthethingsthatkeeptrans- planted New Yorkers and original Dallasites alike flocking to Cindi’s— morning, noon and night.The menu’s huge, so suffice it to say, if you’ve got a taste for something, Cindi’s probably has it—and it’s all good. Breakfastservedalldayandcateringavailable.Withlocationsthroughout theMetroplex,there’ssuretobeaCindi’snearyou. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.cindisnydeli.com CoffeeHouseCafé Thisistheperfectsettingfor“coffeetalks”withfriends,weeknightdinner 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, Frangelico and vanilla vodka.Why not stop in after a movie, whenyou’renotquitereadytocallitanight?Or,maybeyou’reinahurry? No problem; this place even has a drive-thru, offering both beverages and breakfast/lunch items. And pooches are always welcomed on the patio—aslongastheydon’tdrinktoomanyespressos. 6150FrankfordRd.|Dallas (972)232-2333 www.coffeehousecafe.com CrossroadsDiner Crossroads relocated to the north- east corner of Preston and Camp- bell, making this former Walnut Hill favorite even more convenient for North Dallasites. Yes, the fa- mous sticky buns are ooey, gooey, and over-the-top, studded with chopped pecans, caramel, and cinnamon—but this is a diner afterall. Youcan’tgowrongwiththemade-from-scratch,blueberrypan- cakes 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 downloadtheNowaitappandyou'llgetatextwhenyourtableisready. 17194PrestonRd.,Ste.101|Dallas (214)346-3491 www.crossroads-diner.com CaféMila CaféMila’sintentfromtheirinceptionwastocreateaneighborhoodkitch- en that felt like coming home. A family-owned spot inThe Colony with a cozy vibe, Café Mila is perfect for enjoying $1 mimosas (with purchase, onweekends)andadaily,heartyselectionofeggsandwiches,pancakes, waffles, flatbreads and more. The entire menu is made from scratch— down to their homemade syrups. Service is friendly and if you’re unsure what to order, the knowledgeable staff is happy to make recommenda- tions. 6800WindhavenPkwy.Ste.105|TheColony (972)307-4247 goodEATS