74 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2019 MangiamoItalianRestaurant Ifyou’reinthemoodforstraightfor- ward, authentic Italian cuisine— justlikeNonnausedtomake—this is the place for you. Located in a busy strip center at LBJ and Pres- ton Road, stepping into Mangiamo feels more like a quaint trattoria in theBronx.Allofthe“parms”(chick- en, eggplant, veal, shrimp), lasa- gnas,andzitisareworththetripalone,butmanydinerscomeherejustfor thepizza—realNewYorkstylepizza,thatis.BYOBisanaddedbonusand staffisfriendlyandattentive.Plus,thecomplimentarygarlicdinnerrolls! 12835PrestonRd.,Ste.220|Dallas (214)866-0044 www.mangiamodallas.com Piada When you hear the words “street food,”you probably think about Viet- namese, Thai, or Mexican. Rarely, do you associate street food with Italian, so it’s nice to find a place founded on that very concept. It all starts with Piada’s super thin pizza dough—not quite tortilla, not quite lavash—but wonderfully chewy and light. From there, a plethora of topping options (delectablemeatballs,friedchicken,steak,avocado,greens,etc.)turnsthe dough into your choice of either a folded/layered sandwich known as a Tasca(pocket)oraPiada(wrap).Streetsidesarealsogoodandveryfresh, including Orzo Crunch or Roasted Corn. Piada’s reasonably-priced menu makes it a favorite for a quick bite or a sit-down dinner in a fast, casual atmosphere. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.mypiada.com Ruggeri's Ruggeri's has been a favorite destination for authentic Italian cuisine for morethantwenty-fiveyears,whetheryou'relookingforacozyweeknight spot for mouthwatering pasta or somewhere to celebrate a special occa- sion. Soft-Shell Crab Oreganato is a delicious starter, sautéed with lemon, plenty of garlic and oregano. Moving on to pasta, go for Ravioli Fresco del Gioro—tenderdoughpillowsstuffedwithsausageandricottaandtopped with a light tomato basil sauce. But the true menu star just might be the 16-ounce veal chop with wild mushrooms and Marsala wine; it melts in your mouth. Craving veal but can't conquer 16-ounces? Go for Vitello di Scampi—vealandshrimplivinghappilyonthe same plate, inalight and luscious lemony butter sauce. Traditional Italian desserts (Tiramisu, Cap- puccinoPie,Spumone)satisfyyoursweettooth,too. 5950-ARoyalLn.|Dallas (214)750-0111 www.ruggerisrestaurant.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 Italian entrées (Chicken Piccata and the like). That said, the real draw to Russo’s isthepizza,thankstoitsnearly1,000-degreecoal-firedoven,whichgives us that chewy, but crispy, crust we love. Try the Prosciutto and Kale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Feeling carnivorous?The Paesano Napola- tana will leave you feeling sated. Russo’s is family-friendly, and they cater tobothbigandsmallparties. 700E.CampbellRd.|Richardson (972)235-7992 www.russoscoalfired.com Mediterranean Giovanni’s NewListing! Why choose between Mediterra- nean, Persian, and Italian cuisine when Giovanni’s offers the best of all three? Giovanni’s relaxed atmo- sphere makes it a perfect spot for a weekday bite with co-workers or a weekend date night or family outing. Start with a refreshing plate of Panir-O-Sabzi, a colorful plate of fetacheese,radish,cucumber,onion,basil,andmint.Kebabsarewell-sea- soned and perfectly cooked; meat lasagna is also a standout. Eggplant Stew with chunks of beef, yellow split peas, and strips of fried eggplant is bothfragrantandsatisfying.Craftcocktails,wine,andbeerpluslivemusic onweekendsmakethisacrowdfavorite.Oh,anddidwementionSaturday nightbellydancing?What’snottolove? 18484PrestonRd.,Ste.119|Dallas (972)596-8610 www.giovannisusa.com MamaPitaMediterraneanGrill If you’re looking for affordable and delicious Mediterranean food, Mama Pita is waiting for you. Easily customizable plates, salads and pitas allow you to pick and choose whatever sides you crave, from light and crispy falafel and flatbread to creamy hummus and tzatziki. Kafta (beef kabobs) are tender and delicious—perfect for dipping in one of several garlicky sauces(trytheyellowtahini/carrotdip).Counterserviceisfastandfriend- ly,andtheopenandairyatmospheremakesitaniceplacefordining-in.Or, ifyouprefer,orderonlineaheadoftimeandtake‘erhome. 5800LegacyDr.,Ste.C6|Plano (972)403-1609 www.mamapita.com Mexican CasaMama Ifyou’relookingforafamily-friendlydininglocationofferingbothauthen- tic Mexican recipes (specifically, from the Santiago Maravatio Guanajuato region) andTex-Mex favorites, Casa Mama is the right place for you.You’ll findallyourfavoriteMexicandisheshereandafewpleasantsurprises,too, includingrichandfillingGuisoPorkStew,homeyTortillaLasagna,Chipotle Enchiladas, and Ribeye or Salmon Tacos. White Queso is one of the best around, served with light, crispy chips—take it up a notch by adding in ground beef, chorizo or brisket. House made salsa is unique and comes withafreekick.Serviceisknownforbeingexceptionallyfriendly,andstaff ishappytoaccommodateanyspecialorders. 19129PrestonRd.|Dallas (469)828-1045 www.casamamas.com Chuys What started in Austin in 1982 as fun/funky Tex-Mex joint—where youcouldgrababeerandchipsora comforting mix of familiar entrees, has since grown into what you might call a Tex-Mex empire, with locations acrossTexas and 14 other states. Still, Chuy’s hasn’t lost its charm. And a lot of love goes into Chuy’s food—from hand-pulled chicken in all entrees, to hand-rolled fresh tortillas, to any of the 10 sig- naturesaucesmadefreshdaily—thoseextrastepsreallymakeadierence inbothtasteandquality.Ifyourappetite’scavernous,you’lldenitelywant to try a“Big AsYo’Face”Burrito or famous Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken bread- ed with Lay’s po- tato chips, deep fried and smothered with green chilesauceandcheese.Asmallbutrefreshingselectionofsignaturedrinks stillmakesChuy’saperfectplacetokickback—anytime,anyplace. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW Gloria’sLatinCuisine For three-plus decades in the Metroplex, Gloria’s (under the loving care of the Fuentes family) has established itself as a date night and family favorite, offering the freshest Salvadorian-inspired food in a casual-chic setting. Start off with an order of pupusas—the dish that “started it all”—hand- made corn tortillas stuffed with gooey cheese, pork or both. Chile Relleno is tender and flavorful, and you can’t go wrong with any of the seafood specialties such as Camarones a la Plancha (jumbo seasoned shrimp, grilled to perfection). Don’t worry, Tex-Mex fans, there’s also a section on the menu for you! Some locations convert to dance clubs after hours on weekends,andbrunchatGloria’sisalwaysfun. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.gloriascuisine.com Hugo’sInvitados A sleek interior and natural lighting provide a gorgeous, relaxed setting fortherealreasonweloveHugo’s,whichisthefood.FriendlyownerHugo Miranda ensures his passion for Mexican flavors is presented in a unique way on every plate. Everything’s fresh and made from scratch, with an emphasis on delicious, healthy ingredients such as kale, quinoa, Brussels sprouts, and roasted corn. Seafood Enchiladas are bursting with five types of seafood and contrast nicely with pickled cabbage and chile ancho sal- sa. Simple tacos are not so simple when served on house-made tortillas and stuffed with ingredients such as vegetarian impossible meat (try it!), watercress, and avocado-serrano sauce. Book the Tasting Table with nine of your friends to enjoy world-class tequilas and mezcals, or stop by for daily happy hour specials. “Invitados” means guests, and you’ll be more thanwelcomehere. 5240N.O'ConnorBlvd.,Ste.160|Irving (214)496-0590 www.hugosinvitados.com HulaHut Located on beautiful Lake Lewis- ville, a visit to Hula Hut feels a lot like a mini beach vacation: think tiki torches, bamboo huts, grass- thatched bars and hanging colored lightsgalore.Mexonisian-stylecui- sine (i.e. traditional Tex-Mex with a Polynesian twist) means that there’s something for everyone, should you choose to bring a group.While you and your significant other are kicking back with a fishbowl-sized Hu-La-La signature cocktail made fortwowiththreedifferenttypesofrum(hello,Uber!),noshonsomePalm TreeHuggerNachosloadedwithcheeseandothergoodies.Thereareplen- ty of options for vegetarians, and Fajitas and Tubular Tacos are intensely satisfyingaswell. 210E.EldoradoPkwy.|LittleElm (214)618-4852 www.hulahutlittleelm.com MexicanBarCompany This open dining concept where dining room meets bar, patio and lounge area features vibrant origi- nalmuralsandalivelyatmosphere. Start with a mix-and-match of the unique guacamoles and hop right into the “Born in Texas” tacos on freshly made tortillas (the pancita/ pork belly is fantastic). You’ll find allyourotherfavorites,too,includingspicychorizoflautas,enchiladasand several options if you’re feeling seafood-y. Nice cocktail menu (don’t miss the“BigNose”onfire)includingagoodselectionoftequilas. 6121W.ParkBlvd.,Ste.RS-10|Plano (972)972-4466 www.mexbars.com UrbanRioCantina&Grill AstheyoungersisterrestaurantofdowntownPlano’spopularUrbanCrust, UrbanRioopenedwithhighexpectations—anddoesn’tdisappoint.Torti- llas and tamales are made with hand-ground masa, and even the bolillo rolls for the tortas (sandwiches) are made in-house. Start with either Fried Guacamole Bites or a rich bowl of the Rio Queso with or without chorizo-stylebeef.Quesadillasareasignaturedish,serveddouble-stacked “club style” and stuffed with house-smoked brisket, Chimichurri grilled chicken or sautéed veggies. Cocktails are refreshingly unique, and the open-airbarisagreatplacetoenjoylivemusicandalovelyviewofhistoric Plano. 1000E.14thSt.,Ste.100|Plano (972)422-4466 www.urbanrio.com VelvetTaco When it comes to Texas cuisine, tacos are tops (along, of course, with barbecue) and in Dallas, Velvet Taco is a favorite.“Multi-cultural ingredi- ents”allow diners to experience a little bit of Mexico, India, Cuba, Japan and more—all wrapped in a house made tortilla. Start with the Red Curry Coconut Queso with pickled onion,Thai basil and crispy blue tortilla chips—it’s sublime. Then go straight into what you came for: tacos. Se- riously, they’re all good, but stand-outs include Annatto Shredded Pork with grilled pineapple on a hibiscus tortilla and Fried Paneer with tomato chutneyandtikkasauce. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW www.velvettaco.com goodEATS