THE Fish
3636 McKinney Ave Ste 150
Dallas, TX 75204
Phone: (214) 522-0071
"Rawfish Tuesdays" are what my girlfriends and I like to call our specials reunion dinners together. Tuesdays are typically when sushi is the most fresh and restaurants aren't super crowded. This week we decided on THE Fish, a new restaurant that opened in West Village to average reviews and little fan- fair.
The atmosphere is sexy: dark lighting, red velvet booths, and a slick bar that would impress anyone upon walking in. But it lacked attitude, spunk, and originality.
The food was just ok, and took a little longer than expected. When you have six hungry females, already drinking bottles of the house wine, you need to step up to the challenge. One friend never received a straw, the other, missing a wine glass.
When they ran out of the house Pinot Noir, instead of offering an upgrade for the same price, he simply brought the wine list to choose something different. When you run out of the house Pinot, you want to compensate for your mistake, correct? The waiter had not a clue.
Upon finishing our meal, many of us were not satisfied and we opted to order more. It took 30 minutes to retrieve our bill, and another 30 to bring the cards back. He actually held my friend's change to the side, instead of returning it to her, because "he wasn't sure what to do with it..." Seriously? After complaining, they did nothing to compensate us for our time.
The whole experience was a downer, other than the fact I was with my good friends.
Service: Slow, uneducated, not helpful
Best Dishes- Only outstanding roll of the night- The Cheeseburger roll (crab, avocado, cucumber inside topped w/ tuna, escolar, avocado & spicy sauce). The sashimi was too thinly sliced for the price. Overall the rolls had no personality, they all tasted the same and were very small.
Recommendation: Sushi Zushi, Oishii, Deep Sushi, Sushi Kyoto II, Yutaka, Tei Tei... get my point?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Strong's Everyday Tavern
Strong's
2816 Fairmount
Dallas, TX 75201
http://strongseverydaytavern.com/
What I like about Strong's is how you feel when you walk in. You are greeted immediately by the host and all of the bartenders smile as if they know you. Mch like "Cheers," you feel like a part of the Uptown neighborhood. Each waiter is fully educated in the day's specials, which wine goes best with the ribs or the fish, and they are proud to boast that not only was the fish brought in that day, but that they do not have freezers in the back to store foods for the next week.
Try a margarita, or two, if you can handle it. Strong's is also known for it's tequila bar, including a shot of Don Juan 1942 for $45.
Don't miss dishes: The short ribs- they will fall off the bone in one swift move of the fork. Delicious as they melt in your mouth. Also try the fish specials- the sea bass is not to be missed.
Save room for dessert. Both the chocolate and coconut cream pies are outstanding.
Service: Friendly and knowledgeable
Comments: Come early for dinner, or late to sit at the bar. Either way, you're in for a special night. Brunch is coming soon, so watch the site for details.
Hours of operation:
Monday- Thursday 10am-11pm
Friday and Saturday 11am-12am Midnight
Sunday 11am- 10pm
2816 Fairmount
Dallas, TX 75201
http://strongseverydaytavern.com/
What I like about Strong's is how you feel when you walk in. You are greeted immediately by the host and all of the bartenders smile as if they know you. Mch like "Cheers," you feel like a part of the Uptown neighborhood. Each waiter is fully educated in the day's specials, which wine goes best with the ribs or the fish, and they are proud to boast that not only was the fish brought in that day, but that they do not have freezers in the back to store foods for the next week.
Try a margarita, or two, if you can handle it. Strong's is also known for it's tequila bar, including a shot of Don Juan 1942 for $45.
Don't miss dishes: The short ribs- they will fall off the bone in one swift move of the fork. Delicious as they melt in your mouth. Also try the fish specials- the sea bass is not to be missed.
Save room for dessert. Both the chocolate and coconut cream pies are outstanding.
Service: Friendly and knowledgeable
Comments: Come early for dinner, or late to sit at the bar. Either way, you're in for a special night. Brunch is coming soon, so watch the site for details.
Hours of operation:
Monday- Thursday 10am-11pm
Friday and Saturday 11am-12am Midnight
Sunday 11am- 10pm
Sunday, December 30, 2007
ALÓ
ALÓ
4447 North Central Expressway, Suite 100
at Knox Promenade
Dallas, TX 75205
214.520.9711
4447 North Central Expressway, Suite 100
at Knox Promenade
Dallas, TX 75205
214.520.9711
Aló a new restaurant from the owners of La Duni. This restaurant is in a great location and has trendy atmosphere with causal a crowd consisting of families, dates and large groups. Now to the meal, everything came out and appeared very appetizing until it was time to actually eat the food, the ceviche was chewy, the volcano (like nachos) were just gross and by end of the meal when we ordeded dessert I was spitting the food out in my napkin.
Can't miss dishes: None.
Service: Could be better.
Negatives: Terrible food. VOLCANES, PERUVIAN CEBICHE, GRINGAS.
Cost: $
Recommendation: Eat somewhere else. GROSS.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Trader Vic's Dallas
Trader Vic's
Hotel Palomar
5330 E. Mockingbird
Dallas, TX 75206
If you're looking for fun drinks, fabulous food, and wonderful, hospitable service, then Trader Vic's is perfect for your night out on the town. I've been to Trader's twice now and each time I have left totally satisfied with my evening. The bar area is a fun place for a bachelorette party or just a night out with friends. The service is unbeatable, and the food... well, lets just say, you'll love the menu. From the crispy calamari with spicy wasabi sauce to the special snowball dessert, each bite will be remembered for its own unique taste.
Definitely try something from their Chinese wood-fired oven. The Chilean sea bass practically melts in your mouth and is served on a bed of fresh spinach. For the meat lover, try the Pork Chop Hawaiian. The mashed potatoes on the side are to die for and you won't leave hungry.
If you can, grab dessert. The snowball (ice cream dipped in shredded coconut) is not what you expect, it's creamier and richer than the menu lets on.
There is a whole other menu that you can't skip as well. The extensive drink menu, all 4 pages, includes mostly rum and island inspired concoctions as well as mixes that actually can be lit on fire or garnished with a flower. They are pretty costly, ranging from $10- $24, but some you can share with a long straw across the table. The Kamaani was my favorite, it came inside a coconut. Try a few, the hangover will be worth it.
Service: friendly and helpful
Price: expensive, especially with drinks
Comments: make sure to make reservations and get there early so you can sit at the bar and check out the menu.
Hours:
Dinner: Monday-Thurs 5-10pm
Friday and Sat 5-11pm
Sunday 5-9
Bar: Mon-Thurs 4-11pm
Fri and Sat 4-12am
Sunday 4- 11pm
Reservations are available on OpenTable.com
Hotel Palomar
5330 E. Mockingbird
Dallas, TX 75206
If you're looking for fun drinks, fabulous food, and wonderful, hospitable service, then Trader Vic's is perfect for your night out on the town. I've been to Trader's twice now and each time I have left totally satisfied with my evening. The bar area is a fun place for a bachelorette party or just a night out with friends. The service is unbeatable, and the food... well, lets just say, you'll love the menu. From the crispy calamari with spicy wasabi sauce to the special snowball dessert, each bite will be remembered for its own unique taste.
Definitely try something from their Chinese wood-fired oven. The Chilean sea bass practically melts in your mouth and is served on a bed of fresh spinach. For the meat lover, try the Pork Chop Hawaiian. The mashed potatoes on the side are to die for and you won't leave hungry.
If you can, grab dessert. The snowball (ice cream dipped in shredded coconut) is not what you expect, it's creamier and richer than the menu lets on.
There is a whole other menu that you can't skip as well. The extensive drink menu, all 4 pages, includes mostly rum and island inspired concoctions as well as mixes that actually can be lit on fire or garnished with a flower. They are pretty costly, ranging from $10- $24, but some you can share with a long straw across the table. The Kamaani was my favorite, it came inside a coconut. Try a few, the hangover will be worth it.
Service: friendly and helpful
Price: expensive, especially with drinks
Comments: make sure to make reservations and get there early so you can sit at the bar and check out the menu.
Hours:
Dinner: Monday-Thurs 5-10pm
Friday and Sat 5-11pm
Sunday 5-9
Bar: Mon-Thurs 4-11pm
Fri and Sat 4-12am
Sunday 4- 11pm
Reservations are available on OpenTable.com
Thursday, December 13, 2007
YO Steakhouse
www.yoranchsteakhouse.com
702 Ross Ave
Dallas, TX 75201
I really don't like writing bad reviews. But I feel like it is my duty to inform dining-out Dallasites on where not to go as well as places to try if they are looking for something new.
YO prides itself on being one of "Dallas' premier dining establishments," but falls flat when it comes to decor, ambiance, and the quality of its food. The cheesy antler chandeliers, saloon styled bar area, and gimmicky signs leave you in small-town East Texas, a place that hasn't been cleaned since it opened in 1913 or so.
Not only does it serve Tex-Mex, wild game, AND seafood and clearly can't decide what kind of restaurant it actually is, but at lunch time you get free banana-pudding... even if you don't want it. My dining partners wondered how many times the pudding bowls had been handled before someone finally accepted the dessert. Gross.
YO tries to compete with the finer West End restaurants including: Landry's, The Palm, and even Hoffbrau with its quality of service, but the food is atrocious. I can usually find several things on a menu to eat, but when your co-worker urges you not to order the buffalo steak salad any rarer than medium, you then know that the meat is not what you might find at a fine steak restaurant.
After I ate my chicken sandwhich, I desperately wanted to head back to the office, and out of reach of the banana pudding, which was compared to something a baby had spit up. (Sorry for the nasty visual).
Another problem is that YO is located in The West End, where tourists gather. I hope that our Dallas visitors do not find YO to be typical of our Dallas restaurant base, when clearly, it is not.
702 Ross Ave
Dallas, TX 75201
I really don't like writing bad reviews. But I feel like it is my duty to inform dining-out Dallasites on where not to go as well as places to try if they are looking for something new.
YO prides itself on being one of "Dallas' premier dining establishments," but falls flat when it comes to decor, ambiance, and the quality of its food. The cheesy antler chandeliers, saloon styled bar area, and gimmicky signs leave you in small-town East Texas, a place that hasn't been cleaned since it opened in 1913 or so.
Not only does it serve Tex-Mex, wild game, AND seafood and clearly can't decide what kind of restaurant it actually is, but at lunch time you get free banana-pudding... even if you don't want it. My dining partners wondered how many times the pudding bowls had been handled before someone finally accepted the dessert. Gross.
YO tries to compete with the finer West End restaurants including: Landry's, The Palm, and even Hoffbrau with its quality of service, but the food is atrocious. I can usually find several things on a menu to eat, but when your co-worker urges you not to order the buffalo steak salad any rarer than medium, you then know that the meat is not what you might find at a fine steak restaurant.
After I ate my chicken sandwhich, I desperately wanted to head back to the office, and out of reach of the banana pudding, which was compared to something a baby had spit up. (Sorry for the nasty visual).
Another problem is that YO is located in The West End, where tourists gather. I hope that our Dallas visitors do not find YO to be typical of our Dallas restaurant base, when clearly, it is not.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Sushi Samba- Dallas
Sushi Samba
Galleria Dallas
13270 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, Texas
214-866-0214
What Sushi Samba does best is the eclectic ambiance of sexy lighting and friendly service, mixed with creative drinks and sensational food. When you walk into the main door of Sushi Samba, the bar becomes your main focus complete with floral, glass fixtures and orange mood lighting. The table settings have been well thought out to accompany the furniture you might find in a modern loft of New York City.
While the Dallas restaurant lacks the shaded porch of the New York 7 restaurant, the service and food is similar in quality and feel, with even a few extras on the menu.
Can't Miss Dishes: Neo Tokyo Roll (yellowfish tuna, tempura flakes, aji panca), Fresh Sushi, Mango Martini.
Scene: Galleria Shoppers, Dallas socialites, Uptown crowd venturing above the Mason Dixon Line (I-635)
Cost: Reasonable to high for Sushi
Service: Friendly and attentive
Negatives: No outside dining, connected to the Galleria.
Recommendation: Go for drinks...eat somewhere else.
Hours of operation: Phone Reservations:214-866-0214 Fax: 214-866-0213
Sunday & Monday 11am - 10pm Tuesday & Wednesday 11am - 11pm Thursday 11am - midnight Friday & Saturday 11am - 1am
SAMBABRUNCH:Sunday 11am - 3.30pm
Sunday Brunch is served family style!!! Drinks are not to be missed!
Galleria Dallas
13270 Dallas Parkway
Dallas, Texas
214-866-0214
What Sushi Samba does best is the eclectic ambiance of sexy lighting and friendly service, mixed with creative drinks and sensational food. When you walk into the main door of Sushi Samba, the bar becomes your main focus complete with floral, glass fixtures and orange mood lighting. The table settings have been well thought out to accompany the furniture you might find in a modern loft of New York City.
While the Dallas restaurant lacks the shaded porch of the New York 7 restaurant, the service and food is similar in quality and feel, with even a few extras on the menu.
Can't Miss Dishes: Neo Tokyo Roll (yellowfish tuna, tempura flakes, aji panca), Fresh Sushi, Mango Martini.
Scene: Galleria Shoppers, Dallas socialites, Uptown crowd venturing above the Mason Dixon Line (I-635)
Cost: Reasonable to high for Sushi
Service: Friendly and attentive
Negatives: No outside dining, connected to the Galleria.
Recommendation: Go for drinks...eat somewhere else.
Hours of operation: Phone Reservations:214-866-0214 Fax: 214-866-0213
Sunday & Monday 11am - 10pm Tuesday & Wednesday 11am - 11pm Thursday 11am - midnight Friday & Saturday 11am - 1am
SAMBABRUNCH:Sunday 11am - 3.30pm
Sunday Brunch is served family style!!! Drinks are not to be missed!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Daddy Jack's Deep Ellum
Daddy Jack's
2723 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214.653.3949
http://www.daddyjackswoodgrill.com/
When you walk into Daddy Jack's off the corner of Elm and Crowdus, the powerful smell of the wood burning grill and the industrial feel of the restaurant creates an atmosphere not far from the French Quarter of New Orleans. Deep Ellum might not be the most popular area for trendy Dallasites, but the food is worth risking a trip under Woodall Rogers. Make sure you check out the bar and lounge area when the food coma sets in.
Can't miss dishes: Beef Carpaccio appetizer, horseradish crusted tilapia with light lemon butter sauce, penne con pollo with fresh vegetables, The garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and flowerless chocolate cake
Scene: artsy deep ellum residents and musicians, Dallas seafood lovers, couples
Cost: reasonable
Service: friendly and helpful. Our server recommended wine to go with dinner and which fish was freshest that day.
Negatives: The restaurant (and Deep Ellum in general) was not crowded so it wasn't as lively as it could have been. It would be worth it to bring friends for a private happy hour or large dining party.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Sun, Tue-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Sunday Brunch includes bottomless mimosas!
2723 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214.653.3949
http://www.daddyjackswoodgrill.com/
When you walk into Daddy Jack's off the corner of Elm and Crowdus, the powerful smell of the wood burning grill and the industrial feel of the restaurant creates an atmosphere not far from the French Quarter of New Orleans. Deep Ellum might not be the most popular area for trendy Dallasites, but the food is worth risking a trip under Woodall Rogers. Make sure you check out the bar and lounge area when the food coma sets in.
Can't miss dishes: Beef Carpaccio appetizer, horseradish crusted tilapia with light lemon butter sauce, penne con pollo with fresh vegetables, The garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and flowerless chocolate cake
Scene: artsy deep ellum residents and musicians, Dallas seafood lovers, couples
Cost: reasonable
Service: friendly and helpful. Our server recommended wine to go with dinner and which fish was freshest that day.
Negatives: The restaurant (and Deep Ellum in general) was not crowded so it wasn't as lively as it could have been. It would be worth it to bring friends for a private happy hour or large dining party.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Sun, Tue-Thu 5pm-10pm, Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Sunday Brunch includes bottomless mimosas!
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