The Resy Guide to Power Lunches Around Dallas-Fort Worth

Felipe Armenta’s assured spin on Pacific Coast seafood is matched by an equal interest in delivering comfortable classics in upscale setting. So order the jalapeno yellowtail sushi and the scallop salad, but make sure someone else at the table orders the pecan veggie burger with fries. Yes, the veggie burger. Made with sushi rice, steel-cut oats, veggies and pecans, the hearty patty hits all the right texture notes, and is topped with melted cheese and painted with a sweet glaze. Complemented by crispy shoestring-cut, rosemary-dusted fries, it is all sweet harmony.

From its illustrious spot halfway between Jimmy Choo and the-soon-to-open Van Cleef & Arpels, you’ll find plenty of both accessories at this packed perch, with a patio perfect for people-watching and deal-making. The food features French, Italian and Spanish influences, and the all-day menu spans simple salads (the burrata with heirloom tomatoes is a popular choice) to luscious appetizers (charred octopus with buttercream potatoes and chorizo). The Maine Lobster salad, lemon linguini, and branzino entrees are standouts.

Call (214) 420-3900 for reservations.

This breakfast and lunch venue, also on the ninth floor of the Thompson Hotel at the National, turns out assured diner-esque standards, but with a twist. Fruit cocktail substitutes a poached pear for the ’50s-era canned version and adds compressed pineapple, grapes, coconut, jicama, and tart cherries to conjure a vibrant mix of flavors. Meanwhile, the humble yogurt parfait is elevated with a carrot marmalade and cream cheese meringue treatment. At lunch, expect an irresistible fondue starter among the appetizers before grain bowls and soba noodle salads knock some nutritional sense into you.

Power lunches have returned to this beloved downtown steakhouse, which recently reopened. The subterranean hot spot — 18 feet below ground — sports an unlikely courtyard, ideal for pandemic spacing and dealmaking. Serving Allen Brothers beef, minimally aged for 28 days, Dakota’s steaks are equally as legendary as the venue, from the 14-ounce New York strip to the 22-ounce Cowboy rib eye, all finished off in a 1200 degree Montague broiler that gives the beef its iconic crust. Add a dollop of foie gras butter, and it makes for one blissful working lunch.

Call (214) 740-4001 for reservations.

Over the years, HG Sply has lured vegans, keto-tonics and other dietary-challenged diners with its reliably outstanding versions of those foods. (Look no further than the restaurant’s queso, a spicy vegan iteration that excels at both taste and texture, creamy and studded with avocado and green onion.) But the rest of the menu here is similarly addictive, whether you’re talking protein bowls with quinoa meatballs or grilled Texas gulf shrimp, or the kale caesar salad, arguably one of the best-ever renditions. (Because, warm garlic-chickpea croutons.) A daily sunset toast with a sip of the elixir du jour makes it all go down easy.

Eataly’s first location in Texas and seventh in the country features three restaurants spread over 46,000 square feet of Italian merch, with marquee attraction Terra and its attractive patio on the rooftop. From arancini and burrata spuntini (shareables) to a big-ticket bistecca ($70), the wood-fired grill’s vast menu is tempting, but an equally strong case can be made for wandering the store and snacking as you go: a pizza bar, gelato, cannoli, and other pastries beckon. Peripatetic power lunches — let’s make that a thing.

Call (469) 759-2800 for reservations.

This beloved bistro features a lovely screened-in patio and jaunty indoor dining room, effectively transporting diners to Paris, during their power lunches, of course. The menu helps too, from buttery escargot to peppery mussels and frites. The Green Room version (shiitake mushrooms, ginger and jalapenos) will pep up any proceedings, while the cone of french fries are some of the best crispy potatoes in the city. Power brunches are a thing here, too, when the weekends transform the streetside-scape into an ideal spot to vicariously exercise (while chowing down on a Croque Madame) along with those on the adjacent Katy Trail.

Call (214) 520-8999 for reservations.

Amid the lime-green banquettes and lush foliage, this bright space beckons at lunch. The chain’s sole Dallas-proper location is always bustling, serving fresh, seasonal favorites. Expect bowls, burger iterations and butternut squash-infused dishes, plus healthier spins on heavier dishes: the lasagna Bolognese features fennel chicken sausage and organic spinach. Meanwhile, a new low-calorie craft cocktail program is sure to lubricate any power lunch plans. Virtually anything might sound good while enjoying a citrus skinny margarita (organic tequila, cucumber and mint).

Call (214) 377-3333 for reservations.