Now on Resy: C Rolls Sushi, Little Blue Bistro, Far-Out, and More Local Favorites

Because this warm, wood-accented dining room has been serving the community for almost 20 years, with a broad menu of classics both hot and cold (think everything from sushi and sashimi to salmon teriyaki). Be sure to explore the endless selection of rolls, including some that are baked (!) or rice-free.

It was big news when Wolfgang Puck Catering took over this elegantly casual café in the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth back in 2021, and the buzz hasn’t died down. Veteran Puck chef Jett Mora keeps things cooking with dishes like whipped burrata toast and what might just be the best chicken pot pie in town.

This enticing Bishop Arts gem from Olivia Genthe of Fount Board & Table will make wine lovers happy with its savvy selection of bottles from small producers. Throw in pitch-perfect renditions of French and Italian classics — like escargots and fettuccine cacio e pepe — and you’ve got yourself a winner.

It’s not often you encounter a whole new cuisine, but that’s what’s on offer at this Arlington smokehouse opened by Patrick and Fasicka Hicks. Originally a Texas-style barbecue spot, the restaurant evolved into a dazzling “Tex-Ethiopian” gem, incorporating flavors of Fasicka’s heritage — think meats glazed in awaze spices and original creations like injera nachos.

Make a day of this sprawling complex surrounding Celina’s landmark century-old grain silos. There’s a first-class whiskey bar, a cigar lounge, fire pits, live music, and not one but two restaurants: a casual spot (aka The Yard) where nachos and corn dogs await, and chef Tony Sanchez’s finer establishment for prawn cocktail and beef Wellington.

Backed by a dream team couple (noted restaurateur Scott Sharrer and wine expert, Jenn Sharrer), this Highland Village classic covers everything from PEI mussels and crispy calamari to a selection of steaks and pastas. Pro tip: Don’t miss the Thursday special — a generous portion of Wagyu prime rib with your choice of sides.

In a city with no shortage of Tex-Mex restaurants, this one stands out for its festive atmosphere, perfect margaritas (shaken and frozen), and a menu full of familiar dishes plus original riffs like pineapple guacamole, mezcal-braised short rib enchiladas, and cauliflower fajitas.

Don’t miss this Lewisville gem. Here, chef Hiro Ochiai (whose résumé includes stints at Jean-Georges Tokyo and Michelin-starred sushi bars in New York) creates unique cross-cultural dishes, like burrata with dill and umeboshi purée, and a salmon chirashi with a citrus ponzu sauce.

Because Greg Katz and his partners have given northwest Dallas the kind of restaurant you wish every neighborhood had. Claremont is cozy and casual, with an oak-shaded patio and a menu built on favorites like pimento cheese, blackened redfish, and smoked brisket sliders.

This downtown favorite’s equally suited for an intimate dinner or a rollicking night on the town: the menu skews Cajun (fried catfish, crawfish étouffée), there’s a host of specialty cocktails, and the greenery-filled space offers both secluded corners and a lively open area for fun with friends.

A date night jewel in Frisco, The Heritage Table sits pretty in a spruced-up former family home dating from the early 1900s. The kitchen sources almost everything locally or regionally, and turns its ingredients into savvy modern Southern fare, including many gluten-free and vegetarian or vegan offerings. (If gluten’s not an issue, by all means, order the milk and honey rolls with housemade jam.) 

Ascending to this plush sake and sushi lounge on the 50th floor of The National, you might be so dazzled by the 360-degree view of the city that you’d almost forget to eat and drink … Which would be a shame, considering the masterful cocktails (try the vodka-based lychee blossom) and such luxury fare as a king crab, wagyu, and caviar hand rolls. 

Because this all-American Arts District bistro has you covered breakfast, lunch, and dinner and you might just turn into a regular. Go for avocado toast in the a.m., a lunchtime BLT, steak frites for dinner, or just about anything else you might crave. 

Meso Maya doesn’t mess around: specialty cocoa beans are ground in-house for the mole, the salsas and sauces are made fresh daily, and the tortillas are made from hand-ground corn — such is the reverence the kitchen has for the culinary traditions of Mexico’s central and southern states. Don’t miss the variations on budin Azteca, or “Mexican lasagna” made with tortillas instead of pasta. 

Book the Preston Forest, Lakewood, West Plano, and Fort Worth locations, too.

Because this butcher shop-meets-restaurant has stunning displays of prime beef cuts — Japanese, Australian, and American wagyu included — dry-aging in its refrigerated cases. The intimate dining room only has six tables, and the small but focused menu will bring joy to any carnivore. Pro tip: For an unforgettable experience, go for the fixed-price steak tasting dinners for two or more. 

Because there’s nothing like starting your day with something from Bread Winners’ extensive breakfast and brunch menu (a signature dish: fried chicken with jalapeño bacon cheddar waffles). That’s not to say that you should overlook the savory lunch and dinner options, which include sandwiches with housemade barbecue potato chips. 

Book the North Park Center and Plano locations, too.