New Yorker coming to Dallas Labor Day Weekend

[hotsauce123]

I have never been to Texas and I will be in Dallas for Labor Day weekend for the Michigan v Alabama football game at Cowboys stadium. We are staying in Downtown Dallas and want to have the best food experience possible (I am a bigger food fan than football fan ;)).

I dont need super upscale but would love to know about some favorites ie breakfast, lunch, dinner, without ODing on BBQ.

If you have any questions to narrow the field, I am game to help (no pun intended)

[tiomano]

For some incredible Japanese go to Tei-An in downtown Dallas. I always order the Omakase, (tasting menu) and don't forget to check out their rooftop bar.

[demigodh]

After living in both places, here's my list of cuisines that I believe to be better in Dallas:

BBQ
Tex Mex
Mexican
Vietnamese
Korean

I'd focus on those if you want to get something that you can't find of comparable/better quality in NY.

[LewisvilleHounder]

There is better Thai in NYC??

[demigodh]

@TW, with all due respect (and i love Cane Rosso), there are a dozen better Neapolitan style pizza places in NY. When it comes to NY style, Dallas has nothing close to any neighborhood place in Brooklyn, let alone Di Fara's. While I honestly believe Cane Rosso would be successful in New York, it is still not as good as Motorino, Roberta's or several other Neapolitan style places in NY. I do agree, that with Cane Rosso, we do have a comparable offering now.

@LH, I do believe the Thai food is better in NYC. Specifically, Sripraphai blows out any of the Thai places i've been to in DFW (never been ton Andaman which I know you're a fan of). After Sri, i'm hard pressed to think of many other stellar options but I would put a place like Pam's Real Thai up against any option here.

[jinet12]

Yes pizza is so much better in NY it's amazing.
So are a ton of other cuisines

[jkg040508]

Breakfast: Crossroads Dinner, Breadwinners, Oddfellows, Kuby's

Lunch: Maple and Motor (best burger in DFW), El Fenix

Dinner: Stephen Pyles, Nick and Sam's Steakhouse, Nick and Sam's Grill, Del Frisco Grill, Cane Rosso or Campisi's for Pizza

[jinet12]

Would skip pizza here. They have much better pizza
in New York. What they don't have is "Tex Mex"

[twinwillow]

They don't have better pizza in NY than we have in Dallas at Cane Rosso.
You'd have to go to New Haven, Cn. to get better pizza.
http://www.ilcanerosso.com

[Veggo]

Wink ;)
Vegs, from New Haven

[Scagnetti]

Really? TW, you're from Brooklyn, are you saying that Cane Rosso is better than the great Dom DeMarco of Di Fara?

It's the Di Fara's where they charge $5.00 a slice and the likes of Christopher Kimball leaves his enclave to pay homage to Dom.

Even the top hound himself, Jim Leff gives major props to Di Fara's.

[twinwillow]

Scagnetti, It's been soooooo long since I had a slice in Brooklyn. But, if I were there, I'd head straight to Di Fara or Totino's'

It was great when I lived in NY but after living in Dallas since 1963 and having to eat all the crappy pizza I've eaten in Dallas since that time, Cane Rosso is a "Godsend".

And, Cane Rosso is really wonderful Neapolitan style (not NY style) pizza! The best I've had outside of Italy.

And, do you mean to say that "cheapskate" Christopher Kimball actually paid $5.00 for slice of pizza? Hard to believe! Well, for him it's probably a tax write off.

[Scagnetti]

I enjoy Neapolitan pizza but I don't like eating it all of the time.

I was surprised to find the picture of Kimball at Di Fara's because he doesn't lend his name or face to anything that he's not making a dime off of.

[twinwillow]

For BBQ ~ Only two places worth their smoke.

Pecan Lodge in Shed #2 at the Dallas Farmers Market.
They're only open Thur-Sun from 11:00AM until they run out.
Have the fatty brisket, ribs, and wonderful pulled pork. Their sausage is meh.

Lockhart Smokehouse in Oak Cliff. Again, fatty brisket is a must! Sausage is good here.
Forget about anywhere else but the above two places! Seriously!

http://www.pecanlodge.com/
http://www.lockhartsmokhouse.com

[twinwillow]

Brunch (or, dinner) at Hattie's (low country Southern) in Oak Cliff or, Brunch at (arguably, the best brunch in Dallas) Smoke would be a welcome change for someone from NYC. Believe me, I know!

Also in Oak Cliff for the real Mexican food of Veracruz, try Mesa for dinner.
The Reyes family are wonderful cooks and hosts.
http://www.mesadallas.com

Also, in downtown Dallas, Stephen Pyles would be a must for dinner.

http://www.hatties.com
http://www.smoke.com
http://www.stephanpyles.com/menu/

And possibly the best of all, Lucia. Reserve soon! Very popular!
http://www.luciadallas.com

[tiomano]

second the Mesa recommendation. I love their fish presentations and the mojitos, yum.

[Veggo]

Yes, genuine Veracruz style fish dishes at Mesa, that's where the lovely owners are from. Last year about this time they did a seasonal special of chiles en nogada - worth watching for as it's very good and hard to find.

[Veggo]

The Sunday brunch at the Mansion on Turtle Creek may be a relaxing change of pace after game day. The Blue Mesa restaurants also do a nice Sunday brunch, but much more casual.

[twinwillow]

Second Sunday brunch at The Mansion!

[Jon G]

Try searching some the following on the DFW boards. If you want detail on any of these, lemme know:

Fearings
Stephen Pyles
Victor Tangos
Lockhart BBQ
Pecan Lodge BBQ (and really only this and the above for BBQ - you won't OD on the stuff - North Texas is not known for it - if you OD on anything, it will be Tex-Mex)
Taco Joint
Taco Stop
Alligator Cafe
Mesa
Nova
Meddlesome Moth
Smoke
Mama's Daughter's Diner
Herrera's