The fruit is fresh. The sushi’s delivered daily (we think). The ribs come slathered in a sauce that’s tangy without being showy. The soup, when they have it, is worth hoarding. The microwavable meals are better than Kroger’s. The wine is the best way to end a Saturday, and the eggs benedict is the best way to start a Sunday. The pasta is always perfect, and the triple-flavored cheesecake is the best. Ever.
Excellent steaks, good sides, moderate prices, cool hunting-lodge environs--this place is well worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Dallas on Interstate 30. Just a stone’s throw from the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, Culpepper has successfully transformed itself--with massive renovations--from schlocky Western-themed steak joint to white-tablecloth fine dining establishment. They serve “Premium Gold Angus” steaks, grilled with mesquite and served with a choice of toppings, such as a tasty sauce of caramelized shallots, herbs and Dijon compound butter. The garlic whipped potatoes that accompany some dishes shouldn’t be missed. Also worth a try are the grilled quail.
An adjunct to the retro/boutique Belmont Hotel, Cliff Café is a classic diner sexed-up in the slightest (flashing ankle here, a little taut calf there) with dishes such as black bean hummus, pan-seared salmon, Italian-style meatloaf (lottsa marinara and mozzarella), and scrambles (breakfast for dinner) that range from Mexican to Florentine. The execution can be uneven, but the experience is worth whatever wobbles there may be.
The menu is small: rotisserie chicken (just half) with roasted apples, beef marinated in white truffle oil, and white fish sautéed in a little wine and olive oil. Plus salads. Tapas too. Lock ’n’ load: Chic does gazpacho by the shot. But shot or not, chicken is what you come for. Chic’s rotisserie recipe comes from Barcelona’s chef Tony Botella. The (famous) Tony Botella—you know him. He opened Central Catalana del Pollastre in Barcelona to hoorahs serving only one dish: chickens rubbed with secret formula aromatics and brushed with olive oil and wine before they’re slow-roasted into crackly skin succulence on gas-fired rotisserie spits. Spanish natives Rafa Vilaclara and Magda Onandia hauled all that Botella magic to Dallas. There’s even a Chic Pick Up. Gobble up.
Art lovers know you can get some of the best deals on fashionable meals at art museums. Cafe Nasher, the counter-service restaurant inside the Nasher Sculpture Center, proves the point. Here's the place to try a cut-rate bowl of rich, briskly flavored tortilla soup. Also on the menu are various frou-frou (but reasonably priced) salads and a nice barbecue sandwich.
We’ll say this about Café Maya: It’s a lot better than it has to be. The Dallas World Aquarium just might be Dallas’ finest kids’ attraction, so Café Maya has a captive audience. But like the Aquarium itself, it exceeds expectations. Each table gets two fresh salsas served with coarsely cut, apparently house-made chips and sour cream; some menu highlights were spicy shredded chicken tacos, good-looking salads and, as you’d expect, a well-prepared selection of children’s items. It’s worth incorporating into your aquarium visit.
The intimate dining room features a large glass window behind which diners can watch executive chef Mike Smith and his staff in the kitchen. Patrons can also dine on the patio for a cozy urban atmosphere.
