Karen V Davison’s Tips for Finding Quality Fine Dining in Dallas
Dallas is full of incredible cuisine. More than just barbecue and Tex Mex, the city has a rich and vibrant foodie scene, bursting with quality fine dining establishments. No one knows this better than Dallas resident and professional chef Karen V Davison. Davison is a professional chef and a culinary enthusiast. Having worked in kitchens and restaurants all over North America, she has built a reputation as a creative force in the kitchen who crafts wonderful meals from the first course to the last. She provides her tips for finding the best food in Dallas, Texas.
Consider What You’re in the Mood For
First thing’s first, when deciding where to eat out in Dallas, you need to consider what you’re in the mood for. Dallas is one of the most diverse cities in America and what that means is that you can find almost any type of cuisine in this city. Of course, as many people already know, the city is famous for its meat. Dallas does barbecue right, which is why you’ll find so many steakhouses and barbecue joints here. Professional chef and Dallas native Karen V Davison claims that the best way to choose a restaurant is to first identify what type of cuisine you want to eat. For example, if you have a hankering for a burger, then you’ll want to visit the iconic Keller Drive-In or Off-Site Kitchen in West Dallas. For pizza, Cane Rosso’s is the obvious choice if you’re a fan of Neapolitan-style pizza. Alternatively, visit Zoli’s if you’re after a classic New York slice.
Go to the Right Neighborhoods
Knowing where to look for food is half the battle. Dallas is a huge city, which means there are plenty of vibrant neighborhoods to explore, each with their own unique cuisine. First, there’s Deep Ellum. This neighborhood has grown to have one of the most bustling restaurant scenes in the city, with Karen V Davison’s personal favorite spot being Armoury D.E. for upscale Hungarian cuisine. Then there’s the swanky neighborhood of Uptown. If you’re looking for a fine dining experience like no other, this is the place to go. Specifically, Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse is great (keep your eyes peeled for celebrities who like to frequent this spot), and make sure to check out Parliament, one of the most creative cocktail bars the city has to offer. Finally, no trip to Dallas would be complete without visiting the Bishop Arts District. This hip district is known for its nightlife, boutique shopping, and best of all, it’s food. While in this Dallas neighborhood, be sure to grab dinner at Italian institution Lucia. For over eight years, this 36-seat restaurant has been serving up some of the best, most innovative Italian cuisine in the city. However, Lucia is one of the hardest fine dining restaurants in Dallas to get a reservation at, so be sure to make one well advance and be flexible with timing.
Karen V Davison’s Favorite Dallas Restaurants
In addition to those mentioned above, there are a few other fine dining restaurants in Dallas that Karen V Davison can’t get enough of. Homewood is one of the newest and hottest restaurants in the city. Seasonally focused dishes are the name of the game here, however, chef Matt McCallister is an expert at pairing unexpected flavors together, like pork chops in a shio-koji marinade. Petra and the Beast is another must-visit restaurant. This fine dining institution is like no other in Dallas, serving up divine New American, farm-to-fork cuisine. Finally, the Japanese eatery Tei-An, the owner of which has the reputation for being the city’s soba noodle master, is a great choice. You can’t go wrong with a bowl of green tea soba noodles or with anything off their incredible sushi menu.
