The Best Dishes Eater Dallas Ate in August

The amount of excellent food available in Dallas is dizzying, yet mediocre meals somehow keep worming their way into our lives. With your Eater Dallas editor dining out frequently, that means coming across lots of standout dishes and drinks that need to be shared.

Courtney E. Smith

The E-Bar Queso at E-Bar Tex-Mex

However long it’s been since you were last at E-Bar Tex-Mex, it’s been too long. While all the food and drinks were great, the loaded queso was Tex-Mex perfection. The chips stood up to the hefty loa brilliantly, and we downed it fast.

As an additional recommendation, don’t miss their cocktails made with Mezcal. Our waitress told me those drinks frequently get returned because diners don’t realize it’s not a tequila-based margarita.

Courtney E. Smith

Courtney E. Smith

The Bavarian pretzel and Hazelnut Temptress at Lakewood Brewing Company

If you haven’t heard already, Lakewood Brewing Company celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer and expanded its taproom with a redesign and the addition of a kitchen.

The Bavarian pretzel with Temptress-infused mustard was such a flavorful delight. The menu also has a brisket sandwich and flatbread with meats from nearby Intrinsic Smokehouse that I want to get in my mouth.

From the beer flight, my favorite was the Hazelnut Stout. It was an easy drink with a remarkable profile. We let the bartender put a flight together, which is recommended unless you’ve got your eye on a specific tap to try.

Courtney E. Smith

Courtney E. Smith

A Cowboy Wagyu pairing dinner at Knife Plano

This wagyu and wine pairing with meat from Cowboy Wagyu featured five stellar courses, but two blew me away. First was the oxtail ravioli, stuffed with wagyu with a parmesan truffle sauce and a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar. It was followed by a 72 Hour Sous Vide Short Rib that was melt in your mouth soft and served on a plate of polenta, baby carrots, and peas and topped with a bordelaise sauce. Get on Knife Plano’s mailing list for events like these.

Courtney E. Smith

Vegan green gumbo and fried green tomatoes at Restaurant Beatrice

My first visit back since Restaurant Beatrice opened in Oak Cliff in the spring didn’t disappoint. The vegan green gumbo was on my must-try list when I made the reservation. Chef Terance Jenkins told me about testing this recipe to try and get the perfect vegan dish that still felt like it had the heft of gumbo. He nailed it. And the fried green tomatoes are a light treat, perfectly breaded and fried.