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16 Essential Park Cities Bars and Restaurants

Where to dine in University Park and Highland Park

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Home to SMU, Jerry Jones, and every Range Rover in the city, the Park Cities are actual cities within a city. Technically, the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park each make up their own independent municipalities, but together, the two form the Park Cities neighborhood. The area is bordered by the Dallas North Tollway on the west, Central Expressway on the east, Northwest Highway on the North, and Lemmon/Wycliff/Fitzhugh on the south.

Don't let the perfectly groomed trees and beautifully lit shopping centers fool you - while there are luxurious spots to eat, there are just as many (if not more) relaxed places to stuff your face with a burger, fried chicken, or chocolate shake. The area also covers a seriously diverse range of food, from German food to Latin food to sushi. The Park Cities even boasts a speakeasy.

Prepare your palate and let the Park Cities surprise you - here are 14 of our favorite spots in the neighborhood.

Is your favorite Park Cities joint missing from this map? Tell us in the comments.

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Montlake Cut

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Consistently landing on Eater’s Essential 38 restaurant list, this seafood joint from Chef Nick Badovinus offers a bi-coastal selection of bivalves, ceviche, or crudo. Plus, ridiculously fresh fish preparations like Chilean sea bass in white cocktail sauce have made this restaurant a city favorite.

Hillstone Restaurant

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Rumor has it that Park Cities residents are required by law to celebrate their birthdays at Hillstone. This nationwide chain (formerly known as Houston's) is a local favorite, and it’s impossible to go wrong with a classic Hillstone Burger.

Burger House

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Residents do not remember a time in which they lived in the Park Cities without the comfort of Burger House nearby, and that's probably because they haven't. Burger House has been serving up addictive fries since 1951.

Bubba's Cooks Country

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Bubba's has been a mainstay for family style fried chicken since the early eighties for a damn good reason: juicy, tender drumsticks with a side of melt-in-your-mouth rolls. There’s even a drive-thru for those who want a bucket of crispy okra but don't want to change out of jammies.

Kuby's Sausage House

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Kuby's facade is straight out of a little German village and the market inside is just as darling. The shnitzel isn't darling at all, but it's hearty and authentic. Prost!

Peggy Sue BBQ

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Dallas is full of BBQ, but Peggy Sue's has withstood the test of time with its baby back ribs and pulled pork, served up in an timeless, fifties-style dining room.

Bistro 31

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This classy spot blends in perfectly with the designer surroundings of Highland Park Village. After shoppers pick up a new Céline bag, they pop over to Bistro 31 for the olive oil poached branzino, served with garlic broccolini, tomato confit, and "Primer" olive oil.

Javier's Gourmet Mexicano

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Yes, Javier’s is expensive. But anyone would be hard pressed to find a stronger margarita in the city, and even harder pressed to find a swankier place to eat Mexican food. Those looking for Tex Mex should look elsewhere - Javier’s considers itself to be a provider of authentic Mexico City fare.

Javier's

Atwater Alley

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Surprise! There's more than meets the eye here: Atwater Alley makes its home behind the kitchen of Henry's Majestic. This hidden speakeasy has a rotating cocktail menu, but expect New Orleans-style, old-school hits.

Henry's Majestic

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Henry's Majestic has only been around since 2014, but it’s already established itself as a staple in the Park Cities food scene. It’s basically got anything diners could want in this world: a dog-friendly patio, brunch featuring black cherry french toast and a DIY mimosa bar, and seriously strong cocktails when the sun goes down. There’s also a criminally long happy hour that lasts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday - use that knowledge safely and wisely.

Toulouse Café and Bar

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The Lombardi group covers a wide range of restaurant concepts in Dallas, but they somehow still managed to make Toulouse look and feel remarkably similar to a legit French bistro. The menu is classic and reliably delicious - for evidence of this, try the filet au poivre.

Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain

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If you are reading this and you attended the opening of Highland Park Soda Fountain, you are probably a ghost hovering behind the counter, haunting around for one last sip of the old fashioned ice cream soda. Since 1911, the shop has served kids and kids at heart delicious milkshakes and savory grilled cheeses.

La Duni Latin Cafe

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"Latin food" is a broad categorization for a restaurant, but La Duni covers a broad range of food: the three page lunch and dinner menu (not including the fourth page which covers drinks alone) is extensive, to say the least. Get the enchiladas de pollo con queso for a grownup twist on Tex-Mex enchiladas.

Café Madrid

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Cafe Madrid is simply the best Spanish restaurant in Dallas, period. Go with a group and order a million tapas and share them all - don't miss the piquillo rellenos or the plato ibérico.

The funkiest spot on this map by far, Abacus boasts a menu with everything from salmon sashimi to fire roasted Colorado lamb loin. The chefs at Abacus may come and go, but the consistent deliciousness is here to stay.

TJ's Seafood Market & Grill

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Eater has already called TJ’s “arguably the most beloved seafood restaurant in Dallas,” therefore it’s only fitting that the seafood eatery tops the best of the Park Cities offerings. Must try’s include the shrimp cocktail, lobster roll, and smoked salmon board. Or for a splurge, go with the oysters and caviar service.

TJ's Seafood Market & Grill/Facebook

Montlake Cut

Consistently landing on Eater’s Essential 38 restaurant list, this seafood joint from Chef Nick Badovinus offers a bi-coastal selection of bivalves, ceviche, or crudo. Plus, ridiculously fresh fish preparations like Chilean sea bass in white cocktail sauce have made this restaurant a city favorite.

Hillstone Restaurant

Rumor has it that Park Cities residents are required by law to celebrate their birthdays at Hillstone. This nationwide chain (formerly known as Houston's) is a local favorite, and it’s impossible to go wrong with a classic Hillstone Burger.

Burger House

Residents do not remember a time in which they lived in the Park Cities without the comfort of Burger House nearby, and that's probably because they haven't. Burger House has been serving up addictive fries since 1951.

Bubba's Cooks Country

Bubba's has been a mainstay for family style fried chicken since the early eighties for a damn good reason: juicy, tender drumsticks with a side of melt-in-your-mouth rolls. There’s even a drive-thru for those who want a bucket of crispy okra but don't want to change out of jammies.

Kuby's Sausage House

Kuby's facade is straight out of a little German village and the market inside is just as darling. The shnitzel isn't darling at all, but it's hearty and authentic. Prost!

Peggy Sue BBQ

Dallas is full of BBQ, but Peggy Sue's has withstood the test of time with its baby back ribs and pulled pork, served up in an timeless, fifties-style dining room.

Bistro 31

This classy spot blends in perfectly with the designer surroundings of Highland Park Village. After shoppers pick up a new Céline bag, they pop over to Bistro 31 for the olive oil poached branzino, served with garlic broccolini, tomato confit, and "Primer" olive oil.

Javier's Gourmet Mexicano

Yes, Javier’s is expensive. But anyone would be hard pressed to find a stronger margarita in the city, and even harder pressed to find a swankier place to eat Mexican food. Those looking for Tex Mex should look elsewhere - Javier’s considers itself to be a provider of authentic Mexico City fare.

Javier's

Atwater Alley

Surprise! There's more than meets the eye here: Atwater Alley makes its home behind the kitchen of Henry's Majestic. This hidden speakeasy has a rotating cocktail menu, but expect New Orleans-style, old-school hits.

Henry's Majestic

Henry's Majestic has only been around since 2014, but it’s already established itself as a staple in the Park Cities food scene. It’s basically got anything diners could want in this world: a dog-friendly patio, brunch featuring black cherry french toast and a DIY mimosa bar, and seriously strong cocktails when the sun goes down. There’s also a criminally long happy hour that lasts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday - use that knowledge safely and wisely.

Toulouse Café and Bar

The Lombardi group covers a wide range of restaurant concepts in Dallas, but they somehow still managed to make Toulouse look and feel remarkably similar to a legit French bistro. The menu is classic and reliably delicious - for evidence of this, try the filet au poivre.

Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain

If you are reading this and you attended the opening of Highland Park Soda Fountain, you are probably a ghost hovering behind the counter, haunting around for one last sip of the old fashioned ice cream soda. Since 1911, the shop has served kids and kids at heart delicious milkshakes and savory grilled cheeses.

La Duni Latin Cafe

"Latin food" is a broad categorization for a restaurant, but La Duni covers a broad range of food: the three page lunch and dinner menu (not including the fourth page which covers drinks alone) is extensive, to say the least. Get the enchiladas de pollo con queso for a grownup twist on Tex-Mex enchiladas.

Café Madrid

Cafe Madrid is simply the best Spanish restaurant in Dallas, period. Go with a group and order a million tapas and share them all - don't miss the piquillo rellenos or the plato ibérico.

Abacus

The funkiest spot on this map by far, Abacus boasts a menu with everything from salmon sashimi to fire roasted Colorado lamb loin. The chefs at Abacus may come and go, but the consistent deliciousness is here to stay.

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TJ's Seafood Market & Grill

Eater has already called TJ’s “arguably the most beloved seafood restaurant in Dallas,” therefore it’s only fitting that the seafood eatery tops the best of the Park Cities offerings. Must try’s include the shrimp cocktail, lobster roll, and smoked salmon board. Or for a splurge, go with the oysters and caviar service.

TJ's Seafood Market & Grill/Facebook

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