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The April 2014 Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

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Pondering where you should eat today, tonight, this weekend? Eater is back to answer that very question with our newest addition of the Heatmap—a guide to what's new, what's hot, and where folks in the know are lining up to dine.

Additions to this month's Heatmap include the laid-back Oak Cliff spot recently taken over by Tim Byres and a long-time Henderson Avenue restaurant that's hotter than ever.

Got a suggestion for a restaurant you think deserves to be added to next month's Heatmap? Drop us a line or leave a comment and stay tuned for the next edition of the Heatmap, dropping the first Thursday of May.

Added: Outpost, Victor Tangos
Removed: Chino Chinatown, Kitchen LTO


Heatmap History

March 2014
Added: El Come Taco, Kitchen LTO
Removed: Savor, Tanoshii Ramen

February 2014
Added: CrushCraft Thai, The Blind Butcher
Removed: Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar, LUCK, The Rustic, Truck Yard

January 2014
Added: CrushCraft Thai, The Blind Butcher
Removed: Dee Lincoln Steak & Burger Bar, LUCK

December 2013
Added: Casa Rubia, LUCK
Removed: Pakpao Thai, Truck Yard

November 2013
Added: CBD Provisions, Dee Lincoln's Steak & Burger Bar, The Rustic, Toko V
Removed: Belly & Trumpet, Kitchen LTO, Mot Hai Ba, The Slow Bone

October 2013
Added: Kitchen LTO, Mesero Miguel, Monkey King Noodle Co., Savor, Tanoshii Ramen, Truck Yard
Removed: Boxwood Tap & Grill, Cock and Bull, Dallas Beer Kitchen, FT33, Mutts, Spoon Bar & Kitchen

September 2013
Added: Glazed Donut Works, Village Kitchen, Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern
Removed: 20 Feet, Cane Rosso White Rock, WORK.

August 2013
Added: Boxwood T&G, Cock & Bull, Dallas Beer Kitchen
Removed: HG Sply Co., Lark on the Park, Mercat Bistro

July 2013
Added: Mercat, Mutts, Pakpao Thai, WORK
Removed: Full Circle Tavern, Haystack Burgers & Barley, Hospitality Sweet

June 2013
Added: Haystack Burgers & Barley, HG Sply Co., Hospitality Sweet
Removed: Battuto, FM Smokehouse, Stampede 66

May 2013
Added: Cane Rosso White Rock, Full Circle Tavern, Mot Hai Ba, The Slow Bone
Removed: Double Wide, Sakhuu, The Lot, Yama Sushi

April 2013
Added: Lark on the Park, Double Wide, FM Smoke House, Yama Sushi, Battuto
Removed: TJ's Seafood Market, Outpost, Kenny's Smoke House, Village Marquee, Hopdoddy, Pop Diner

March 2013
Added: 20 Feet Seafood Joint, Belly & Trumpet, The Lot, Village Marquee
Removed: Ellen's Southern Kitchen, Joyce & Gigi's, La Ventana

February 2013
Added: Ellen's Southern Kitchen, Joyce and Gigi's, La Ventana, Kenny's Smoke House, Pop Diner
Removed: Boulevardier, Meso Maya, Bowl & Barrel, Jack's Southern Comfort Food, Meddlesome Moth

January 2013
Added: Meso Maya, Outpost American Tavern, Sakhuu
Removed: Monica's Nueva Cocina

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.
Uptown crowds continue to pack Barter for some of the city's best cocktails (courtesy of barman/walking spirits encyclopedia Rocco Milano) and the Tim Love-designed menu executed by chef Andrew Dilda. Poutine is oh-so-trendy right now, and Barter has what might be the best in the city -- gravy-soaked and sloppy, just as it should be.

The Blind Butcher

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Carnivores and vegetarians alike will find plenty to eat at this smash hit from Goodfriend owners Josh Yingling and Matt Tobin. Chef Oliver Sitrin is hitting it out of the park with meaty dishes like duck poutine with foie gras, housemade sausages and pastrami eggrolls, but there's also a vegan sausage, mushroom poutine and tasty salads.

Casa Rubia

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This Trinity Groves venture from Driftwood's Jonn Baudoin and Omar Flores is putting its own spin on traditional Spanish tapas. Leslie Brenner recently lauded it with four stars; menu standouts include the charcuterie plate with luscious lardo and jamon iberico, grilled octopus and the rich chocolate cremoso, balanced with tangy kumquat.

CBD Provisions

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The stunning restaurant at the Joule has drawn rave reviews from both diners and the critics with uniquely rustic dishes like the whole pig's head carnitas served with tortillas and radish salad and arguably one of the finest burgers in town, plus fantastic cocktails in a sexy atmosphere.

Crushcraft Thai Street Eats

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This colorful Quadrangle spot is putting a fast-casual spin on authentic Thai food by chef Paul Singhapong. Grab a table under the impressive skylight and chow down on Thai classics like pad thai, papaya salad or kra-pao (ground pork with rice and a runny-yolked egg). Best of all, it's open till 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and has plenty of booze options including sake and refreshing Asian beers.

El Come Taco

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Still waiting for Tacos La Banqueta in East Dallas to make its comeback? Quit waiting and head to Luis Villalva's excellent taqueria for a fix. Suadero and pastor (cooked traditionally on a trompo with pineapple) are very solid choices, but the adventurous should try the sesos (brains) or the deliciously fatty cabeza.
A little taste of Napa Valley hits Dallas via Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder's cozy, intimate Henderson Avenue restaurant decked out in classy Hamptons-style decor, with a heavy focus on what's local, seasonal and delicious -- think grass-fed beef tartare and ricotta cavatelli with wild boar ragu. Major bonus: Gemma is open till 1 a.m. for night owls.

Glazed Donut Works

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This Deep Ellum doughnut shop is still hot, hot, hot, serving long lines of early birds (and night owls, thanks to a walk-up window) with an ever-rotating selection of doughnuts handmade from fresh ingredients. Do get the Irish Car Bomb if it's available.

Outpost American Tavern

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Tim Byres & partners Chris Jeffers and Chris Zielke recently took over this laid-back O.C. spot, and the food is better than ever. Don't miss the flatbread with fig jam, goat cheese and arugula, or the impossibly moist roasted chicken with mushrooms and crispy parsnip croquettes. (Pro tip: Tuesday nights are half-price food, but beware the bocce ball league crowds.)

Monkey King Noodle Company

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This Deep Ellum walk-up window continues to pull in lunch crowds for a small but mighty menu that includes spicy beef soup with incredible hand-pulled noodles and juicy soup dumplings. Now that warm weather is here, the rooftop patio is perfect for dining (and it's BYOB).

Victor Tangos

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Six-year-old Victor Tangos is hotter than ever, thanks to an ever-rotating menu of creative fare by chef Kirstyn Brewer and cocktails by Alex Fletcher. The whole roasted fish over zingy lemon potatoes makes for an impressive shared entree, and be sure to try the "Art of War" cocktail with gin, cucumber and miso.

Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern

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This New York-style offshoot couldn't be more different than Cane Rosso, but it might be just as good. Grab a slice of Grandma, Sicilian or classic New York-style pie, and don't forget to try the zucchini fries with housemade jalapeno ranch. Garlic knots are a must.

Barter

Uptown crowds continue to pack Barter for some of the city's best cocktails (courtesy of barman/walking spirits encyclopedia Rocco Milano) and the Tim Love-designed menu executed by chef Andrew Dilda. Poutine is oh-so-trendy right now, and Barter has what might be the best in the city -- gravy-soaked and sloppy, just as it should be.

The Blind Butcher

Carnivores and vegetarians alike will find plenty to eat at this smash hit from Goodfriend owners Josh Yingling and Matt Tobin. Chef Oliver Sitrin is hitting it out of the park with meaty dishes like duck poutine with foie gras, housemade sausages and pastrami eggrolls, but there's also a vegan sausage, mushroom poutine and tasty salads.

Casa Rubia

This Trinity Groves venture from Driftwood's Jonn Baudoin and Omar Flores is putting its own spin on traditional Spanish tapas. Leslie Brenner recently lauded it with four stars; menu standouts include the charcuterie plate with luscious lardo and jamon iberico, grilled octopus and the rich chocolate cremoso, balanced with tangy kumquat.

CBD Provisions

The stunning restaurant at the Joule has drawn rave reviews from both diners and the critics with uniquely rustic dishes like the whole pig's head carnitas served with tortillas and radish salad and arguably one of the finest burgers in town, plus fantastic cocktails in a sexy atmosphere.

Crushcraft Thai Street Eats

This colorful Quadrangle spot is putting a fast-casual spin on authentic Thai food by chef Paul Singhapong. Grab a table under the impressive skylight and chow down on Thai classics like pad thai, papaya salad or kra-pao (ground pork with rice and a runny-yolked egg). Best of all, it's open till 3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and has plenty of booze options including sake and refreshing Asian beers.

El Come Taco

Still waiting for Tacos La Banqueta in East Dallas to make its comeback? Quit waiting and head to Luis Villalva's excellent taqueria for a fix. Suadero and pastor (cooked traditionally on a trompo with pineapple) are very solid choices, but the adventurous should try the sesos (brains) or the deliciously fatty cabeza.

Gemma

A little taste of Napa Valley hits Dallas via Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder's cozy, intimate Henderson Avenue restaurant decked out in classy Hamptons-style decor, with a heavy focus on what's local, seasonal and delicious -- think grass-fed beef tartare and ricotta cavatelli with wild boar ragu. Major bonus: Gemma is open till 1 a.m. for night owls.

Glazed Donut Works

This Deep Ellum doughnut shop is still hot, hot, hot, serving long lines of early birds (and night owls, thanks to a walk-up window) with an ever-rotating selection of doughnuts handmade from fresh ingredients. Do get the Irish Car Bomb if it's available.

Outpost American Tavern

Tim Byres & partners Chris Jeffers and Chris Zielke recently took over this laid-back O.C. spot, and the food is better than ever. Don't miss the flatbread with fig jam, goat cheese and arugula, or the impossibly moist roasted chicken with mushrooms and crispy parsnip croquettes. (Pro tip: Tuesday nights are half-price food, but beware the bocce ball league crowds.)

Monkey King Noodle Company

This Deep Ellum walk-up window continues to pull in lunch crowds for a small but mighty menu that includes spicy beef soup with incredible hand-pulled noodles and juicy soup dumplings. Now that warm weather is here, the rooftop patio is perfect for dining (and it's BYOB).

Victor Tangos

Six-year-old Victor Tangos is hotter than ever, thanks to an ever-rotating menu of creative fare by chef Kirstyn Brewer and cocktails by Alex Fletcher. The whole roasted fish over zingy lemon potatoes makes for an impressive shared entree, and be sure to try the "Art of War" cocktail with gin, cucumber and miso.

Zoli's NY Pizza Tavern

This New York-style offshoot couldn't be more different than Cane Rosso, but it might be just as good. Grab a slice of Grandma, Sicilian or classic New York-style pie, and don't forget to try the zucchini fries with housemade jalapeno ranch. Garlic knots are a must.

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