Our love affair with local food

May 14, 2014

Did you knowwwww (according to this one random study) Dallas diners rank number one in the country for most residents that go out to eat?
Plano ranks number three!
. . . with NYC sandwiched in between at a measly number two.
Pshhhh.
When Josh & I aren't busy making another attempt at a semi-healthy lifestyle, we are huge fans of not cooking dinner.
Let's be honest, not doing dishes is the greatest.
We. Love. Food.
I've compiled a list (with entirely too many #foodgrams) of some of our favorite eateries around Plano and Dallas.

We cannot get enough of this pizza.
Although it doesn't compare to the magical, greasy Johnny's pizza from back home, this is probably our all time favorite "fancy" pizza.
Their drinks are top notch as well.
My favorite pizza: 
balsamic roasted chicken
Favorite drinks:
Moscow mule and blood orange margarita
I think that the fact it is walking distance from our apartment is a key factor in our Fireside love affair. 
Also, Fireside just celebrated their 10th birthday with $10 pizzas and $1.10 sangrias.
For realz.

An awesome, shady gathering place in Dallas on Lower Greenville brought to you by the creator of Twisted Root.
The yard has a steady rotation of food trucks each week, but it is also home to a pretty sweet tree house bar, airstream bar, and indoor bar.
The tables and chairs are an eclectic mix of truck beds and lawn chairs.
Oh, and they have pretty sweet brown bag insulated koozies. 
This Plano pizzeria has been slowly creeping up on Fireside to take the place as our favorite pizza joint.
Having Peticolas beer on draft is always a plus in our book.
Oh and their cast iron skillet chocolate chip cookie? Dessert-gasm
Our fav pizza:
The Smokey Pie 
{Sweet tx bbq sauce, local smoked brisket, local bacon, white onion, house-blended mozzarella, cheddar + texas goat cheese}
Oh, and the brisket lasagna is pretty darn good too.
Velvet Taco & Whiskey Cake's newer, fancier, hispanic-er sister (also conveniently located walking distance from our apartment).
The food is great, but can we just talk about the drinks?
Cocktails on draft.
Let me re-phrase that.
Incredible, fresh cocktails on draft.
My personal favorite:
The Grapefruit Paloma
{Milagro Blanco Tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave, Mexican Squirt}
The tortilla soup ranks second place to my previously mentioned  grapefruit lover.
Wanna splurge? Try the Lobster Roll. Well worth the money.
Yet another restaurant walking distance from our apartment (with Peticolas beer on draft).
We've got an addiction and it's called East Hampton's sandwiches. 
This was particularly the go-to restaurant during our three "ice storms" this past winter.
Favorite sandwich: The Balsamic Tenderloin 
{Sliced beef tenderloin + crispy onion strings + bleu cheese + balsamic glaze + rosemary au jus}
Fun fact: This was originally a seasonal winter sandwich but was so overwhelming popular they added it to the full menu)

Initially a popular Dallas market and bakery (that recently expanded to Plano, thank goodness) that carries everything fresh and fantastic that you could ever imagine.
Basically you walk in the door, make a lap, and become overwhelmed by a mega anxiety attack because everything looks too darn good.
The cheese. The bread. The meat.
. . . unless it's a Friday night and you smell the delicious aromas of $10 pizza night.
Oh, and we couldn't forget every taco place ever.
Velvet Taco, Rusty Taco, Fuzzy Taco, Torchy Taco, and Good2Go Taco.
We have yet to have a terrible Taco in Texas.
Just sayin.
Pictured below: Torchy Taco's chicken and waffle taco with syrup and bacon and eggs and magic.
Our favorite food truck:
Easy Slider
Their Sweet and LowDown slider can't be beat.
A slider topped with goat cheese bacon and strawberry jam?
With Zapps on the side?
Yep.
Make it happen, ASAP.
As for our favorite BBQ:
In Plano we recommend 3 Stacks but in Dallas we recommend Pecan Lodge (remember that one time?)
We know you can't forget about Tex-Mex when you are in the area so our recommendation for the best "authentic" Tex-Mex is Mi Cocina. If you are looking for a cheaper, but still really really really good Tex-Mex meal try Chuy's.

. . . but let's be honest here, we all know brunch is probably the most important meal of the day.

By a landslide, this is our top brunch spot in Plano.
We tried so hard to hit it and quit it, but we couldn't.
We fell in love with this place (and their bacon laced chicken and waffles) two years ago when Josh lived right down the road.
Although the chicken and waffles aren't pictured, this banana and peanut butter french toast kinda rocked my world that one time (and then it disappeared from the menu forever).
Since then we have frequented Whiskey Cake almost weekly because the ever-changing menu keeps up coming back for more.
Although we almost quit coming back for more after the great DogfishHead 120 minute IPA incident of 2013.
Most of their menu items are sourced locally or grown in their garden out back.
Even though we think their weekend brunch is better than Chick-fil-a on a Sunday, you won't be let down by their lunch and dinner menu.
My personal favorite sandwich is the quinoa/mushroom/edamame veggie burger and Josh loves their always changing assortment of deviled eggs. 
. . . oh and the bloody mary bar.
Did I mention the bloody mary bar?
If you are sick of hearing me talk about Whiskey Cake, and you need a backup breakfast spot, then there's always Hypnotic Donuts in Dallas.
Not only do they have phenomenal (and creative, Voodoo Donut-esque) donuts but they also have pretty darn good (and humongous) chicken biscuits.
Maui Waui: coconut cream filling with vanilla bean icing and toasted coconut
. . . but you must make quick stop at White Rock coffee for an Adam Bomb blended coffee on the way.
The Adam Bomb is a magical frozen blended combo of espresso, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Of course, you can't forget dessert . . . 
Our favorite local dessert is a two way tie.
Whiskey Cake's Whiskey Cake and Taverna Rossa's cast iron skillet chocolate chip cookie

Emporium Pies is another one of our favorite staple dessert shops.
I don't think dessert gets cuter than a dessert shop (located in an old house) that serves only pies.
Thankfully, they just opened a second location in Mckinney.
I have yet to try a piece of pie that I hated, so get your butt in there and grab a slice (or two).
Doctor's Physician Assistant's orders.
. . . then there's always Sprinkles Ice Cream which is in a league of it's own
Not only do they sell ice cream, but they also have cookies, brownies, and cupcake tops (which you can use to sandwich on either side of a scoop of ice cream!)
I'm fairly certain I mastered the perfect cupcake/ice cream combo:
salted caramel ice cream topped with a s'mores cupcake
Runner up: salted caramel ice cream sandwiched between a banana cupcake
Also, they now offer mini sundaes! 
You can get a baby scoop of ice cream between mini cupcakes! 
If you get the late night munchies, don't forget about the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM, located next to the store, open 24-7!

Our list of places to-eat in Dallas is growing every day.
Let me know if you have any recommendations I may have left unlisted or e-mail me if you are coming to Dallas or the 'burbs and need direction! 

2 comments:

Jess said...

This makes me SO excited to visit my sister in Dallas. I'll gain a billion pounds but it will be so worth it.

Audrey @ An Aud Blog said...

Now I seriously need to eat something. I saw Tulsa was #4 on the list, which really makes sense, because my husband always comments on how much we eat out when we're with my parents in Tulsa :)

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