Dallas’ Best Restaurants of the Year: 10 New Hotspots that Ruled 2017

It was monumental year for food in Dallas. The city’s restaurant scene flourished from start to finish – proving that it’s well on the way to becoming a culinary capital. While one iconic local dining room experienced a renaissance, several other soon-to-be icons made their debut.

Let’s take a look back at the best new restaurants of 2017…

Mirador

In barely a year, Mirador at Forty Five Ten has become the go-to dining spot for Dallas fashion girls and the downtown crowd. Perhaps it’s the restaurant’s proximity to designer wares, or maybe it’s the way it makes French fries look dainty – but Mirador exudes endless style. Oh, and the food is good too. In her review of the restaurant, PaperCity Dallas editor-in-chief Christina Geyer calls the menu “sophisticated but not pretentious,” and claims she “may never eat anywhere else.” Read the full story here. 

Sachet

When Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder, the husband and wife team behind critically-acclaimed Gemma, announced they were opening another Dallas eatery, expectations were high. Sachet, the dressed-down, Mediterranean-inspired sister restaurant of Gemma, doesn’t disappoint. The vegetable mezze, wood-fired breads, spiced meats and all-Mediterranean wine list make this spot a must-visit. Read more about Sachet here.

Bullion

Bruno Davaillon’s gilded downtown restaurant has been open for little more than a month, but Bullion has been the talk of the town all year. Its extraordinary opening bash included acrobats hanging from the ceiling, ball gowns made of champagne flutes, a fireworks show – and very little food. When the restaurant finally opened its doors in November, the menu “practically surpassed all expectations — from drinks to dessert.” Read our review here. 

The French Room

OK, The French Room has long been a pillar of fine dining in Dallas – but 2017 brought a fresh start for the Adolphus’ swanky restaurant. Reopen after an extensive 16-month renovation, The French Room now has a modern look and revamped menu that makes it feel new again. Read our story about it here. 

Legacy Hall

Legacy Hall isn’t exactly a restaurant, but with 22 food stalls, bars and eateries within, we thought it deserved a place on the list. Plano’s new, 55,000-square-foot foodie wonderland places a variety of popular Dallas restaurants, like Knife Burger and Freshfin Poke Co., under one roof. Learn more about the massive restaurant complex here.

Sassetta

Headington Companies breathed new life into the Design District this year with charming Italian restaurant Sassetta. The romantic ambience, house-made pastas and (recently added) brunch will keep you coming back for more. Read about it here. 

José

Does Dallas’ restaurant scene have enough modern Mexican cuisine? This was a hot-button topic of 2017, but diners on both sides of the debate rejoiced at the arrival of José. The Mexican restaurant serves up intriguing dishes as bright and vivacious as its artful surrounds. Read about it here.

City Hall Bistro

While the Adolphus’ legendary dining room was getting a makeover, a new eatery was taking shape within the storied hotel. City Hall Bistro is the trendy all-day restaurant Downtown Dallas was wanting. Stop by for house-made breads and pastries and Southern European-inspired dishes like Paella Valenciana. See the full story here.

Up on Knox

For years, a Chili’s sat on the corner of Highland Park’s best fine dining strip. This year, the chain restaurant was replaced with something a bit more unique. Up on Knox, a brasserie from Le Bilboquet’s Stephen Courseau, is Dallas’ version of New York’s iconic Balthazar – a place perfect for French breakfast, craft cocktails, and everything in between. Read about it here.

Town Hearth

With 64 sparkling chandeliers, vintage sports cars and a yellow submarine, Town Hearth isn’t your average steakhouse. The dramatic decor helped make Town Hearth one of the hottest reservations in town, but the food certainly pulls its weight, too. The newest restaurant from beloved chef Nick Badovinus offers an impressive assortment of steaks, seafood and wine. Get the full story here.

Jalisco Norte

This buzzy new restaurant in Turtle Creek Village aims to get Dallas diners out of their Tex-Mex comfort zone with flavorful and authentically Mexican dishes like pork chop manchamanteles (a regional mole of fruit, dried chiles and roasted peach), chilaquiles, Vallarta-style ceviche and more. Not to mention, there is a exceedingly pleasant indoor patio. Take a closer look here.