3 New Dallas Restaurants We’re Loving Now — And What To Order at Each Hot Spot

This new upscale concept from Vandelay Hospitality Group (Hudson House, Drake’s) is now open in Addison. Inspired by the dining institutions of Aspen and Santa Fe, the new spot brings a Western American aesthetic, an expanded patio with a grand stone fireplace, and an “elevated take on the classic neighborhood family spot.”

Best Sips: Hudson House is known for its ice cold martinis, And Vandelay replicates the magic at Brentwood. Two must-tries are the Pear Spiced Martini and Espresso Martini, the latter of which features a semi-sweet mixture of almond espresso and vodka.

Best Bites: Make sure to start with the riceless Cucumber Salmon Roll, as well as the chicken meatballs in roasted yellow mole sauce. For mains, don’t miss the Hickory Burger with cheddar cheese, crispy onions, jalapeños, and barbecue sauce. The slow-roasted, herb-crusted prime rib is also a standout with freshly grated horseradish.

There are just two desserts on the menu, but they’re both perfection. The wild berry cobbler is served warm and topped with ice cream, while the French silk pie is a chocolate dream.

This new, upscale barbecue spot from Texas pitmaster Doug Pickering is a must-try. After leaving the finance world to become a barbecue caterer under the name DWP BBQ, Pickering debuted his first full-fledged restaurant this summer, serving up brisket, ribs, sausage, steak, and seafood in Snider Plaza.

Best Sips: The Love Bug is a light and tasty tequila drink with grapefruit and a pink salt rim. There’s also an Old Fashioned worth trying. Otherwise, the expansive wine list offers everything you could want.

Best Bites: For dinner, start with the pimento cheese with deep-fried Saltine crackers or the grilled avocado with crème fraîche, pomegranate seeds, and smoked trout roe. Next, don’t miss the BBQ burger. It comes with a wagyu smash patty, pulled pork or brisket, and pimento cheese.

If you’re there for lunch, Douglas Bar and Grill serves some killer smoked meats. I recommend the Akaushi beef with jalapeño and cheddar cheese. For sides, the whiskey carrots are a stand-out, but I will definitely be keeping the mac and cheese with a smoked gouda crust in mind for next time.

Do yourself a favor and do not leave without trying the banana pudding.

The Second Floor at The Exchange was recently renamed Attalie, a new rotating chef concept. And first up is Petra and the Beast chef Misti Norris’ French-Cajun spot: Stepchild. Having grown up in a Cajun household, Norris’ menu includes influences from her childhood and utilizes farms, foraging, fermentation, and fire in her cooking. The new spot (open for dinner Thursday through Sunday) does not yet have an end date.

Best Sips: For a light and refreshing cocktail, order the Juliet Romeo. It’s a beautiful gin, cucumber, and mint mixture topped with dried citrus covered in salted cucumber caviar. And if you enjoy espresso martinis, you must try the Deja Vu with vodka, espresso, salted blackberry agave, and fortified wine. It’s one of the best espresso martinis I’ve ever had.

Best Bites: If you’re coming with a group of four, or don’t mind some leftovers, pre-order the 5-Day-Aged Koji Chicken (72 hours in advance). It’s a show-stopping feast of half a fried chicken, bread, hot sauce, Koji buttermilk black pepper gravy, pork confit potatoes (with goat cheese whip and smoked trout roe), seasonal greens, seasonal pickles, and Stepchild ranch.

For starters, the Duck Boudin is also a must-try with crispy duck leg boudin, duck heart ham, and mustard gravy.Don’t miss the side of pork confit potatoes — trust us, they’re worth it.