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Look no further than these restaurants in Dallas for date night and special celebrations. Some of these fancy, Michelin star worthy, fine dining Dallas Restaurants have hosted guests like Margaret Thatcher, heads of states, presidents, pop icons like Usher and Sir Elton John. Book a table at one of these iconic Dallas restaurants for that special anniversary, milestone birthday, Valentine’s day, a celebratory meal or just for a special evening out. Some of these legendary restaurants even have a separate menu for vegetarians, so even if you have diet restrictions you can still enjoy a nice romantic dinner in Dallas!
Michelin star guide books were established in France by the French tire company Michelin to encourage people to culinary exploration and to get them to buy more cars. They don’t publish a guide for Dallas but that does not mean we have don’t have Michelin star restaurants in Dallas! Here are a few that are worthy of a few stars, OutsideSuburbia Stars 😉
We have lived in Dallas for over 20 years and celebrated many special events and milestones in some of these beautiful Dallas restaurants. But I rarely take a DSLR out when going out for dinner, so I apologize if the photos are not of the greatest quality. As always all photos and opinions are our own.
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12 Best Restaurants in Dallas for a Date Night or Special Celebrations in 2021
Te Deseo
Te Deseo, which literally means “I wish you,” or “I desire you” is on the top of our most Romantic restaurants in Dallas for 2021! If you’re looking for a vibrant space to celebrate that special someone, make a reservation at the Latin-inspired Te Deseo in the Harwood District. This restaurant has an impressive menu with fancy takes on classic Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and also arepas, Ceviches, and Peruvian and Argentinian dishes with chimichurri sauce.
Stop for a pre or post-dinner drink, at the trendy rooftop upstairs where you can enjoy cocktails, with a stunning view of downtown Dallas.
Carte Blanche
A new dining experience in Dallas, Carte Blanche on Lowest Greenville, is a great choice for a formal dinner to celebrate a special day or for a date night. They offer the full Chef’s Tour menu nightly as well as a 5 course menu on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Vegetarian options are available for either menu.
Our 5-course tasting menu started with amuse-bouches: a tiny yet bursting with flavor, falafel and radicchio for me, and oyster and lobster bisque for Mr. Suburbia. While my Pappardelle pasta was perfect, the smoked beets with kumquats and squash soup with apple bits were my favorite of the night.
The gastronomic experience by Chef Casey La Rue and decadent desserts by his wife, Amy La Rue deserves to be on your Dallas dining experiences. It is truly one of the best modern fine dining restaurants you will find in Dallas.
Flora Street Cafe (Closed)
Located in Downtown Dallas’ Arts District Chef Stephan Pyles’s Flora Street cafe serves elevated Modern Texas Cuisine in a modern and sleek setting. We have been fans of the Chef’s meticulous attention to detail and design since his Stampede 66 days in Victory Park. The conception of Stephan Pyles Flora Street Café is inspired by its proximity to the Dallas Arts District and the restaurant and the food is designed with the concept of “Food as Theater.” Perfect place for dinner before an Opera Show or after visiting the latest exhibitions at the Dallas Museum of Arts.
Every course was beautifully plated and presented – the roasted tri-color beets with stracciatelli cheese which I mistook for yogurt with coffee cardamom soil was stunning. So was the butternut squash and roasted corn soup (I had them hold the apple bacon chutney that usually comes with it). Mr. Suburbia thought his Mediterranean Bronzino was better than the ones he enjoys in Miami. Don’t be foolish and forgo dessert. Look at how pretty that plate of pistachio mousse with passion fruit sorbet is!
(Sadly this favorite spot is closed now)
The Mansion
The Mansion is probably the best of the storied and formal restaurants in Dallas. It is located inside the elegant Rosewood Hotel on the plush Turtle creek area. Built in 1925, the hotel features architecture inspired by the grand manors in Spain, England and Italy. The New American menu by Sebastien Archambault features luxury ingredients along with a few vegetarian options. You can book the chef’s table or the library if you want some extra privacy to celebrate your special day.
We recently celebrated a special milestone birthday and had booked the chef’s table. We sat at the table where Sir Elton John, Usher had sat before. The library room has hosted guests like Margaret Thatcher and other heads of states and presidents. The food was ok but the ambiance and service make up for it.
I loved the custom cake, a version of carrot cake with pistachio and cream that they made for our special event. The dress code is business casual but dress to impress you never know who you will run into at the Rosewood Hotel in Dallas.
Fearings
Chef Dean Fearing’s restaurant is located inside the luxe Ritz-Carlton. It is one of the liveliest, most popular restaurants in Texas that has hosted celebrities, sports stars, heads of state and people who love great Texas food. Serving an elevated American Cuisine the menu is simple yet sophisticated and you have to try Dean’s Tortilla Soup which also comes in a vegetarian version.
And to those of you asking yes, there is a separate vegetarian menu. There are indoor and outdoor settings, ranging from casual to elegant. Stop at the legendary Rattlesnake Bar for a cocktail before dinner.
Five Sixty (Closed)
Anything attached to world-renowned Chef Wolfgang Puck’s name is bound to be phenomenal, and Five Sixty is no exception. While you are there you can take in the best views that Dallas has to offer. Located at the top of Reunion Tower it is a Dallas skyline landmark. You can dine in the main room or in the bar for a more casual experience. We celebrated Ms. Peachy’s 16th birthday here.
Modern Asian dishes such as sushi, Assam curry prawns, and ‘General Tso’ quail are popular while vegetarians won’t go hungry either. Some of my favorites are roasted Brussels sprouts, house lo mein and papas bravas. Book a table by the window revel in the 360-degree views of Dallas in the slowly rotating restaurant.
See the post for more photos from our dinner experience at Five Sixty Dallas. (Closed until further notice)
Taverna
Part of the Lombardi family restaurants, Taverna is one of our favorites for a dinner in Dallas when we miss Italy. The Paglia E Fieno is a family favorite – it’s a tagliolini with wild mushrooms, truffle oil in a cream sauce, you can get it with or without the chicken. The warm bread that you dip in fresh pesto is absolutely divine and you can’t miss the Tiramisu. You might also like their pan-seared sea bass, grilled Branzino risotto.
The decor of the Dallas location in Knox is warm and rustic while the new one in Plano at Legacy West is more modern. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to dine at Taverna. It is on the top of our list of restaurants in Dallas for a special celebration and for celebrating weekends. 🙂 We also love Kai and Bistro 31 which are other restaurants in the Lombardi family concept.
Gemma
The darling Dallas restaurant gives me all the wine country vibes. The owners spent some time in the Napa restaurant scene and lucky for us they have brought their farm to table and food and wine pairing knowledge to Dallas.
Gemma is not ideal if you want your space, tables are closer to each other and it gets pretty loud. But it is still a cozy place and the food is amazing! We love going there with friends to celebrate. They don’t have much on the menu for vegetarians but I love the salads there and the chef has no problem whipping up a veggie-filled pasta dish and those warm fig bread alone are worth a trip.
Their sister restaurant, Sachet in Shops of Highland Park is another great restaurant in Dallas for a nice dinner. The Mediterranean-inspired menu pairs perfectly with the airy and coastal decor that is trendy and intimate. They have an ever-changing menu with excellent pastas, nice salads, kebabs, steaks, and a delicious branzino.
Town Hearth
The exterior of this restaurant hides all the glorious and ridiculous decor – not many places in Dallas have a huge fish tank that houses a submarine and a vintage Ducati. There are 60 chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, of Town Hearth restaurant located in an unassuming building in the design district that looks more like a warehouse than a fancy Dallas restaurant. This is one of the best restaurants in Dallas for a date night or to wow your guests.
The food at Chef Nick Badovinus’s extravagant steakhouse is elegant and presented beautifully, while there is no separate vegetarian menu, the chef whipped up pasta for me loaded with vegetables and mushrooms that was delicious. The kids loved the desserts and cleaned up their plates.
Dragonfly
Dragonfly, located inside Hotel Zaza is my favorite place for a day date. The interior is stunning and the service is friendly. Dragonfly is a nice spot for a romantic night if you don’t mind a little noise, the bar and pool are pretty popular and tend to get crowded!
I like going there for drinks at night but stick to lunch in the lounge-style restaurant if going on a date. The food is fresh and drinks top-notch. I loved their LOVE sign in the lobby that they had during Valentine’s day. It is a perfect spot for celebrating Valentines’ day in Dallas.
Uchi and Uchiba
If you like sushi you need to book a table for your Dallas date night at either Uchi or Uchiba. While they are more expensive than your average sushi places in town and harder to get reservations, the food is incredible and absolutely worth the wait. Uchi is the main restaurant, while Uchiba is the bar concept by Chef Tyson Cole that expands the concept of Uchi. Plates are shareable which makes it a perfect place for a double date or a couple’s night out with a few friends.
What is amazing about the restaurant is the close relationships they have with local farmers and how they fly in seafood every day from the Toyosu market in Japan.
Both Uchi and Uchiba have a vegetarian menu. I loved the beet tofu, crunchy and spicy cucumber, jalapeno, avocado roll. Uchi even has a six-course vegetarian tasting! The fried milk with salted fudge and vanilla cream is a must (the photo in the middle).
Javier’s
Tex-Mex restaurants are dime a dozen in Dallas but if you are looking for some authentic Mexican food with a great ambiance, then Javier’s is the place. Javier made this restaurant as true to Mexico City as possible and has old world Mayan and Aztec influences.
Located in Highland Park, Javier’s is a popular choice for a sophisticated, classy evening out whether you are taking a client out for a business dinner in Dallas or celebrating a special event.
Javier’s also houses a private lounge and cigar room where you can sip cocktails and smoke cigars in an intimate, relaxed setting. One of Mr. Suburbia’s favorite places, I will have to get him to take some photos next time he goes.
The French Room
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the most romantic Dallas Restaurant in Dallas, the French Room. A perfect place to pop the question, it is the epitome of elegance and opulence! I haven’t made it there yet (hint hint Mr. Suburbia).
The exquisite tasting menu and the wine pairings make for the most memorable Dallas fine dining experience. Located inside The Adolphus’s it has recently undergone an exceptional renovation and is a great place for afternoon tea in Dallas as well. Will add photos once we make it there 😉
Al Biernat’s
A family owned restaurant with two locations Al Biernat’s is another great restaurant. You can often spot celebrities and sports stars at this swanky, upscale steakhouse in Oaklawn. The North Dallas location in Addison still has the same romantic and luxurious feel but a lot quieter and feels more spacious.
I love that Al Biernat’s has a vegan menu with items like Thai Stir Fry, Grilled portabella enchiladas even though they are a Steak House. The steaks and crabcakes are perfect according to Mr. Suburbia. Put this one on your list of best restaurants for an amazing dining experience in Dallas!
Bullion
Another great downtown Dallas Restaurant for special celebrations is Bullion. The restaurant’s name literally translates to gold and the brassiere is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Dallas! It serves classic and contemporary French dishes by Michelin-starred chef Bruno Davaillon.
Elevated from the ground and what looks like a brick of gold, stepping into this mid-century modern space feels like stepping back in time. Another one that is on my list of best restaurants in Dallas for a date night or special celebration. We went there to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
The menu at Bullion Restaurant has some nice vegetarian choices. I loved the beet salad, gnocchi, and oh get the Champignons to share, it is a mushroom spread with chèvre and truffle, served with toast points. And for dessert, we had Mille Feuille, a puff pastry filled with vanilla pastry cream and dulce de leche – tasted like Crème Brûlée that I love.
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Other fun things to do in and around Dallas and the Suburbs.
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