(From March 2011) When the world is too much with us, we make our way to the manor. The leisurely prix fixe dinner does wonders to soothe the soul. The menu changes weekly but the offerings are always delectable, from the amuse-bouche to the final sweet bite. Recent offerings included winter vegetable soup with house-made pork-and-duck pâté, chive crepes stuffed with braised ribeye and sauced with brandy-truffle cream, and white chocolate–amaretto cheesecake with blackberry coulis (we strongly urge you to choose the special entrée rather than substitute the crab cake or filet mignon). Bar

Leave a Review

(From June 2012)

The outdoor patio, with its canopy of oaks, is perfect for lunch or an early dinner; the sultry modern interior works for the late-night tapas crowd. And now there’s the owners’ mobile DUK Truck, setting up for special occasions and farmers markets. With a few larger plates on its once “all small” menu, Bin 555 is the go-to place for a convivial shared table of scrumptious noshes and nibbles, such as Gulf crab croquettes with lemon aioli and little grilled goat cheese
sandwiches. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From March 2011) This oasis of calm in Nordstrom is a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the food court. A goat cheese quiche sided with tangy arugula salad and roasted asparagus was all we needed to lift our sagging energy. Our companion’s crispy calamari appetizer arrived in a paper cone with dipping sauce on the side, and our small diners broadened their horizons with profiteroles stuffed with ice cream and a small pitcher of lus-cious chocolate sauce. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From May 2012)

Northern Africa and the Middle East provide most of the inspiration at this Mediterranean outpost, but French and Spanish dishes add variety to the long menu.  Consider the chef’s tasting menu, which may be a four course dinner built around a very flavorful cinnamon lamb tagine, or perhaps paella or cassoulet.  We also thought highly of the arctic char, the very prototype of whitefish, both delicate and flavorful.  Busy, sometimes noisy, but always cheerful and clublike, Boardwalk Bistro adds live Jazz to the mix Fridays and Saturdays.

Leave a Review

(From May 2012)

Named for the five dining spaces in the beautiful old-world boutique hotel that was once the Fondren Mansion, Cinq is the home base of Louisiana native Jeramie Robison, whose repertoire includes both modern cuisine and time-honored classics. We favored braised short ribs with ratatouille and crispy shallots and a luxurious Gulf red snapper with Lump crab, tomato compote, and lemon butter. Only too-tame escargots, begging for reasoning, fell a tad short. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From June 2011) Power menu meets power diners in an über-Marfa-cool space. Recent temptations included our favorite, the grilled rack of lamb, served on giant white beans with a leek-and-potato terrine, delectable in both flavor and presentation. This time we picked a bold fettuccine with asparagus, cannellini beans, and spicy chile flakes. With creamy, lemony mashers and braised brussels sprouts, the hickory-grilled swordfish proved as satisfying but without the fireworks. Cheers for the clever appetizer of peppery shrimp, bacon, grits, and a poached egg and for the dessert of bread pudding splashed with rum—spoons for all! Beer & wine.

Leave a Review

(From June 2011) This venerable north-east-sider offers plenty of specialties in the French idiom, but at the moment, the prix fixe dinners stand out for both value and accomplishment. Among the offerings are appetizers of smoked salmon (served with capers, toast, and crackers) and silky truffled pâté, itself worth a visit. Both the beef Wellington and the rack of lamb proved to be tender, flavorful standouts, especially if you skip the mint jelly with the latter and ask for the port sauce in-stead. Crumpets, with its big, high-ceilinged dining room looking out over a bosky glade, is enjoying a high point. If you haven’t been in several years, this would be the time to try it again. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From February 2012)

The minute you walk in the door of this TCU neighborhood favorite you’ll be hit by the garlicky, buttery aroma of steamed mussels. If you can look past those, you’ll find many interesting dishes, like a comforting linguine with a light tomato sauce, spinach, and Parmesan and a spicy orecchiette with Italian sausage, fennel, and tomatoes. More-ambitious entrée choices include ruby trout, roasted duck, rack of lamb, and grilled ribeye. Beer & wine.

Leave a Review

(From May 2011) The French fare in this new space is remarkably well handled by chef Alessio Franceschetti. Dine on the likes of coq au vin and frites downstairs or head up to the lounge for cocktails and appetizers. We started with an exquisite Brie and mushroom soup, followed by the So7 Bistro salad: spinach, feta cheese, beets, and a raspberry vinai-grette. Our entrées included sautéed veal liver with caramelized onions, veal scallopini with lots of capers and a lemon-butter sauce, and a braised lamb shank so good that only the bone was left at the end of the meal. Bar.

Leave a Review

(From January 2011) This entertainment complex eatery lacks the clubby ambience that goes so well with red meat and red wine. But it makes up for it with juicy house-cut steaks perfectly cooked to order, plus sides like decadent mac and cheese and fresh sautéed spinach. We recommend the sirloin strip straight up or the filet served atop a mound of mashers studded with Gorgonzola. And though the pan-seared salmon is delightful, it’s all about the cow here. Bar.

Leave a Review