The State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18 this year, and if you live here, it’s easy to treat it like an errand: drive in, eat a corny dog, drive home. But a fair weekend deserves better than that. Turn it into an actual staycation, and the whole thing changes shape. You get a night away from your own kitchen, a dinner worth dressing up for, and a full day at Fair Park with nowhere else to be.
Here’s how to build the weekend.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Downtown Dallas has never had much in the way of Indian food, and if you’ve noticed that too, you’re not imagining it. Most of the city’s best options sit out in Irving, Plano, Richardson, and Frisco, which makes sense given where a lot of Dallas’s Indian community has settled, but it’s always meant a drive if you wanted a proper curry after work. Gymkhana just changed that math.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The Zodiac Room opened on the sixth floor of the downtown Neiman Marcus flagship in April 1953, designed by New York decorator Eleanor LeMaire around a celestial theme, with signs of the zodiac worked into both the main dining room and the terrace. Stanley Marcus wanted a restaurant that would give out-of-town shoppers a reason to stay downtown longer, and for more than seven decades it did exactly that. On September 30, when the downtown store closes for good, the room closes with it. It’s a room CraveDFW has written about before, back when its future still seemed settled.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Most World Cup visitors staying in Dallas will be staying downtown. The hotels are here — the Omni, the Thompson, the Sheraton, the Adolphus, the Westin — and so is the AT&T Discovery District, the pedestrian zone along Commerce and Main Streets that has become the city’s most active public gathering space. Downtown Dallas is not what it was ten years ago. The restaurant density has grown considerably, the quality has followed, and for visitors without a car it’s entirely possible to eat well for an entire week without leaving the neighborhood on foot.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
In downtown Dallas, The Exchange Food Hall is a 26,700-square-foot culinary playground inside the buzzing AT&T Discovery District. This isn’t your typical food court—it’s a two-story, design-forward space wrapped in glass, steel, and plenty of energy. A towering 104-foot media wall lights the backdrop as you wander through one of the most impressive collections of fast-casual and cheffy concepts in the city. With garage-style doors opening onto the plaza and a steady buzz of people, it’s a place where the downtown work crowd, foodies, and nightlife seekers all find common ground.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Slapped next to a modest building on Elm Street in the heart of Downtown Dallas, Record Grill isn’t trying to impress with flash or flair—and that’s exactly why it’s a local legend. This no-frills diner has been turning out hearty American meals since the 1960s, offering up hot plates, warm service, and the kind of food that sticks with you long after you leave. There’s no website and their Facebook hasn’t been updated since 2011.
Record Grill’s menu is a greatest-hits compilation of diner classics. Breakfast lovers will find everything from fluffy pancakes and eggs made to order, to breakfast burritos and sausage that sizzles just right. Come lunchtime, the grill gets going with juicy cheeseburgers, crispy bacon sandwiches, and chicken fried steak that channels old-school Texas soul.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Dallas, a city known for its vibrant culinary scene, is home to some remarkable food experiences. But for those in the know, one of the most exciting and fresh additions to the city’s gastronomic landscape is Fond, an innovative yet approachable haven led by two seasoned chefs: Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore. These culinary veterans, who have honed their craft in various corners of Dallas, have come together to create a dining experience that feels like a hidden gem in the heart of downtown. Fond is not just another restaurant; it’s a celebration of refined simplicity, thoughtful flavors, and a dedication to the craft of both food and hospitality.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Hope on over to Open Palette in Downtown Dallas for Easter Brunch. The Easter Bunny is bringing together a delectable meal to enjoy for the holiday with $1 mimosas.
Open Palette, inside Sheraton Dallas, is hosting an Easter’s Brunch Buffet from 11am to 2pm. The price is $70 plus tax and gratuity for adults, $29 for kids under 12 years old.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
