Top Dallas Lunch Spots

The best restaurants in Dallas for ladies who lunch

The situation is all too familiar: You and your girlfriends are on a group text, trying to figure out where to have lunch. Chances are you're looking for a place that offers great food, good people watching and, perhaps, an atmosphere that will generate a beautiful Instagram picture. Am I right?

Lucky for all you lunching ladies, there are plenty of restaurants in Dallas for a leisurely and lovely midday meal. Here's our list of the best places to get dressed up and dine with your besties — where it's never too early for a little bubbly.

Bistro 31
Described as an elevated European bistro, the restaurant offers dishes inspired by French, Italian and Spanish cuisine. The location, in the heart of Highland Park Village, is the perfect perch to watch the people strolling through the luxury shopping center. Whether it's a salad or steak frites, the meal is always spot-on, especially when washed down with a carefully crafted cocktail.

Grange Hall
This is the newcomer in the bunch, as the group behind the avant garde floral and gift shop expanded its repertoire last fall with a restaurant next door. Sharon Hage designed the menu, and Chad Martin mans the kitchen, turning out well-composed dishes such as spring Swiss chard frittata with saffron ricotta toast and lobster parsnip chowder.

Le Bilboquet
This New York import serves elevated French fare in a light and bright white tablecloth environment. Try the lobster roll, crab and avocado salad, or cold poached salmon. An impressive wine list makes it easy to spend a leisurely afternoon on the patio catching up with friends.

Mercat Bistro
This intimate European bistro, decorated with recycled and reclaimed antiques from all over the world, is tucked away in the Harwood District. Start the meal with a glass of wine and charcuterie board or bruschetta; for a lighter option, there is a lovely salad with asparagus, lemon vinaigrette and organic soft-boiled egg. If the weather is right, stake a claim on the patio and settle in for an espresso or digestif.

Rise No. 1
Whether you crave sweet or savory, this soufflé temple at Inwood Village hits the spot. Located in a prime Park Cities location, the pretty restaurant also serves soups such as marshmallow and French onion, entrée-sized salads, and a selection of cheeses — and if you like the ceramics on which they are served, those are available for purchase. Seltzer is house-made, lemonade is fresh-squeezed, and wine and champagne can be done by flight.

T Room
If the T Room were a high school senior, it would definitely be nominated as most attractive in the yearbook. The polished eatery befits its Forty Five Ten address, and it's always packed with fabulously dressed women enjoying signature panini, quiche and salads — conveniently available in myriad combos. Post-lunch, a shopping spree may be in order.

True Food Kitchen
This restaurant at the Plaza at Preston Center has been packed since its arrival in Dallas in late 2013. The food here is healthier but still tastes good, such as the quinoa burger with a side of kale. This may be the most kid-friendly spot on the list, as we commonly see moms in their Lululemon workout gear, babies on hip, searching for their girlfriends. The bright, plant-infused decor reminds us of a spring day in LA.

Zodiac at Neiman Marcus Downtown
This is Dallas' palace for ladies who lunch. Located on the sixth floor of Neiman Marcus downtown, the beautiful environs provide respite from the bustle of Main Street. The meal still begins with complimentary consomme and a popover with strawberry butter, which can be followed by salad, sandwich or heartier entrée such as chicken paillard Milanese. Diners always seem to be enjoying a glass of champagne, because the occasion calls for it.

Parigi
A Parisian-inspired bistro with a New York edge, Parigi has been doing its thing for three decades. The menu changes every other week based on what's in season and guest feedback, but signature items remain, including beef tenderloin, fish of the week and the famous Caesar salad. Chef-owner Janice Provost has been steadfast in her mission to make this restaurant the most welcoming in the neighborhood.

Specialty salad at Grange Hall.

Photo courtesy of Grange Hall

Specialty salad at Grange Hall.

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new roots

L.A. celebrity favorite The Ivy plants Dallas branch near Katy Trail

Photo courtesy of The Ivy/Facebook

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A Los Angeles restaurant famous for celebrity sightings on its bright floral patios is opening a branch in Dallas: The Ivy will debut in fall 2027 at 4205 Buena Vista St. inside The Terminal at Katy Trail.

“This will be the first Ivy outside of Southern California,” says India Wolfe, the restaurant founders' daughter, in a release. "I felt a strong calling to bring The Ivy somewhere new and to plant roots there with our family.”

India’s parents opened The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard in 1980, followed by Ivy at the Shore in Santa Monica five years later.

While her father, chef Richard Irving, and mother, Lynn von Kersting, remain in LA, Wolfe and her husband, Ernest Wolfe IV, will move to Dallas in February with their two children and dogs, to operate The Ivy. The restaurant will be located inside a luxury apartment tower overlooking the Katy Trail.

India started working as a teen at the family's third branch in Santa Monica and learned everything "from greeting guests and waiting tables to staging events, filming viral social media, and modernizing the business for a new generation," says the release.

Both she and her husband spent time in other professions but were drawn to the dining field. Ernest helped his in-laws so often at The Ivy that they finally employed him full-time.

“I love working with him," India says, "and we complement each other’s skills really well, not unlike my mom and dad.”

The Ivy The family behind The Ivy.Courtesy photo

The Wolfes say they want the Dallas restaurant to retain The Ivy’s familiar cooking, warmth and character, while making it feel like home in a new city.

“I love the idea of people taking a walk on the Katy Trail and then meeting friends for brunch at The Ivy,” India says.

Her parents are assisting with the design and menu; India wants a contemporary vibe but doesn’t plan to change what works so well.

“I don’t want to make it too different because I think the reason that people from Dallas come to The Ivy is because they love The Ivy,” she says. “That said, this new restaurant will certainly stand on its own two feet.”

Unlike the original, the Dallas Ivy will have a bar, an idea India dreamed up. While restaurant bars are nothing unusual, India actually envisioned what her family jokingly calls “the D Bar" (so named for Dallas), where guests can clink glasses and share good energy around a curved, D-shaped counter.

Her interest in art and flowers will result in a space well-appointed with roses, a family tradition, and local blooms like zinnias and snapdragons.

The Ivy serves upscale American comfort food and Californian cuisine with influences from Italian, French, Cajun, and Mexican cooking. Dishes are made with seasonal ingredients, so the menus evolve throughout the year.

While the Dallas menu is being developed, the restaurant's Southern California winter menus, for example, include starters such as crab cakes, Caesar salad, and grilled-vegetable salad. Pasta options include lobster ravioli with Ivy pink sauce and lobster tagliatelle. Wood- or stone-fired pizzas include margherita and Cajun shrimp pies, while house-baked breads, old-fashioned red velvet cake, coconut cake, and chocolate chip cookies round out the menu.

The Ivy has always been at the center of family life, India notes. Now she and Ernest are bringing that way of life to Dallas.

She adds, “I am confident it will be a great home for The Ivy and for our family.”

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