Where to Eat

Where to eat in Dallas right now: Best new restaurants for brunch

Brunch is the word.

Photo courtesy of North Italia

One of the eternal pursuits in the Dallas restaurant world is brunch. Whether Saturday, Sunday, or both, brunch has become one of the most popular meals of the week.

It's about eating, and so much more. It's about capping off the week with a celebratory meal, while simultaneously preparing oneself for the week ahead. It's an opportunity to multi-task: to eat and socialize at the same time.

It's about mimosas.

With tried-and-true staples like Breadwinners and Blue Mesa Grill, Dallas has never lacked for brunch. Everyone has their favorite. But if you're feeling restless, we've rounded up 8 new brunches worth checking out.

Alamo Club
Greenville Avenue restaurant-bar recently launched a hearty brunch with French toast; skillet with potatoes, pastrami, bell pepper, onion, and spicy gravy; bacon cheddar burger with arugula, tomato, onion, and aioli; omelet with bacon, cheddar, tomato, and green onion; tacos with potato, egg, cheese, and choice of bacon, pastrami, or chorizo. Salads include wedge and Caesar with chicken, corn, avocado, and jalapeño Caesar dressing. Beverages include blood orange mimosa carafe, bloody Mary, screwdriver, margarita, and the patio banger with whiskey, lemon, cardamom, and ginger beer. Saturday-Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.

Doc B's Restaurant + Bar
Chicago-based chain opened this location in Uptown Dallas in 2018 and its brunch still remains somewhat under the radar, meaning you can get a table, which is its own reward. They're super into their candied bacon, which is baked with turbinado sugar, cayenne pepper, and golden dry mustard, but don't hold that against them. They also have hot chicken & waffles, and a variety of pancakes including an inelegant cinnamon-swirl that's halfway between pancake and cinnamon roll. Saturday-Sunday 11 am to 2 pm.

Elm Street Cask & Kitchen
Bourbon bar and grill in downtown Dallas starts its weekend brunch early at 7 am. Dishes include crab cake eggs benny, short rib egg sandwich, the hangover burger — topped with chorizo, bacon, and a fried egg — farmers market frittata, chicken & waffle, avocado toast, almond-ricotta pancakes, and sticky buns. Saturday-Sunday 7 am to 3 pm.

Hudson House
Recently introduced brunch at this upscale neighborhood chain includes the Hudson Tower, a three-tiered tower with bagels and lox, gravlax, cold smoked lox, smoked whitefish, smoked trout, or lobster. Velvet Chicken & Waffles have a red velvet Belgian waffle and double fried chicken. Pastrami & eggs has Wagyu pastrami and whole egg frittata. Cocktails include a bloody Mary with bleu cheese-stuffed olives, shrimp cocktail, and shucked oyster; and "Mom's cure" with vodka, orange juice, and ginger beer.

North Italia
The recent opening of a second location at The Union, North Italia's brunch becomes an option for the Uptown Dallas crowd. Menu highlights include nonna casserole, with Italian sausage, torn ciabatta, marinara sauce, and eggs; an egg sandwich with prosciutto cotto, bacon, and fontina cheese on brioche bread; and a veggie scramble with eggs, spinach, mushroom, asparagus, and zucchini. Saturday-Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

Scout
Eatery located in the Statler Dallas hotel has a newish weekend brunch with eggs and omelets, chicken & waffles, a biscuit sandwich, a carving station, a taco bar, salad station with cheese, fruit, yogurt and granola options, bananas Foster station, and a kid's station. It's $25, or $10 for 12 and under. Build-your-own bloody Mary and mimosa bars are an additional $8.

Snooze an A.M. Eatery
Every day is brunch all day at this Denver-based breakfast chain, which recently opened a location at 3211 Oak Lawn Ave., near the intersection of Cedar Springs Road. The menu has many pancakes including their signature pineapple upside-down pancakes. They're big into Benedicts with six options. Order a Benedict duo or a flight of three pancakes in different flavors. They're also known for "morning cocktails" including cocktails made with coffee, and Bloody Marys, such as the one with bacon-infused Cyrus Noble Bourbon and house bloody mix.

Two Mules Cantina
Restaurant and bar located at Texican Court hotel in Irving's Las Colinas Urban Center follows Dallas' grand tradition of Southwestern cuisine, with dishes such as El Paso eggs benedict, chilaquiles, breakfast tacos, strawberry flapjacks, smoked barbacoa mini tostadas, chicken & waffles, and corned beef hash. A lox salad is clever, with kale and spinach, smoked salmon, fried capers, and bagel croutons, in a cilantro-dill cream cheese dressing. Sunday 10 am to 3 pm.

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Restaurant News Roundup Time

Exclusive Prime rib and fancy lunches lead this Dallas restaurant news

Mirador

Time for another roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, and there's plenty to chew on: From new lunch and dinner menus to holiday-flavored beers. Even bigger news— the McRib is back, for those who have been anxiously awaiting its return.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and night, has opened its first store in Grand Prairie, at 2810 S. SH-161, with in-store, pickup, and delivery. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, Cookies & Ice Cream flavors, brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth. This is their 26th store in Texas and 308th location nationwide.

HoneyBaked Ham has a new Prime Rib item exclusive to Dallas. The Prime Rib averages $26 per pound, with sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. It serves 6-16 people, depending on the size. There are limited quantities available at each store. It's available at all 10 Dallas locations.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is introducing the zesty chicken bacon ranch pizza, the latest from their seasonal pizza lineup. The pizza features a creamy ranch base, grilled chicken, bacon, tender artichokes, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and topped with a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The pizza is available for $8.50 a slice, $21-$23 for a 12-inch pizza, and $26 for a 16-inch pizza. It’s available through February 2 at both Greenville Avenue and Peavy Road locations.

Mirador has launched a weekday three-course prix-fixe lunch menu for $30. It starts with a choice of two deviled eggs with caviar and chives, whipped ricotta toast, cup of tomato soup, or salad; second course includes choice of dishes like chicken paillard with Swiss chard, preserved orange sofrito, and aged parmesan; and a farro bowl with cauliflower green goddess, cherries, Marcona almonds. For the third course, there’s a to-go cookie. Available Tuesday through Friday from 11 am - 3 pm.

Broken Yolk Cafe in McKinney has two limited-time items: carrot cake waffle, a cinnamon spice cake batter waffle with shredded carrots and raisins, finished with candied pecans, powdered sugar and cream cheese icing starting at $9; and snickerdoodle latte, combining espresso, cinnamon bun and cookie butter syrup, vanilla cream, milk, and cinnamon sugar, available hot or iced for $6. Available through January 6.

Truluck’s has three new holiday items featuring cake and cocktails. For dessert, there’s chocolate peppermint cake made with layers of chocolate cake, frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing, topped with crushed candy and Godiva chocolate sauce; $14 per slice, $10 per petite slice, and $70 whole cake. Cocktails are $17.50 and feature Holiday Nog, a spiced cocktail with Bourbon and Bourbon cream; and Nutcracker Rum Punch, a rum ball balanced with honey and fruit. Available at Dallas, Plano, and Southlake locations until the end of December.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Plano has launched new holiday items, including a Japanese A5 Wagyu experience served rare with a sizzling hot stone tableside accompanied by miso glaze, grated horseradish and black lava salt. There’s a new $140 Season of Opulence filet and lobster four-course menu; and holiday weekend lunch starting at $28, featuring choice of steak frites, cabernet filet, or barbecue salmon fillet. Also, there's a new $94 caviar service featuring Hackleback caviar served with blinis, capers, chives, sour cream, egg, and shallots. Available through January 6.

Jinya Ramen Bar has brought back The Red Garnet and curry rice croquettes for a limited time. The Red Garnet is a red vegetable broth featuring pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage, white onion and topped with chili garlic sauce, served with thick noodles for $18. The croquettes are lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar cheese that start at $8. Available until February 28 at all Dallas locations.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are both offering three chalkboard specials throughout the month. Dishes feature $15 FishWich, with beer-battered haddock fish; $17 chimichurri shrimp tacos; and$24 horseradish Arctic char, served with a Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. The specials are available at all 12 DFW locations and run through December 31.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is bringing back its Fire & Spice seasonal menu. New winter dishes include the pepperoni diavolo pizza; the bridge board, an assortment of Italian meats and cheeses, with walnuts, dried cranberries, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with hot honey, served with sliced bread; and white chocolate cheesecake. Cocktails feature the desert pear margarita and Vino’rita, a classic margarita topped with a festive pour of Mille Gradi Sangiovese. Prices range from $7 for the white chocolate cheesecake to $32 for an 18-inch pepperoni diavolo. Available through March 3.

Carrabba's Italian Grill has launched two new full-sized cakes: cannoli cream cake, a vanilla cake with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios, and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust for $64; and strawberry cheesecake, a New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51. Place orders 48 hours prior to pick up or delivery. Available through January 13.

Moxies, the Canadian pub in Uptown, is rolling out limited-time festive cocktails. There are three new drinks, including the Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail with High West Bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and orange bitters; Peppermint Mocha Martini with a combination of Cafe Borghetti, Ketel One vodka, and peppermint syrup; and Winter Aperol Spritz, with Aperol, Ruffino Prosecco, and Moxies' cranberry syrup. Cocktails are available through January 1.

Dairy Queen has brought back their chicken and dumplings, featuring chicken, gravy, and fluffy dumplings. It comes in three sizes: 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce, available for dine-in, drive thru, and takeout. Chicken and dumplings are available at locations across Dallas-Fort Worth through the end of February.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Peppermint Cold Brew Frozen Coffee with vanilla Italian Ice, frozen custard, cold brew coffee, and a hint of peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping; and Peppermint Milkshake with a blend of Vanilla Frozen Custard and crushed peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping.

McDonald's brought back its famous McRib on December 3. To celebrate the return, they even launched half-gallon jugs of McRib sauce for those who can't get enough, which is already sold out. The McRib is available through the McDonald's app, in-restaurant and through the drive-thru.

Red Lobster has launched a new menu featuring seven new dishes including Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Lemon Basil Mahi, bacon Wrapped Scallops, lobster bisque, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus, plus the return of fan favorites Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies.

Cinnaholic has launched two holiday rolls flavors and menu items. Holiday rolls feature Nutcracker Sweet, topped with crème brulee frosting, a trio of Bavarian candied almonds, walnuts, and pecans, and dusted with powdered sugar for $6;and Oh Fudge, topped with chocolate frosting, fudgy cookie dough, chocolate bark, homemade chocolate sauce, and holiday sprinkles for $7. Other items include $5 CinnaBites, $4 hot cocoa, and $33 wreath cake, with cinnamon rolls shaped into a wreath. Available through January 6.

Shiner, the Texas-based beer, has a festive brew called Shiner Holiday Cheer with flavor from Texas peaches and pecans for $11 for a six-bottle pack and $19 for a 12-bottle pack. Plus, the 12-pack Home for the Holidays collection goes for $15 and features two new flavors: FM 966, a sweet and spicy ale; and s’more, a dark ale brewed with chocolate & marshmallow with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. Both are available through the end of December.

Yelp featured two Dallas restaurants on this year's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024 list. Wicked Butcher, the downtown steakhouse, and Casa Pollastro, the Brazilian restaurant in Far North Dallas, both made the cut at no. 6 and 20 respectively. They were two of only four Texas restaurants on the list.