List Love

Pair of Dallas restaurants recognized as top neighborhood spots in U.S.

It has been about a month since OpenTable pushed out a top 100 list, so it was time. This go-round, it's the nation's neighborhood gems, the restaurants favored by their communities for making diners feel special time and time again.

Turns out two such magical places exist in Dallas — at least according to OpenTable users.

First there is Battuto Italian Kitchen, the Far North Dallas restaurant founded by former KVIL-FM radio personalities Gene and Julie Gates. It has only been open a little more than a year, but already it has seen two chefs come and go. But they must know how to rally the troops to submit online reviews; in fact, on the footer of the restaurant's website is a request to do just that.

Interestingly, OpenTable is not on the provided list of outlets. However, one user made this plea: "Food is very good. Loved the bison pasta and speck and quail egg pizza. Wine list is good and very reasonably priced. Service is good. Go eat there. Tell friends. We need this little gem to survive. Great local place."

The other Dallas spot on the list is Gemma on Henderson Avenue, opened in December 2013 by California transplants Allison Yoder and Stephen Rogers, who both worked at Napa Valley restaurant Press. The locals have embraced this intimate, seasonal American restaurant that has elevated the dining options along this strip.

Wrote one OpenTable fan: "Gemma is a Gem. This is truly one of my favorite places in Dallas, hands down! The decor, food, drinks and service are flawless! The menu is local, seasonal, fresh and creative, but most importantly every morsel is delicious!" There was more — and a lot more exclamation points.

To determine its list of the top 100 neighborhood gems in America, restaurant reservation site OpenTable analyzed more than 5 million reviews — perhaps to see how many times the word "gem" was used — of nearly 19,000 restaurants across the country. Two other Texas establishments made the cut: Black Sheep Bistro in Spring, outside of Houston, and District Kitchen and Cocktails in Austin.

Battuto does Italian for the neighbors.

Battuto Italian Kitchen, Restaurant, KVIL-FM

Battuto Italian Kitchen Facebook

Battuto does Italian for the neighbors.

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Cocktail Time

Where to drink in Dallas: 7 holiday drink specials for December

Courtesy photo

Festive drinking at the Miracle Bar.

Dallas in December is brimming with holiday festivities, and that includes cocktails: from over-the-top pop-up bars to extravagantly priced cocktails to drinks with a festive Christmas theme.

We're covering all that and more in this edition of Where to Drink, our monthly column recommending the best places to have to drink in Dallas:

The Charlotte
American bistro and bar recently opened on Henderson Avenue has three specialty holiday cocktails starting at $14. There's a butterscotch espresso martini with Revel Stoke Butterscotch, Baileys Espresso Cream, and espresso; cranberry paloma, with Don Julio tequila, grapefruit, cranberry, and a splash of Squirt; and a twist on hot chocolate. Called The Charlotte's hot chocolate, it features house-made cocoa with red wine and Mozart Dark Chocolate liqueur. The space has also been decorated with red hanging ornaments and wreaths and bows on the walls to enhance the holiday vibe.

The Mansion Bar
Don't come to this swanky bar inside the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek if you're looking for a happy hour. For holiday high-rollers they have a crazy special “Elf on the Top Shelf” menu of four cocktails priced at $75 each — not kidding. There's the Evergreen Elixir with Macklowe Gold Whiskey, L.N.Mattei Cap Corse Rouge Quinquina, and Fot-Li Vermut; the Midwinter Manhattan with High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Rye Whiskey, Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso, and Angostura Bitters; the Golden Hearth with Casa Del Sol Angel’s Reserve Añejo Tequila, prickly pear cordial, lime, orange bitters; and the Shiver & Shine with Belvedere 10 Organic Vodka, Mulassano Vermouth di Torino Bianco, and orange bitters.

Miracle at Aussie Grind
Australian-inspired cafe in Frisco has transformed into a “Miracle” pop up bar with a variety of specialty cocktails including the Christmasaurus, a tropical drink with pineapple rum, mezcal, apricot liquor, coconut milk, and coffee; Rudolph’s Replacement, with vodka, coffee liqueur, orange curacao, chai syrup, almond milk, and aromatic bitters; and hot buttered rum. True to form for a Miracle bar, the drinks come in collector cups like Santa pants and boots that can be purchased. The drinks range from $16-$18.

Omni PGA Frisco
Resort and PGA District has holiday-themed cocktails at six of its dining outlets through December. Trick Rider has a Pecan Manhattan with Brown Butter Woodford Reserve, Carpano Antica, pecan bitter and candied pecan. The Ice House has Bourbon & Bells with Bourbon, apple, cinnamon, and torched rosemary; Lounge By Topgolf has Down the Chimney, with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Baileys Original Irish Cream, vanilla ice cream, and Oreo. The Lookout has a Sugar Plum Sparkler featuring an edible shimmer, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, and Milk & Cookies, with espresso martini mix and Baileys Irish Cream.

Red Lobster
Seafood chain is cutting us a break with a newly launched weekday Happy Hour from 3-6 pm featuring $5 drink specials and $2 off select starters. Drink specials include margarita, Long Island iced tea, Tito's Twisted Strawberry Lemonade, 14-ounce Blue Moon draft, 14-ounce Bud Light draft, 6-ounce Mark West pinot noir, and six-ounce Ecco Domani pinot grigio. Discounted starters include lobster flatbread, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, crab queso, lobster dip, and mozzarella cheese sticks.

Sanjh
Indian restaurant in Irving has four holiday drinks with wonderfully exotic flavors: The Autumn Old Fashioned has Bulleit bourbon, amaretto, maple syrup, and almond flakes; Golden Glow has turmeric-infused Ketel One vodka, velvet falernum, and orange bitters; Harvest Spritz has Tanqueray gin, spiced cranberry syrup, lime, and cranberry dust; and the Negroni Royal has jasmine tea-infused Tanqueray, saffron-infused Campari and rose petal-kissed sweet vermouth. Cocktails are $16.

Very Merry Village at The Village Dallas
Mixed-use community in East Dallas is hosting a pop-up on the second floor of The Village Country Club Wednesday-Sunday until December 29, all decked out with Christmas trees. The menu has seven festive cocktails, including Mrs. Claus’ cranberry spritz, with La Marca Prosecco, cranberry juice, and ginger beer; Santarita, with Patron Reposado, Raspberry Liqueur, Cointreau, Agave, Lime; and a salted caramel espresso martini. There’s also a selection of draft and canned beers, wine, and champagne. Drinks range from $12-$14. Entry is free.

cocktails holidays where-drink