Dining on the Cheap

Dallas-Fort Worth Restaurant Week list for 2013 lacks hottest restaurants

There are steakhouses aplenty on this year's Restaurant Week list, including IIIForks.

III Forks/Facebook
Reservations for Restaurant Week are on.
FT33: taking a pass on Restaurant Week.

Photo by Kevin Marple

Today's the day that a few hundred tight-fisted foodies start maniacally making reservations for DFW Restaurant Week, the annual national event where you can fine dine on the cheap. Presented by Central Market, it was established 16 years ago by CBS radio 1080 KRLD (and was formerly called KRLD Restaurant Week). It's become a favorite tightwad summer dining tradition across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Restaurants serve special three-course dinners or lunches at a set price. A portion (20 percent) goes back to either the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas or Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth. Tax, tip and drinks are billed separately.

Prices range from $35 to $45 for dinner; lunches are $25. The official week runs from August 12-18. Some restaurants extend it to August 19-25 and August 26-September 1. Preview Week is August 9-11. Just call it the month of August already.

As you look at this list, you may spot some notable absences — i.e., any "hip" or "cool" restaurant that has opened in the past year. Where is Oak, FT33 or Spoon? Nowhere, giving this list a bit of a dusty, same-old vibe.

But there is no shortage of steakhouses. We count 54, a conservative tally, out of 132 restaurants total.

Meanwhile, there are many duplicates: three Capital Grilles, three Del Frisco's, two Ferrari's Italian Villas, three Nick & Sam's, four Silver Foxes, and so on. As for The Melting Pot, can't you already eat there for $35?

THE LIST

III Forks 17776 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 972-267-1776
Abacus 4511 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-559-3111
Al Biernat’s 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. 214-219-2201
Arcodoro & Pomodoro 100 Crescent Ct. #140, Dallas. 214-871-1924
Arthur’s Prime Steaks & Seafood 15175 Quorum Dr., Addison. 972-385-0800
Asador – Renaissance Dallas Hotel 2222 Stemmons Fwy., Dallas. 214-267-4815
Belly & Trumpet 3407 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-855-5551
Bijoux 5450 W. Lovers Ln. #225, Dallas. 214-350-6100
Boi Na Braza 4025 William D. Tate Rd., Grapevine. 817-251-9881
Bonnell’s Restaurant 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd., Fort Worth. 817-738-5489
Cacharel 2221 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington. 817-640-9981
Cadot 18111 Preston Rd. #120, Dallas. 972-267-5700
Cafe Pacific 24 Highland Park Village, Dallas. 214-526-1170
Canary by Gorji Mediterranean Steak & Seafood 5100 Belt Line Rd. #402, Dallas. 972-503-7080
The Capital Grille – Dallas 500 Crescent Ct. #135, Dallas. 214-303-0500
The Capital Grille – Fort Worth 800 Main St., Fort Worth. 817-348-9200
The Capital Grille – Plano 7300 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. 972-398-2221
Central 214 5680 N. Central Expy., Dallas. 214-443-9339
Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill 4525 Belt Line Rd., Addison. 972-503-3474
Chamberlain’s Steak & Chop House 5330 Belt Line Rd., Dallas. 972-934-2467
Cook Hall – W Hotel 2440 Victory Park Ln., Dallas. 214-397-4111
Culpepper Steakhouse 309 E. I-30, Rockwall. 972-771-1001
Dakota’s 600 N. Akard St., Dallas. 214-740-4001
Dallas Chop House 1717 Main St. #100, Dallas. 214-736-7300
Dallas Fish Market 1501 Main St. #100, Dallas. 214-744-3474
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 5251 Spring Valley Rd., Dallas. 972-490-9000
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse 812 Main St., Fort Worth. 817-877-3999
Del Frisco’s Grille 3232 McKinney Ave. #175, Dallas. 972-807-6152
Dish Restaurant and Lounge 4123 Cedar Springs Rd. #110, Dallas. 214-522-3474
Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa 2332 Leonard St., Dallas. 214-550-9500
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood 4023 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. 214-890-1500
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood 3100 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth. 817-336-8000
Fearing’s Restaurant – Ritz-Carlton, Dallas 2121 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-922-4848
Ferrari’s Italian Villa 14831 Midway Rd., Addison. 972-980-9898
Ferrari’s Italian Villa 1200 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine. 817-251-2525
Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas. 214-741-5560
Fogo de Chão Churrascaria 4300 Belt Line Rd., Addison. 972-503-7300
The French Room – The Adolphus 1321 Commerce St., Dallas. 214-742-8200
Grace 777 Main St., Fort Worth. 817-877-3388
The Grape Restaurant 2808 Greenville Ave., Dallas. 214-828-1981
The Grill on the Alley 13270 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 214-459-1601
The Grotto 2300 Highland Village Rd., Highland Village. 972-318-0515
Hannah’s Off the Square 111 W. Mulberry St., Denton. 940-566-1110
Hattie’s 418 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas. 214-942-7400
Hibiscus 2927 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas. 214-827-2927
India West by Ross Duggal 5290 Belt Line Rd. #114, Dallas. 972-503-5000
Jasper’s 7161 Bishop Rd. #G1, Plano. 469-229-9111
Kenichi 2400 Victory Park Ln., Dallas. 214-871-8883
Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill 5000 Belt Line Rd. #775, Dallas. 972-392-9663
Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse 3305 E. Hwy. 114, Southlake. 817-410-2221
Kirby’s Woodfire 3525 Greenville Ave., Dallas. 214-821-2122
Komali Restaurant 4152 Cole Ave. #106, Dallas. 214-252-0200
The Landmark Restaurant 3015 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. 214-224-3152
Lanny’s Alta Cocina 3405 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth. 817-850-9996
Lavendou Bistro 19009 Preston Rd., Dallas. 972-248-1911
Lawry’s The Prime Rib 14655 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 972-503-6688
Lazaranda Modern Kitchen 500 Belt Line Rd. #850, Dallas. 972-866-8900
Lonesome Dove Western Bistro 2406 N. Main St., Fort Worth. 817-740-8810
The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas 214-443-4747
Max’s Wine Dive 3600 McKinney Ave. #100, Dallas. 214-559-3483
Media Grill & Bar – Hilton Anatole 2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas. 214-761-7439
The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant 4900 Belt Line Rd. #200, Addison. 972-239-6358
The Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant 4000 Five Points Blvd. #119, Arlington. 817-469-1444
The Mercury 11909 Preston Rd., Dallas 972-960-7774
Mercury Chop House 301 Main St., Fort Worth 817-336-4129
Meso Maya 1611 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-484-6555
Meso Maya 11909 Preston Rd. #1426, Dallas. 469-726-4390
Mi Piaci 14854 Montfort Dr., Dallas. 972-934-8424
Misto Bistro 3720 N. Josey Ln., Carrollton. 972-492-3933
Mortons The Steakhouse 2222 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-741-2277
Mr. G’s – Hyatt Regency Hotel 2334 N. International Pkwy., DFW Airport Terminal C. 972-453-1234
Nick & Sam’s Grill – Park Cities 8111 Preston Rd. #150, Dallas. 214-379-1111
Nick & Sam’s Grill – Uptown 2816 Fairmount St., Dallas. 214-303-1880
Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse 3008 Maple Ave., Dallas. 214-871-7444
Nicola’s Ristorante 5800 Legacy Dr. #C-1, Plano. 972-608-4455
Nobu Dallas 400 Crescent Ct., Dallas. 214-252-7000
Nonna 4115 Lomo Alto, Dallas. 214-521-1800
Nosh 4216 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. 214-528-9400
Ocean Prime 2101 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas. 214-965-0440
Oceanaire Seafood – Westin Galleria 13340 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 972-759-2277
One2One Restaurant & Bar 1339 Legacy Dr., Frisco. 214-618-2221
The Palm 701 Ross Ave., Dallas. 214-698-0470
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse 10477 Lombardy Ln., Dallas. 214-366-2000
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille 2000 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-855-5151
Piccolo Mondo 829 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington. 817-265-9174
Piola Italian Restaurant 3700 Mattison Ave., Fort Worth. 817-989-0007
Place at Perry’s 2680 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas. 214-871-9991
Pyramid Restaurant – The Fairmont 1717 N. Akard St., Dallas. 214-720-5249
Queenie’s Steakhouse 115 E. Hickory St., Denton. 940-442-6834
The Ranch at Las Colinas 857 W. John Carpenter Fwy., Irving. 972-506-7262
Randy’s Steakhouse 7026 Main St., Frisco. 972-335-3066
Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen 6130 Luther Ln., Dallas. 214-890-1103
Ray’s Prime Steak & Seafood 3206 Winthrop Ave., Fort Worth. 817-732-1614
Reata Restaurant 310 Houston St., Fort Worth. 817-336-1009
Rick’s Chophouse 107 N. Kentucky, McKinney. 214-726-9251
Roy’s 2840 Dallas Pkwy., Plano. 972-473-6263
Ruth’s Chris Steak House 17840 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 972-250-2244
Ruth’s Chris Steak House 813 Main St., Fort Worth. 817-348-0080
Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar 2501 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214-782-9807
Salum Restaurant 4152 Cole Ave. #103, Dallas. 214-252-9604
Sambuca 2120 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-744-0820
Seasons 52 – NorthPark Center 8687 N. Central Expy., Dallas. 214-361-5252
Seasons 52 7300 Lone Star Dr., Plano. 972-312-8852
Second Floor Bistro – Westin Galleria 13340 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas. 214-450-2978
Ser Steak & Spirits – Hilton Anatole 2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas. 214-761-7479
Shinsei 7713 Inwood Rd., Dallas. 214-352-0005
Silver Fox Frisco 1303 Legacy Dr., Frisco. 214-618-5220
Silver Fox Fort Worth 1651 S. University Dr., Fort Worth. 817-332-9060
Silver Fox Grapevine 1235 William D. Tate, Grapevine. 817-329-6995
Silver Fox Richardson 3650 Shire Blvd., Richardson. 972-423-8121
Sissy’s Southern Kitchen & Bar 2929 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas. 214-827-9900
St. Martin’s Wine Bistro 3020 Greenville Ave., Dallas. 214-826-0940
Stampede 66 1717 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-550-6966
Steel Restaurant & Lounge 3102 Oak Lawn Ave. #100. Dallas. 214-219-9908
Stephan Pyles 1807 Ross Ave. #200, Dallas. 214-580-7000
Steve Fields Steak & Lobster 5013 W. Park Blvd., Plano. 972-596-7100
Suze Restaurant 4345 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas. 214-350-6135
Tei-An 1722 Routh St. #110, Dallas. 214-220-2828
Texas East of N. Central Expressway, on George Bush Turnpike, Richardson 972-664-9975
Texas de Brazil – Addison 15101 Addison Rd., Addison. 972-385-1000
Texas de Brazil – Fort Worth 101 N. Houston St., Fort Worth. 817-882-9500
Texas de Brazil – Dallas 2727 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas. 214-720-1414
Tillman’s Roadhouse 2933 Crockett St., Fort Worth. 817-850-9255
Tillman’s Roadhouse 324 W. Seventh St., Dallas. 214-942-0988
Tower Club 1601 Elm St., 48th floor, Dallas. 214-220-0403
Trevi’s 221 E. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving. 972-869-5550
Truluck’s Dallas 2401 McKinney Ave., Dallas. 214-220-2401
Truluck’s Southlake 1420 Plaza Pl., Southlake. 817-912-0500
Wild Mushroom Steakhouse 1917 Martin Dr., Weatherford. 817-599-4935
Wild Salsa 1800 Main St. #100, Dallas. 214-741-9543
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse 702 Ross Ave., Dallas. 214-744-3287

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Perfect Pairing

Chic new dessert lounge Champagne & Cake bubbles up in Flower Mound

Photo by Kendall Bardin

Champagne & Cake pairs creative desserts and sparkling wine.

Few things go together quite as seamlessly as bubbly and dessert, and that delightful match is the ethos behind a new Flower Mound spot. Aptly named Champagne & Cake, the chic concept is now open at 3405 Long Prairie Rd.

The venue is the realization of a years-long dream for founder Melani Fisher, whose background merges baking with interior design. Fisher pursued her passion for pastries after watching a television cake competition and spent years honing her craft at local bakeries. She expanded her design toolkit later, while working at Texas Paint and Wallpaper.

“In 2021, I came up with this idea: I like wine bars, I know cake, and I’d love to bring those together. That’s how this dream was born,” Fisher says. She partnered with her friend Johanna Smith — a Houston-based attorney who worked alongside her at a bakery years ago — and brought on sommelier Matthew Gilbert as general manager.

Taking over the former Soupçon Wine Bar space, the team inherited a loyal neighborhood following. To accommodate fans of the former wine club, they expanded their beverage offerings beyond bubbles to include still wines. The current lineup features sparkling wine, cava, prosecco, crémant, moscato, and, naturally, champagne. Curated from France, Spain, Italy, and California, bottles start at $38, with by-the-glass options starting at an affordable $10.

On the sweet side, Fisher creates artfully designed, thematic cakes that lean into playful presentation.

“I designed everything from the flavors to how they are plated," she says. "My goal isn't just to serve a slice of cake, but to deliver a creative, memorable experience."

Cleverly named individual cakes measure 3.5 wide by 4 inches tall and range from $9.99 to $14.99. Think, The Wrangler, chocolate cake stamped with a Jeep tire print in peanut butter gravel; Amarillo by Morning, an amaretto soaked, cherry layered vanilla cake topped with a Texas flag; The Siren, a tropical mermaid-inspired treat with edible sand and shell toppings; or the mango margarita inspired, tequila-and-lime drenched Chupacabra with a mango and Tajín dust finish, to name a few.

If choosing one proves too difficult, Champagne & Cake offers flight trios with curated smaller portions and suggested wine pairings. Savory selections such as curated charcuterie boards starting at $25 are also popular options.

Champagne & Cake Flower Mound A plush nook inside Champagne & Cake offers space for group gatherings.Photo by Kendall Bardin

The interior decor is welcoming, dreamy, and comfortable, pairing curved slate-blue sofas and channel-tufted beige accent chairs with high-top wooden tables and cushioned barstools. The color palette, says Fisher, is intentionally feminine, a "vibe inspired by the colors of cake and wine."

“It needed to feel sophisticated yet relaxed — muted tones you find in rosé, champagne, and deep red wine. It’s a comfortable lounge space to bring friends, date night, or drop in after dinner for a nightcap and dessert.”

She hand-painted a soft cloud mural paired with bold floral wallpaper accents — a design element she selected back in 2021 when the concept first took shape. Decorative birdcages housing tiered cake models, fresh floral bud vases, draped linen curtains, and dark polished wood tabletops round out the inviting lounge feel.

Champagne & Cake is open Wednesdays and Thursdays 4-9 pm, Fridays 4-10 pm, Saturdays 11 am-10 pm, and Sundays 11 am-8 pm. The lounge is currently closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

A grand opening party set for this Saturday, September 12 from 11 am-10 pm will mark the debut. Guests receive a complimentary glass of champagne upon arrival, and the first 50 snag an exclusive swag bag. Visitors can also strike a pose at an onsite photo booth available from 12-4 pm.

openings wine bar champagne desserts flower mound