Hometown Restaurant Glory

American diners deem fancy Dallas restaurant among 10 best in U.S.

The French Room is the ninth best restaurant in America for 2014, according to OpenTable.

Photo courtesy of the Adolphus

A Dallas hotel restaurant long revered for its romantic environs has earned a rather admirable spot among the 10 best U.S. restaurants: The French Room at The Adolphus ranks No. 9 on OpenTable's list of the 100 best restaurants in America 2014.

As with any list, the criteria must be considered. The restaurant reservation site analyzed more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The French Room is the only Texas restaurant in the top 10, and only the first 10 of 100 are ranked.

Here is what OpenTable has to say about the French Room, a restaurant that consistently earns accolades locally and nationally:

Editors at Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and Fodor's have consistently included the French Room on their annual lists of superlative restaurants. The Zagat Survey of America's Top Restaurants ranks the dining room No. 1 for food, decor and service, and it's only one of nine restaurants in the United States to have achieved a near-perfect food score. Texas Monthly and D Magazine list the French Room among the best restaurants in Dallas. It is now the only dining room in Texas to hold the AAA Five Diamond Award. Guided by executive chef Marcos Segovia, whose culinary talents have earned him acclaim around the world, the French Room is an exceptional dining experience by any standard.

Says one diner who left a review, "We have been patrons here for 20+ years and it is always a special place to go and be spoiled."

As for the other 90 on this list, Texas claims four spots, and these are not all fine-dining or non-chain spots: Camp Verde General Store and Restaurant in Camp Verde, Texas (northwest of San Antonio); Dai Due in Austin; Rafain Brazilian Steakhouse in Fort Worth; and Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar in Galveston.

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Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

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