it's brunch time

3 Dallas eateries make OpenTable list of top brunch spots in U.S.

Cafe Pacific is a Highland Park favorite better known for its lunch than its brunch.

HP Village

Brunch is a big topic in Dallas and OpenTable has some interesting ideas about who does it best. The online reservation site has a new list of the "Top 100 Brunch Restaurants" for 2025, and three Dallas eateries make the list: Al Biernat's Oak Lawn, Cafe Pacific, and Kenny's Wood Fired Grill.

These three Dallas choices are all quite elegant, adept at turning a casual meal into something more posh. But … brunch?

Released annually in preparation for Mother's Day, the list is determined using over 10 million verified diner reviews and dining metrics (such as reservation demand). Restaurants are not ranked, but arranged in alphabetical order by their state and name.

Al Biernat's is an OpenTable favorite. The steakhouse made it on OpenTable's inaugural Icons list in 2024. The restaurant offers a traditional weekend brunch service with classic staples like a brioche French toast, chicken and waffles, and an "American Breakfast" consisting of all the usual breakfast items (eggs, potatoes, gravy, toast, and a choice of sausage or bacon).

"Packed since it opened in 1998, restaurateur Al Biernat’s Oak Lawn chophouse has made a name for itself for world-class steak, exceptional seafood, and a 700-bottle wine list — one of the city’s largest," OpenTable's editors wrote in the restaurant's profile. "Whether at the lively bar complete with a domed ceiling and glass art-inspired painting or in the opulent dining room outfitted with rich leather booths, every meal here feels like a special occasion."

Cafe Pacific is a Highland Park favorite probably better known for its lunch. The restaurant serves brunch on Sundays only, offering upscale dishes like a crab cake or Rosewood Texas Wagyu benedict, Nova Scotia lobster omelet, and Tex-Mex favorites like huevos rancheros and chorizo migas. They also feature a premium caviar service during brunch, though it costs hundreds of dollars.

Kenny's Wood Fired Grill is described as a "beloved Dallas destination" that combines comfort food with an upscale and sophisticated atmosphere, which shines through its weekend brunch service. In addition to classic brunch meals like chicken and waffles, French toast, and egg Benedicts, Kenny's also serves a hearty bacon and egg burger and chicken fried steak and eggs topped with cream gravy and smoked bacon.

Only two other restaurants in Texas made the list, both located in Austin: Aba and Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar.

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Taking the field

Dak Prescott-backed Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux kicks off in Wylie

Photo courtesy of Walk-Ons

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is opening in Wylie on August 10.

A Louisiana sports bar chain that counts Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as a partner continues to build its fan base in Dallas-Fort Worth: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux is set to open a new location in Wylie on Monday, August 10.

Announced earlier this year, the restaurant is at 906 FM 544, near the intersection of Highway 78 and FM 544. The opening marks the chain's 20th Texas location and its second operating restaurant in the DFW area.

Founded in Baton Rouge in 2003 by former LSU basketball "walk-ons" Brandon Landry and Jack Warner, Walk-On's has grown to more than 80 locations nationwide. The company is co-owned by former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (an Austin native), and franchise partners include Prescott, along with former NFL player Derrick Brooks, and college football coach Dabo Swinney.

Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux Wylie The new Walk-On's is at 906 FM 544, Wylie.Photo courtesy of Walk-On's

The menu is centered on seafood and classic Louisiana dishes: fried seafood platters, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, po'boys, fried oysters, gumbo, fried alligator, and boudin balls. Prices range from $10 to $20.

Starters include waffle cheese fries, fried pickles, boneless wings, cheeseburger sliders, spinach-artichoke dip, and venison nachos. They have a bread pudding made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

There's also a plentiful selection of beers on tap, plus margaritas and other crafty-ish cocktails.

The Wylie restaurant is owned by franchisee Cooper Thomson, who says the community made the city an appealing place to expand.

"I am thrilled to expand Walk-On's presence in Dallas, and particularly in the community of Wylie," Thomson says in a release. "To be a part of the growth in this area - to serve families and be a place where little league teams celebrate and football fans cheer on their team - is such a special opportunity."

Although Walk-On's has been in the DFW market since pre-pandemic times, Wylie will be its second restaurant in DFW open currently, joining a location at Grandscape in The Colony. Earlier Dallas-area locations in Irving and Arlington have closed, although the company has previously said it plans to reopen the Arlington restaurant at a new location.

The Wylie restaurant features a sports bar with dozens of TVs, a large outdoor patio, and a family-friendly dining room designed for game-day crowds.

Grand opening festivities will kick off at 10:30 am on Monday, August 10, with a ceremony featuring Walk-On's founder Brandon Landry, franchise owner Cooper Thomson, Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, city officials, and representatives from Wylie High School and Wylie East High School.

The celebration will include donations to the two schools' athletic departments, followed by a ribbon-cutting at 10:45 am. Doors open to the public at 11 am, and the first 100 guests to dine will have a chance to win free Walk-On's for a year.

Walk-On's will be the second sports bar concept with celebrity cred to open in DFW within a few days' time. Shark Club, from Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, opened Friday, August 7 in Northlake.

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