A combination of the Dallas suburbs Highland Park and University Park, the gorgeous Park Cities area is just a few miles north of downtown Dallas. Known for its upscale shopping spots and highly-rated public schools, Park Cities is also a foodie’s favorite, as it features an array of excellent restaurants with outstanding cuisines. Whether you’re planning to visit Dallas or relocating to Park Cities real estate, you can look forward to everything that’s on the menu. Here are some of the best Park Cities restaurants you won’t want to miss.
1. Hillstone Restaurant
8300 A Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75225
Open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, Hillstone is a fine dining establishment that serves everything from burgers and sandwiches to prime rib, pan-roasted salmon, and innovative salads. A popular spot for celebrating birthdays, the local hotspot is well-known for its classic Hillstone Burger and curated wine list. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, the restaurant has you covered, with unique options like the hand-shaken daiquiri, Bee’s Knees, and Kickstart (a special Bloody Mary served only on weekends).
2. Bistro 31
87 Highland Park Village Suite 200 / 1st Floor, Dallas, TX 75205
Located in trendy Highland Park Village, Bistro 31 is a classy restaurant serving dishes based on Spanish, Italian, and French cuisines in a European-inspired atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday and brunch and dinner on the weekends, Bistro 31 is the perfect place to go for an upscale meal before or after shopping or for a date night. For brunch, you can choose from options like the lemon ricotta pancakes or vegetarian omelet, while lunch or dinner choices range from Spanish octopus to Maine lobster salad, steak frites, sweet potato risotto, and lemon linguine. Enhance your meal with a glass or bottle of wine from their extensive list, or end your meal with a delicious tiramisu or slice of olive oil cake.
3. Toulouse Café and Bar
3314 Knox St, Dallas, TX 75205
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With its modern take on traditional French-influenced Belgian dishes, Toulouse Café and Bar is a local favorite and a popular destination for those visiting the area. Toulouse is the ideal place to munch on some avocado toast with smoked salmon and caviar or a tomato tart, indulge in a baked brie with roasted pear and wild mushrooms or steak tartare, or celebrate a special occasion with lobster ravioli or beef bourguignon with a Toulouse Old Fashioned or glass of French wine. Dessert is also popular at this charming restaurant, thanks to popular offerings like chocolate fondant, the thin apple tart, or dark chocolate lava cake.
4. Café Madrid
4501 Travis St, Dallas, TX 75205
Widely known as the best Spanish restaurant in the city of Dallas, Café Madrid is the perfect place to go with a large group so that you can order and share multiple tapas. Menu standouts include a Spanish charcuterie called Plato Iberico, tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelet with onions and potatoes), fried calamari, carne ajo (seared beef tenderloin with garlic sauce), mixed paella (available as both a tapas and full portion), and mussels in saffron sauce. If you stop into Café Madrid during the week from 5-6 pm, you can order off the happy hour menu, with little bites (tapitas) ranging in price from $3 to $7 and specials on sangria, house wine, wine cocktails, and Estrella beer.
5. Montlake Cut
8220 Westchester Dr b, Dallas, TX 75225
If you love fresh seafood, Montlake Cut should be on your must-try list. Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, Montlake Cut is a seafood lover’s dream with a raw bar, fresh market fish, large plates of fish and chips, BBQ spiced gulf shrimp, and burgers, alongside small plates like fried clams and crab fried rice. In addition to their delicious food, the high-end restaurant also has a variety of wines, innovative cocktails, smashes made of vodka, gin, tequila, or bourbon, and refreshing spritzes. If beer is more your style, the restaurant also has several craft options available. Don’t forget to save room for dessert, as the rum cake and classic chocolate silk mousse come highly recommended.
6. Kuby’s Sausage House
6601 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205
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More in the mood for some classic German food rather than a fine dining experience when it comes to Park Cities restaurants? Head on over to Kuby’s Sausage House for a lunch of jager schnitzel, Rueben with fries and warm German potato salad, bratwurst, or a sausage plate. If you live in the area, you can also make Kuby’s a regular stop for picking up deli items like homemade sausage, European salads, or gourmet cheeses. Kuby’s is also an excellent option if you need to cater a party of any size. Catering options include BBQ, Oktoberfest choices like weisswurst and potato pancakes, and seasonal menus. The restaurant's atmosphere makes you feel like you’re in a small German village, making the authentic food even more delicious!
7. Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano
4912 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
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If authentic Mexican food is more your style, you simply can’t do better than a meal at Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano. Serving hungry locals and visitors since 1977, Javier’s is known for its stiff margarita, beautiful atmosphere, and food straight from the cuisine of Mexico City. Start out your meal with fresh ceviche, follow it up with red snapper mojo de ajo or beef fajitas, and top it all off with tres leches cake or cajeta crepes. After dinner, you can retire to the lounge and cigar bar for a drink from their selection of scotch, brandy, rum, cognac, bourbon, tequila, and port and a cigar from their humidor.
Park Cities is a popular place to live for a number of reasons, but its large selection of quality restaurants is at the top of the list. Whether you’re coming for a visit or to make it your home, you’ll always have plenty of options when it comes to great dining. If you’ve decided you want to start looking for a home near these fantastic Park Cities restaurants, reach out to trusted local agent Courtney Tauriac for expert guidance.
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash