Patio season has arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth, and we’ve got plenty of hot spots for you to soak up the sun. (And if it’s raining in North Texas when you read this? Texas weather is wacky. The sun will — probably — come out. Tomorrow.)
Grab a cold beverage, it’s the April 2025 Hot List.
Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.
Culpepper Cattle Co. in Deep Ellum
Two words: $10 fajitas. Culpepper Cattle Co. is serving $10 steak or chicken fajitas at lunchtime on Fridays — a great deal. They come with all the fixins, like rice, beans, sauteed onions and warm tortillas.
The restaurant has quietly served downhome Texas food at the more-than-100-year-old Continental Gin building since May 2024. If your tablemates don’t go for the fajitas, other lunch options include chicken-fried steak, a smashburger, puffy tacos and sour cream chicken enchiladas. If time (or work) allows, they also have $9 “power lunch” margaritas and martinis midday.
Culpepper Cattle Co. is at 3309 Elm St., Dallas.
Domodomo in Uptown Dallas
You’ve heard of omakase. This is “Domokase.” Domodomo’s sushi chefs are serving a seven-course tasting at the new Uptown Dallas restaurant. Dinner costs $135 per person — less expensive than many of its competitors, though the restaurant serves less than half the courses as other Dallas omakase restaurants like Tatsu, Shoyo and Sushi Bar. Domodomo’s menu naturally includes raw fish, but it also specializes in handrolls and A5 Wagyu. We called it one of the most exciting new restaurants opening this year.
Domodomo is at 2681 Howell St., Dallas. Dinner only. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Eataly in Dallas — for Pizza Fest
It’s always a good time to peruse the shelves at Eataly, an Italian cook’s paradise in Dallas. But specifically on April 6, 2025, we recommended visiting the NorthPark store for Pizza Fest. Out in the parking lot, attendees will find dozens of Texas pizzerias serving a variety of pies. There’s Detroit-style, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Bengali-influenced and even bagel pizza. It’s all-you-can-eat, so come hungry.
Eataly Pizza Fest is April 6, 2025, in the NorthPark parking lot near Eataly, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Two time slots: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. General admission costs $65. VIP — which includes a lounge and exclusive bites — is $125 per ticket. Kids under 10 are free with an RSVP online.
Evan’s Meat Market in Highland Park
We’ve got picnics on our minds as the weather warms in Dallas-Fort Worth. How about a gourmet picnic where you don’t have to do the cooking? Stop into Evan’s Meat Market in Highland Park for Louisiana-inspired po’ boys and sides like potato salad.
Evan’s Meat Market is at 4266 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas.
If you’re in another part of town, we’ve got other picnic spots you’ll love.
- Stop into Jimmy’s Food Store in East Dallas for Italian sandwiches and snacks. Jimmy’s Food Store is at 4901 Bryan St., Dallas.
- Over in Fort Worth, grab Brix Barbecue to-go and find a park to enjoy it in. Brix Barbecue is at 1012 S Main St., Fort Worth.
- In Garland, try Fortunate Son for excellent takeout pizzas. Fortunate Son is at 500 Main St., Garland.
- Or how about a bagel as you lounge on a picnic blanket? D-FW has a great selection of new bagel shops. Starship Bagel hits three neighborhoods with its stores in Lewisville, Far North Dallas or downtown Dallas. Starship Bagel is at 1520 Elm St., Dallas; 6859 Arapaho Road, Dallas and 1108 W. Main St., Lewisville.
Evelyn in the Dallas Design District
The flashiest new restaurant in Dallas is Evelyn, a steakhouse in the Dallas Design District. While dinner here can get pricey if you let it — especially if you’re ordering that $150 martini — Evelyn also has happy hour deals on weekdays. I’m especially interested to try Evelyn’s Wagyu cheesesteak bites, served in a tower that feeds four people.
Evelyn is at 1201 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas. Reservations are recommended for dinner. Reservations not required for drinks. Opens at 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Globe Life Field in Arlington
The Texas Rangers’ ballpark is either the biggest restaurant on this list or not a restaurant at all. You make that call. What we won’t disagree on is there’s a lot to eat next time you watch a Texas Rangers game. The roster of new concessions includes lobster three ways, the biggest burrito I’ve ever seen, two new barbecue options from Hurtado, and a slab of bacon slathered in Dr Pepper glaze — my favorite. Tell us: What will you order?
Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, is at 734 Stadium Drive, Arlington.
The Hampton Social in downtown Dallas
If patio dining is your vibe this month, look no further than The Hampton Social, a three-story patio bar in downtown Dallas. The navy and white restaurant will make you feel like you’re about to set sail in landlocked Dallas. Start with crab and shrimp bruschetta and a crisp glass of white wine. Then it’s lobster rolls and fish and chips. Key lime pie for dessert.
The Hampton Social is at 1520 Main St., Dallas.
Knife Steakhouse in East Dallas
You’ve got until late summer to visit Knife Steakhouse before the restaurant inside the Highland hotel closes and becomes something new. (Details are yet unknown.) News broke last week that chef John Tesar, who created Knife 11 years ago, cut ties with the Highland and will move the restaurant to a new part of town.
Knife was once an interesting addition in a crowded steakhouse space, because Tesar was dry-aging steaks. We also loved that Tesar’s menu included several good pasta dishes, which wasn’t common at a steakhouse a decade ago. More to come — but for now, go get one last bite.
Knife Steakhouse is at 5300 E. Mockingbird Lane (inside the Highland hotel), Dallas.
Lonesome Dove in Fort Worth
Can you eat 25 courses of food in one sitting? Sure you can. Lonesome Dove in Fort Worth is selling a 25-course tasting to celebrate its 25 years serving fancy cowboy food in the Stockyards. Chef Tim Love’s menu is a blast if you’re an adventurous eater. Courses include rattlesnake, kangaroo, squab, dove and lots (and lots) of beef. It’s $250 per person — pricey, to be sure, but the math works out to $10 per course.
Lonesome Dove’s 25-course tasting menu runs May 2-6, 2025. $250 per person. Reservations required. Lonesome Dove is at 2406 North Main St., Fort Worth.
Inside Lonesome Dove’s 25-course dinner
Nirvana Lounge in Irving
The restaurateurs behind high-end Indian restaurant Sanjh in Irving have opened a lounge in the same neighborhood. Nirvana serves Indo-Chinese food at Toyota Music Factory, the restaurant park that’s currently getting an overhaul near the music venue. Nirvana appears to have plenty of spicy options, like a cocktail called the Hunan Heatwave and several dishes slathered in chiles, including the fiery Chicken 65. Nirvana turns up the heat at night with a DJ.
Nirvana Lounge is at 340 W. Las Colinas Blvd. (at Toyota Music Factory), Irving. Evenings only. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Remote Coffee in Dallas’ White Rock neighborhood
So you’re out running errands and you want a caffeine jolt. New drive-through Remote Coffee is serving quick drinks east of White Rock Lake, near Lake Highlands, Far East Dallas, Richardson and Garland. Remote’s Dallas owners, Joel Roland, Mike Donlon and Pablo Garcia, want their drinks and food to be “the perfect passenger for every journey” — a sweet way to think about a mid-morning pick-me-up.
In addition to drinks like café de olla (Mexican coffee with cinnamon), iced horchata lattes, nitro cold brews and aguafrescas, the shop also sells breakfast tacos. Traveling with Fido? Ask for a Buddy Cup.
Remote Coffee is at 10999 Garland Road, Dallas. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.
RT Bakery and Cafe in Lewisville
Just look at the beautiful pastries from RT Bakery in Lewisville, a shop that opened in early 2025, according to food reporter Imelda García. I’m excited to try the mousse cakes. The shop also sells tarts with caramel, lemon poppy seed or hazelnut filling. Plus loaves of sourdough. If you go, pull out your phone: These pastries are Instagram-worthy.
RT Bakery and Cafe is at 3964 State Hwy. 121, Lewisville. Closed Mondays.
Saint-Emilion in Fort Worth
On March 8, 1985, a little French restaurant called Saint-Emilion opened in Fort Worth. Forty years ago, four-course dinner here cost just $25! This sweet restaurant has lasted longer than most, and it’s become a mainstay for Fort Worth residents looking for a fine meal. In a Dallas Morning News restaurant review, we called Saint-Emilion “a French vacation” right here in North Texas.
Saint-Emilion is at 3617 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth. Reservations recommended. Dinner only.
Stoneleigh P in Dallas
The stubborn founder of the Stoneleigh P spent decades saying “no” to selling Coors beers. Too mainstream, he’d say, even though customers would ask for it daily. Well, the bar is turning 52 years old in April 2025, and to celebrate, they’re running a stunt where they’ll add Coors Light and Coors Banquet to the menu for one month only. If customers buy 2,000 Coors or more, the Stoneleigh P will add it to the menu permanently.
Will they cry uncle? Eat crow? Soon, we’ll know.
Stoneleigh P is at 4218 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.
Waters Edge Winery and Bistro in Lake Highlands
A new wine bar has opened in Dallas’ Lake Highlands neighborhood, in front of Alamo Drafthouse. Waters Edge Winery and Bistro looks like a good spot for your next happy hour. Food feeds up to six people and pairs well with wine: baked brie, cheese fondue, build-your-own charcuterie boards and flatbreads. Customers can stop in for a glass of wine, or they can sign up for a membership and receive discounts on wine and invitations to private events.
Waters Edge Winery and Bistro is at 6750 Abrams Road, Dallas. Closed Mondays.
Winsome Prime in West Dallas
If you can wait until April 14, 2025, new Trinity Groves steakhouse and lounge Winsome Prime will open in place of the former Network Bar. The menu has some Cajun inspiration with its chargrilled oysters and crab beignets, as well Asian-influenced items like sesame cauliflower and kung pao pasta. The restaurant was created in Houston; the Dallas location marks the second in its expansion.
Winsome Prime will be at 331 Singleton Blvd., Dallas. It’s expected to open April 14, 2025.
The Zodiac in downtown Dallas
The Zodiac is back! We expected the restaurant that opened in Dallas’ flagship Neiman Marcus in 1953 to serve its last orange soufflés on March 31, 2025. But a last-minute extension from parent company Saks Global has saved the Zodiac from extinction — for now.
They call it an “exploratory period.” We call it time to make reservations.
If you’ve never been to the Zodiac or don’t know its influence on Dallas dining for more than seven decades, check out our historical lookback. There was a fashion show during lunch every day. It had an influential female chef in the 1950s who Julia Child came to admire. There have been too many celebrity sightings to count.
My favorite anecdote comes from the chef who kept the Zodiac running for nearly 30 years, until he retired in 2023. “Don’t touch the orange souffle,” Kevin Garvin told his chefs. “Never run out of popovers. The strawberry butter has to be soft and the consommé has to be hot.”
Words to live by.
The Zodiac is at 1618 Main St. (inside Neiman Marcus, on level six), Dallas. Reservations recommended. Lunch only. Closed Sundays.
Check out past Hot Lists
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024 — theme was cozy and affordable
- November 2024 — theme was quiet restaurants
- October 2024 — theme was fancy restaurants
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024 — theme was cool spots in hot weather
- June 2024 — theme was steak frites
- May 2024
- April 2024 — theme was ABCs of new restaurants
