What part of Dallas will you be staying and/or meeting in?

I've got three or four good suggestions but would definitely want to tailor to neighborhood/area.

In Order

Bobs on Lemon Ave

Al Bernaise on Oak Lawn

Capital Grill (Chain) in the Crescent Shops

If you like a variety of steaks, Dallas has a couple of Brazilian Steakhouses or Churrascaria. They are awesome for steak lovers. :)

On the North side of Dallas in the Addison area, there is a Texas de Brazil and a Fogo de Chao. I have eaten at both and while they are both very good, we prefer the Fogo de Chao. There is also another one, which I haven't had a chance to eat at by DFW called Boi Na Braza. I'll get around it to soon though.

LOL, that would be Al Biernat's. :p

I'd second the recommendation of Biernat's, but I would give a higher one to Nick & Sam's on Maple Ave. No way is Capital Grille in the same league though.

Farther north, I'd recommend Chamberlain's Steak & Chop House in Addison.

A few of the ones I was going to mention (specifically Al Biernat's and Bob's) have already been mentioned.

I'm a huge fan of Pappas Bros and its often a choice for our firm when entertaining. They really bend over backwards for their clientele and I've never had less than impeccable service there. Request one of their high-back booths - its almost like having a private conference room and I know that they spent a good deal of money getting their accoustics set so that you can't hear conversations at the table next door. I know many folks who go there to ink deals.

Al Biernat merits a special mention - he was the general manager of The Palm in Dallas for many years and a lot of us followed him to his new spot when it opened in '98 and left The Palm for good. Al is definitely "the host with the most" - he works the dining room and you will definitely feel like a VIP regardless of who you are.

Nick & Sams would have made my list in the late 90s when I was frequenting them regularly. Sadly, they have had a high degree of staff turnover (with folks scattering to places like Nobu) and I've had some sub-par experiences in there.

One GOOD (and not widely publicized) benefit of Nick & Sams is that the owners also own a couple of "private clubs" near the restaurant that are frequented by the social set around town. If you dine in the restaurant, they will be happy to put your name (for your dining party) on the door list that evening if you so desire some "scenery" after dinner. ;)

On the north end of town (Addison/Plano), I'm inclined to recommend Chamberlains. The tollway has become steakhouse central but its a buyer beware market, in my opinion.

The Brazilian steakhouses around town are abundant - I don't know that I would recommend them for a formal client dinner though. Too many interruptions (getting up to go to the salad bar, constantly stopping conversation for the parade of meat that comes every two minutes, and generally LOUD dining rooms).

One caution on Nick & Sam's to pass along - it can be VERY noisy. So noisy in fact, that normal conversation can be difficult. I'd be hesitant to take clients there if I anticipated needing to talk extensively or do a deal over dinner.

Agree 100%. Its more of a "the deal is closed" kind of place than a "lets do a deal" place. For the latter, Pappas wins for me every time.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Some great information :)

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. We will be staying at the Hilton Anatole. Main reason we are staying here is because the client we are going to visit is based on Stemmons Freeway... so it is pretty near by. I am not sure where this is in relation to some of the mentioned restaurants though?

Pappas is a few miles north on Stemmons at the Northwest Highway exit (head west on NW Hwy) and you will see the GIANT Pappas sign.

Bobs, Nick & Sams, Al Biernats, Capital Grille, and Texas de Brazil are all due east/southeast of the Anatole. Als is on Oak Lawn which is an exit off Stemmons as you head towards downtown (go under the bridge/left and follow Oak Lawn for about two miles). The others are on streets directly off Oak Lawn.

Chamberlains, Fogo de Chao, and Boa Na Braza are too far for you to considere unless someone enjoys driving and doesn't plan to drink.

My vote is either for

Sullivan's Steak House on the tollway
17795 Dallas Pkwy
Dallas, TX 75287-7316
(972) 267-9393)

or

Dell Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
5251 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, Texas 75240
(972) 490-9000

Sullivans offers a nice pre-dinner bar to share a drink while waiting for table (if the night is busy); as well as a classy piano player in the background.

Their steaks are seasoned wonderfully - but the kicker for me is dessert - they have a Baked Alaska the size of a 10 gallon hat they bring to your table... Truly a sight to see.

As for Del Frisco's - they've got a GREAT Cigar Lounge in the restaurant, that reminds me of an old boys club with the rich woods and leather chairs. It's nice to enjoy a stogie and scotch after dinner. And - quite a few women-folk partake in the cigar ritual too! If I recall correctly - I believe their steaks were a might tastier than Sullivans too (I'm guessing it has to do with the salt rub they put on them)

I've taken clients to both (on Big Blue's expense account) -- and have never had a bad experience.

Hope your dinner goes well - love to hear which one you eventually chose, and how the experience went!

The two that ExecPlatinum_Lord mentions are good... but be advised they are a 20 to 30 minute drive (each way) from the Anatole where the OP is staying.

Dallas Dining (merged threads)
 

What is the best TexMex place in Dallas/Fort Worth?

Completely subjective question that is bound to get many different answers from both locals (who are more likely to reference hole-in-the-wall spots) and past visitors (who tend to reference chains) but here are a few of my favorites (chain or otherwise):

* Best nachos, best guacamole, best salsa - Anamia's (three locations in the northern suburbs)

* Best enchilada dinner on special - El Fenix (and their chips/salsa are great too)

* Best brunch spot (which would mean migas for me) - Blue Goose (preferably on the patio at the original on Greenville Avenue where you can watch the world go by)

* Best margaritas in a dive-y place - Esparzas (in Grapevine - in the summer you can sit out on the front lawn in a plastic lawn chair and mingle in the scene which includes a LOT of pilots/FAs)

* Best margaritas in a nicer place - Mi Cocina (many locations) - The Mambo Taxi - two will get you sauced, three will knock you on your arse

* Best margaritas in an upscale place - Via Real (by the Four Seasons Las Colinas) - good local people watching and nice strong $18 margaritas

* Best mariscos - La Calle Doce in Oak Cliff - don't go alone after dark

* Best tacos - if you aren't brave enough to hit the small taco vans that are around, hit one of the Deep Ellum joints for some good stuff (I like Sol's Taco Lounge) before you see a band

* Best healthy for you queso served by Dallas' best known transexual - Monicas Aca y Alla (the photo of her peeing standing up is no longer in the men's room, but the fun times remain - you can eat your goat cheese queso with no guilt and feel free to jump in if a conga line springs up out of the blue)

* Best alterna-chips - Blue Mesa (fried plantains are mixed in with the tortilla chips for some hearty eats)

* Best "not on the menu" Tex Mex - the Bob Armstrong dip at Matts

* Best take the out-of-towners there spot - Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth (why this place stays popular is beyond me, but everyone always wants to go there when they visit!)

* Best "if the police dine there, it must be good" spot - Fiesta on Hemphill in Fort Worth (been going there since I was a kid and its got the best family sized portions around)

* Best "local spots"- Danals (owned by the same family that owns the supermercados of the same name, this is about as good as authentic gets)

* Best "good things come out of Lubbock" spot, part I - Abuelos (but order the las mejores de la casa - and with spinach and potatos instead of beans/rice - for the REALLY good stuff)

* Best "good things come out of Lubbock" spot, part II - Don Pablos (yes, its a chain, but its good when you have the "only eat at chains" folks in tow)

* Best "see and be seen" Mexican - Primos on McKinney, natch

* Best place to spot Elvis, or at least pick up a date trying - Chuys (corner of Knox/McKinney)

* Best "not true Tex-Mex, but a great joint nonetheless with really cheap beer and a cool scene" - Fuzzys Taco Shop on Berry St. (across from TCU) in Fort Worth

While not a true "Tex-Mex" place, the best burrito in town would be Freebirds. Think of Chipotle, except really good and really big. ;)

And as techgirl mentions, the El Fenix chips and salsa really are very good. Their chips are definitely different from most everyone elses. But very tasty. ^

Great. Now I'm craving Freebirds. Their quality does vary greatly depending on who puts your burrito together. It may also take a few tries before you figure out which combination goes best together for your taste.