I thought you had to be an Aggie to go to Freebirds...:p

:confused: Then why is one in Austin in the shopping center with the HEB closest to UT?

The same thought crossed my mind! :D

(Its okay... UT spawned my beloved Texadelphia!)

I think someone likes their texmex;)

Yeah that is a great overview thanks Techgirl. ^
I had a great time in Texas about a year ago and am going back for more in May so I will try out some of these places!

Oh and I happen to be in my Long Horns shirt today :D

Although it wasn't mentioned in the list, Cabo Grande in Downtown Fort Worth is a great place for lunch. Habanero Shrimp Salad is highly recommended. I think I'm gonna hit that place for lunch tomorrow.

I dunno, but the one in Houston (Shepherd Plaza) is nothing but burgundy vehicles in the parking lot with "Former Student" stickers and other assorted A&M bling.

No mention of Chuy's is complete without the secret jalapeno ranch sauce with chips. That stuff is liquid crack.

Shudder.

Dallas Dining (merged threads)
 

I had my first business trip to Dallas, TX last week (I live in Sherman Oaks, Cali) and let me tell you, I was blown away by all of the fabolous restaurants. Who knew???

A couple of highlights. First of all if you are ever in Dallas (or perhaps just Texas for that matter) you have to induldge in what they call "Tex-Mex". Now, I live in the L.A. area and we do have good latino food, but nothing like this marvel referred to as Tex Mex. I went to this place called CHUYS (originated in Austin, TX) and it was so incredible. I had beef fajitas, queso, and the best damn margarita I have ever had. Seriously!!
On to Sushi.....never thought Texas would be a place to get great fish, but DEEP SUSHI in an area called DEEP ELLUM (right outside of downtown Dallas) was the best Sushi I have ever had, and I do mean ever. I always eat at JINPACHI in West Hollywood, and although I will continue to do so, it will pale by comparison. Now, for the biggest surprise. My favorite food in the whole world is steak, by leaps and bounds. Rare prime beef with a fine pino noir makes my world turn. Here at home I eat at several places, such as ARNIE MORTON'S and THE PALM. So, in my five days in the Big D I went to two steak houses, Bob's Chop House and Kirby's Steakhouse. My first meal was at Bob's and I was very impressed, but let me just cut to the chase, the very next night we went for steak again, and this time we went to what is referred as "Dallas's orginal specialty steakhouse", Kirby's on Greenville Ave. All I can say is WOW!!!! This place left me speechless. First of all it had a very comfortable atmosphere that seem to fuse casual with formal almost perfectly, with a really cool James Dean mural from what my server told me was from the movie THE GIANT. Everything was going great and got only better when the best crab cake, salad, 10oz Prime Roquefort Filet, and ala' carte menu I have ever, ever had. The steak was so tender and succulent, the Susie's Mash Potatoes, and sauteed mushrooms were perfection as well. The wine list was complex and interesting and the service was not overdone or stuffly, and attentive enough for us to ask for that server again. His name was Keith Jones. The manager gave me his card and told me about the company (they have five other locations) and gave me his card. If you are in Dallas, and want a steak, Bob's was great, it really was, but Kirby's was not only better but the best steak I have ever had, and I mean that literally. Call Rick Shew at 469.348.4694 (very nice man) and ask for Keith Jones as your server. Oh, and have some Tex Mex at Chuys, and never judge a book by it's cover! Dallas, TX was flat, hot, and surprisingly pretentious, but I had some of the best food I have ever had. Ever.

Oh, one more place, we had itallian at Terillis also on Greenville ave and that place had really cool live music and wonderful itallian food. More to come when I go to St. Louis for the first time next week.

www.kirbyssteakhouse.com

www.guidelive.com (links to the other places, plus much more)

Any suggestions for St. Louis?

well, welcome to FT. I assume your post is in jest, however, I agree that much to my amazement, Dallas does have some very nice restaurants. My prior restaurant experiences in dallas were pre-liquor(dallas, not me).

I was very plesantly surprised by the number and the quality of the south-east asian restaurants. they are also very reasonably priced when compared to the DC area. The tapas restaurants are also quite good. The true mexican restaurants have some great dishes that are hard to come by (like goat)

I do not know how one compares steak houses or tex-mex or chains.

Dallas has some great food, and yes, they have good Tex-Mex but I think Houston and Austin have Dallas beat in that category.

The Big D has some great fine dining, especially near downtown, though you can find good stuff in the Galleria area.

The way I can compare tex-mex or steaks? Easy. Flavor, quality, and ambiance. Chuys had a freshness and a spice like no other. Plus, wonderul queso and didn't I mention those margaritas?! Deep Sushi was so incredible, I mean they had the best rolls I have ever had in my life. I talked about Kirbys so much because it really was the best steak I have ever had. Plus, they had great seafood and a wonderful wine list ( I have been to good steak houses that did not have either). I have not really experinced food in Houston, TX but no way does Austin has better food than Dallas. No way! Give me one example. Funny though, Chuys orginated in Austin (and hey, I like Austin better than Dallas, pound for pound, but not the food) and there is a few in Houston. Plus, I see that Kirby's Steakhouse has a location in the Woodlands ( saw it on the there website www.kirbyssteakhouse.com) which looks to be rather close to Houston. My favorite place on the planet? Blue Water Grille in NYC (Union Square). That is unbeatable! Anyway, thanks for corresponding.

I was talking about in the Tex-Mex category... There are some real hole-in-the-wall type places in Austin that serve good, make that amazing, Tex-Mex.

As far as steaks and other food options, yes, Dallas beats Austin and Houston hands down, though Houston has some great options. Austin has a lot of good food, you just have to stay off the highways and actually explore the city to find it. I don't consider Chuy's to be very good. I prefer Juan-in-a-Millions for a good, quick, Tex-Mex breakfast ($4) and Eastside Cafe on Manor Rd. for a good lunch and dinner (all veggies are grown there)

Just read through Texas Monthly and see where most of their top picks come from, mostly Dallas, Houston, and Austin.

PR firm?
 

I had a friend who actually told me someone would probably think my posting was B.S.
I did not believe him until now. Look, I am just someone who stumbled onto this forum and was just blown away by how many great restaurants were in Dallas, TX. Look out for my St. Louis posting and this time I will try and not be so excited.:confused: