Hot List: 18 quiet restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth
It’s about to get noisy in Dallas-Fort Worth.
First comes the presidential election, then the inaugural Michelin Guide Texas, then the swell of holiday season.
Wouldn’t it be nice to find a quiet moment among the cacophony? This month’s Hot List focuses on calm restaurants with quiet dining rooms, whereas October’s focused on fancy spots worth the extra expense.
Shh! Don’t share our November 2024 favorites too loud.
Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.
61 Osteria in Fort Worth
Italian restaurants have had a major moment across North Texas in the past few years, and 61 Osteria is part of that story in Fort Worth. Unlike some of the restaurants on this list, which are classic and mature, 61 Osteria is new and modern. Restaurateur Dain “Adam” Jones and chef Blaine Staniford — two well-known names in Fort Worth — are serving dishes like sausage-stuffed quail with prosciutto-wrapped figs; white bean and kale soup; lobster gnocchi and halibut piccata. Tuck in on a crisp fall or winter day.
61 Osteria is at 500. W. 7th St., Fort Worth. Dinner only.
Adelmo’s Ristorante in Dallas
The dinner-only Italian spot tucked away in Inwood Village has a loyal following, though attentive service brings instant warmth to newbies stopping in. Entrees span pasta, meat and seafood, and all include something that feels fewer and farther between these days: a complimentary starter salad. There’s free bread, too.
Adelmo’s Ristorante is at 5450 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas. Dinner only. Closed Mondays.
Bar Colette in Dallas’ West Village
Pop into this small cocktail bar on a weeknight or early on a weekend and it’s easy to have a conversation without yelling. Bar Colette has what we believe to be one of the best cocktail menus in Dallas, and the restaurant has a stunning design to match. Just check Instagram before you go to see if any special music is planned. On big nights, it can get busy.
Bar Colette is at 3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 306 (in West Village), Dallas. Evenings only. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Cadot Restaurant in Far North Dallas
French restaurant Cadot made our list of most romantic spots in D-FW, and it’s also a quiet one. Maybe it’s the white tablecloths and drapes surrounding regulars ordering niçoise salad, escargot and Dover sole. Don’t miss the soufflés: The Dallas Morning News called them “perfect” in a 2014 review.
Cadot Restaurant is at 18111 Preston Road, Dallas. Closed Sundays.
Cafe Pacific in Highland Park
Cafe Pacific will go down as Dallas’ quintessential quiet restaurant. More than any other on this list, Cafe Pacific is a place that Park Cities residents return to for the attentive service, consistent menu and refined dining room. Classic dishes include lemon roasted rainbow trout, salmon with asparagus and lobster risotto. But have you had the cheeseburger? Let’s talk after class.
Cafe Pacific is at 24 Highland Park Village, Dallas. Reservations recommended.
Dakota’s Steakhouse in downtown Dallas
One of the only high-end restaurants we can think of that’s below ground, Dakota’s Steakhouse maintains a presence in downtown Dallas even when you can’t see it. It’s 40 years old — cheers to that! — and was revived after COVID by a new set of owners. Dakota’s was once a hot spot for a “power lunch” in Dallas and it remains a great place for a business meeting, any time of day.
Dakota’s is at 600 N. Akard St., Dallas. Closed Sundays. Reservations recommended.
Feng Shui in Uptown Dallas
In a neighborhood full of steakhouses, Feng Shui in Uptown Dallas stands alone as a pescatarian- and vegetarian-friendly restaurant. It’s also rare in that it serves three styles of Asian cuisine: Japanese, Chinese and Thai. The owners went to great lengths to make this dining room feel comfortable and quiet. Haven’t been yet? It’s brand new.
Feng Shui is at 2355 Olive St., Dallas.
Jeng Chi in Richardson
A large gathering where you can actually hear someone across the table? Jeng Chi might be the answer to that question. Handmade dumplings and an encyclopedic menu of Taiwanese fare make for the perfect backdrop for a large family or friend gathering. Naturally, it’s fuller and consequently louder on holidays like Christmas — but it’s one of the better bets for sharing conversation and food (courtesy of a lazy Susan) for lunch or dinner.
Jeng Chi is at 400 N Greenville Ave., Richardson.
Mābo in Dallas
A small number of seats often means a calm, reserved dining room. That’s the case at Mābo, a new restaurant in Dallas’ Preston Center that serves yakitori omakase. Chef Masayuki Otaka serves a dozen or more courses of food, most of which are grilled meat or veggies cooked on the Japanese yakitori using binchotan charcoal. One Dallas restaurateur recently told us Mābo is the best new restaurant in town.
With great refinement comes a great price. And exclusivity: It’s $200 per person, and there are just eight seats.
Mābo is at 6109 Berkshire Lane (in Preston Center), Dallas. Two seatings a night, at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. A separate private dining room that seats eight people is also available. Reservations required.
Maiden in Fort Worth
Vegans have already identified Maiden in Fort Worth as one of the most refined places to eat a plant-based dinner in North Texas. Not vegan? No problem: Open your mind to baked white “cheddar” mac, “steak” frites and a burger, all made without meat or dairy. Customers can opt for a tasting menu, a la carte dinner and/or a menu of tea-based cocktails.
Maiden is at 1216 6th Ave., Fort Worth. Dinner only. Plan accordingly: Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Reservations recommended.
Mirador in downtown Dallas
As one of the most sophisticated dining rooms in Dallas, Mirador is great if you’re trying to impress the person on the other side of the table. More impressive still, it’s easy to carry on a conversation in this high-ceilinged spot. Mirador took a four-year holiday during COVID — don’t you wish you could have done that? — and came back as a lunch-only spot. Look for high tea with Champagne on certain dates, especially during the holidays.
Mirador is at 1608 Elm St. (above Forty Five Ten boutique), Dallas. Lunch only. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Parigi on Dallas’ Oak Lawn
This bistro is a Dallas classic for a reason. Open since 1984 and serving brunch, lunch and dinner, Parigi continues to surprise patrons with daily specials. That selection of specials includes soups, a “nibble board” akin to a charcuterie board, a new take on deviled eggs, and sweets.
Parigi is at 3311 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. Reservations recommended.
Rise in Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano
A restaurant dedicated to soufflés! It’s as lovely as it sounds. Rise No. 1 has been a favorite among Bluffview-area residents in Dallas for years. Happily, the restaurant has expanded to Fort Worth, Plano, The Woodlands and Tulsa, meaning there’s more fluffy egg dishes for the rest of us. Southlake is next, in 2025.
Rise feels like a Sunday-after-church kind of place, but Rise is just as fun after dark, when the white twinkle lights come on inside the restaurant. Need one more nudge? Martha Stewart is a fan.
Rise has five locations, including three in D-FW. Find one here. Reservations recommended.
Saint-Emilion in Fort Worth
Next year marks Saint-Emilion’s 40th anniversary in Fort Worth. They must be doing something right. The French menu is a classic mix of crudités, pâtés and mains like lamb chops, duck and scallops. (Extra credit if you took French class in high school to decipher the menu, but you’ll do just fine with mousse au chocolat and crème brulée, right?) Saint-Emilion’s ivy-covered house couldn’t be cuter.
Saint-Emilion is at 3617 W. 7th St., Fort Worth. Dinner only. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Tatsu Dallas in Deep Ellum
Omakase is always a good option when it comes to quiet dining, but at Tatsu Dallas, like at its competitors, keep price in mind: It’s $185 per person. Tatsu, in our eyes, is worth the splurge because of the careful service and up-close experience with chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi, who grew up in Japan as a fourth-generation sushi chef. As Michelin comes to Texas, we hope Tatsu wins one. He says instead, “It’s not about aiming for a star.”
Tatsu Dallas is at 3309 Elm St., Dallas. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays with seatings at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Reservations required.
The Wilfred in Plano
Speakeasies, naturally, tend to be quiet. They’re often hidden, a little bit secretive and only whispered about. From the outside, The Wilfred in Plano is in the middle of a busy strip center, next to the bustling Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill. Get the password and find a seat in this dark den for cocktails and snacks.
The Wilfred is at 4017 Preston Road, Plano, next to Sea Breeze. Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Zest Cafe in University Park
This light-filled corner spot in Snider Plaza seems to always have a bit of bustle, but not at the expense of hearing your breakfast, lunch or dinner partners. Portions are generous at Zest, though the menu doesn’t shy away from healthful options such as avocado toast, an assortment of wraps and miso glazed salmon.
Zest Cafe is at 6730 Snider Plaza, Dallas. Opens early, at 7 a.m. and remains open until 9 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it closes at 3 p.m.
Zio Cecio in Dallas
While the main dining room can be a bit buzzy during high times, the Italian spot with a Sardinian emphasis has a covered patio that allows for fresh air and easy listening. Zio Cecio’s menu has a something-for-everyone feel that spans pastas and proteins. It also offers something that can be trickier to find at Italian establishments: enticing gluten-free options.
Zio Cecio is at 4615 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Check out past Hot Lists
- 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
- March 2024
- February 2024 — theme was date night spots
- January 2024 — theme was healthy
- December 2023 — theme was restaurants with holiday decor
- November 2023 — theme was budget-friendly
