My 6 Favorite Dallas Spots 3 Months In

Three months in Dallas? Hi? How? But also I feel like I’ve been here forever! I Three months seemed pivotal enough to document some of my favorite spots thus far. There are a couple repeats from this and this post that I wrote just one and two weeks in. Now three months later, many more places visited, still some of the same faves and still so many places to keep exploring.

Louie’s
If you live in Dallas, this probably wasn’t the first place you’d think would be on my list, but on the flipside, if you’ve been to Louie’s then you understand. Louie’s is a complete hole in the wall on Henderson known for their pizza and martinis. They are more than just a pizza place, with salmon, a burger, sandwiches, and a filet on the menu, but word from the wise don’t stray from the thin crust build-your-own pizza, big salads, meatballs and crab claws to start! As for the martini’s, they were so hyped up and I thought they would convert me, but even dirty I just can’t sip on gin and pretend like I like it. Louie’s has been on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so I’ll just leave you with that. Post-September Whole 30, I’m coming for ya Louie’s!

Central Market
One of my favorite past times is wandering the aisles at a grocery store. No really. If I need to kill some time or if I’m bored, or if I should be doing a million other things, I’ll often find a reason to end up at the grocery store. I love to do my big shopping on Sundays, but about mid-week I need a pick-me-up and will go stroll down aisles to pick up a little something-something. This is a long way of saying now that Central Market is in my life, this grocery store meandering has heightened. I still love TJ’s, Whole Foods and Sprouts, but Central Market has s a m p l e s. And I mean samples. The bakery section is 100% my weakness and just gosh awful temptation while on Whole30 right now. They have bread of plenty to sample with this whipped butter that should just be sued it’s so good.

My Central Market faves are their fresh verde salsa, homemade tortillas, these crispbreads, the crazy selection of bulk bin items and winding through their maze of a produce section.

Bishop Arts District
Bishop Arts is tucked away west of downtown and coins the phrase “the most independent neighborhood.” It is quint and has this little mountain town feel to it, reminds me of Colorado. Cute shops (hi All Good Things), and new restaurants are popping up left and right. I got to go to Paradiso last night and everything about it from the design, to the menu to the atmosphere was on point. Some other BA faves and places on my list are Melt Ice Cream, Tribal All Day Cafe, Serve, Lucia, Eno’s Pizza, Coco’s, Botanist and Good Companions. If you have a free Saturday or Sunday, spend it wandering around Bishop Arts!

photo via Katy Trail

Katy Trail Ice House
I know Katy Trail is a little cliche Dallas, but it truly is my favorite spot in the city. I already wrote about it here! It’s great in the evening, its great during the day on the weekends, fun for watching games, great drinks (Summer Beer) and good food. It’s all outdoors, but you’ll see people in workout clothes just coming off running the Katy Trail, people with their dogs, people dressed up having come straight for work. It’s really great for any time of day or event.

Honor Bar
Another cliche Dallas spot that I’ve mentioned before, but it’s just flat out good. The vibes, the food, the experiences I’ve had there have all been great. It’s in this corner spot of Highland Park Village with a patio that expands out a bit. It’s always crowded, but for good reason. The ahi tuna, the macho salad and their version of a ranch water make me drool just thinking about them. Props to the Hillstone restaurant group for finding what they are good at and sticking to it. Being in restaurants makes you really appreciate how others do it.

Royal Blue Grocery
No one should be surprised that two grocery stores made it on this list. Royal Blue is the most charming little grocery and specialty food store, one location in Highland Park Village and one downtown. If you didn’t know, my end goal in life is to open something similar. Think Barefoot Contessa or the bakery Meryl Streep owns in It’s Complicated. Catch me in my 40s or 50s and hopefully that’s where you will find me.

Royal Blue is my current fix to fill my daydreams. Their groceries are wildly overpriced, well everything in there is, but since it’s not my everyday spot (unlike the yuppie Highland Park moms) I feel ok treating myself to a Royal Blue visit every once and a while. My recent Royal Blue crush is their turmeric latte. Just turmeric, ginger, cinnamon (hold the honey #whole30) and steamed almond milk! They also have a vegan cookie butter gelato that is, well, I think you can imagine how amazing it is.

Honorable Mentions: Oishii, The Pilates Barre, Sachet, Parkhouse, Up On Knox, Javier’s, Highland Park Presbyterian, Eatzi’s, and Terelli’s.

It’s been a stellar 3 months in Dally. Here’s to the next however many months. ILY big D!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I keep joking that since I’ve moved to Dallas I’m just getting fat and poor! I wish i was kidding. I’ve been on a high since I moved, but I think after 4th of July weekend I need to shift out of my “vacation” mentality when it comes to how I’m eating and spending money. All to be said, zero regrets for all the delicious food eaten, memories made, and people I’ve met because of it.

Here’s to a new month, and a short week. I’m headed back to my favorite, Washington D.C. to spend the 4th in the most patriotic place possible!

-I caved and finally made Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi! I kept it simple with tomato sauce, spinach, red pepper flakes and some nutritional yeast.
-Foxtrot: an adorable market and cafe opened down the street from me last week. Loved catching up with my good friend Shelby during their opening day celebrations.
-Spritz at Sassetta, a place high on my list. You can see my review of it and more in last week’s Top 5 places I went my second week in Dallas post.
-BFF in town for the night and she comes bearing snacks from our favorite! Maddie was in town for Dallas market to scope out new products for her jewelry line Made By Maddie. It was a quick 18ish hour visit but we made the most of it!
-God bless Texas and America! Stumbled upon the cutest patriotic house on my walk.
-LOOK at that quiche! Had such a fun brunch with a group of new friends Saturday at Mercat Bistro.
-Saturday night pizza night at Pizzaria Testa. Post-day at the pool, pre-bowling and karaoke.
-Verde Chicken Cauliflower Rice bowl for Sunday dinner. I’m finishing testing this out and then hope to post the recipe soon!
-Finally made Rachael’s Good Eats Cookie Skillet Individuals. They actually are so delicious. They aren’t a Perfect CCC by any means, but for a healthier sweet treat, these do the trick.

Annie

Need a 4th of July bite? These are a must and this is a favorite salad that is perfect for a cookout!

The 5 Best Places I Went My Second Week In Dallas

Sassetta
Sassetta has been high on my list since getting to Dallas, so I was excited to cross it off so early into my time here. I went with three girls who I have met through various walks of life, but have now all come to fit together in a unique way. Everything from the aesthetic, to the menus, to the plates, to the food is designed perfectly.

Almost all of us started with the Aperol spritz which paired great with the dry-aged meatballs and whipped ricotta, tuna crudo with strawberries, pistachios and mint, and the fritto misto. We then shared the mushroom salad, bolognese and peach & prosciutto pizza.

E Bar
E Bar was by far the most suggested restaurant when I polled instagram last week for what to add to my list of Dallas restaurants. I didn’t waist time to go see what all the fuss was about. It’s located closer to Lakewood in East Dallas and is a little gem of a tex mex place.

Did I love my limey beer? Duh! Did I love my fajitas, rice and beans? Yes. Did I love the salsa? You bet! Do I wish the chips were different? You bet ;) It was good, but I’m slightly lost on the obsession…

Foxtrot Delivery Market
Foxtrot is a “choice goods” store that offers groceries, gifts, coffee, wine, a place to work or a place to drink. They opened their first brick and mortar outside of the Chicago area in Uptown Dallas on Tuesday and they about broke instagram with the amount of organic buzz spreading about them. While they have a store front they specialize in delivery promising to get from their store to your door in less than an hour.

I met my friend Shelby there on opening day late afternoon. They were offering free cafe drinks and had a frosé happy hour going on. To avoid being up all night on caffeine I went with this kombucha (which I loved) and Shelby got the CBD Lychee Slushy.

Title Boxing Club
I’m trying about every workout in Dallas before committing to anything. I’m also booking any free class or program I can. I’ve been doing two weeks free with Class Pass which led me to Title boxing. I was very hesitant rolling into class at 6am in fear that it would be full of ripped guys with hidden black belts. Luckily I was wrong. The class was small about half girls half guys. It’s been four days and I can still barely lift my arms. The class is only 45 minutes, and goes by fast but is such a great workout. I will be back, especially since they trick you into having to buy $10 wrist wraps.

The Slate
If you didn’t know, but you probably did, but if you didn’t, now you know that I am still working for The Social Order. They gave me a promotion (whaaaa!!) and the option to work remote from Dallas. To make sure I stayed focused and didn’t go stir crazy in my apartment I have reserved a desk at The Slate.

The Slate is a newer co-working space in the Design District started by two sisters (who I deeply love already). It’s a space for businesses, entrepreneurs and small companies to come set up shop. They are equipped with conference rooms, kitchen, event space, a shop, podcast room, sound stage, offices and desks for days. I’ve only been here four days and have already met so many amazing people doing the coolest things. This photo is of the entryway of the space, but it’s my favorite part! The whole place is decorated perfectly.

Half of my third week will be spent in DC for the 4th of July, but I can’t wait to hit some more Dallas spots this weekend before off to truly my favorite city!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Week 1 down, week 2 commence. Last week was great. I got in my mojo with work, working out, cooking, eating out etc. Then trotted up to OKC for the night and then back for a weekend in Dallas. The transition has been easy, and considering I have the same job has made things that much easier. The biggest difference has just been the energy and rhythm of the city. It’s fast paced and there are so many more opportunities of things to do during the week. And I love that.

-Monday night bachelorette night that included the worst episode ever, but a delicious and easy meal that was on repeat all last week.
-Beverly’s: place I’d been dying to try since I decided to move. Lived up to my hype!
-Easy weekday lunch to throw together with fridge staples. Mix of salami and prosciutto, fruit of choice, hummus and veggies (I’m hooked jicama right now)
-I normally wear a solid color t-shirt and jeans to work everyday. For some reason I moved and haven’t put on a pair of pants yet. That sounded weird, but it’s been dresses and skirts all day everyday.
-Checked out a really really cute spot on Thursday that is a coffee shop and non-toxic nail salon hybrid. I met up with my friend Molly who inspired me to write this post.
-Quick trip back up to OKC Friday to celebrate one of my oldest and closest friends getting engaged!
-The visit lined up perfectly with dad’s 61st birthday. Loved getting to make him a birthday breakfast. On the menu - Texas Breakfast Tacos. Naturally. It is all Texas everything these days.
-It’s a toss up on who will get more use out of dad’s putting game.
-Back in Dallas Saturday night and crossed off a highly recommended tex-mex spot, E Bar.
-The Defined Dish reposted about this asian-inspired chicken salad the other day and I immediately saved it to make for future meals. I made the full recipe to prep for lunches this week.
-Christened the Dallas kitchen with it’s first batch of Perfect CCCs. I also updated the photos on the recipe post, so give them a look-see!
-New city, new blonder hair?? I have only professionally colored my hair once, but my blonde is getting duller and duller and I miss the brightness it used to have. I stumbled into finding an angel of a hairdresser who did my hair in her apartment Sunday evening. She ended up balayaging my hair and I love the way it turned out. This picture is obviously the before not the after.

Annie

Did you see the top 5 places I went my first week in Dallas?

The 5 Best Places I Went My First Week In Dallas

Hi from Dallas, TX. I’ve officially been here a week. It’s only been 7 days, but I have hit the ground hard on sights, restaurants, coffee shops, and my favorite, grocery stores. I will be working day-to-day from a co-working space starting next week, so I took advantage of my extra flexibility this week to bounce around from coffee shops. I also have a great little community already in place here, so I loved spending my first few days meeting up with different friends for dinner, workout classes, long walks and coffee dates.

Without further ado, here are the 5 best places I made it to my first week in Dallas (typing this reminded me of “the fast 5 stories that you need to hear…” The Morning Toast anyone??).

Beverly’s Bistro & Bar
Beverly’s opened in March, and it has been on my radar from the moment I decided to move. I did dinner with two friends here, and even on a Tuesday it was hustling and bustling. Oh wait maybe only in Oklahoma are restaurants dead on a Tuesday… It’s decor and branding hint at The Beverly Hills Hotel, but the food leans more french and jewish inspired.

Once in town, I caught wind of mixed reviews, however we loved every minute of it. Our order included an Aperol spritz and a spicy mezcal cocktail to start. The burrata with pea pesto and radish and lemony shishito peppers (a special) to start. The catch of the day (red snapper) and chicken schnitzel with fries for the entrees. And key lime pie to end.

Verbena Parlor + Social House
Vebena is toxin-free, fume-free, nail bar & cafe located in Uptown. They have a cafe/coffee shop in the front area with a nail salon in the back. It’s aesthetic and fumes are not like your average nail salon. I went for a matcha, but I can’t wait to go back for a manicure.

I met Molly of Molly on the Move here for coffee yesterday. Her blog has been my self proclaimed guide to Dallas! Molly and I met back in the fall and her energy is hard to not be friends with. She recently went full time with blogging so she gets the remote life. We met at Verbena to catch up and work a bit. The cafe space has a handful of tables and multiple outlets.

Katy Trail Ice House
This is a bit basic as it is a Dallas staple, but I had never been until this past weekend. It seemed fitting to kick off my first weekend in town with a Summer Beer (Blue Moon, Deep Eddy Lemon and lemonade) at one of the best patios in Dallas. Katy Trail Ice House is a beer garden and restaurant located right off the well-known Katy Trail. It was packed with 20-somethings having themselves a Saturday.

Central Market
I moved to the holy land of grocery stores. And I couldn’t be happier about it. I went to Central Market twice this past week purely for fun with no list in hand. I walked the aisles over and over sampling all the things (the bread!!). I walked out with simply a case of Waterloo and protein bars, but I can’t wait to stock up on specialty dips and cheeses and their homemade tortillas.

Honor Bar
Another “basic” choice, but a Dallas staple located in Highland Park Village. Honor Bar is a Hillstone concept so you know it’s going to be good and to the point food. They also have my favorite salad on the menu, so I will be back sooner rather than later. Especially since they gave me a gift card after having a small run in with peanut oil (Oops for them, worked out for me. Disclosure I was fine)!

Mom and dad and I had dinner here last Friday while they were still in town. We had just finished unpacking and getting me moved in. We enjoyed a really good meal and good conversation. I see more great nights at Honor Bar in my future.

Cheers to these honorable mentiones. SculptHouse, Class Studios, and The Katy Trail for working out, Javier’s, Little Katana, and The Porch for dining, Halcyon and La La Land Kind Cafe for coffee and Royal Blue Grocery for you guessed it, groceries.

I have a long list of Dallas spots to make it to, but I’m open to all suggestions. Drop your DFW recs in the comments!

Annie