One of the things I've learned throughout life is that everyone fancies himself as a pretty good critic of restaurants. However, oft times those opinions and recommendations are based on limited experience.
In my case, for an example, I've had the good fortune of sampling dinner in fine restaurants in most major cities throughout the US, but I've never been to a movie-style dimly lit cafe across the Atlantic.
But I would like to tell you about two Italian restaurants that are within about one song or so on the car radio from our home in Dallas' Lake Highlands. We think they're terrific.
First and foremost is Roma's. It's near the corner of Walnut Hill and Greenville Avenue. God only knows what the original creator of this building had in mind -- concrete floor, crazy kind of booths and a bar inside, and a cockamamie sort of suspended covered deck that has loads of charm but looks like something my Uncle Joe would have built from scrap lumber one Sunday afternoon after church.
<<=== ROMA'S ITALIAN - Upper Greenville Near Walnut Hill
Nevertheless, Roma's has wonderful food. It really does. Their sauces are especially good, and the price probably comes in lower than every good Italian restaurant in Dallas. Patty and I go there frequently. Of course our favorite waitress is a charming 25-year older direct from Germany rather than Italy, but then I told you this place is cockamamie. Reservations aren't needed. Roma's, 7402 Greenville Avenue, 214 373-0500.
Patrizio is in tony Highland Park, in fact Highland Park Village. So naturally it attracts those who want to be seen. They linger over discussions about Chanel and the Cowboys at the bar as they sip the latest version of a cocktail. Some actually eventually end up at a table for four for dinner.
But pay no mind to them. The rest of us come from both the Park Cities and the rest of Dallas for the wonderful northern Italian fare. In fact Patrizio is one of our very favorite restaurants in Dallas. And here's the interesting part. Dinner here runs about twenty bucks a person.
And if you're in the mood, you can eat on the patio. It's fun as long as you're prepared to accept that Highland Park mosquitoes sting, too, even though it's common knowledge that they have teeny diamond cocktail rings from Harry Winston's on their little nail-polished stingers.
Patrizio is at 25 Highland Park Village. Reservations appear to be taken only when the staff is in the mood. 214 522-7878.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS
Our 43rd Year Selling Texas
214 503-8563
1 800 314-7110
Bill,
Thanks for this information. I was at Patrizio's one evening for bellinis. When we arrived there were 2 Rolls and 1 Bently waiting to be parked.
Now Roma's sounds like my kind of place. I will check it out.
Richard,
You'll like Roma's. By the way, I'm also rather partial to their pizza, although I know most of Dallas thinks The Egyptian's are the best. (I, on the other hand being from the outside world, think everything about the fare at the Egyptian is a total aberration....a big hair is really stylish sort of thing.)