Dead Dallas Restaurants: Which One Do You Miss the Most?

Posted on December 14th, 2010 1:28pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Procrastination is part of the creative process, Silly Reasons to Celebrate

I was doing some research for a story and ran across an old review on The Riviera. Oh, I miss it so. Which now gone restaurant do you miss the most?

80 comments

  1. People in North Dallas really miss Mainstream Fish House.

    I miss the original Cuquiitas on Henderson…and i’ll be the first to say York Street. Wish i had eaten there 10 more times.

    @ 1:31 pm on December 14, 2010

  2. Brinks!

    @ 1:33 pm on December 14, 2010

  3. EZ’s and Slider and Blues on Northwest Highway and Hillcrest. I grew up going to both of them!

    @ 1:33 pm on December 14, 2010

  4. Mother Mesquite’s Cantina.

    I’ve boycotted all CRO, Inc. restaurants since they bought that place and closed it, which isn’t hard since all CRO, Inc. restaurants are terrible.

    @ 1:38 pm on December 14, 2010

  5. Pantelli’s on Lower Greenville from the 80′s
    Great wine list,
    great wait staff, fun Greek dishes.

    My wife and I spent tons of great evenings there when we were dating.

    @ 1:44 pm on December 14, 2010

  6. I second EZ’s. Also, Il Sorrento and the Fog City Diner in Uptown where Truluck’s is now.

    @ 1:51 pm on December 14, 2010

  7. Toscana
    Il Sorrento

    @ 1:52 pm on December 14, 2010

  8. Nothing against the current incarnation but the original Kirby’s. My mother worked there, I worked there as a teen, had many birthday’s there, we went to church with the Kirby family so it was very special to me.

    @ 1:53 pm on December 14, 2010

  9. eccolo
    routh street brewery
    barclay’s
    fish
    big d’s red hots
    flip’s
    nero’s

    @ 1:59 pm on December 14, 2010

  10. The White Swan at Turtle Creek Village, Chaplain’s on Lower Greenville, La Tosca on Inwood Road, Soley on Henderson, Bishop Arts Cafe in Oak Cliff, Mediterraneo at The Quadrangle, Caruso’s in Medallion Center, Deep Ellum Cafe, Cafe Italia on Lovers, the original On the Border on Knox, Il Sole on Travis, Samba Room on Travis, all fondly remembered and sorely missed.

    @ 2:02 pm on December 14, 2010

  11. Lola – RIP

    @ 2:04 pm on December 14, 2010

  12. Gennie’s Bishop Grill

    @ 2:05 pm on December 14, 2010

  13. Kip’s
    The Point
    Paris Vendome
    Citizen

    @ 2:09 pm on December 14, 2010

  14. Wow, Nancy. This is going to turn out to be a great list of restaurants that helped define our broken dining scene…

    @ 2:11 pm on December 14, 2010

  15. Il Sole at Travis Walk.

    @ 2:16 pm on December 14, 2010

  16. The Rib
    Sammy’s
    Little Gus’
    Gus’ Bar-B-Que
    (senior moment: what was Peggy Sue’s original name – I think it included her husband)

    @ 2:20 pm on December 14, 2010

  17. Cuba Libre!

    @ 2:21 pm on December 14, 2010

  18. More senioritis: the deli on Oak Lawn – Sal’s?
    Lucas B&B
    Jamie’s Hamburgers
    The Chaparral club

    @ 2:22 pm on December 14, 2010

  19. Routh Street the most for sure. Also, in no particular order, Actuelle, Seascape Inn, Jean-Claude, Ratcliffe’s, Lola, Calluaud’s, Enjolie, Riviera, Sonny Bryan’s (when Sonny was alive), Uncle Tai’s, and Cafe Royal.

    @ 2:24 pm on December 14, 2010

  20. Lone Star Oyster Bar on Greenville
    Vincent’s across from Bachman Lake
    Massimo’s on Lovers lane
    Wycliff Point
    Randy Tar
    Oz

    @ 2:32 pm on December 14, 2010

  21. Mediterraneo- Jonah crab salad with bibb lettuce and aged balsamic
    Flip’s Wine Bar- got engaged there on Monday’s half-price wine night
    All the original Lombardi’s
    Soley! for the fries with truffle oil

    @ 2:39 pm on December 14, 2010

  22. Radford’s Cafeteria on Hillcrest with “Miz Inez” playing the piano.

    @ 2:45 pm on December 14, 2010

  23. Ditto many on the lists above, and I would add the Deep Ellum location of Sambuca. None of the others have replicated the ambiance there. It had the feel of a jazz bar in Greenwich Village.

    @ 2:52 pm on December 14, 2010

  24. Rooster Restaurant – They would give you the food that you want.

    @ 2:56 pm on December 14, 2010

  25. Marco Pollo in Frisco. It had the BEST rotisserie chicken anywhere.

    @ 3:00 pm on December 14, 2010

  26. Flip’s (1st date with husband, LOVED the Garden Hamlet Pizza)
    Terrilli’s (can’t wait for it’s return–I was there opening night the first time around)
    Juniper (Lola’s building 2-3 restaurants earlier)
    Lola
    Savino
    Ratcliff’s
    Yamaguchi
    Baby Routh
    Quadrangle Grill
    Little Gus

    @ 3:01 pm on December 14, 2010

  27. Didn’t we all just answer this same question four months ago? http://sidedish.wpengine.com/2010/08/24/curiousdish-restaurant-revival/

    @ 3:19 pm on December 14, 2010

  28. Lola
    York St
    Liberty Noodle
    Cuba Libre
    Massimo de Milano
    Ratcliffe’s (particularly the bar/music room)

    @ 3:25 pm on December 14, 2010

  29. EZs
    Soley! (the best)
    Cuba Libre

    @ 3:47 pm on December 14, 2010

  30. Bavarian Steak House
    Rolf’s
    Corner Tap

    @ 4:00 pm on December 14, 2010

  31. Il Sole, York Street, Hola tapas bar

    @ 4:00 pm on December 14, 2010

  32. Yoshi’s
    Deli News Too
    Gilbert’s Deli

    @ 4:02 pm on December 14, 2010

  33. Citizen

    @ 4:17 pm on December 14, 2010

  34. Ciudad

    @ 4:20 pm on December 14, 2010

  35. @gastronome – Peggy’s Beef Bar – the sign is still up inside the Corner Club at Peggy Sues

    @ 4:24 pm on December 14, 2010

  36. Three Vikings (the Swedish place), original Knox Street Pub, Chili’s back when it was just a local hamburger joint, Liberty Noodle, the original Highland Park Cafeteria, Callaud’s, Holy Smoke, Flying Burro, and Hola (Si Tapas has never struck my fancy, but we loved Hola)

    @ 4:43 pm on December 14, 2010

  37. LaTunisia, The Beefeater, Little Bit of Sweden, Chateaubriand, The Rib, LaTosca, Ewald’s, Southern Kitchen, Mario’s, Ashburn’s!

    @ 4:43 pm on December 14, 2010

  38. Ciudad & Cuba Libre

    @ 4:46 pm on December 14, 2010

  39. Wow. I agree with so many of the lists stated. For moi:

    Lola (!!!!!!!)
    Aurora
    Rouge
    Liberty Noodle (Lower Greenville)
    Sambuca (Deep Ellum)
    Many more…I just can’t remember the names!

    @ 4:59 pm on December 14, 2010

  40. cuba libre!!!

    @ 5:01 pm on December 14, 2010

  41. Can’t believe no one has mentioned Star Canyon

    Also
    Lola
    Liberty Noodles
    Mediteranneo
    Normandy Alliance

    Does Marty’s Wines count?

    @ 5:03 pm on December 14, 2010

  42. Baby Routh
    Riviera
    Parigi (with original owner)
    Sfuzzi (original)
    Strong’s Tavern
    Genaro’s (Lakewood)
    Terrilli’s

    @ 5:45 pm on December 14, 2010

  43. I agree with so many of these, but I’d like to add Cafe Patrique – one of the first businesses in Mockingbird Station.

    @ 6:27 pm on December 14, 2010

  44. Always and forever – Fog City Diner and the Rusty Pelican. A lot of good times and good food were had there!

    @ 7:06 pm on December 14, 2010

  45. @Gastronome and @Rob – Peggy Sue’s last was Peggy’s Beef Bar but prior to that it was Peggy and Howard’s – they divorced and then it was just hers.

    @ 7:51 pm on December 14, 2010

  46. Chez Gerard!

    @ 8:47 pm on December 14, 2010

  47. Ciudad and the original 8.0
    Always great food and great people – I miss my hangouts!

    @ 8:59 pm on December 14, 2010

  48. Rose’s Bluebonnet Cafe. Those burgers were amazing, and I really felt like I was showing people something new and unexpected when I took them there for the first time.

    @ 9:41 pm on December 14, 2010

  49. Grotto
    2900

    @ 9:43 pm on December 14, 2010

  50. Routh Street (table 39)
    Savino’s (angel hair in lobster sauce)
    Chez Gerard (pate and the somewhat distant wait staff but excellent food)
    Sonny Bryan’s on Inwood when Sonny was still alive
    Arc en Ciel (although Caravelle carries on well)

    @ 9:54 pm on December 14, 2010

  51. Top of my list; would love to go back one more time…..Enclave (supper club on Walnut Hill), Gershwin’s, Ciudad, and Lola.
    See if you can convince the owner/chef’s to bring em back please…

    @ 10:12 pm on December 14, 2010

  52. @gastronome: I’m afraid you’ve just showed your age by naming your selections. About the same as me.

    I’m surprised another old fogy like me didn’t mention Southern Kitchen. The original one on NW Hwy. (West) across Harry Hines Blvd. Remember their sticky buns? And delicious oysters? All you could eat for $3.99 served with genteel Southern hospitality.

    They’re is very little mentioned above that I don’t miss.

    I do especially miss EZ’s. The closest Dallas had to a North/East diner.

    @ 10:56 pm on December 14, 2010

  53. And Scagnetti, You must be in the “over 60″ club as well with your selections. Which, I also miss. And don’t talk to me about OZ. I practically lived there! Downstairs at the disco probably every night of the week! And, the restaurant upstairs. Good old chef, Lafont and his incredible Lobster a la Nage. The greatest!

    Back then, no one else in town baked like Massimo’s.

    @ 1:06 am on December 15, 2010

  54. Cactus Jacks, 8.0 bar, Matts No Place, Gilberts Deli, Morosi’s Grinders in Lakewood, Sagnos Pizza, Gennies Bishop Grill, Original Chilis and Original On the Border. Uncle Tais. I don’t get it how such dining gems just flat out die in this city. I just don’t get it!

    @ 1:48 am on December 15, 2010

  55. Oh yea. Forgot Strictly Tabu.

    @ 1:49 am on December 15, 2010

  56. Barclays

    Nick Barclay was amazing, and it was sad to see him move back to the UK.

    @ 3:15 am on December 15, 2010

  57. I used to love Rolando’s on Denton Drive. Great caldo (pollo and res) and they made an amazing steamin gresy plate of enchiladas.

    @ 8:03 am on December 15, 2010

  58. I also loved Loma Luna!! Along with Strictly Tabu and Matt’s No Place. For some reason I still remember those smoked baked taters from the smoker.

    @ 9:15 am on December 15, 2010

  59. The Wine Press, Lola, Jeraboam, Los Vaqueros in HP Village, Goff’s, HP Cafeteria..

    @ 9:18 am on December 15, 2010

  60. Wow, miss lots of those.

    Also La Cave, on Henderson and the one that was on McKinney in the West End. One of the coolest spots to eat in the City

    I really miss Crescent City Coffee Shop, when it started on Garland Road. Cafe au Lait.

    Someone mentioned Knox Street Pub. Great Beef Stew.

    @ 9:19 am on December 15, 2010

  61. Lombardi Mare (I still cry for this joint and it’s been more than 10 years)
    8.0 (good times!)

    @ 9:32 am on December 15, 2010

  62. Paris vendome
    Cafe Royale
    Citizen

    @ 9:42 am on December 15, 2010

  63. Good, fast fish ‘n chips like H Salt Esquire and Arthur Treachers.

    @ 10:53 am on December 15, 2010

  64. @Twinwillow: I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m 19 years old (and have some swamp land in Florida I’d love to sell you). If we’re revealing things about ourselves, I’d like to know what showing up at Oz every night of the week says about you (either daddy’s money or one heck of a sugardaddy – I loved the place too, but it could drill a hole in your pocket big enough to drive a truck through). What about Underwood’s? TW, you know what they sold, does anyone else? How about Brother’s?

    @ 12:16 pm on December 15, 2010

  65. @Joeat: La Tunisia! What about the Watusi at the door who wore that incredible hat?

    @ 12:19 pm on December 15, 2010

  66. Gastronome, don’t be nasty. I meant no offense. OZ existed from the early 70′s to about 1980. I was in my thirties with plenty of money to spend and having a great time back then picking up ladies at the bar. No $$$ necessary. Just quality drugs!
    Underwood’s: Chicken, wasn’t it?

    @ 1:27 pm on December 15, 2010

  67. Underwood’s= bbq?
    Brother’s= pizza or chicken

    I remember going to Fishbowl on Knox quite a bit some years back.

    Here’s a few for the old timers… Port’s O Call was the most exotic restaurant a 5 year old could imagine.

    Other ancient restaurants: Dominique on Inwood and Town & Country downtown. The latter had steaks and Chinese. Brennan’s from New Orleans had a Dallas and Houston outpost in the early 70′s.

    Anyone recall Zuider Zees or Little Bit of Sweden?

    @ 2:41 pm on December 15, 2010

  68. Vehon’s where my parents brought me to eat oysters (and I did and I still love them). Really, what 6 year old eats oysters?

    @ 2:53 pm on December 15, 2010

  69. TW: Woops – my sincere apology – didn’t mean to come off as nasty, I just always assumed you were a member of the fairer sex (I guess if I read this blog a bit more often I’d have known better). Yes Underwood’s Fried Chicken.

    @ 3:19 pm on December 15, 2010

  70. Zuider Zee

    @ 3:20 pm on December 15, 2010

  71. New San Dor – had the best peking duck and really great authentic Chinese food. Where did the chefs go?

    @ 4:31 pm on December 15, 2010

  72. @Gastronome. Apology accepted! Yes, I am a full blooded, lady loving male. Today is my 71st birthday so, I do remember all the restaurants in Dallas since my arrival from NYC in 1963. Including, Zuider Zee.
    Anyone else here old enough to remember when Kip’s Big Boy was at the corner of Lemmon and Inwood? Directly across the street from where Sigel’s was until a few months ago.
    A few people have mentioned Strictly Tabu. I remember it well. It was the best place in town to be on a Sunday night for pizza and live jazz. And, I remember Vehon’s. too. It was located where Baker’s Ribs is now on Greenville Avenue.

    @ 6:04 pm on December 15, 2010

  73. Does anyone remember the great Chinese restaurant on Lomo Alto on the corner across the street from where Wholefoods is?
    They had exceptional Peking Duck, too. The two brothers that owned it were originally from Lubbock and their last name was, Lee.

    @ 6:07 pm on December 15, 2010

  74. Baby Routh!

    @ 8:58 pm on December 15, 2010

  75. Original Green Room with Chris Pyun and Marc Cassell, Royal Tokyo for whole live lobster sashimi, Il Sorrento and their homemade pasta and gnocchi and the Palm reader, Jeroboam with Garreth Dickey and the skatewing, 2900 with Mike Smith, Yellow with Avner, Natura with the Cobbs and the asparagus spears, Sam’s Cafe and the 80′s and wasted youth, 62 Main with David McMillan, and of course York Street with Sharon. And Jack Chaplin.

    @ 9:45 pm on December 15, 2010

  76. Nuevo Leon on Greenville. Flying Burro before it went down hill.

    @ 11:02 pm on December 15, 2010

  77. Twinwillow, our parents took us to that Kip’s all the time for burgers and hot fudge sundaes…then across the street to the Cotton Bowl afterwards. Speaking of Lemmon, RIP Prince of Hamburger AND Cactus Jacks! Also nearby on Lovers, I miss the Pizza Pantry, which later became Reggio’s. Just burger joints and holes in the wall, but still… Also terribly missed from the 70′s in Old Town, Mariano’s and TGI Friday’s, when Friday’s menu was on small chalkboards and they only hired young handsome men as waitstaff. I miss Snuffer’s too, back when they were only on Greenville and didn’t yet own the “patio side”. Back then they served premium call drinks…with Coke, not Pepsi!

    @ 4:07 am on December 17, 2010

  78. So many great memories … most of those mentioned, plus Nero’s, Anzu, Queen of Sheba when it was on McKinney at Lemmon down from the Smoking Loon, Lawry’s Prime Rib where Nick & Sam’s is now (sentimental choice, my granny’s favorite place, no offense to N&S)and many more. Don’t forget to go to the restaurants you love … they’ll be gone if you don’t!

    @ 5:20 pm on December 17, 2010

  79. The Blues Burger at The Hole in the Wall and the heroin at Brother’s Pizza

    @ 9:25 am on December 18, 2010

  80. Tutto on Mckinney Ave.- short lived but wonderful Italian.

    EZs for sure.

    Ciudad.

    And despite all the drama, we loved Draelion. I miss that kobe beef and sea bass….

    @ 4:28 pm on December 26, 2010