Where Chefs Eat: Scott Gottlich of The Second Floor

Local culinary power couple Scott and Gina Gottlich recently shuttered their Park Cities fine-dining gem Bijoux after an acclaimed eight and a half year run, but that hardly means they're taking it easy these days. In between running the show at The Second Floor, the refined dining destination inside the Westin Galleria, and planning for the upcoming New York City Wine & Food Festival where he'll be featured in the Grand Tasting, chef Scott  — named one of the Dallas Morning News's Best Chefs in DFW for 2014 — spilled the beans to Eater about his favorite local spots for drinking and dining.

Where do you like to drink, and what do you usually order?
As I've gotten older, where I like to go for a drink has moved from bars to dining spots with mainly aperitifs and wines with good food. For a cocktail, I'll typically order a negroni or a Moscow mule. For wine, pinot, Bordeaux, Alban wines, anything Cakebread  — just good wine is the idea!

Best date night destination?
For energy, FT33. For something more quiet, the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.

What's your favorite pizza place?
Lately I've been on a Grimaldi's kick.

Do you have a favorite burger in town?
The Dougie at Village Burger Bar [with cheddar, bacon, a fried egg, and "Village sauce"]. It's very close to my house and I haven't been disappointed yet.

What about other international cuisines — Japanese, Thai, Indian, etc.?
There are a couple of Korean BBQ places on the west side of 35 I like to go to. For Indian, I've been going to India Palace since before I could drive! I also love Asian Mint and of course, can't leave out Monkey King Noodle Company.

How about hidden gems or hole-in-the-walls you swear by?
Rafa's Cafe Mexicano is my go-to for Tex-Mex.

Any other favorite restaurants elsewhere in the U.S.?
Oenotri in Napa and Daniel, Eataly, and Del Posto in NYC. The best meal I ever ate was at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago  — I wish he and his place were still here.