The Best Dishes Eater Dallas Ate in February

The amount of excellent food available in Dallas is dizzying, yet mediocre meals somehow keep worming their way into our lives. With your Eater Dallas editor dining out frequently, that means coming across lots of standout dishes and drinks that need to be shared.

Bar Colette

3699 McKinney Ave., #306

Did you know you can taste a Michelin-starred chef’s food in the West Village? As reported by Eater Vegas, Christophe de Lellis left his post to come to Dallas and open his own place. It turns out he’s joining forces with the Cohanim brothers, who own Namo and Bar Colette, and you can taste his cooking right now at the latter location. He’s been experimenting with the menu of bar food, from which I tasted nearly all, and I can promise you that his slider is one of the most perfect burgers that will cross your lips.

Royal China

6025 Royal Ln., #201

Royal China is right up there if you’re searching for the best bao buns in DFW. I opted for the pork belly tucked into soft, luscious buns with crispy pickled carrots and celery — it was indeed the top bite of the month. I also tried the xian bing, a new dish on the menu from Taiwanese street food. The exterior crepe is wrapped around chives and crispy noodles with Hoisin sauce, all rolled up and ready to eat with your hands. It’s sweet and salty, with loads of flavor to explore.

Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse

702 Ross Ave.

Have you been to the West End lately? It’s popping with new spots like Liam’s, but the good old Y.O. is still chugging along. I went in for lunch and had a gorgeous sirloin for $27. It was tender, moist, and an incredible deal.

Courtney E. Smith

Ida Claire

5001 Belt Line Rd.

Speaking of lunch, I hit up Ida Claire in North Dallas to try the lunch menu, and it was beyond busy. I grabbed a spot at the bar and decided to start with the fried chicken, which was excellent and juicy. I did not expect a side salad this huge, but what blew me away was the use of pickled fruit in it — raisins, multiple varieties of grapes, and chunks of wholegrain mustard made it such a delight.

Lubbies Bagels

1160 Peavy Rd.

My first trip to Lubbies was a bit disappointing — I didn’t love the dough of the bagels. But a second trip back yielded a better batch with a nice, firm crust and a more balanced mixture of flavors. I got the original and paired it with a blueberry swirl schmear that gave the mix of sweet and savory I wanted in my bagel experience that day. Things are coming right along over there!