Zephyr-Bakery-Cafe

Best New Restaurant
Zephyr Bakery Cafe

It’s an exciting time to be in the Oak Lawn gayborhood, especially if you’re a foodie. In recent years, we’ve witnessed an explosion of development and growth that has diversified the area culturally and culinarily. And one of the high points for Dallas Voice readers has been the emergence of Zephyr along The Strip. Authentically Parisian in concept and execution, it’s a cozy boite, with charming decor, a popular brunch, lush baked goods prepared daily (bacon belongs on cupcakes!), rich coffee and a pet-friendly patio. You can imagine yourself dining along the 18th arrondissement, overlooking the city from Montmartre… well, you will have to imagine that. But close your eyes and let the food take you there. Bon voyage, y’all!

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Photo by Arnold Wayne Jones

Pizza

Italian/Pizza
Campisi’s

The shape is unmistakable: Oblong, with slices cut not into triangles, but more bite-sized rectangles across the longest meridian. It is a pizza like none other… and that’s no doubt why readers voted Campisi’s their favorite pizzeria and spot for Italian cuisine. The storied eatery — its main location has been on Mockingbird Lane, beneath an even older sign identifying it as “The Egyptian,” since the 1940s, but there are satellites, including heat-at-home options in grocery stores — is old-school Italian at its kitschiest: iceberg salads drenched in garlicy oil, dimly-lit dining rooms illuminated by red-glassed candles, veal pounded thinner than Lara Flynn Boyle. We love it all. But it’s that pizza that shouts something unique and special. We love it. Always will.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Photo by Arnold Wayne Jones

Mexican-food

Tex-Mex
Uncle Julio’s

Without question, one of the great benefits of living in Dallas is access to tons of great Tex-Mex cuisine. In fact, there’s so much good food out there, we weren’t surprised that Dallas Voice readers voted for a tie in the category, with both Gloria’s and Uncle Julio’s coming out on top. And while Gloria’s offers the bonus of fusion cuisine — you can also enjoy Mexican, Salvadoran and “SalvaTex” delights — Uncle Julio’s is straight-up Tex-Mex with its sizzling fajitas, fancy frozen margaritas (including a few brand new recipes), tableside guacamole and of course combination platters of enchiladas, tamales and tacos. And for a little flamboyance, don’t forget the chocolate piñata for dessert … and who doesn’t enjoy a little flamboyance?

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Photo by Arnold Wayne Jones

BEST DINING EXPERIENCE

18th and Vine

4100 Maple Ave.

214-443-8335.

18thAndVineBBQ.com.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Zephyr Bakery Café

4001 Cedar Springs Road.

214-377-6023.

Zephyr.cafe,

BEST LOCAL CHEF

Blythe Beck, Pink Magnolia

ChefBlytheBeck.com.

BEST BRUNCH

Bread Winners Café

3301 McKinney Ave.

(and other area locations).

BreadWinnersCafe.com.

BEST BURGER

BEST LUNCH SPOT

Hunky’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers

3930 Cedar Springs Road and

321 N. Bishop Ave.

Hunkys.com.

BEST BARBECUE

Pecan Lodge

2702 Main St.

214-748-8900.

PecanLodge.com.

BEST STEAK

Bob’s Steak & Chop House

4300 Lemmon Ave. (and additional location).

Bobs-SteakAndChop.com.

BEST ASIAN/SUSHI

Oishii

2525 Wycliffe Ave.

DallasOishii.com.

BEST ITALIAN/PIZZA

Campisi’s

5610 E. Mockingbird Lane.

Campisis.us.

BEST TEX-MEX (TIE)

Gloria’s Latin Cuisine

3223 Lemmon Ave. (and other locations).

GloriasCuisine.com.

Uncle Julio’s

4125 Lemmon Ave. (and other locations).

214-520-6620.

Uncle Julios.com.

BEST TAQUERIA

Velvet Taco

3012 N. Henderson Ave.

214-823-8358.

VelvetTaco.com.

BEST VEGETARIAN SPOT

Cosmic Cafe

2912 Oak Lawn Ave.

214-521-6157.

CosmicCafeDallas.com.

BEST DINER

Norma’s Café

1123 W. Davis St. (and other locations).

NormasCafe.com.

BEST PATIO

Cedar Springs Tap House

4123 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. 100.

214-377-7446.

CedarSpringsTapHouse.com.

BEST COCKTAIL MENU

Pink Magnolia

642 W. Davis St.

469-320-9220.

PinkMagnoliaDallas.com

BEST VODKA

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition MARCH 17, 2017.