Let’s be honest.
How many times have you driven past a beautiful restaurant and thought, “One day, we’ll have to try that”?
Then life happens.
The kids have practice. Work gets busy. You order takeout again or return to the same handful of restaurants because you already know what to expect.
That is exactly why I love DFW Restaurant Week.
For a few weeks each year, restaurants across North Texas create special prix-fixe menus that make it easy to experience somewhere new while supporting two wonderful nonprofits: the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope.
Whether you have been wanting to celebrate an anniversary, plan a girls’ night, surprise your spouse with a date night or explore more of the Dallas dining scene, Restaurant Week is one of the best excuses all year to finally make the reservation.
So…What Is Restaurant Week?
Reservations are now open for DFW Restaurant Week.
From August 10 through September 7, participating restaurants across North Texas will offer specially curated lunch, brunch and multi-course dinner menus at fixed prices.
For diners, it is an opportunity to experience restaurants that might ordinarily be reserved for birthdays, anniversaries or very special occasions. You can sample a thoughtfully selected menu, try somewhere new and know that a portion of your meal will help support local charities.
That makes dinner feel even better.
Editor’s note: Participating restaurants, menus, dates and reservation availability can change. Confirm the current Restaurant Week offering directly with the restaurant before making plans.
This Year, Skip the “Where Do You Want to Eat?” Conversation
We have all had it.
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know. Where do you want to go?”
Then everyone falls back on the usual place.
Restaurant Week is your excuse to choose somewhere completely different—a steakhouse you have always admired, a French bistro you bookmarked months ago or the restaurant everyone keeps telling you to try.
Sometimes all it takes is choosing a date and finally making the reservation.
Make It a Night to Remember
Turn your reservation into an occasion.
Plan the date night you have been postponing. Celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Gather your girlfriends, organize a couples’ night, enjoy a memorable family dinner or schedule a business lunch somewhere more exciting than your usual meeting spot.
You do not need a major milestone to enjoy an extraordinary meal.
Sometimes the dinner itself can be the occasion.
Reservations Are Open—Do Not Wait Too Long
Some of the most popular restaurants may fill their prime evening reservation times quickly.
If a particular menu has caught your attention, do not wait until August to begin making plans.
Choose the restaurant.
Pick the date.
Invite someone whose company you enjoy.
Then order something you might not normally try.
Adrienne’s Personal Recommendations
The following restaurants are places I have personally visited and would happily recommend considering during DFW Restaurant Week.
1. Mercat Bistro.
Mercat Bistro offers a charming Parisian-inspired dining experience in the Harwood District. It is a lovely choice for brunch, lunch with friends or a romantic meal in an intimate setting.
Read more about my experience at Mercat Bistro here.
2. Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar.
Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar combines a beautiful garden patio with an energetic atmosphere in the Harwood District. It is especially appealing for a girls’ night, date night or dinner before exploring more of the neighborhood.
3. Sempre Sister.
Sister offers a sophisticated Italian dining experience with beautifully presented dishes and a warm, inviting atmosphere. It feels polished without losing the comfortable neighborhood charm that makes you want to settle in and enjoy the evening.
Read more about my experience at Sempre Sister here.
4. Truluck’s
Truluck’s is an excellent choice for seafood lovers who want Restaurant Week to feel like a true occasion. With its polished atmosphere and celebratory feel, it is well suited for an anniversary, romantic date night or special dinner with friends.
Restaurants on My Wish List
One of the best parts of Restaurant Week is finally trying a restaurant that has been sitting on your personal wish list.
Only two menus immediately called my name this year—and honestly, that may make choosing even harder.
Fine dining, live music and cocktails already sound like the makings of a memorable night out.
Table 13 immediately caught my attention for its stylish, old-school supper club atmosphere, but the Chilean sea bass may be what ultimately gets me through the door.
This feels like the kind of Restaurant Week reservation made for date night, dressing up and lingering over dinner a little longer than usual.
The Landmark
The Landmark earned a spot on my wish list as soon as I spotted the Wagyu meatball on the menu.
It sounds like an elevated twist on a familiar favorite, and finishing the meal with sorbet feels like the perfect light and refreshing ending.
This menu offers just enough intrigue to make me want to reserve a table and find out whether that Wagyu meatball is as memorable as it sounds.
Is It Worth the Drive From Rockwall County?
Absolutely—especially when the restaurant gives you a reason to turn dinner into a full experience.
Restaurant Week is an opportunity to move beyond our usual rotation, explore another part of North Texas and enjoy a restaurant we may have previously saved for “someday.”
Make an evening of it.
Dress up a little. Explore the neighborhood. Order something new. Take the photo. Enjoy the conversation without rushing through dinner.
By the time you begin the drive home, you may already be talking about where you want to go next year.
Make Your Reservation
Have you already chosen your DFW Restaurant Week destination?
Tell me where you are planning to dine—or which restaurant has been sitting on your wish list.
Then call your friends, schedule the date night or gather your favorite couples and make the reservation before the best times disappear.
Happy dining!