My wife and I were looking for a place to eat with another couple who was in town for a wedding. We…read moreneeded a place that could satisfy a diner with a more "meat and potatoes" kind of palate, but that wouldn't break the bank. The two of these together really limit your options, but after finding The Rackhouse on a Yelp search, it seemed to tick all of the boxes. Traditional steakhouses were just too expensive, and "New American" places just didn't have enough of the familiar home cooked fare.
Anyone who's spent much time in the Dallas/Ft Worth area recently knows how stiflingly hot it's been. But amazingly, our dinner here was on the first day with measurable rainfall in, well, forever or so it felt. And with it, the temperature came down, and then the hostess asked "would you like to sit on the patio?"
We opted for that, and wow, what a treat! The space is expansive, with great seating and tables, misting fans (which weren't needed on this one day!) and "shade sails" (I had to look that up) to provide stylish cover from the overhead sun, but the best part of all, was a westerly facing view that brought us an absolutely stunning sunset (see my picture). Live music was provided by a really talented crooner with a guitar, belting out his versions of some great hits with feeling, and at a volume that still allowed conversation. A truly special setting.
But what of the food? Once again, The Rackhouse delivered for everyone in our party. My wife and I opted for the buffalo cauliflower appetizer, little bite sized nuggets of battered joy that still had texture and firmness, but was well cooked and tasted great with the accompanying sauce. My entree was the grilled meatloaf, served with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. I asked for the gravy on the side, and honestly, I preferred ketchup on the meat loaf (I am from south of the Mason Dixon line, after all), but the gravy was great with the potatoes. The meat loaf itself was well cooked yet still tender, and well seasoned.
Two other diners chose the chicken fried chicken, and its presentation was a little polarizing. It's pounded VERY thin, offering a crispy bite that's easy to cut with a fork, and easy to dip into the creamy gravy. I personally loved it, but one diner was wishing for it to be a little thicker.
Finally, the server was able to talk us into dessert, which for me and another of our party was the Buffalo Trace Bread Pudding, and - wow. Featuring a whisky based sauce in lieu of the usual rum based sauce, it had a fantastic, rich flavor that elevated the tender yet substantial breading - it was fantastic. If you're sweet on sweets, this one is a winner.
This was truly a wonderful experience in every way, and we'll be going back when the weather gets a little cooler for more time on that knockout patio. You should try it, too!