Honestly, this was one of our best experiences in Dallas food wise and service wise. The basil…read morehummus and muhammara were tasty and fresh. The fresh baked pita was wonderful. The Greek salad was so colorful and had a perfect amount of dressing on it. The beef dumplings were pan fried perfectly, and the sauce on top was an excellent addition. The chicken tawook presentation was lovely and the chicken and sauce were great. The lamb stuffed ravioli was small and could've used more flavor. The drinks were good as well. The ambiance was perfect.

Babel Dallas Mediterranean cuisine located in the Oaklawn…read moregayborhood of Dallas Texas. The experience begins outside as one approaches the the entrance you are presented with a towering structure beckoning of early 700 BC a presence of stature fortrice weathered forbidden access this is a solid over arching metal and wood door a gate a portal heavy yielding only to the worthy and adventurous. The balance of strength gave me access to a billowing cloth surely to forbid the weathers of the day from access but permitting human solice. This is Babel. The parting of the tatters of my day are quickly released and a respite begins with a pleasent voice welcoming. This hospitality comes from Jasmine who with the pleasentry of a professional and the kindness of joy welcomes. I was caught alight as I arrived a full 30 min prior to my appointed fortunate that Jasmine set aside and quickly assured me she would find me a place to rest and ralax. The entry space is comfortable with a full height exposure bright mutted decore which adds to the name and cuisine vibe. Jasmine showed me to a well appointed white linen table simple clean lines and a matching simple service. Jasmine was quick to notice the table lumination needed to be addressed. She quickly suggested checking my hat and coat. This is always a plus in my book. The space with its tall ceiling and wide open space invoked a sense of the Mediterranean scene. There is a full service bar and a glass walled private dining space over all the main floor can accommodate approximately 109 guest comfortably. The atmosphere was dim to the perfect tone with the table lumes back lit by the wall and over head glow. The music was modern mix with a hint of the traditional modif to taste. This evening I was to be guided by Server AaLijah a recent transplant from Pennsylvania Lennox city. I appreciate when the service allows for a period to appreciate the wine list and the menu. Not rushed but observed. Upon reviewing the wine list of which covered the broad compliment from bubbles to reds and whites from a global selection. I decided on a bottle of bubbly as i always recall by ZaZa when there is champagne always do champagne or proseco in my case. The menu was well thought out not over optioned just the correct balance and broad selection to complete a seven course if the guest so pleased. The entrys covered a lovely Lamb thru to chicken and two womderful fish offerings. I was looking for lamb as this fair has not arrived in the area. As i sat quietly inhaling the experience i settled to observe the other guest. There was a large party of 15 smartly dressed i quickly noted the guys i would flirt had the opportunity arised but sadly they were engaged in a birthday gathering. The majority of the other 12 tables were couples or just friend celebrating. I sat enjoyed my bubbles and light reading thanks to Jasmine the table glowed. The staff moves quickly each carefully scanning the floor eyes up quick to ensure every guest was cared for. Bubbly is really best served cold my glass was changed out and refilled just as the pre course arrived my favorite broiled Brussels in a dark char glaze heaven. Yes bubbles a book little music laughs joy and brussels delicious. The tall flute was taken away and my primary was they in front of me a beautiful raw lamb with jullie vegetables asparagus another flute of bubbles and brussles. It is best to order the bottle of bubbles over the glass says ZaZa so i comply i appropriate how the AaLijah changed out my flute and filled fresh. The lamb was perfect the gastronomic was memorable the brussels perfect. AaLijah figured my weak spot and offered up a Bruled Terramasu with ice cream. There goes my gym gains. She surrender the bubbles into the flute and this was the lead to the end of my perfect lamb bubbles and brussels at Babel. AaLijah o begged of the desert to a desert escape bag my secret endulgence later tonight. I gave my best to AaLijah a new comer to Dallas shared the excitement of Oaklawn and baid good night as i noted the Babel at closed 30 minutes prior but the main floor was still full of life laughs and music. As i made my way to the entrly Jasmine inquired as to the evening as she already had my cap and coat. The large billow cloth protecting those who were gathered within was parted i peered out into the dark star filled evening the valet smiles shares a farewell and my evening at Babel is history. When you have a weekday evening Babel

I always go there for the best mixed paella in Dallas/the Metroplex. I love all the tapas they…read moreserve! And the sangria is just perfect for my taste. Never wrong to eat Spanish delicate food at Si Tapas!

Cute cozy tables. The service was good. The paëlla was flavorful with amazing fish, however the…read moremussels were not great and the shrimp were overcooked. The octopus was perfect. Mushrooms and eel were good but a little too buttery, nothing remarkable.

I had a wonderful experience at Avra!…read more Starting out, I had Sunday brunch but there was a lot going on that weekend so for my birthday brunch most of my party was either late or did not show up due to unforeseen circumstances - the host was perfectly well equipped to help me out in making sure I had an unbelievable experience regardless. They adjusted the seating several times, they never told me or made me feel that I was not welcome. The food was phenomenal. The waitstaff were phenomenal. Just a 10 out of 10 experience. A lot of restaurants fail to understand, when we're coming out of the house to eat it's not just about what is on the plate. It's about the ambience, how well each diner is being treated and Avra went above and beyond. If I were ever in the neighborhood again, (I'm coming from out of town) then I would most certainly eat here and I would recommend -highly recommend- that others eat here as well if they want top level service, beautiful restaurant and delicious food.

Avra is easily one of the top restaurants in Dallas. Hands down!…read more It's esthetically beautiful and the food is even better. Everything is so fresh!!! The fresh and simply prepared seafood is top tier. The unique Mediterranean concept with an in-house fish market presentation is an experience in itself. The team is very well educated about the flavor profiles of each, so you get a great description of anything you're unfamiliar with. All of the sides and appetizers are simply prepared and perfectly complement. We've visited 3-4 times and service is always immaculate. Food: We've tried the fried scorpion fish, lavraki, dorado, Nigerian Tiger prawns, barbounia, lobster spaghetti, and a couple others. All were phenomenal. Scorpion fish might be my fave. The fresh cut fries, Avra chips, and Skordalia dip are more highlights for me, but honestly I wouldn't hesitate to try anything....everything is just prepared so well. Tips: You can select your fish from the fish market and it's priced by the pound. Go for brunch and get a free cinnamon that's better than most bakeries!

1. Amazing food. I had the salmon kebob. The rice reminded me of Mediterranean rice that I ate when…read moreI was a teenager from a family who owned a Mediterranean restaurant. It was delicious. My mouth waters when I think about the dinner - and our visit was a month ago! 2. Husband had the lamb burger. He still hasn't stopped talking about how good it was. 3. The service was excellent. The waiter was SO polite, SO well dressed. I felt like I was in a fancy European bistro. 4. Which brings me to the ambiance. I felt a tad under-dressed. We were not planning on going there, it was a random choice. (A great one, mind you!) We had dropped my son off at the airport and were waiting for his flight to take off, so we decided to grab sthg to eat. It was a little fancier than a "cafe," in my opinion. Beautiful tile floors - the name of the restaurant was right there in the foyer (on the floor). Fancy. Lovely. Delicious. We'll be back next month. Bringing the mother-in-law this time!

Excellent meal on a Saturday evening. Stopped by with the family and a friend visiting from out of…read morethe country. The restaurant is located in a complex that is pretty busy, and parking is pretty tight. I would recommend parking in the garage behind the restaurant or trying to snag a spot in the Trader Joe's parking lot. We made reservations on Saturday morning for Saturday evening, and the restaurant was busy but not too packed. Our server was attentive and very helpful. The ambiance is very nice, and the restaurant is decorated pretty well. We started with several appetizers and a couple of cocktails. We got the lamb meatballs, the hummus, the calamari, and the roasted cauliflower. All of it was delicious. For entrees, we got the adana kebab, the salmon kebab, and the cheese pizza thing (forgot the actual name!). All of it was delicious but the Adonna kebab was amazing. The Salman in kebab was a little bit dry and overcooked but still tasty. We will definitely be back and hopefully in the future, we can sit on the patio when the weather is nicer.

Incredible family-run Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant. Unpretentious exterior, dreamy…read moreinterior. Welcoming and attentive service, made us feel as dinner guests at their home! Exceptional were ALL the dishes tried. Stellar tastes and textures to Alania's specialties of "Pink Sultan Mezze", "Stone Oven Lahmacun", and, "Adana Kebab". Memorable also is to end another perfect evening by sipping their "Turkish Tea"! CHEERS!

Very good! Would rate it like 4.5 stars! Restaurant is beautiful. Came with another couple. We…read moreordered the meze trio- you get to choose 3 options from 9 different types of mezze. They were all delicious! For entree, my husband got salmon shish. It's good but a bit dry. I got the adana kebab, sooo goood! My husband really liked mine as well. Very flavorful and has a small kick of spice- I would order this again! My friend gave me his white sauce that comes on his plate because he can't have dairy- I think it's tzatziki sauce? Anyways, the sauce doesn't come with the adana kebab plate but they taste really good together. Wanted to try a dessert but was too full for it. Parking at 6pm on a Saturday was easy. We found parking right in front. Service was great.

In anticipation of the World Cup, the New York Times listed only 9 places as "Where To Eat" in…read moreDallas; this is one of them. "An intimate Spanish tapas spot." (6/6/26). A wonderful place, with wonderful food, run by wonderful people! Perfect for late night after a show or symphony. Perfect any other time, too!

HARASSED by staff for tip - Ruined the rest of the night on Knox Henderson…read more TLDR - Pre-dinner drinks and tapas gone awry. Waited 15 minutes for our server after sat, she refused to believe we waited long, then was served old/stale Pan con Tomate + Jamón plate. We requested a new plate to replace but were asked to explain how the bread could be stale. Server came back to say that she tasted the dish and it was stale, so she would take off the bread and comp with fresh bread and butter. She ended up charging us for that anyways. For 2 drinks, 3 slices of jamon and $2 bread our bill was $32. After waiting and constantly needing to track down our server, we were late for our dinner reservation and needed to leave. I didn't leave a tip and she confronted TWICE, we didn't leave a tip. She then tried to go back to the payment terminal to ring something up so I can tip as if I made a mistake. I let her know that I didn't. 15% of 32 is $4.50. She proceeded to make a scene and got hostile/aggressive. Why are you not leaving a tip. Is it because of me personally or the service? She towered over the table and we had to uncomfortably explain it was not a pleasant experience and we hope the next time we come would be a bit different. Some days are just not our days. We are human. She didn't like our forced answer and left. We were shocked that we were confronted and chastised for not leaving a tip for subpar service, a confirmed unsatisfactory food dish AND was still charged for our "comped bread"which was only $2. This behavior conveys a gross lack of professionalism and understanding. The waitress perceived our actions as disrespectful and lacked understanding that we had a subpar experience given the circumstances. We were shocked and unfortunately left with the most bitter taste in our mouths (aside from the horrible and stale pan con tomate that was drenched in olive oil) We have heard great things about Cafe Madrid and the ambiance and live music was lovely. I'm sure the other dishes are great and that this can be a one off experience. But circumstances like these reflect training and the lack of standard for service and professionalism. Long story - We walked in on a Friday night around 7:30 for some drinks and a tapa before our late dinner reservation down the road. What was supposed to be a quick and enjoyable stop was unfortunately derailed by slow service, confusion in who was our server, STALE and old food and harassment from our waitress about no tip after the fact that our unsatisfactory meal was communicated and acknowledged. Some people have bad days and I understand. The behavior and lack of remorse didn't signal that. For a Friday evening, the restaurant was busy but multiple servers were attending every other table outside of ours after we were sat down by a hostess. After 15 minutes, I motioned to a server to ask to order and after a few minutes our waitress comes by hurriedly and a bit flustered. She asked if we waited a long time. After almost 18 minutes of waiting I was honest and let her know it's been some time. She didn't seem to understand why we were waiting a long time and didn't believe us. It was a small interaction and but I wanted the night to proceed in good spirits. We ordered 2 drinks and 2 tapas (pan con tomate and an order of Jamon). Super easy and quick orders. Our food and beverages come out after another 10 minutes. Unfortunately the bread was completely stale and the olive oil was completely soaking into the bread on other sections. It sounds contradictory that one piece of the bread would be super stale and the other completely soaked. But yes the dichotomy of quality of food was real. I waited another 8 minutes to finally track down our server and politely raise the concern and ask for another order. Our server pressed on to ask for specifics/validation on what the stale bread meant. Toasted bread is very different from stale. I'm not trying to be difficult or patronize so I awkwardly avoid having to explain after being questioned the difference between stale and toasted bread. She finally gives in and takes it away to have it replaced. She comes back and shared that the kitchen explained they had just made the pan con tomate that day so it was fresh. (I didn't know you can pre-make fresh bread with olive oil and crushed tomato's. But that makes sense if the bread was left sitting out pre-made for hours hence the soaked/stale consistency.) We have a pleasant conversation afterward and build rapport. It seems like the night was back on track. What proceeded to occur at the end of the night regarding a $32 bill with no gratuity derailed the whole night and makes a poor reflection on the restaurant.

Alara is a great spot if you're looking for fresh Mediterranean food with vibrant flavors and a…read moremenu that's easy to share. We started with the caramelized onion hummus, muhammara, baba ganoush, and halloumi en croute. The caramelized onion hummus was the standout for me--it had a subtle sweetness that made it hard to stop eating. The baba ganoush was also excellent, and the warm, perfectly cooked pita tied everything together. For mains, we had the Panzanella and the Levantine Skewers. The salad was fresh, with a bright vinaigrette, olives, and just the right balance of flavors. The chicken skewers were juicy and flavorful, and the saffron raisin rice with the sweet peppers complemented them really well. Dessert ended the meal on a high note. The buttermilk panna cotta was silky smooth, and the mint added a refreshing finish. The deconstructed baklava was a fun take on a classic and was the perfect amount of sweet. Overall, a delicious meal with fresh ingredients, well-balanced flavors, and beautifully presented dishes. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

Had such a great experience last night at Alara! I had family in town and was looking for a cool…read morenew spot to try with them, and Alara really fit the bill. We got the Muhamarra with pita, tzatziki, the green goddess salad, the fish of the day, chicken skewers and the deconstructed baklava! Everything was delicious, however none of us are big fans of anchovies so we ate around those in the salad. Our service was nice and we didn't feel rushed, and we really enjoyed how the place was decorated!

Had dinner here last night with a group of 7, and honestly, this place nailed the assignment. The…read morerestaurant is gorgeous, think French Riviera vibes with comfortable seating and those big, family-style tables that actually make sharing feel natural (and not like a sport). We took "sharing is caring" personally and against all odds ordered nearly everything on the menu. Because if you're going to do it, you might as well do it loudly. The food (a love letter, basically) Standouts included the roasted artichokes they were so tender they practically melted in your mouth. Also: the fennel and apple salad was the perfect balance of sweet and sour with a crisp, crunchy texture that kept everything feeling fresh. We fell in love with the ravioli on the first bite. The sauce was tangy with just a hint of cinnamon, and it gave off a vibe that felt a little Greek-inspired in the best, "wait, what is this magic?" kind of way. The Chicken Marsala A classic for a reason: it was so delicious. We ordered a second round for the table, and the chicken was unbelievably tender like it had taken a spa day. But the best bite of the night? No question: the 6oz Rosewood steak. Probably one of the best steaks I've ever eaten. It was so tender it was basically meat butter the kind of steak that makes you stop talking halfway through because words are too slow. Dessert that deserves its own paragraph Dessert was house-made gelato, and the pistachio flavor was among the best I've ever had so good it competes with what you'd expect from gelato made in Italy (with fewer passport checks). Cocktails: creative, dangerous, and delicious The cocktails are genuinely creative and dangerously good. We all ordered the prickly pear ranch water with Aguasol tequila, and it was an absolute winner bright, refreshing, and dangerously easy to keep ordering. Service + hospitality The food and drinks were incredible, but the service was just as impressive attentive without hovering, friendly without being forced, and perfectly on point for a group of seven people who clearly don't believe in restraint. One extra highlight: it was such a nice surprise to see co-owner Jason Garrett in the house, mingling with guests and welcoming everyone like you'd been invited to dinner at his home. That kind of personal hospitality is rare--and memorable in the best way. Final verdict This restaurant is truly perfect in every way, from the ambiance to the flavors to the hospitality. It was a great dinner experience and a genuinely delightful surprise.

I went into Caffe Lucca hearing mixed reviews. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you're in a…read morecute little Italian town. I was obsessed with the vibes of the place! I started out with a dirty martini and eventually transitioned to a French wine. Both were good! They also brought out an artichoke olive veggie dip with lavash to start, which was nothing crazy. Then we ordered the Tradizione as an appetizer. The risotto balls were a little small, and they could have had a bit more flavor. For our entrees, we got the Al Ragu Della Nonna Siciliane, which was good but nothing out of this world. My main was the Timballo Alla Vodka, and I was so surprised by this pairing! The chicken marsala sauce was a tad too sweet, but I loved it with the vodka rigatoni on top. The pasta was a little overcooked, but the flavor was definitely there. I never would have thought to pair these together! The service was a tad slow, but other than that, we really enjoyed our experience. My friend, who studied abroad in Italy, enjoyed the food as well. I would love to come back to try more things on the menu, but I would definitely order the Timballo Alla Vodka again!