With so many incredible food options in Dallas, it can be hard to narrow down where to dine on a Friday night! I prefer a restaurant with good energy, good food, and great service.
After working a long week, I cherish the moments I get to sit down and be humbly served a delicious, thoughtfully prepared meal. I typically cook meals Sunday-Thursday evening for my little family. But the weekends are my time to unwind, reward myself and enjoy my loved ones!
My boyfriend and I love date nights and prefer to spend at least one night alone on the weekends. We also love to double date with our friends which calls for reliable service and fantastic food options!
Of all the restaurants I’ve tried living in Dallas the past 4.5 years, today I’m sharing my favorite date night spots that have always met my expectations! 🙂
Before diving in, I wanted to share one of my favorite go-to date night outfits – over the knee boots, high waisted skirt and fitted top. I love BlankNYC suede skirts. They are SO cute and flatter so many body types. My top is under $30 and pairs perfectly with a skirt. These boots were found at Nordstrom Rack last year for under $100 – however, I found several on sale linked above!
Taverna
John and I’s go-to date night restaurant – Taverna – is cozy, warm and always has great service. Nestled right next to the Katy Trail in the Knox shopping district, there’s a cute patio to sit on for people watching when the weather permits.
When it comes to the food, we practically order the same thing every time! I start with my favorite cab – Smith & Hook. From there, we love starting with the house salad which includes their amazing house dressing. Sometimes we order the seasonal salad (if the waiter recommends it). Then we split either the homemade Fiocchi al gorgonzola (gorgonzola filled pasta with pears, arugula, walnuts, and cream sauce) or one of their pizzas – all are amazing and the thin crust is to die for.
Town Hearth
The word that comes to mind when thinking of Town Hearth is Swanky. Perfect for a double date or for a special occasion, Town Hearth is another favorite due to the ambiance and atmosphere. It’s worth showing up 20-30 minutes early to grab a drink off the cocktail menu at their large bar. There are dozens of large chandeliers sprinkled throughout, along with a large fish tank in the middle of the room.
Being a steakhouse, I typically order a steak with shared sides. But to be honest, everything here is good. If I had to suggest a meal idea, I’d do the wedge salad, 10 oz mignon, macaroni casserole, and roasted corn. All to split, of course 🙂
Sixty Vines
Gosh, I love this place – it’s so much fun for girls night, happy hour or date night! Not to mention, they arguably have one of the best charcuterie boards in town! The coolest thing about this place is the wine wall – dozens of wine on tap.
I also love the atmosphere – it’s warm, welcoming, with a light modern feel. Some of my favorite menu items include the meat & cheese board, asian chop salad, any pizza, the grilled cheese, or the filet.
Mirador
A staple for our anniversary or Valentine’s celebrations, this bright and modern American restaurant is set on the second floor of Downtown’s Forty-Five Ten, with a terrace overlooking Tony Tasset’s iconic Eye sculpture.
The menu includes heartier dishes for dinner, as well as wine, bubbly and cocktails, which can also be enjoyed in the separate lounge over small bites.
We enjoy sharing the whipped ricotta toast or deviled eggs, baby lettuces salad, and filet of beef. You can’t forget the instagram-worthy lemon pavlova.
The Porch
Maybe upscale or swanky is too much effort for date night – and you just want to go somewhere relaxing with great food.
We love The Porch on Henderson for a more casual evening. When I think of The Porch, I think of old fashioneds, brisket sliders, pimento cheese dip, buttermilk fried chicken cobb, and the house smoked brisket & barbacoa enchiladas. That triple chocolate brownie or gooey butter cake isn’t bad either. 😉
Where do you like to go for date night or a fun girl’s dinner?!
Great post. Will definitely need to check these out when we visit Dallas. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely! If you need any tips on what to do while here, let me know! I’d love to help!
If I ever get to Dallas, then these sound like the place to be.
Absolutely! You’ll have to come down some time 🙂
I was recently in Dallas solo and although I didn’t need a good date spot, I did need a place to eat. The random place I picked was not good. I could have used this list!
Awww I’m sorry you had a bad experience! We have so many wonderful restaurants here. Please feel free to reach out for recommendations in the future!! [email protected]
Gosh. I want to visit dallas. Rather, just have a date night .Would be soo much fun. Maybe a mini vacay is in needed 😀 BTW, just LOVE your look. So gorgeous
Thank you so much! Dallas is a fun place to visit, if you decide to come let me know and I’ll give you some ideas of what to do!
I love this so much! I was born and raised in Dallas and miss it. My parents still live there and I visit fairly often. I will have to try these restaurants when i’m there. The Porch is excellent for a casual date night, I’ve been there.
These sound like amazing spots! I’d love to get back to Dallas one day soon!
I love this outfit! I’m from Houston, but did enjoy living in Dallas for awhile.