What makes a gourmet burger? Nowadays, fancy-pants burgers are the rule more than the exception — from bone-marrow butter to artisinal brioche buns to the omnipresent applewood smoked bacon, the burger is no longer a fast-food sandwich but a bit of culinary artistry. The readers’ selection of Hopdoddy as their favorite burger joint shows they get this. Hopdoddy — which has five North Texas locations, though we suspect the opening of the newest one six months ago along McKinney Avenue in the heart of Uptown is what scored with readers — not only rolls out new burgers every so often (some recent and upcoming selections include the poutine burger, the ahi burger and the coq au vin), but the classic offerings (including the aptly-named Boss Hogg, pictured) are equally addictive. Add to that truffle fries and craft cocktails, and you have the makings of a terrific meal.
BEST GOURMET BURGER
Hopdoddy
3227 McKinney Ave, Ste. 102
(and additional locations).
214-871-2337. Hopdoddy.com.
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Cedar Springs Tap House
4123 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. 100.
214-377-7446.
BEST STEAK
Texas Land & Cattle Co.
3130 Lemmon Ave. (and additional locations)
214-526-4664. TexasLandAndCattle.com.
BEST BARBECUE JOINT
Pecan Lodge
2702 Main St.
214-748-8900. PecanLodge.com.
BEST DINING EXPERIENCE
Dish Restaurant & Lounge
4123 Cedar Springs Road (and additional location).
214-522-3474. Dish-Dallas.com.
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Easy Slider
Visit site for truck schedule. Follow on Twitter.
214-668-1910. EasySliderTruck.com.
BEST PATIO BEST LUNCH SPOT
Hunky’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers
3940 Cedar Springs Road.
214-522-1212. Hunkys.com.
BEST LOCAL CHEF
Stephan Pyles
Stephan Pyles, San Salvaje, Stampede 66.
StephanPyles.com.
BEST VEGETARIAN
Cosmic Cup Cafe
2712 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-521-6157. CosmicCafeDallas.com.
BEST DESSERT SPOT
Chocolate Secrets
3926 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-252-9801. MyChocolateSecrets.com.
BEST COCKTAIL MENU
Komali
4152 Cole Ave., Ste. 106.
214-252-0200. KomaliRestaurant.com.
BEST MARGARITA
Gloria’s
4140 Lemmon Ave. (and additional locations).
214-521-7576. GloriasCuisine.com.
BEST DINER (TIE)
Lucky’s Cafe.
3531 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-522-3500. LuckysDallas.com
Original Marker Diner
4434 Harry Hines Blvd.
214-521-0992. OriginalMarketDiner.com.
Let’s face it: Members of the gay community have opinions on a lot of topics, but when it comes to brunch, we are experts. Heck, we practically invented the dishing-over-dishes paradigm that has become the default Sunday Funday activity in Dallas, if not every gaybohood in America. So when Dallas Voice readers vote for a best brunch, you know they know what they are talking about. Fernando’s at Travis Walk has been a popular weekend hangout for diners for a few years now, owing in no small measure to the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu that packs people in. Could it be the fast-and-friendly service?
… The buzzy atmosphere with a gay-friendly vibe?
… The classic Tex-Mex dishes at reasonable prices?… Or could it be the $2 mimosas that arrive in a huge water glass (pictured)? … Do you really have to ask?
BEST BRUNCH
Fernando’s Mexican Cuisine
4514 Travis St. Ste. 201.
214-521-8611.
FernandosMexicanCuisine.com.
Tex-Mex isn’t a cuisine in Texas — it’s a religion. And Dallas has it all, from high-end Southwestern restaurants that re-invent the classics to dollar-each taquerias. So picking just one? Can’t be done. And yet it has been by Dallas Voice readers, who have a lot of love for Ojeda’s. It’s been on our gaydar for decades: Located in the heart of the gayborhood, Ojeda’s is as much a social meeting place (Classic Chassis Car Club meets there the first Tuesday of every month) as it is a restaurant. From the famous “puffed” tacos to a constant stream of margaritas to the yummy pralines at the cash register, Ojeda’s is more than a Tex-Mex restaurant — it’s an institution.
BEST TAQUERIA/TEX-MEX
Ojeda’s Mexican Food
4617 Maple Ave.
214-528-8383. OjedasRestaurant.com.
BEST MIXOLOGIST
Stu Heineman, JR.’s Bar & Grill
3923 Cedar Springs Road.
214-528-1004. JRsDallas.com.
BEST ASIAN / SUSHI
Thairrific
4000 Cedar Springs Road, Ste. E.
972-241-2412. Thairrific.com.
BEST ITALIAN / PIZZA
Italia Express
4000 Cedar Springs Road.
214-521-3300. ItaliaExpressCS.com.
LATE NIGHT BITES
Cafe Brazil
3847 Cedar Springs Road (and additional locations).
Open 24 hours.
214-461-8762. CafeBrazil.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 20, 2015.
