Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1525827
SPECIAL-OCCASION. Zoe Bonnette: Always Carbone. And always ask for one of Kyle's tables. Cornelia Guest: Café Pacific. Maggie Kipp: Al's (Al Biernat's), Booth 81, which backs up to the bar in the main dining room. Brad and Al are the sweetest. We took eight girls to see Barbie last year, and they decorated the booth with pink confetti and did the Al's take on Barbie. Evan Meagher: Al Biernat's Oak Lawn. We're obsessed with the caviar. My wife and I order our own because I haven't mastered the art of sharing! Great date-night spot because you can hide in one of the cozy booths. Reed Robertson: Houston's is always a yes. SCORING A RES. Bradley Agather: If we're talking about a reservation at Mister Charles, my advice is to find a way to run into Chas Martin. He's the friendliest person on the planet and will almost certainly give you his number and say, "Ping me!" Take him up on it. Cornelia Guest: Call and be nice. M a g g i e K i p p : B e f r i e n d l y a n d straightforward. Simple kindness and respect are always appreciated. I call everyone I David Droese: Oishii. Royce or 44 roll. Evan Meagher: Keiichi. Amazing hole-in-the wall with acclaimed sushi chef Keiichi Nagano, one of Denton's best-kept secrets. Book in advance — their 10 to 15 seats book up fast. Reed Robertson: Sushi | Bar. It's actual dinner theater. It's all good. Kit Sawers: Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in K-Town/Carrollton, all options are delivered by conveyor belts and robo-waiters — very futuristic, yet old-school vintage like The Jetsons. Jan Showers: Oishii on Wycliff. Salmon carpaccio, Royce and Tribeca rolls. Shelle Sills: After coming back from Japan, we went to Tei Tei Robata Bar, which we hadn't been to in years. We felt like we were almost in Japan, except they actually knew when to stop serving more food! Robert Weatherly: Tei Tei Robata Bar — cornflake-crusted shrimp, miso cod. JEWISH DELI/BAGELS. Zoe Bonnette: People love Shug's Bagels, but I prefer Sclafani's New York Bagels & Sandwiches in Preston Center, and it's always less crowded. David Droese: Shug's. Cornelia Guest: Sclafani's. Brian Bolke: The bar at The Honor Bar. Every person working there actually cares. Zoe Bonnette: Anchor Sushi Bar at Preston Royal. Gonzalo Bueno: My favorite spot in Dallas with a little bit of everything, delicious food, and fabulous shopping is Teak Tearoom at The Conservatory. Nothing beats a Cindy's margarita at Saturday lunch. David Droese: Manhattan Project Beer Company. Ask for Karl. Cornelia Guest: Georgie and Mister Charles. Evan Meagher: Beverly's Bistro & Bar or Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar, because the atmosphere is approachable and relaxed — think the Cheers bar, because you will run into at least five friends. Donald Robertson: Dunston's Steakhouse. Two words: salad bar. One of my favorite dives. Best martinis in town. You can take a football team there after a game, and they just sit you in the back. Fancy decorator Michelle Nussbaumer turned us on to it. I can't believe she goes there, but that sums up Texas: haute and howdy. Reed Robertson: Hudson House. Come for the popcorn chicken, stay for the bellinis. Jan Showers: Café Pacific — ask for one of Mark's tables. And Parigi. Shelle Sills: If it's just me and my husband, bar stools at Nonna or Montlake Cut (Andrew, Aldo, and Hannah are fantastic). I could eat the sformato at Nonna three meals a day, and the lobster ravioli in brown butter sauce is divine — but it all is! The broiled oysters at Montlake are amazing. Robert Weatherly: Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar. Sit at the bar by the piano player and join him when he plays "Vienna." Lucia Simek: As a diehard Oak Cliffer, I always find myself at Written by the Seasons, the simple and elegant Copenhagen-meets- Texas spot in Bishop Arts, gracefully steered by Hailey Nutt, Brenton Phillips, and Tripp Russ. Dylan is always our server ... the NY strip steak is a trophy you deserve for any daily triumph. speak with "sweetheart," which works wonders — but note, that may be creepy for men. Evan Meagher: For a hard-to- score res at Lucia, call when it's raining and see if they've had any cancellations. And you can sit at the bar — most people don't know they have four bar seats. Donald Robertson: Here's the inside scoop: You cannot get a last-minute reservation in Dallas. It's impossible. What we do is we suck up to Jules Barsotti! He owns our four faves: Barsotti's for Italian, Odelay for Mexican, Nonna for date night, and Fachini if you have people in from Europe or NYC (low- key cool). The secret is to get Jules' cell-phone number. Then you're set. Reed Robertson: Pretend you're Todd Fiscus. SUSHI & ROLL. (Continued) Bar at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek Park House Dallas 126