AbacusDelightful mealI had the 8 course tasting ($95) with wines ($95). I'm glad I chose the upgraded wine pairings. First course was seared tuna and sushi roll. Both were good but not great. They were paired with a very nice rose champagne. Next was monkfish in an Asian-inspired broth paired with a French rose. The fish was very good, the broth was great, and the wine paired wonderfully. Up next, a perfectly seared scallop (the best I've ever eaten), and a chardonnay. After an intermezzo was foie gras and a delicious ice wine. The scallop was a hard act to follow, but, thanks to the pairing with the ice wine, this was also a memorable course. Pork tenderloin, ostrich, cheese, and dessert followed. I was served another delicious ice wine with the dessert.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently my Dallas favoriteI am never disappointed by Abacus. The food was wonderful! Rack of lamb with large amount of meat, not overly fatty. Everything seasoned to perfection and beautiful presentation. My father gave the filet, best steak ever. Thought I was going to pry my mother out of the desserts. Service was a bit slow on this occasion, but it was Mother's Day and it was well worth the wait. Abacus is overall my favorite restaurant is Dallas, well over the Mansion, the French Room, Stephen Pyles, etc.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingGreat experience. Food, Wine, Service - Everything was perfect
Tom5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest meal I have had in years.The duck and lamb were super tender. Dessert was nicely presented.
Side items offered a twist on the usual.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous mealWonderful meal- I started with the Caesar salad, which came in a shell that was itself a gourmet treat. The salmon was on a bed of crispy polenta and sauce which melted in my mouth. The salmon was done to perfection. I ordered the least expensive wine by the glass (a Mendoza) and it tasted like a $50 bottle. The service was attentive but respectful without constant nagging if everything was ok. I'd go back in a heartbeat.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!Found this great restaurant on Yelp and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not the best service, forgot our risotto, couldn't multi-task....everything else was amazing!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Dallas' top restaurantsAbacus offers a great dining experience for couples, small groups, friends, family and business associates. A must if you're looking for a great restaurant to take an out-of-town guest! Fabulous, unique menu - even foodies agree this is one of Dallas' best restaurants.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA+ for AbacusHad a colleague in town from London and took him to Abacus for a farewell dinner. Perfect service from Steve. Food was some of the best I have every had there. Had a great bottle of Cab. I asked the meal to be nicely paced as we were not in a rush and wanted time to talk a bit. Could not have been more perfect.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMMemorable experienceMenu provides a variety of flavor and portion size options, great quality and presentations. Wine list provides some excellent options if a bit pricy. Our party of 5 was here to celebrate, Abacus certainly lived up to our hopes in creating an evening to remember4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary CelebrationI'm very impressed with Abacus! The event was in celebration of my 5 year anniversary and the entire experience was top-notch from start to finish. I highly recommend Abacus.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMwe had not been to abacuswe had not been to abacus in a while and were pleased to find that the food is still as wonderful as it always has been and the service just as friendly and efficient. still a keeper!!!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMVery accommodating to gluttenVery accommodating to glutten and dairy allergies. Great place.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't miss dining experience.One of Dallas' best restaurants for more than 10 years. Consistent and delicious. Varied menu, great service and beautiful but not overbearing decor. Great!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat nightI am always impressed with the food at Abacus. One of my Dallas favorites for sure. This trip had a great server with excellent knowledge of the wine list. He even gave us insight into particular wineries' methods of production , and offered same when weren't sure. Wonderful experience and we will be back soon .4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe venue, food and personnelThe venue, food and personnel were all super. The only complaint...the amount of time before the large plates were served was excessive. That kept Abacus from getting five stars.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI'm unsure of our waitersI'm unsure of our waiters name, but he was excellent. We were visiting from atlanta and wanted to try you guys out. He explained the difference in restaurants and gave great selections on the food! The sushi he chose was great! On top of knowing his menu, unfortunately me and my boyfriend had got into an argument previous to dinner. I can honestly say he changed the entire vibe of our dinner. Definitely some of the best service we've had! We enjoyed our visit and the food. Sorry I don't remember his name but it was Saturday night, pretty sure he'll remember. Tell him thanks again!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAs usual, our experience wasAs usual, our experience was fabulour. Abacus continues to be our favorite Dallas restaurant, with a wide selection of food and drink offered. Abacus also offers one of a kind items that simply cannot be found elsewhere. We celebrated my wife's birthday there and will be back again soon.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service with Jennifer.Excellent service with Jennifer. Food outstanding.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMrough start - excellent finishwe arrived 15 minutes early for a 9pm reservation, and were prepared to wait in the bar - but 45 minutes later, we were a bit peeved. the maitre d' comped some of their famous lobster shooters, chef rathburn came over and personally apologized, they found us a great table, and we were off to the races. fantastic menu, as always - we concentrated this time on shared plates of sashimi, a roll, and other asian treats. the kitchen was "on", and we had a terrific meal. wine list always impresses - enjoyed an excellent pinot noir - finished the night with smiles on all our faces.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI haven't been to Abacus inI haven't been to Abacus in way too long. The service and the food, however, are jsut as I remember, excellent!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI was a little disappointedI was a little disappointed that the bar was dead the night we went. We were literally the only two people in the bar at one point in time and maybe a few other people while they were waiting on their table too. Wonderful restaurant though and had an excellent meal there.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding, as usual!As usual, Abacus met all our expectations. My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and it was the perfect place. We were seated in a perfect corner by a window and we were able to have a great conversation without a lot of noise. The food and presentation were outstanding. Our waiters, Ken and Alex could not have been better. We always go to Abacus for special occasion and will continue to go!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAbacus amazed my Scrooge!I made reservations for my friend's birthday. He's not an easy person to excite but he was even happy with Abacus.
We started with Lobster Shooters. My main course was grilled venison with blue corn grits and asparagus. He ate buffalo fillet and black truffle risotto. My dessert was the Hopscotch plate and he had white chocolate ice cream and mango sorbet. The mango sorbet is quite strong but really good. The food and desserts were wonderful!
Steve, our server, was very knowledgable and kind. He answered every question we had about the menu (and we had plenty).
I don't have a single complaint about our food, service, or experience. I will definitely return and recommend Abacus to friends.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe beef tenderloin was excellentThe beef tenderloin was excellent - as was the truffle risotto. However, everything that was plated with the tenderloin was inedible - way too salty. In general, we really enjoyed Abacus.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat AtmosphereI really enjoyed the food, the ambience, and even the waiter. I would definitely recommend this place!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMTime and time again, AbacusTime and time again, Abacus comes through with another great evening!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMMore than diningGreat experience in all aspects. Bartender catered to our unique tequila order (with orange slices and cinnamon), the chef tried out new dishes on us and if we liked a certain wine (tasting menu with wine pairing), Steve, our server, would come by with another and say 'try this'. Our courses ranged from sushi to foi gras, Cobia to pork. Each was a blend of favors, textures, and colors. Quite the culinary imagination and the talent to pull it off.Gear ambiance, surprising loud but comfortable. Rather pricey but we went there to experience a high level of service and culinary skill, not just to eat.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA group of eleven, we wereA group of eleven, we were seated at the chef's table. Excellent location, enjoyed the food, the wines and the service was perfect. The staff was there when you needed them but not intrusive.
Will definitely go back for special events.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMStill my favorite dining experienceStill my favorite dining experience in Dallas since I first tried it. Outstanding service and great meal from appetizer to desert.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThird visit to Abacus in asThird visit to Abacus in as many years. This really is an outstanding restaurant, particularly if your version of fine dining includes dishes that you couldn't practically make at home. The food prices are high, but unlike so many restaurants at this price point, Abacus delivers on food quality. The wine seems overpriced for what it is, but what the heck.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFun, Relaxing evening at AbacusFirst time dining at Abacus for our anniversary. Very pleasant experience. Steve attended to us and was very friendly and patient. We will definitely dine here again.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the 8 course chef'sWe had the 8 course chef's tasting, the food and the presentation were fantastic. Food wise there were no misses what so ever. The ambiance of the restaurant was good, place settings, presentation of the eating area all good. The noise level with the level of the music from the bar area and then the noise of the patrons carrying on in the bar were a bit overwhelming when trying to hold a quiet and romantic conversation.
Our server Brandon (if memory serves me correctly) was quite good, just the right amount of conversation, never overstaying and always there when you needed him. At the end of the meal also gave some very nice recommendations for different styles of food and such.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMLove Abacus! Everything aboutLove Abacus! Everything about our dinner was absolutely superb - from the lobster shooters to the delicious duck and venison entrees. I will go back and back!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the BEST restaurantsOne of the BEST restaurants in Dallas, Period! The food is sublime, the service is attentive but not obtrusive and the people watching is fantastic. It is a great experience for a group of friends to enjoy or a romantic dinner for two. I highly recommend Abacus.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful experienceMy wife and I dined at Abacus on our eighth wedding anniversary. We felt welcomed, comfortable, and relaxed. The food was quite an experience and we enjoyed every bite. The lamb chops and black truffle risotto were absolutely amazing! The staff was very courteous and attentive, but never intrusive. I strongly recommend Abacus to my friends, coworkers, and family. We'll certainly be returning soon!3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMA must for foodiesFood was excellent. Lobster shooters, kobe beef carpacio, and hamachi shashimi are a must. Service is a little pompous, but they do their job.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible ExperienceIncredible experience! Abacus more than met our expectation in terms of food, service, and ambiance. Each course was masterfully prepared, using the freshest ingredients and served at appropriate temperatures. The service was equally on par, all in a cozy setting with romantic lighting. From the vallet service, through the entire dining service, right down to departing the restaurant, all made for a wonderfully cherished experience for the evening. Looking forward to having many more incredible experiences at Abacus!3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service.My only complaint was that there seemed to be a strong discouragement from bringing my daughter. She is very well behaved and accustomed to nice restaurants but I can see their hesitation for young children in such a nice atmosphere. When I called to ask that our group of 8 also include a high chair or booster seat there was a long hesitation and then they told me that they do not have high chairs or booster seats. Message was clear and I changed plans so that she would not be joining.
Other than that the food and ambiance was great and we enjoyed the experience.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, service, and wine.Great food, service, and wine. I was disappointed when they were out of the Caldwell Silver Napa Cabernet.
There are only a couple of things that bring my wife and I east of the Trinity, fine dining experiences like this and our son is about it.
Chef Rathburn.
Outstanding!3/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant in Texas!!!Back on top as the best restaurant in Texas! I have eaten here since the gala opening and this week's dining experience was my favorite. As usual, I had the 8-course chef's tasting menu paired with wine. It was a truly remarkable meal. Chef Dan and new sous chef, Chris Patrick, have re-elevated the cuisine to world class levels. Bravo gentlemen!3/7/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food - we orderedExcellent food - we ordered the antelope and monk fish and of course, started with the lobster shooters. The bread was pretty amazing too. We were so full by the end of the meal that we did not order dessert. It's a very loud and high energy restaurant - difficult to have a romantic or intimate dinner if that is what you are planning. Plan to visit again on next trip out to Dallas!1/16/2013 12:00:00 AM