Whether you’re looking for a swanky spot to broker a big deal or an elegant bistro to gather with friends, you can find the perfect place for a mid-day meal at one of these best lunch restaurants in Dallas.
Indulge in a fancy lunch at a lush indoor-outdoor oasis in Knox/Henderson. Dig into chophouse faithfuls at a sophisticated steakhouse in Oak Lawn. Head to Park Cities for regional Mexican dishes from a James Beard Award-winning chef.
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Read on for a guide to the 10 best lunch restaurants in Dallas.
For a ritzy lunch at a lush indoor-outdoor oasis: RH Rooftop Restaurant (Knox/Henderson)
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at RH Rooftop Restaurant Dallas, one of the most beautiful restaurants in Dallas. Located at the top of a curved staircase above RH’s furniture display room, the gorgeous space features heritage olive trees, bubbling fountains, and glittering chandeliers. The contemporary menu is equally as ritzy—think artisanal prosciutto platters, perfectly charred ribeye steaks, and a knockout lobster roll (hard to find in landlocked Dallas).
For Southern-style comfort food in a chic space: Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley (Downtown)
At downtown’s Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, bright, colorful interiors set the stage for a meal of elegant Southern favorites ranging from fried chicken to carefully braised seafood. A white color scheme is complemented by natural wood and brass and vivid floral images that cover the ceiling and one entire wall—perfect for snapping a group photo for Instagram or lingering with friends over drinks like a blackberry margarita or non-alcoholic rum punch.
For chophouse classics at a swanky Dallas institution: Al Biernat’s (Oak Lawn and North Dallas)
Restaurateur Al Biernat opened his flagship Oak Lawn steakhouse in 1998, and it’s only gotten better through the years. Known for celeb sightings, one of the city’s largest wine lists, and world-class steak and seafood, the restaurant is a special-occasion classic but works just as well for everyday lunches. In addition to chophouse faithfuls, expect elegant soups and salads, sandwiches like a prime rib French dip, and vegetarian options like grilled portabella enchiladas.
For a welcoming atmosphere and hickory-grilled lunch fare at Dallas classic: Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill: (North Dallas)
Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill lives up to its motto: every day is a holiday and every meal is a feast. Executive chef Kenny Bowers prepares fancy surf-and-turf dishes ranging from oysters to double-stack burgers to New England-style seafood in a hickory wood-burning grill. Enjoy them in a cozy dining room that channels a 1940s-style Chicago chophouse.
For a Dallas lunch with a European vibe: Bistro 31 (Park Cities)
With its white herringbone floor, Murano chandeliers, and colorful artwork on the walls, stylish Bistro 31 brings charming European vibes to Dallas. Whether gazing out the large arched windows or enjoying the open air on the covered patio decked with red and blue tiles, dig into elegant American dishes with European accents ranging from escargot and oysters Rockefeller to steak frites and Spanish-style octopus.
For a sustainably-minded seafood lunch at a Dallas lunch favorite: Truluck’s – Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab (Uptown)
Truluck’s – Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab is where you go for sustainable seafood in a sophisticated Uptown space. A swanky dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and chandeliers sets the stage for a surf-and-turf feast. Start with the restaurant’s signature fresh stone crab claws or oysters on the half shell before moving on to salads, sandwiches, and ultra-luxe seafood and steak, including Texas redfish and a filet mignon flight.
For wood-fired Italian dishes on a lush terrace: Terra – Eataly (Preston Hollow)
With its brick-like tile and greenery hanging from the ceiling, Terra’s lush dining room is an ideal backdrop for the restaurant’s elegant Italian cuisine. Enjoy wood-fired hits like tender meat skewers, housemade sourdough, and high-end steaks, plus elegant housemade pasta along with refreshing cocktails. Bonus points for a lush, expansive terrace that makes Terra one of the best lunch restaurants in Dallas.
For top-notch seafood at a Dallas neighborhood staple: Café Pacific (Park Cities)
This elegant, long-standing Park Cities seafood spot has been a neighborhood go-to since it opened in 1980. The lunch menu features soups and salads along with dinner time favorites like crab remoulade and grilled Texas Gulf red snapper. Expect attentive but never stuffy service and don’t miss the restaurant’s signature dessert, a toasted pecan-encrusted ball of vanilla bean ice cream with housemade chocolate sauce and an almond tuile.
For a elegant lunch at one of the most beautiful restaurants in Dallas: The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (Turtle Creek/Oak Lawn)
The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is celebration central—even for lunch. For starters, it’s housed in an estate-turned-hotel with grand pillars, intricate crown molding, and white marble. Enjoy elegant, French-leaning dishes like a knockout Caesar salad and foie gras-topped wagyu steak in the restaurant’s main dining area, set under a dramatic arched passageway featuring a stained-glass wall and another with sweeping terrace-facing windows.
For award-winning Mexican fare from an acclaimed chef: José (Park Cities)
José is where you go for beautifully plated regional recipes from the state of Jalisco, thanks to James Beard-nominated executive chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman. Expect ceviches, street-style elotes, and endless tequila. Enjoy it all in a cozy, industrial-chic dining room with a striking mural or on the outdoor patio with colored tiles.
From Park Cities to Uptown, fancy mansions to cozy neighborhood bistros, these 10 best lunch restaurants in Dallas offer everything from contemporary Mexican dishes to chophouse faithfuls and elegant Italian dishes.
