Dallas has about a jillion restaurants, here are just a few I’ve visited and have made enough of an impression for me to bother writing about:
The Dallas Coffee Shop Guide. For people with laptops.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m totally biased towards this place. Amazing coffee roasted on site, free wifi, friendly staff, great seating, and a music selection that really works with my taste. Need I say more?
Went a few times when I worked downtown. I never got a really good chance to check it out as I was rushing off but the coffee is good and I hear good things about the music here. Free WIFI, computer available if you don’t have yours (ha!) and a cutsey stock market theme.
Well we all know starbucks. But some locations are better than others. Lots of outlets & tables? Preston & NW Hwy and Abrams & Royal. Soccer Mommies? Greenville near Mockingbird. Lively neighborhood crowd? Mockingbird & Abrams. Doctors & Civil Servants? Gaston & Haskell. Attorneys and Hedge fund managers? Basement of Renaissance tower downtown. Eclectic Artist Crowd? Gaston & LaVista.
Blatent Stereotypes? YES.
I understand that retailers need to make money. I understand that no retailer wants people mooching off of the WIFI that they paid good money for but codes on recipts that expire in two hours is just a little extreme. The coffee was okay and they had a pretty good selection of sandwiches which is great for the occasional computing session that goes through a normal eating time. On the other hand, there was a good selection of outlets and even a closed off conference room thing, but I’m not sure how that one works (ie. are there reservations? Just for “special customers”?)
Housed in a small craftsman in Uptown, parking is a little tough but it has a very welcoming feeling. Very eclectic crowd ranging from the artsy types to businessmen. WiFi with purchase, just ask the baristas. Seating ranges from old couches to rickety tables but it just has the cutest atmosphere. Sometimes it can be a little loud but really gets the creative juices flowing.
There are a few others I’m trying to get to like The Pearl Cup, Murray Street Coffee, and others.