Another Place for Good Pizza in Dallas

Bellini's Italian Restaurant was recommended by a friend. I had pictured a take-out pizza place, more fitting with the small strip plaza along Congress Avenue, not a sit-down Italian restaurant. The air-conditioned space away from the sun was the perfect break from the Texas heat, however. The Peroni in a chilled glass helped too.

The menu included a variety of Italian dishes, but being only lunch time, we went for the Margarita Pizza. The waiter said a medium would be plenty for two people. As it turns out, a small may have been plenty because we only finished half, and not because it wasn't good.

The Margarita pizza came with plenty of sauce and really stringy cheese, plus sliced tomatoes and shredded basil. There was enough sauce as to not be overpowered by the cheese and the crust was tasty, although a little on the thick side. All in all its better than 95 percent of the pizza you find in North Texas.

Recommended specialties for dinner include chicken and veal, either Marsala or Piccata.

3810 Congress Ave
Dallas, TX 75219

Zagat 2009 Texas Restaurants (Zagatsurvey Texas Restaurants)
Pizza: More than 60 Recipes for Delicious Homemade Pizza
Old Stone 4461 16-Inch Round Oven Pizza Stone

Thai Lotus on Cedar Springs

As experience would have it, I'd assumed many of the restaurants along Cedar Springs would not have the best food in the world. This area after-all is known for its pubs and discotheques and when you've had a bit too much to drink, the demand for food quality declines. This is not universally true, however and it seems that recently the restaurants which have opened are of a higher-caliber. 

In the middle of it all, a small Thai restaurant called Thai Lotus Kitchen appears to have been here a while. I had seen it but didn't really know if they had indoor seating and had incorrectly assumed it was for tak-out. On a recommendation, we stopped in. The food, as suggested, was quite good. The atmosphere isn't at all glamorous, but if what you want is good food before or after drinking-or even instead of it (It doesn't appear they serve alcohol or allow BYOB), give it a try.

Make Time for the Cosmic Cafe

Looking for great vegetarian food? Look no further than Cosmic Cafe on Oak Lawn Avenue. The building is a treat in itself, plus there's enough taste variety to please your meat-eating not yet converted friends. A trip here may even get them into it. Check out the meditation rooms upstairs!

2912 Oak Lawn Avenue
(214) 521-6157