74 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MAY | JUNE 2017 Norma’sCafé Since 1956, Norma’s has been serving up its own brand of delicious fare and down-home hospitality. From giant omelets stuffed to the brim, to burgers, sandwiches, and so much more, narrowing down your choices can be a challenge. Everyone loves Norma’sbiscuits,butdon’teattoo many of them or you won’t have room for things like the Chicken Fried Steak (one of DFW’s best), Open- Faced Pot Roast Sandwich on Texas toast served with mashed potatoes andsmotheredwithgravy,ortheubiquitousdinerPattyMelt, positively oozing with Swiss Cheese and smothered onions. Don’t forget the pies! You can’t leave without indulging in one of Norma’s Mile-High Cream Pies™;thecoconutversionisanotherworldlyexperience. Addison,Frisco,OakCliff,ParkLane normascafe.com SnugontheSquare Snug is like a hug, tucked into a square. Does that make sense? Maybe it will when we tell you Snug offers delicious hand-crafted coffee bever- ages and ginormous portions of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, hearty soups, sandwich melts and salads—and both breakfast and lunch are offeredeveryday,allday.IfyouliveinMcKinney,you’relucky—youcan just stumble into the square for a Snug brunch any ole time you like (up until 3 pm on Saturdays). The rest of us will make our visit a mini day trip, first filling up at Snug, then burning off those calories with a few strolls around the courthouse square, stopping in at all those cute, inde- pendently-ownedshops.Waitscanbelong,especiallyontheweekends, butit’sworthit. LocatedinMcKinney snugonthesquare.com FRENCH BonnieRuth’sBistroFrançaisetPattisserie Can’t get to Paris? Then get to Bonnie Ruth’s, where you’ll enjoy classic French bistro cuisine, music and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Menu fa- vorites include Croque Monsieur with decadent béchamel sauce, Steak Frites(ala10ouncesofNYStrip,pansearedandservedwithredwinejus) and of course, Onion Soup Gratinée made with veal stock, caramelized onion and topped with melted Gruyere. Heavenly. The Thursday, Friday and Sunday Date Night menu is an exceptional value at just $69 for two, including a bottle of house wine, one hors d’oeuvres, two delicious en- trees (choose from Seafood Crepes, DuckTwoWays, Bone-In Pork Chops withCalvadosandmore),desserttoshareandcoffee.Anddon’tforgetto swingbytheadjacentpatisserietopickupsomepost-datedeliciousness. 916GardenParkDr.|Allen (214)383-6777|bonnieruthsallen.com NEWLISTING! Cadot ChefJean-MarieCadot,anativeof Paris,grewupinafamilythathas been in the restaurant, hotel and bakery business since 1758— and no, that’s not a typo. In other words, Cadot knows food, and the offerings at his eponymous restaurant in North Dallas are Frenchcomfortattheirfinest.BesuretostartwiththeOnionSoupGrat- inée, a rich broth with silky onions, smothered in bubbling cheese. After that, any choice is the right choice. From Duck Terrine with Pistachios, FoieGrasandTruffle,toFlounderCrustedwithParmesan,tootherFrench classics,suchasSteakFriteswithPeppercornSauceorCoqAuVin—each dishisbothlovinglypreparedandexpertlyexecuted. 18111PrestonRd.Suite120|Dallas (972)267-5700 |cadotrestaurant.com risen°1 Whodoesn’tloveareallygoodsoufflé?Andthisisdefinitelytheplacefor one.WhetheryougowithasavoryversionlikeTruffleInfusedMushroom orHerb&SpicySausage,orasweetsoufflélikeChocolateorGrandMar- nier(wewoulddefinitelysuggestatleastoneofeach),thesearesoufflés just like your grandmother used to make, if she happened to be French. Or a chef. Or both. If you’re really lucky, you’ll enjoy one of their spec- tacular seasonal soufflés, like Cranberry Champagne. And of course, you simply cannot miss the inadvertent appetizer for which the restaurant has become most famous: Marshmallow Soup. Though not technically marshmallows, small puffs of baked goat cheese float effortlessly on a deliciousredbrothtoppedwithgreenpesto.Yum. 5360WestLoversLane|Dallas risesouffle.com ITALIAN & PIZZA Campisi’s When it comes to pizza, Campisi’s is a Dallas favorite, but don’t for- get about the rest of the menu. Since 1946, the Campisi family has served up classic and beloved Italian favorites, from meatballs to artichoke hearts and every- thing in between. Pasta portions are generous and easily shared, andallentréescomewithasalad, bread and your choice of pasta. In recent years, Campisi’s has expanded toincludegluten-freepizzacrusts,andmostlunchspecials,pricedatjust $9.99includingentréeanddrink,keepbusinessfolks,studentsandstay- at-homemomscomingthroughthedoorseveryweekday.campisis.us MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW Carrabba’s–NorthDallas Because sometimes, you’ve just gotta have Italian. Whether you’re carb loadingwitharichplateoflobsterravioliorkeepingitPaleowithathick and juicy steak or seafood and a side of grilled asparagus, Carrabba’s appeals to families and business professionals alike. Life-just-got-easier options, such as online reservations, several under 600-calorie entrées, and a gluten-free menu, make Carrabba’s both accessible and upscale. Don’t miss the Italian lettuce wraps with wood-grilled chicken, vegeta- bles and ricotta salata, drizzled with port wine reduction. New owner MarcoMartinezhasapassionforcustomerserviceaswellashiscommu- nity,sobesuretosay“Ciao”onyournextvisit. 17548DallasPkwy|Dallas carrabbas.com Grimaldi’s There was a time when you could only get Grimaldi’s famous coal- firedbrickovenpizzainNewYork. But that was then. Today, there areGrimaldi’salmosteverywhere, itseems.Whilethemenuissome- what basic (pizzas, calzones, sal- ads),it’salsoconsistent.Butwhat welikeabouttheAllenlocationis thatitoverlooksthelittleparkatWattersCreekwherelivemusicisoften playedduringwarmermonths. 836MarketSt.,WattersCreek|Allen (214)383-9703|grimaldispizzeria.com Kenny’sEastCoastPizza If you’re from the East Coast, there’s no doubt about it: you’re going to be verrrry picky about your pizza. North Dallas has drawn the lucky straw in pizza eating because Plano is where na- tive Bostonian (and one of Dallas’fave restaurateurs) KennyBowershasopenedhispizzaplace.Whilethemenuwillalsooffer Italian American favorites, expect a selection here focusing mainly on thepie—pizzapie,thatis—cookedinaclassicBakersPrideDeckOven. Handcrafted cocktails and Grey Goose on tap, too? We’re already lining upatthedoor. 4701WParkBlvd|Plano (972)519-9669|kennyseastcoastpizza.com Kenny’sItalianPlace This is the real deal when it comes to Southern American Italian com- fort food (think: Parmigiana, Picatta and Marsala) in a fun and friendly atmosphere. A nice selection of pastas ranging from vegetarian to killer “Midnight”meatballsaswellasseafood,steaksandchopsmakeKenny’s aperfectchoice,whetherit’sfamilynightordatenight.Manydishescan beprepared“light”(ifyou’resoinclined),vegetarianorglutenfree. 5100BeltlineRd.|Dallas (972)661-9380|kennysitalian.com RomanCucina The best way to describe Roman Cucina is just this: simple, delicious and family-friendly.The Dallas location, with strings of party lights and comfy black leather booths, reminds us of something we might see in a Brooklyn,NewYorkneighborhood,andthearchedpatioprovidesalove- ly place for dining al fresco. The newer Allen location boasts a spacious diningroomaswellasanintimatebanquetroom,bothperfectforlarger parties. At both locations, you’ll find straightforward Italian fare: pastas, subs (worthy of a notable mention, especially the meatball), soups and salads,andclassicentréeslikeSteakMilaneseandEggplantParmigiana. But unlike a lot of other old-school Italian joints, this one also accom- modates egg-free, gluten-free and dairy-free substitutions at low or no additional cost on many of their items. A small but well-priced wine list andcocktailsarealsoavailable. 7989BeltLineRd|Dallas 201E.BethanyDr|Allen romancucina.com Russo’sCoal-FiredItalianKitchen This Houston-based eatery does offer a well-rounded menu, including Arancini (delectable Sicilian rice balls loaded with herbs and Romano cheese in a rich Bolognese sauce), fantastic Calzones, and standard Ital- ianentrées(ChickenPiccataandthelike). Thatsaid,therealdrawtoRus- so’s is the pizza, thanks to its nearly 1,000-degree coal-fired oven which givesusthatchewy,butcrispy,crustwelove.TrytheProsciuttoandKale with Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese. Feeling carnivorous? The Paesano Napolatana will leave you feeling sated. Russo’s is family-friendly, and theycatertobothbigandsmallparties. 700EastCampbellRoad|Richardson russoscoalfired.com MEXICAN Digg’sTacoShop Dallasites have pretty particular opinions when it comes to tacos, so finding a taco shop that pleas- es everyone in your group can be challenging. But Digg’s has taken care of that with plenty of menu items for vegetarians, Paleo enthusiasts, carnivores and kid- dos. The Tex-Mex standards are definitely there, but you’ll also find some tasty, spicy surprises, such as habanero shrimp with mango, the Bahn Jovi (basically, their take on a Vietnamese pork on a tortilla) and grilled Alaskan flounder with serrano chilesauce.Salsasandquesoaresolid,butbesuretotryasideofplantain chips with house dip, too. Salads and bowls provide healthy options for low-carbersandforthosewhodon’tmindcarbs,thejellydonutholesare addictive.diggstacos.com 6309HillcrestAve.|Dallas 7325GastonAve.|Dallas Mattito’s ThisisthekindofTex-Mexcuisine that North Texans both love and crave. And at Mattito’s, you have to start off with the Bob Arm- strong dip. Basically a layered chile con queso with seasoned ground beef, guacamole and sour cream, you’ll soon find yourself swooning over Mr. Arm- strong. While not on the menu, with a wink and a smile your server will be happy to accommodate you. Then move right on to more cheesy goodness with Texas Enchiladas or QuesadillasdeBrisket.Ifyourmoodisn’tcheesy,youcan’tgowrongwith the fajitas and yes, if needed, they even offer gluten-free tortillas. The litefajitasareperfectforcaloriecounters,sautéedwithoutoilandserved over seared broccoli and cauliflower. The chicken fried steak, though definitely not for Paleos, is strictly top notch. A few locations also offer awell-pricedSundaybrunchfrom10-2,andalllocationsareveryfamily friendly. MultiplelocationsthroughoutDFW mattitos.com goodEATS HOT SPOT!