There are all kinds of fun adventures to be had in Dallas but I’m always partial to eating in some of our great restaurants. This week’s restaurant review is concentrated in the Deep Ellum area. When I worked at Dallas Public Library we loved to go to Deep Ellum to eat because it cost only $0.50 to park. What a bargain!

12-27 Note: I just found out that the Deep Ellum area no longer charges for parking during the lunch hour. That really is a bargain.

One of my fav’s is Omega’s - 2713 Commerce Street, 214-744-6842. This small, family run TexMex restaurant is on the north side of Deep Ellum. They actually put spices in their food. This isn’t one of those chain restaurants. I always order the fajitas but they have some other delicious dishes. If they are still operating like they did at the old location, they won’t bring you a check; you pay at the counter and just tell them what you ordered.

The Angry Dog - 2726 Commerce St, (214) 741-4406, www.angrydog.com. Great place if you like hot dogs. And the burgers are pretty yummy too - some would say the best in Texas. It’s basically a bar with some tables and it’s crowded. There’s usually a line at lunch.

If you haven’t heard yet there’s a new dessert place in Dallas called Sprinkles. Wow. In their small Preston Center store you can experience some of the most decadent cupcakes you’ve ever tasted.

One of the things I anticipate with the most pleasure at any conference is the opportunity to explore new restaurants and foods from diverse cultures. I love to cook, and I like to taste an authentic version before I attempt to duplicate it in my own kitchen. Sometimes that taste is enough to encourage me to go forward, or otherwise to convice me that my enjoyment must br reserved for that particular place and time alone.
Dallas is a remarkably diverse city. World-wide cultures are represented in its restaurants. Lucky for us, many are within easy reach of the downtown hotels and convention center.
On Fridays for the next few weeks, I will post suggestions for some dining experiences that sound interesting to me, and I hope that readers may find them interesting, too. I will try to include fine meals for both the budget-conscious and those who want to reserve at least one night during the conference for splurging. Advance reservations are always recommended. So let's begin with.....

Cremona has been called a genuine treasure of Dallas with incredible food and reasonable prices. Real Italians have brought a slice of their homeland to Texas. One reviewer called it the "best kept secret in Dallas." Candle-lit tables are intimate enough for couples, and there is accommodation for groups as well. Cremona features live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Find all this at 3136 Routh Street, tucked away between uptown and Turtle Creek. Call 214-871-1115.

Angry Dog is a Deep Ellum bar and cafe. Many say it is the best burger place in the city. Find classic rock 'n roll on the juke box, and all the funky atmosphere of this historic district. A meal will cost around $20. Angry Dog is at 2726 Commerce Street, 214-741-4406.

Ruth S.

While you are enjoying the TLA conference, why not enjoy dinner in another country as well?

Specifically, let's try the Mediterranean cuisine of Cafe Ismir at 3711 Greenville Avenue, an easy cab ride from the downtown hotels. There is a prix fixe approach here ($15 per person according to one review) -- the waiter will ask if you wish vegetarian or non-vegetarian and with that decision made, sit back and relax. The meal begins with hummus and pita and continues with plate after plate of entrees: beef and lamb, chicken and falafel, roasted vegetables -- as much as you want. Finish with a honeyed dessert, Turkish coffee, and a visit to the Kismet nightclub next door. Cafe Ismir was named a D Best by D Magazine. Call for reservations at 214-826-7788.

Maybe you'd like a quick trip to South America? Spend an evening at Texas de Brazil at 2727 Cedar Springs. This is a classy all-you-can-eat place featuring Brazilian skewered meats. A touch pricey but patrons say it's worth it for the experience. Also reported: "a mind-boggling salad bar and divine desserts." Call them at 214-720-1414.

Ruth S.

Librarians being the party animals they are, no discussion of Dallas after dark would be complete without a list of places noted for their alcoholic offerings. All these clubs mentioned are downtown or close to downtown on Greenville Avenue.

Zubar is at 2012 Greenville. It offers the latest dance music in an upscale, chic ambiance. If local art turns you on, check out the walls here -- the art is for sale. Might make a nice souvenir of a trip to Dallas in 2008. A patio adds to the relaxation level. 214-887-0071.

Obar, 1602 Main Street, suite B has been voted the best bar and the best patio in downtown Dallas. Are you a hipster? This posh subterranean spot is for you. A specialty drink is the Honeysuckle Martini. Sounds like a chick drink to me. If you are riding Dart Rail, get off at the Akard Street station. 214-747-6227.

And as long as you are getting off at Akard and Main, check out the City Tavern at 1402 Main, near the Akard intersection. The place is great for people-watching. The lunch and dinner menus are standard bar fare, but worth a mention -- burgers, sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and the like. They have over 40 bottled beer choices, 16 drafts, and a few wines. 214-745-1402.

If more than three dozen beer choices are not enough, look in at Stan's Blue Note, 2908 Greenville Avenue. They have over 150 bottled beers, and the new Taphouse section features over 50 beers on tap. This is a long-time favorite Greenville Avenue hotspot. That means lots of young people having noisy fun.

Two Rows Restaurant and Brewery is at 5500 Greenville Avenue, Suite 1300. They offer true homemade beer that gets good reviews. Try the cheddar-honey pepper-bacon burger or, if you must, choose the "fit for life" menu options. 214-696-2739.

And no list of Dallas downtown nightlife would be complete without mention of Dick's Last Resort, long a favorite spot for a "bucket of chiky, goldy fry'd" and the beer to go with it. Very casual at 2211 Lamar.

Two more entries in the foodie sweepstakes at the '08 Dallas conference:

Downtown at 600 N Akard is Dakota's Steakhouse. New American cuisine is served in this underground oasis with a waterfall on the patio. Find it connected to the Fairmont Hotel via a tunnel. One diner described it as "a shangri-la experience." 214-740-4001.

Another Greenville Avenue foreign country dining adventure is Royal Thai at 5500 Greenville Avenue, just above Lover's Lane, a taxi ride from conference hotels. Very reasonable prices and a luscious atmosphere contribute to an evening's pleasure. The wait staff is dressed in shimmering Thai silk gowns,and the decor includes intricately carved screens and brocaded chairs. The menu lists such things as tulip dumplings, swimming angels (chicken breast with shrimp filling over sauteed spinach), golden sacks (fried rice wrappers of minced chicken), and a four-alarm calamari for those who appreciate plenty of spicy heat. 214-691-3555.

Be sure to call for reservations and further information at any of these establishments

This is for those who are serious about fine food, no others need apply.

The Mansion on Turtle Creek is Dallas' only 5-star hotel and its dining room is a major reason for those stars. Start with a warm inviting atmosphere graced with Palladian windows looking out on the patio. The menu of contemporary American cuisine includes such things as slow braised shortribs of beef served with root vegetables and maple-braised collards as well as the more exotic things you would expect in a fine restaurant. Relax, give yourself enough time to enjoy the rich ambiance and the wondeful food slowly. The Mansion is at 2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard. Avoid disappointment and call for reservations at 214-443-4747.

Closer to the Convention Center is the Adolphus Hotel. The French Room at the Adolphus has been given top ranking by Gourmet Magazine year after year. It is decorated in Rococo style -- think Ornate! The fantastic menu includes Gulf Red Snapper in caramelized onions with wild mushrooms and kumquat confit. The dessert menu is out of this world. One of my most memorable -ever- dining experiences happened at the French Room and was completed with a Grand Marnier souffe. Words almost fail me. It was simply exquisite. Expect to pay -- it's worth every penny. Years from now you'll still be talking of your meal at the French Room. Call 214-742-8200 for reservations, and don't wait until late in the day.

Looking for someplace special to eat one night? Or just hungry for some really, really good steak?

If you've got a little cash to spend, III Forks (yes, that's "three forks") is the Dallas legend of choice. Classed as "Texas French cuisine," you won't find a better place to order a steak and a bottle of wine. You'll want to take advantage of the valet parking, particularly as its location and popularity can make parking tricky. Meals are in the $30 - 50 range, although depending on your beverage of choice you can easily spend more.

It's the perfect crowning evening to your trip, particularly if you bring a few friends.

Directions from downtown Dallas:
http://www.iiiforks.com/directions.php?c=0&n=5&g=0

Today's post is from Joyce at Haggard Library in Plano:

Looking for a restaurant with a great view and great food? Make your lunch stop at AIJA Restaurant at the Trammel Crow Building in the Arts District. Making a decision on what to eat will be the hard part. The $14 buffet has mouth watering beef, chicken, and fish entree dishes and includes a selection of sushi as well. Conclude your meal with a delicious desert and a walk in the Trammel Crow art gardens surrounding the building or tour the Asian Collection. The building is across from the Nasher Museum of Art.

Aija
2001 Ross Avenue
Mezzanine Level
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: 214.979.3111

Wondering where you can eat at conference? You have several options:
*Bring your lunch.
*Attend one of the meal functions-Opening Author Session (lunch), Black Caucus Author Session with Darren Coleman and Rose Rock (breakfast), A Memoir-able Evening with the Authors (dinner), Texas Bluebonnet Award Author Session (lunch), TASL Author Session with Christopher Paul Curtis (breakfast), and Closing Author Session with Kathy Patrick (lunch).
*Visit Davidson Title Cafe behind the exhibits between Exhibit Halls B and C. They will have lunch and snack options.
*Visit one of the local restaurants we've reviewed. We don't recommend this option because it will take you away from the action at the conference. Save the restaurants for dinner or the extra days at the beginning and end of conference.

(Image courtesy of Pontus Edenberg at SRX)

Need a break from fast-paced conference food? Looking for something a little more natural, and down-to-earth? Look no further than the Dallas Farmer's Market, begun in the late 1800's and still regularly held near downtown Dallas.

Stroll the market to shop for fruits and veggies, meats, flowers, and a variety of unique and hard-to-find items.

Hours:
Sunday through Saturday, 7am to 6pm

Location:
downtown Dallas
(DART will get you there via the Route 35 bus line)
1010 South Pearl Street, Dallas, Texas 75201
map: http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.org/