Dallas' Best Family-Friendly Dining 2008

Fun Knox Avenue spot dishes a light, creamy custard and strives to make the best hot dogs this side of Chicago.

Reviews:

• “Best Frozen Custard Ever!!!”
• “Three words… Banana Pudding Shake”
• “Chicago style hot dogs in Big D”
• “Charm”
• “Has Custard & Veggie Options”

Tips: Try washing that dog down with a luscious peanut butter milk shake.

Wild About Harry’s or email Wild About Harry’s

Classic comfort food served in a small, stone ranch house.

Reviews:

• “Best comfort food!”
• “Great Family Experience”
• “they would rather see their guests wait standing around for an hour, than to make reservations in advance!”
• “Good place to take the family-but be sure to make reservations or you may have a wait!! "
• “consistently “very good”"

Tips: Celebration Market next door serves the same great food to go. Take it home and pretend it’s your own.

Celebration Restaurant

Dessert shop in Frisco popular for frozen custards and other specialty drink delights.

Reviews:

• “The best Ice cream/ custard pie on this earth!!!!!”
• “Did you see the cow at the dirve thru? :)”
• “The Best Drive Thru Dessert "
• “OH MY G-D! THIS IS FANTASTIC! BEST FROZEN ANYTHING ANYWHERE! "
• “Better Than The Best Marble Slab”

Tips: Grab one of the outdoor seats and do some people watching.

Sheridan’s Frozen Custard

Popular burger joint in Casa Linda keeps regulars coming back for more.

Reviews:

• “I wanted to rate it 10 STARS!!”
• “Great Burger and More!”
• “Best Tot’s In Town”
• “AWESOME STAFF”
• “bEST AMARICAN FOOD IN DALLAS”

Tips: Unless you’re sharing, the 1/2-pound burger is a huge endeavor. The 1/4-pound will satisfy.

Fat Daddy’s Burger House

A Knox/Henderson Avenue shop serves up frozen, blended and caffeinated treats all made with natural organic ingredients.

Reviews:

• “Gelato to DIE for!”
• “Best Frozen Yogurt”
• “Amazingly addictively good”
• “Best Fro-Yo Ever!”

Tips: Natsumi promotes “green eating” and aspires to create a natural state of balance in their customers through their products.

Natsumi Gelato + Frozen Yogurt or email Natsumi Gelato + Frozen Yogurt

East Dallas hidden gem serves fresh-from-the-garden ingredients in a sophisticated, yet relaxed ambiance.

Reviews:

• “Nice brunch spot”
• “Great breakfast/lunch!”
• “nice little joint”
• “Hidden treasure of fresh food.”

Tips: On special occasions like Mother’s Day, call ahead about Garden Cafe’s special menu offerings.

Garden Cafe

The original longtime Lower Greenville favorite still caters to a casual—college-aged or family-oriented—neighborhood crowd.

Reviews:

• “Really great burgers and Excellent service too!”
• “Haunted”
• “Overhyped… not really even average”
• “Great Burgers and Fires!”
• “Mmmmmhhh Cheese Fries…”

Tips: The Snufferita is made with Sauza Conmemorativo and Presidente brandy—“Top Shelf, Authentically Flavored … & Very Strong—Use Caution!” reads the fine-print warning.

Snuffer’s

This restaurant in Snider Plaza dishes straight up Texas ’cue, circa 1955.

Reviews:

• “Service and dessert is good”
• “Small Portions”
• “Gotta go”
• “18yrs Living with Peggy”
• “good enough to be a 10”

Tips: Since Peggy’s serves great food smack in the middle of the SMU area, parking is tight. If the Plaza is packed, there’s some parking in the street.

Peggy Sue Barbecue

Original location to the local chain where the burgers are cheap, well-made and huge.

Reviews:

• “Don’t believe the rating!! "
• “very average at best”
• “Big, very good (though not great) hamburgers”
• “Jakes is the best”
• “ALL JAKES ROCK!!!”

Tips: Have Jake’s cater your next party—no one will go hungry.

Jake’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers on Skillman

Children-oriented North Dallas spot serves diner favorites, plus an authentic soda fountain and a few alcohol choices for the parents.

Reviews:

• “kid spot”

Tips: Having lunch with friends with kids? This spot is a good option for pleasing the little ones and adults alike.

Purple Cow

New York style deli dishes popular breakfast favorites, as well as sandwich and other options for lunch and dinner.

Reviews:

• “Cindi’s "

Tips: Because this spot is so popular, there might be a short wait on the weekends.

Cindi’s N.Y. Delicatessen or email Cindi’s N.Y. Delicatessen

Casa Linda pizza restaurant dishes popular thin crusts and pasta dishes.

Reviews:

• “Great Pizza and Pasta”
• “Authentic Pizza and great pasta.”

Tips: Lover’s delivers to a limited area.

Lover’s Pizza Pasta & Grill

Families mix seamlessly with an adult clientele at this Highland Park Italian favorite.

Reviews:

• “BEWARE”
• “Feels like home (if your home is a villa in tuscany)”
• “Still a great place "
• “avoid at all costs”
• “Everything was Okay…”

Tips: Patrizio serves the special Bellini: A deliciously smooth and fruity combination of champagne, peach nectar and peach schnapps.

Patrizio

Texas barbecue connoisseurs flock to this world-class smokehouse with rustic decor for lunch.

Reviews:

• “try the Frito Pie”
• “Best barbecue of the planet”
• “DAllas’ BEST BBQ!!!”
• “Best Mexican food in town.”
• “Boo!”

Tips: Guests can still enjoy the scenery and the scent of the smoke from the desktop outdoor seating.

Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse

Local-favorite restaurant next to the Lakewood Theater dishes Tex-Mex fare with a smile.

Reviews:

• “Interesting dining experience.”
• “Do not visit the Cedar Hill Location!”
• “Keep Turning Us Away”
• “Awesome Tex-Mex!!! yummy”
• “Bob bob bob”

Tips: The margaritas are refreshing and strong.

Matt’s Rancho Martinez

Cajun joint near Greenville offers raw oysters, crab legs and a large patio.

Reviews:

• “A Nice Find”

Tips: If you’re with a friend, order a platter and share. It’s more than enough for two people.

Big Shucks

Sports-themed, family-friendly spot near SMU offers TVs and video games along with juicy burgers and tasty malts.

Reviews:

• “Great burger”
• “Burgers are no good!”
• “Best Burger in Dallas”
• “Best Burger Ever!!”

Balls Hamburgers

Cupcake confectionery in Preston Center offers a variety of daily flavors, plus gift boxes and party trays.

Reviews:

• “Sprinkles cupcakes are as bad as everyone says”
• “Dry, Dry, Dry”
• “Pretty cupcakes; average taste”
• “Definitely worth the visit!”
• “Better than the rest…”

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Specialty tea shop brews bubble tea and other beverages, like smoothies and shakes and more.

Reviews:

• “Fat Straws is the place to hangout. Free WiFi too.”

Fat Straws Bubble Teas

Historic soda fountain shop on Knox Street serves traditional breakfast and lunch dishes, plus an assortment of drug store goods.

Reviews:

• “Magazine’s Can Lie”
• “Not Sanitary”
• “MM delish!!!”
• “Mmmmmm… Alpo….”
• “Neat little spot”

Tips: Order one of the shakes or malts for nostalgia.

Highland Park Pharmacy

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