My Favorite Restaurants

I wanted to expound a bit on this week's top five list...so here we go (in no particular order):

* Mainstream Fish House (http://www.guidelive.com/profile/102042/): Best seafood in Dallas, bar none. The specialty here are the bread pots; they make a bowl by hollowing out a lump of bread and fill it with either an exotic gumbo with crawfish and shrimp (Bonnie's Bayou), a tasty clam chowder with shrimp (New England), or spicy cajun buttered shrimp. It's to die for. If you go there, tell Pancho (the manager) I said hi.
* Fogo De Chao (http://www.fogodechao.com/flash_index.php): Brazilian meat buffet. The waiters bring around 15 different kinds of meats perfectly prepared: Filet minion, top and bottom sirloins, pork sausages, bacon wrapped chicken and filet, garlic beef, ribs, etc. The House Special is amazing. And it's all you can fricking eat--basically, this is my idea of heaven. If you don't like that much meat, they have the world's best salad bar with much more than salad: exotic cheeses, exquisite smoked salmon, and the best bacon in the world await you there, for half the cost of the regular dinner. It is expensive, but worth every frickin penny. It also has one of the best desserts (Chocolate Mouse Cake) in Dallas.
* Tong's House (http://www.guidelive.com/profile/100660): Best Chinese food I've ever had. It's simply outstanding. The Dan Dan Noodles, Pan Fried Dumplings, Combination Fried Rice, and Orange Chicken or Beef are incredible.
* Maggiano's Little Italy (http://www.maggianos.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1): The best Bruschetta and possibly the best chicken parmesan in the world. Surprisingly (for an Italian restaurant), I think the salmon is outstanding, too. The Family Style meals are an INCREDIBLE bargain; even if you're not in a large group, if you're in the mood to eat a lot and take a lot home for a great price, go here. Everything is good, and the atmosphere is great.
* BD's Mongolian Barbeque (http://www.bdsmongolianbarbeque.com/): Great food, excellent variety of meats and seafood and choices of spices and sauces. For those of you who haven't done Mongolian BBQ, you choose your own raw meats, veggies, spices, and then sauces, and then watch it cooked in front of you on a huge grill. It's a lot of fun to watch them cook it, and to experiment with new food choices.
* J G's Hamburgers (http://www.guidelive.com/profile/102778/): Voted second best burgers in Dallas by D Magazine. Close, but D was wrong. They are the best. While I've never had them, I've heard from reliable sources that the milkshakes are outstanding, as well.
* Alfredo Trattoria (http://www.guidelive.com/profile/101468/): Small Italian place off of Mockingbird and Lemmon, but is probably the best Italian food in Dallas. The Cioppino--a smoky seafood soup--is sinfully good, and you MUST save room for White Chocolate Mouse and Strawberries for dessert.
* Dinger's Catfish Café (http://www.guidelive.com/profile/102432/): Best catfish in Dallas, and they'll prepare it damn near any way you want it.
* Freebird's World Burrito (http://www.freebirds.com/loc_ot_dallas.asp): Think Chipotle, but use quality ingredients and make it...oh, what's that word? Oh wait...GOOD.
* Chick Fil A: So good I don't consider it fast food. I will love the Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich until the day I die.

There you go kids. Let me know what you think, and let me know if I left out any restaurants. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and I hope this is the best year of your life!