102 September 21 - 27, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER contents | shopping & services | Arts & entertAinment | Food & drink | sports & recreAtion we suggest The Wild Detectives in Oak Cliff? The combination bar and bookstore has a great indie vibe, solid cocktails and plenty of coffee drinks if your date doesn’t imbibe. It’s a great place to get to know someone. Check the calendar for schedules of readings and plays that are a unique way to extend a date that’s going well or pass the time if, god forbid, you get stood up. 314 W. Eighth St. 214-942-0108, thewilddetectives.com Best Southern Cooking Roots Southern Table Coming to Roots Southern Table and skipping the duck-fat fried chicken borders on sacrilege, and chef Tiffany Derry may source the most duck fat of any restaurant in Dallas to keep turning out her showstopper family-sized bowls of succulent fowl. But the truth about Southern cooking is that it’s not just grease and fried food. At Roots, fresh seasonal produce is also a star, and as the seasons change, so does Roots’ menu. With Derry’s restaurant empire continuing to grow, we were concerned that dinner at Roots might suffer. A recent visit has assured us that any concerns were thankfully misplaced. 13050 Bee St., Farmers Branch 214-346-4441, rootssoutherntable.com Best Philly CheeSesteak Steak Me Home Tonight Kitchen “As close to a Philly cheesesteak you will find outside Philly” is a common statement on Tripadvisor and Yelp about Steak Me Home Tonight Kitchen, one of the permanent fixtures at the Truck Yard, off Greenville Avenue, and we agree. The cheesesteak will set you back about $12 and comes with chips, though we’re usually too full to eat those: The Philly is substantial. You can choose from rib-eye, chicken or veggies, and cheese options include provolone, American or Cheese Whiz. If you want the true experience, get rib-eye and Cheese Whiz. 5624 Sears St. 469-500-0139, truckyarddallas.com Best steakhouSe Brass Ram Dallas loves its steakhouses, and Brass Ram is restaurateur Nick Badovinus’ nod to the classic prime rib joint. Opulence abounds, whether it’s the luxurious interior full of leather seating, wood tables and mid-century vibes, or the spectacular steaks and chops. The go-to is prime rib, available in 12-ounce normal portions or a behemoth 28-ounce bone-in cut with a behemoth price to match. Or pop into the bar and order the wagyu burger, which comes with bacon, red onion and melty raclette, and a cocktail to go with it. Yes, a meal here is a splurge, but if it’s steakhouse style with a modern touch you desire, Brass Ram delivers. 2130 Commerce St., second Floor 469-677-6170, brassram.com Best QueSo Las Palmas Tex Mex Uptown’s Las Palmas has been banging out Tex-Mex favorites for years, and the queso blanco is some of the best in the business. Not content to warm up a bowl of processed cheese, Las Palmas puts some real effort into its concoction. There are layers of flavors here, from slivers of garlic that are sautéed to extract their profiles to the real chunks of peppers that give an acidic bite when one lands on your tongue. The freshly chopped herbs that top each bowl show the level of care that went into the dish. And Las Palmas serves up each bowl with house-fried tortilla chips, plus a salsa verde and a salsa roja that are good enough to stand on their own. Thanks to the decadent queso, they don’t have to. 2708 Routh St 214-647-1232, laspalmasdallas.com Best hot Dog Chicago Style Dog’s Chicago Style Dog’s in Garland offers a great dog for those who prefer it to be dragged through the garden and recognize that there is no place for ketchup on a hot dog in polite society. The owners hail from the Chicago area and know how to create a proper dog, starting with Vienna beef and including a poppy seed bun, sport peppers, neon relish, onion, mustard, tomato, pickle and celery salt. It’s a handful, it’s messy, and includes most of the food pyramid that you can hold in your hands. What more do you want? (Don’t say ketchup.) 3225 S. Jupiter Road, No. 100, Garland 469-452-3328, chicagostyledogstx.com Best ChineSe Fortune House The newest Fortune House location recently opened on Lower Greenville, bringing its well-regarded dumplings to the area along with other Asian fare. A good bet for those wanting an introduction to their dumplings is the dumpling sampler, which includes some of Fortune House’s most popular and can be ordered steamed or fried. It also
