106 September 19 - 25, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CONTENTS | READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | SPORTS & RECREATION for example: Stuffed with rib eye, melted Jack, avocado, elote and pickled red onion. Or the El Chapo, made of piquant pork chorizo, Jack, pico, pickled radish and cilantro. But our favorite may very well be the Vasquez, which has Caribbean jerk chicken, mango, jalapeños, pickled red onion, salsa verde and sriracha. And be sure to order your quesadillas “dirty.” 1802 McMillan Ave. 214-730-0021, eatplomo.com Best Brunch Petra and the Beast Local star chef Misti Norris recently expanded her much-lauded Petra and the Beast to include a brunch service on Sundays, and there was much rejoicing. This is not your grandma’s mimosa and omelet station brunch, however. There is not a single eggs Benedict to be had. Instead, Norris puts her trademark spin on the menu, with locally sourced and in-house cured meats, microgreens and fermentation. Start off with a couple of inexpensive craft cocktails before indulging in a starter such as smoked redfish dip or the charcuterie board, but don’t pass up the allium fried chicken thigh with its satisfyingly crispy skin and onions adorned with a fried egg. 1901 Abrams Road 214-484-2326, petraandthebeast.com Best Fusion Food Cris and John Cris and John, which opened in a small strip mall in 2017, is a wonderfully playful fusion of Vietnamese and Mexican street food, the brainchild of Cristina Mendez and John Pham. The phorrito, their take on a deconstructed bowl of pho inside a flour tortilla that is served with a side of pho broth for dipping, is perhaps the most popular offering, but don’t overlook the birria tacos, bao buns or chicken wings. It also offers several $35–$60 platters for those of us with low impulse control who want to try it all. 5555 Preston Oaks Road 972-803-4750, crisandjohn.com Best Bagels Lubbies Bagels Sisters Andrea and Jen Lubkin opened up this East Dallas shop in the former location of 20 Feet Seafood Joint last August and it’s a welcome addition to the city’s burgeoning bagel scene. Exceptional bagels and schmears are made in-house, and there are sandwiches, soups, sweets and a decent cup of coffee to wash it all down. Along with the expected schmear flavors it has some interesting choices such as roasted carrot hummus and chopped chicken liver along with whitefish salad. The bagels have a great chew factor, crisp on the outside but chewy on the inside. 1160 Peavy Road 214-758-0088, lubbiesbagels.com Best Grilled Cheese The Porch What is it about this Henderson Avenue modern-day brasserie that explains its brilliance with cheese? The Porch has been a standby for going on 15 years, and its cheese-based dishes regularly find themselves on our Best Of lists. Readers picked The Porch’s mac and cheese as the city’s best last year, and this year, we’re back to sing the praises of its grilled cheese. Maybe it’s the mix of the exotic and the mainstream, where cheddar and American cheese melt side by side with Hank Vaughn Petra and the Beast // BEST BRUNCH
