Cadillac Bar
With live music, traditional Mexican decor and flowing margaritas, Cadillac Bar is sure to fit the bill for any south-of-the-border craving. The restaurant is in Dallas' historic district, two blocks south of the Dallas World Aquarium, and has been a local favorite since the mid-1980s. The owners believe dishes like the Cabrito al Pastor (roasted young goat) and Camarones Enbrochette (stuffed shrimp) will keep the customers coming. The interior of the Cadillac Bar is bright and communal, but speckled in the warm colors of Mexican culture, and the outdoor patio is cozily adorned with wooden picnic tables under bright blue and yellow umbrellas. According to the restaurant's website, the Cadillac has been visited by President George Bush, members of ZZ Top, Randy Quaid and Elton John, among others.
Cadillac Bar
1800 N. Market St.
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 999-0662
cadillacbar.com
Desperado's Mexican Restaurant
Desperado's, a family owned and operated Mexican restaurant, was established on historical Greenville Avenue in 1976 and has achieved "landmark" status in Dallas. The restaurant is on the north side of Dallas, not far from White Rock Lake and White Rock East Park, in a traditional building slightly reminiscent of the Alamo. Desperado's has been named the "Best Margarita in Dallas" at least five times, usually for its specialty, La Margarita. In 2008, it was named one of The Dallas Morning News' "Best Tex-Mex Restaurants," by Bill Addison. The original reviewer, Lawson Taitte, described Desperado's tacos as "feather-light" and "puffy," its tamales as "pillowy," and its guacamole as "on-the-mark." However, the highlight for Taitte was the restaurant's inventiveness. Desperado's aims to mix traditional with creative, and it seems to do the trick. Early risers can stop by for Mexican omelets and stay for the tequila.
Desperado's Mexican Restaurant
4818 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 363-1850
desperadosrestaurant.com
Avila's Mexican Restaurant
Avila's, in the heart of Little Mexico, is less than two miles from the Brook Hollow Country Club, just north of Dallas' city center. Outside, the restaurant looks a little shabby, but inside its got fine art on the walls. According to Kim Pierce of the Dallas Morning News, Anita Avila, originally from San Antonio, oversees the kitchen staff and her son Ricardo manages the dining room. It's been exactly that way since the restaurant opened in 1986, she said. The diner has won awards for best Mexican Food in Dallas, likely a result of its cooking techniques; real dairy sour cream, ripe avocado, perfect brisket and tender stewed chicken are used in the dishes; the beans aren't cooked in a fryer, but are seasoned with onion and spices and mashed; and the long-grain rice is slow-cooked, not parboiled, Pierce wrote. Avila's has also been featured on the Food Network's, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," during the show's sixth season.
Avila's Mexican Restaurant
4714 Maple Ave.
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 520-2700
