Dining

AMERICAN

CASUAL

Fort Worth area

The Buffet Restaurant at the Kimbell 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-332-8451, Ext 251. One of the most sophisticated settings in town, the Kimbell serves exceptional soup, salad, sandwiches and desserts, as well as heartier Friday-night fare. 11:30am-2pm Tue-Thu & Sat, noon-2pm & 5:30-7:30pm Fri, noon-2pm Sun. Beverages and desserts available 2-4pm Tue-Sun. $. Checks. Smoking on patio. WA

CafeART 1300 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817-377-8427. Quirky, casual, drop-in cafe in the lobby of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center serves fresh healthful fare, including sandwiches with good smoked meats and homey entrees such as green-chile chicken with rice. Coffee and teas are excellent; to-go boxes are recyclable, and utensils are biodegradable, made from potato starch. Overseeing the food is well-known chef Johndavid Bartlett. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri. WA.

Café Soleil 812 Southeast Pkwy, Azle. 817-444-3825. Sunny bistro reflects owner-chef’s northern California/Italian heritage, with fresh, seasonal cuisine on the plate and vintage Sinatra on the stereo. Excellent fare includes Greek salad with grilled chicken, smoked salmon wraps, BBQ ranch burger, and steak lover’s pizza. Friday night bistro menu may feature grilled ratatouille with shrimp or salmon tacos. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-9pm Fri. Dinners to go, 4-7pm Mon-Fri. $. No bar. SF WA

Charleston’s Restaurant 3020 S Hulen St, Fort Worth. 817-735-8900. A menu of American standards, with a sampling of Cajun, Italian and Southwestern. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm. $-$$. Full Bar WA www.charlestons.com

The Covey Restaurant and Brewery 3010 S Hulen St, Fort Worth. 817-731-7933. Nicer-than-most watering hole features a seven-barrel microbrewery at its center and a bar/dining-room setting with rock walls and leather furnishings. Best noshes are the appetizers, such as jerk chicken pizza, Texas game lettuce wraps, artichoke-spinach dip, panko-crusted crab cakes. $$-$$$. 11am-10pm Tue-Thu & Sun; 11am-mid Fri-Sat. Full bar. Smoking in bar. WA

8.0 111 E Third St, Fort Worth. 817-336-0880. Casual, convenient choice for upscale fare before movies and theater performances. 11am-midnight Mon-Wed, 11am-2am Thu-Sat, 4pm-midnight Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA PRESSwww.eightObar.com

Feastivities 3637 W Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-377-3011. A market with daily specials and everyday items such as cranberry nut salad, pastries and artichoke and spinach dip. 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm Sat. $-$$. SF WA www.feastivitiesinc.com

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium 111 E Fourth St, Fort Worth. 817-336-7468. Huge selection of international beers on tap and in bottles, plus sausage plates, salads and sandwiches. Good patio spot. 11am-1am Mon-Wed, 11am-2am Thu-Sat, noon-midnight Sun. $$. Beer and wine. Other location 14999 Monfort Drive, Addison, 972-934-2537; 11am-2am Mon-Sat, noon-midnight Sun. www.beerknurd.com

Gallery Art Cafe 609 S Jennings Ave, Fort Worth. 817-335-4646. Art-filled cafe serving coffee and excellent eats. Black bean tacos, portobello burger with feta cheese, housemade shortbread and brunch winners such as migas and French toast earn high marks. 7am-10pm Mon-Thu, 7am-11pm Fri, 10am-11pm Sat, 10am-10pm Sun. $. BYOB. smoking on patio WA PRESS

The Gardens Restaurant Botanic Garden, 3220 Rock Springs Rd, Fort Worth. 817-731-2547. Instead of picnicking on the gardens’ flower-filled grounds, go for table service of sandwiches, salads, pasta, chicken entrees in a pleasant, ladies-who-lunch setting. 11am-2:30pm Tue-Sat & Sun brunch. $. Checks. SF WA

The Ginger Man 3716 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-886-2327. Packing them in after the demise of Rick’s on the Bricks, this Dallas-based mini-chain offers a pleasant Irish pub interior with lots of wood, comfortable seating and big windows overlooking the patio tables along Camp Bowie. The food menu — sandwiches, salads and sausages, all pretty tasty — may be small, but the beer menu is not, with more than 150 intriguing choices on draught and in bottles. 1pm-2am Sat-Mon, noon-2am Tue-Fri. $. All major credit cards. WA

Lili’s Bistro 1310 W Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth. 817-877-0700. Elegant bistro on Magnolia’s "restaurant row" from veteran Vance Martin with great salads and upscale re-dos of regional goodies such as King Ranch casserole. Roulade sandwiches are tasty, especially the smokin’ hot turkey, and desserts made from scratch are excellent. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri; 5:30-9pm Wed & Thu, 5:30-10pm Fri & Sat. $-$$. WA www.lilisbistro.com

Lucile’s 4700 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-738-4761. Loud but comfortable, this lively neighborhood bistro does a nice lobster bisque, pizzas from a wood-burning oven, good rib-eye, live Maine lobster and oversized salads. Weekend breakfasts can be excellent. 11:30am-10pm Mon-Fri, 9am-11pm Sat-Sun. $-$$. Full Bar WA

M&O Station Grill 200 Carroll St, Fort Worth. 817-882-8020. Attached to the new Leonards Department Store Museum, this ode to the 1950s diner impresses with burgers and hot lunches a cut above the standard fare. Exceptional chili and a Tijuana burger stuffed with roasted chiles and cream cheese, plus skins-on, hand-cut fries, will keep your engine running. 11am-8:30pm Mon-Sat. $. Beer and wine. SF WA

Main Street Cafe in the Radisson North, 2540 Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-625-9911. Standards include steaks, salads, chicken and grilled fish. 6am-11am 5-10pm daily. $$. SF WA

Massey’s Restaurant 1805 Eighth Ave, Fort Worth. 817-921-5582. At least five generations of Cowtowners have been hooked on these chicken-fried steaks. Fried chicken and pork chops are good bets, too, as are sky-high meringue pies. 11am-9pm Mon-Thu & Sat, 11am-10pm Fri, 11am-3pm Sun. $. Beer and wine WA

Old Neighborhood Grill 1633 Park Place Ave, Fort Worth. 817-923-2282. A family favorite with tons of neighborhood regulars, all enjoying burgers, meatloaf, a terrific chicken-fried steak and lots of fresh veggie choices. Beer and wine. 7am-9pm Mon-Sat. $. SF

Ol’ South Pancake House 1509 S University Dr, Fort Worth. 817-336-0311. Weekend mornings — from the wee hours after the bars close until the church crowd clears out on Sunday — are packed here. Cowboys, families, club-crawlers and office workers all come for the pancakes, waffles and sandwiches, with a side of personable service. 24 hours daily. $. WA

Ovation Restaurant 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-732-8900. Elegant soul food, such as chicken and waffles with collards and fried green tomato with bearnaise-red eye gravy, stars at this dining/live music venue, but you can have your steaks and gumbo, too. Lunch features Black Castle burgers and Cuban sandwiches, as well. 6-10pm Wed-Thu, 6-11pm Fri-Sat, noon-10pm Sun. Gospel brunch noon-4pm Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA

Park Hill Cafe 2974 Park Hill, Fort Worth. 817-921-5660. Cozy-casual neighborhood lunch favorite has expanded to end-of-the-week dinners and Sunday brunch. Dinners, around $13 or $14 with sides, range from homemade lasagna to orange-glazed Cornish game hen. 10:30am-3pm Mon-Sat; 6-9pm Thu-Sat; brunch 10:30am-1:30pm Sun. $-$$. Reservations accepted for large parties. BYO wine ($4). SF. Partially WA (call ahead).

The Pour House 209 W Fifth St, Fort Worth. 817-335-2575. Terrific sports bar with outdoor balcony dining. Excellent salads, sandwiches and entrees. Try the Southwest chicken Caesar wrap or the popular pecan-crusted chicken. 11am-2am Tue-Sat, 11am-midnight Sun-Mon. $-$$. WA

The Purple Cow 4601 West Freeway, Fort Worth. 817-737-7177. Kid-friendly hangout serves burgers, dogs and fanciful ice cream concoctions. 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. Full Bar SF WA PRESSwww.thepurplecowdiner.com

The Restaurant at Fossil Creek Country Club 3401 Club Gate Dr, Fort Worth. 817-847-1900. Enjoy lunch or breakfast overlooking the 18th green in dining room or on the three-tiered outside deck. American cuisine menu of sandwiches, soups, salads augmented by buffet weekdays. Mon-Fri8am-7pm Sat7am-4pm. $. Checks. smoking outside WA

Scotty’s Deluxe Diner 5100 N Beach St, Haltom City. 817-281-0057. A throwback to the 1950s with red-vinyl-and-chrome stools and booths and a black-and-white tile floor. Scotty’s specialty is its juicy, loaded half-pound burgers. Breakfast served all day. Mon-Thu6am-9pm, Fri-Sat 6am-10pm. $. WA PRESS

Snookie’s Bar & Grill 2755 S Hulen St, Fort Worth. 817-207-0788. This offshoot of the popular Dallas venue that has been open since 1979 serves up expanded bar grub, including sinful cheese fries and thick chicken-frieds. 11am-2am daily. WA Other location 2801 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake, 817-488-2322.

SoDo Grill 911 Houston St., Fort Worth. 817-877-3939. 7am-3pm Mon-Fri. Breakfast/lunch place aimed at government employees and other downtown workers serving upscale sandwiches, salads, burgers and a few pasta dishes. $. No alcohol served. SF WA

Summers Cafe 1115 Jacksboro Hwy. 817-626-4141. Regulars visit this cafe for the breakfast and the plate lunches. Don’t miss the glazed apple pie. 7:30am-3pm daily. $. Checks. WA PRESS

Sweet Home Chicago Restaurant 6208 McCart Ave, Fort Worth. 817-361-1900. A little slice of Chicago in a south Fort Worth strip mall, with brawny, honest food ranging from an authentic Chicago dog to Polish sausage sandwiches to deep-dish pizza, all made from scratch. There’s an interesting Yugoslavian beef sandwich, too, along with some Greek items. 11am-9pm Tue-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat, noon-8pm Sun. $. BYOB. SF WA www.sweethomechicagorestaurant.com

Texas Grill 6550 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-377-0270. Texana decor surrounds families chomping on mushroom-Swiss burgers and excellent fries, chicken kebabs and fried catfish. 11am-9pm daily. $. Beer & wine. WA

29 Degrees Tavern 4701 W Freeway, Fort Worth. 817-735-8393. Corporate concept from Bennigan’s/Steak & Ale offers warmth in wood and brick, with updated bar and grill energy. Cute cocktails and very cold beer (Rahr’s Red on tap, along with Blue Moon and Fat Tire) cater to the drinking crowd, while diners dig into seared-ahi-tuna nachos, ale-marinated sirloin, herb-roasted prime rib and beef stroganoff. $$-$$$. 11am-midnight Mon-Sat; 11am-11pm Sun. Full bar. SF WA

Yogi’s Bagel Cafe 2710 S Hulen St, Fort Worth. 817-921-4500. Not just bagels but great breakfasts (fabulous pancakes) and killer lunch sandwiches. 6:30am-5pm Mon-Fri, 7am-4pm Sat, 7:30am-3pm Sun. $. Checks. SF WA

Arlington area

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse 201 E Interstate 20, Arlington. 817-465-5225. National chain specializing in house-brewed beers has a broad menu with everything from sandwiches to ribs to meatloaf. Picks include Angus beef burgers, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and, of course, beer, with more than half a dozen brews on tap, including a sweet, malty stout. 10:45am-11pm (midnight for the bar). $$-$$$. Full bar. SF. WA

Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Cafe 4301 S Bowen Rd, Arlington. 817-467-9922. Former Texas Rangers manager Valentine offers a good sports bar with burgers, sandwiches, Buffalo wings, big salads, pasta and even steaks and seafood, all served up in a minimuseum of sports memorabilia and television sets. 11am-2am daily. $-$$. Full bar. WA

Buck n’ Loons 3517 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-466-2825. Very popular both with families and the sports-bar crowd, this big favorite pleases with half-pound burgers and good munchies like fried pickles and homemade potato chips. Amazing fried pies, too. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-1am Fri-Sat. $-$$. Full bar. WA

Cafe n Chocolat 2234 W Park Row, Pantego. 817-276-1800. Belgian chocolate comes with just about everything, from the strawberries to the rich, dark coffee. Case full of pastries includes eclairs, tiramisu, lemon cake and banana cream puffs, or truffles for a smaller sugar fix. Toasty breakfast croissants pack in Swiss cheese and ham, while the salads are way beyond standard fare. 10am-3pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat. $$. Checks. SF WA PRESS

The Cafe at Daired’s 2400 W I-20, Arlington. 817-467-9991. Inside a chichi salon and spa awaits one of the best food finds around. Chef Eden Blocker does fabulous black bean enchiladas in blue corn tortillas with white posole, a lush white lasagna florentine, soothing udon vegetable bowl and a decadent Valrhona chocolate tart with a warm banana-rum compote. 9am-7:30pm Tue-Thu, 9am-8pm Fri, 8:30am-8pm Sat. $-$$. Bar on Friday. SF WA PRESS

Candlelite Inn 1202 E Division St, Arlington. 817-275-9613. A time trip back to the early ’60s, this dark, comfort-food haven does burgers, spaghetti, tacos and everything in between. 11am-9pm Tue-Thu & Sun, 11am-10pm Fri & Sat. $$. WA

Celebrity Cafe & Bakery 546 Lincoln Sq, Arlington. 817-274-4200. Light salad sandwiches and hot daily specials, casseroles and desserts. 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat-Sun. $.

Chef’s Bistro 138 S Bowen Road, Suite 116, Arlington. 817-303-7174. Office-building eatery offers fresh salads, sandwiches, soups in a pleasant but perfunctory setting. Catering available. 8am-5pm Mon-Fri. $. SF WA

Conrad’s Hilton Hotel, 2401 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington. 817-640-3322. Comfortable hotel restaurant that specializes in hand-carved steaks, seafood and poultry. 6:30am-2pm & 5-10pm daily. $$. SF WA

Division Street Diner 1800 W Division St, Arlington. 817-274-1606. Blue-plate special meets tea-room dainty at this pretty, homey restaurant decorated in tones of gray and silver, black and white. A Sunday brunch buffet accompanied by live music is a recent addition. 6am-2pm Mon-Fri, 8am-12:30pm Sat, 10:30am-2:30pm Sun. No liquor. $-$$. WA SF

Fabulous ’50s 2424 Park Row, Arlington. 817-860-9456. Burgers, fries and thick milkshakes and malts are the standard in this ’50s replica diner, but Elvis rules on Wednesday nights. An Elvis impersonator packs ’em in and has them dancing in the aisles every week. 6:30am-10pm daily. $. No alcohol. WA PRESS

Game Day Bar & Grill 2041 U.S. 287, Suite 819, Mansfield, 682-518-6855. A sports bar that’s a cut above. 11am-midnight Sun-Thu, 11am-2am Fri-Sat, $$. Full bar. WA www.gamedaybarandgrill.com.

Hooligan’s Pub and Grub 1301 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-274-1232. Casually cool, laid-back pub. Serving a mean flock of crispy chicken wings and fantastic fries. Home of the $2 Hooligan shot, aka "Hoolies," a secret recipe of the house. Located near UTA, it attracts some of the college crowd. Daily drink specials. 4pm-2am Mon-Sat, 6pm-2am Sun. $. Full bar. WA

Hot Rods & Hoggs 706 N Watson, Arlington. 817-649-5220. Hot wings, burgers, sandwiches, salads. 4pm-2am Mon-Fri, 11am-2am Sat, 12pm-2am Sun. $-$$. WA

Humperdink’s 700 Six Flags Dr, Arlington. 817-640-8553. The local brews, food and atmosphere are surefire hits, especially after a Rangers game, win or lose. The Big Horn Hefeweizen proves the resident brew masters can handle their hops. An unfiltered German-style wheat beer, the hefeweizen delivers a surprising hint of banana and clove. 10am-midnight Sun, 11am-2am Mon-Sat. $$. Full bar. WA PRESSwww.humperdinks.com

Joe’s Family Restaurant 310 Mitchell Road, Mansfield. 817-477-3383. American diner-style breakfasts and lunches made on site for freshness. Belgian waffles come dressed in blueberries with mounds of whipped cream. Outstanding fresh-made pecan pie. 7am-3pm Sun, 6am-3pm Mon-Thu, 6am-9pm Fri, 6am-3pm Sat. WA PRESS

Mac’s Bar & Grille 6077 W I-20, Arlington. 817-572-0541. Juicy steamed clams, grilled shrimp Argentina and bottomless house salad are enjoyed in a comfortable setting of dark woods and brass table lamps. 10am-2pm & 3pm-10pm Sun, 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat, 10am-10pm Sun. $-$$. Full bar. Smoking on patio only. WA

Mimis Cafe 301 E. Interstate 20, Arlington 817-466-3212 Casual American menu specializing in hearty and creative breakfasts in a family-friendly setting. Comfort food reigns at dinner. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $$. Full bar. SF WA

No Frills Grill 4914 Little Rd, Arlington. 817-478-1766. Well-named eatery satisfies with giant portions of hearty food, lots of video and table games, 50 TVs, covered patio, a hopping sports bar and a genuine neighborhood feel. Rare Arlington night-owl spot. 11am-2am daily. $. WA Other locations 1550 Eastchase Pkwy, Ste 1200, Fort Worth, 817-274-5433.

Nut House Grill 2300 Matlock Rd, Mansfield. 817-453-5166. Burger place where the specialty of the house is a two-pound bad-boy burger for four, crispy waffle fries and tubs full of peel-and-eat peanuts. After-game casual with $2 drafts and $6 pitchers. 11am-11pm Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight Fri-Sat. $. Full bar. WA PRESS

The Oasis at Lynn Creek Marina 5700 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Grand Prairie. 817-640-7676. Wonderful waterside setting on Joe Pool Lake offers escapism at its finest. Good steaks, catfish po-boys, queso and chips, and cold beer. Exotic drinks and live music are bonuses. $-$$. 11am-10pm Sun-Wed, 11am-11pm Thu, 11am-mid Fri, 11am-1am Sat. Full bar. WA

Olenjack’s Grille 770 Road to Six Flags East, Suite 100, Arlington. 817-226-2600. Upscale-casual newcomer from chef Brian Olenjack, late of the Chisholm Club, offers refined but hearty, imaginative dishes. Try the lamb "lollipops," the tenderloin with mushroom hash or the warm apple cake a la mode. 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. MC, V, AE. $-$$$. Full bar. www.olenjacksgrille.com

River Bottom Cafe 2425 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington 817-633-0898. Homey little neighborhood catfish cafe is one of Arlington’s best. Standouts are feather-light fried catfish fillets and a chicken-and-sausage gumbo. 11am-10pm Mon-Sat, noon-8pm Sun. $. Beer. SF WA

The Sanford House 506 N Center St, Arlington. 817-861-3624. This inn is open to the public for lunches during the week. The small menu of salads and sandwiches is predictable, but the setting — elegant Victorian-style rooms — makes lunch here a treat. Save room for strawberry shortcake with a mountain of whipped cream.11:30am-2:30 pm Mon-Fri. Wine. SF WA PRESSwww.thesanfordhouse.com

Steven’s Garden & Grill 223 Depot St., Mansfield. 817-473-8733. Its hidden-garden location is this restaurant’s greatest charm, though the pulled piggy sandwich and baked potato salad certainly hold their own. 11am-9pm Tue-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri, 4pm-10pm Sun. $$. SF WA

Sweet Tomatoes 4001 Matlock Road, Arlington. 817-557-1809. Popular chain restaurant offers all-you-can eat soup, salad bars for healthful hearty eating. 11am-9pm Mon-Thur, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat and 9am-9pm Sun.$. No alcohol. SF WA

Ventana Grille at Tierra Verde Golf Club 7005 Golf Club Dr, Arlington. 817-548-5047. Exemplary executions of traditional tapas come at the hand of Luigi Cinelli, who makes a mean series of small plates, as well as big dishes of salmon, lamb and paella to go with a nice list of Spanish wines. Gingerbread pancakes, frittata and burritos at breakfast, tapas, burgers and sandwiches at lunch. 7am-9pm Sun-Thu, 7am-10pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Full bar. SF WA

Northeast and Denton

Bayley’s 109 Harwood Rd, Hurst. 817-268-5779. Most popular for breakfast treats such as pancakes, muffins and cinnamon rolls, salads and burgers at lunch. Show up late on Sundays to avoid the post-church rush. 6:30am-2:30pm daily. $. WA

Bee Gee’s Cafe 623 E Hurst Blvd, Hurst. 817-268-2571. A great breakfast and lunch place for the American working stiff. Ten French toast and pancake platters and 20 side orders ranging from wheat/white toast to sausage and biscuits. The three-egg omelet is a winner. 6am-2pm daily. $. WA

Bellbottoms Bar & Grill 8407 Grapevine Hwy, North Richland Hills. 817-427-3482. American standards and cheap lunch specials. 11am-2am daily. $. WA PRESS

Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse 2501 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine. 214-513-2337. Woodsy themed restaurant features good microbrews to go with venison sausage, buffalo steaks, salmon in cherry-stout sauce, as well as chicken-fried steak and crab-shrimp cakes. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Big Daddy’s Cafe 2500 Oak Grove Park at Scott’s Landing Marina. 817-481-1237. Lake Grapevine boaters love this casual grill, where they can eat burgers on the deck during the week or enjoy specials such as rib-eyes and seafood on weekend nights. 11am-8pm Mon & Wed-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri, 9am-10pm Sat, 9am-8pm Sun. $-$$. Beer and wine. WA

Biscuits Cafe 322 S Park Blvd, Grapevine. 817-310-3225. An Oregon import puts a dynamite breakfast on the table. Massive, overstuffed omelets, made-from-scratch corned beef hash and sweet potato pancakes are standouts. Lunch goodies include halibut fish and chips and green chile cheeseburgers. 6:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 6:30 am-3 pm Sat-Sun. $-$$. No bar. SF WA

Bronco’s Sports Grill 900 Airport Freeway, Hurst. 817-498-0600. Burgers, wings, sandwiches, quesadillas. 11am-2am daily. $-$$. WA PRESS

Cafe on the Green 4150 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving. 972-717-2420. Chef Katie Natale has a steady hand with steaks and seafood but also exhibits unusual verve with vegetables, with fine vegetarian entrees such as chard with chestnut puree or pasta with eggplant and sweet marinara. Facility boasts excellent wine program and impeccable garden surroundings. 6:30am-10:30pm Mon-Fri, 7am-10:30pm Sat-Sun. $$$$. Full bar. WA

Camp Critter Bar & Grille Inside Great Wolf Lodge, 1400 E. Texas 26, Grapevine. 817-488-6510. www.greatwolf.com. Catering to kids, this camp-themed restaurant inside the Great Wolf Lodge offers kiddie-style appetizers, entrees and big desserts — like s’mores fondue — plus adult-oriented fare like steaks, pulled-pork sandwiches, salads and burgers. $-$$$, 11am-11pm. Full bar. SF WA

Central Market Cafe 1425 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-310-5600. Southlake branch of high-end grocery store includes a lovely, upscale sit-down cafe. Top of the line ingredients guarantee that world-fusion goodies such as the salmon burger, Thai yellow curry noodle bowl and Italian-style thin-crust pizzas will be excellent. Good breakfasts, too. 7am-10pm. $$. Wine & beer. SF WA

Chef Point Cafe 5901 Watauga Rd, Watauga. 817-656-0080. The finest, most nicely presented food you will ever taste in a Conoco gas station. Start with the "whatnots," three-cheese-stuffed mushrooms baked in garlic butter, and the crab cake — hamburger-sized and swimming in creamy mornay sauce. 11am-9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. No bar. SF WA

The Cheesecake Factory Southlake Town Square, 1440 Plaza Place, Southlake. 817-310-0050. The first Tarrant outpost of this chain is a pretty but loud spot that promises something for everyone, but execution can be uneven; dessert is more praiseworthy, especially the sublime dulce de leche cheesecake.11am-11pm Mon-Thurs, 11am-12:30pm, Fri-Sat, 10am-11pm Sun. $$-$$$$. Full bar. smoking on patio WA www.thecheesecakefactory.com

Cielo Marriott Solana Complex, 5 Village Circle, Westlake. 817-430-3848. Folks reportedly drive for miles for the opulent, create-it-yourself pasta bar. Choose your own pastas and treatments, or order from the regular menu offered. 6:30-10am, 11am-2pm & 5-10pm Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm & 5-11pm Sat, 7am-2pm Sun. $-$$. Checks. SF WA PRESS

Cliff’s Star Neighborhood Grill 1900 S Main St, Grapevine. 817-416-0608. Just inside Stacy Furniture’s retail complex is a surprisingly good (if very loud) restaurant. Excellent stone-oven pizza, bruschetta, potato-bacon soup and chicken Florentine. 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Beer and wine. SF WA

Duke’s Original Roadhouse. 2250 Airport Freeway at Central, Bedford. 817-354-1002. Loud, friendly bar-and-grill draws a near-constant crowd for good grill fare of burgers, ribs, sandwiches, plus $5 pitchers; the outdoor bar and open wooden deck is party central in nice weather.11 am-2 am daily; major credit cards; smoking section; full bar; WA

Flip’s Patio Grill 415 W. Texas 114 (at Main St.), Grapevine. 817-251-9800. New hamburger concept from Steve Hartnett, co-founder of Cool River Cafe and the Fox and Hound, does half-pound burgers, house-made chili and good bar sides such as skin-on French fries and golden onion rings. Chili’s not bad, either. 11am-1am Mon, 11am-2am Tue-Sat, 11am-midnight Sun. $. Full bar. Smoking in bar and patio. WA

Glass Cactus 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. 817-778-2800. The bar-food menu (ahi tuna with rum-teriyaki drizzle, flatbread with sliced tenderloin, lobster shooters) is sophisticated and well-executed, but seems like an odd match for this cavernous, glamorous nightclub setting. 5pm-2am daily. $$-$$$. Major cards. Full bar. Smoking on patio only. WA www.glasscactusnightclub.com

Grapevine Diner 3105 Ira E. Woods Ave, Grapevine. 817-251-5151. Monster breakfast dishes include the spicy, gratifying huevos rancheros made with hash browns instead of tortillas. Good muffins, egg-white dishes and fresh fruit, too. Enormous, spicy burgers and standard salads at lunch. 7am-2pm Tue-Sun. $. SF WA PRESS

The Greenhouse Restaurant & Bar 600 N Locust St, Denton. 940-484-1349. Typical college town fare: steaks, chicken, fish, burgers, soups and salads. The restaurant is named more for its decor than anything else. Good portobello mushroom sandwich. Live music Mon & Thu. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Checks. WA www.greenhouserestaurantdenton.com

Hannah’s Off the Square 111 W Mulberry St, Denton. 940-566-1110. A charming, colorful bistro. 11am-9pm Sun-Mon, 11am-10pm Tue-Thu, 11-11 Fri-Sat. $$$. Bar. Smoking outside WA www.hannahsoffthesquare.com

Jacob’s Spring Grille at DFW Hyatt, DFW Airport. 972-453-1234, Ext. 5240. Asian influences show up in New American dishes, such as steamed mussels with chiles and cilantro and coriander-dusted grilled shrimp with chile-mango salsa and jasmine rice. Decent wine list and comfortable, contemporary setting, too. 6am-2pm & 6pm-10pm daily. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA PRESS

Le Peep 2113 Harwood Rd, Bedford. 817-858-5532. Skillet breakfasts, French toast and eggs salmon Benedict are tempting, as are New York strip steaks and fried catfish. 6:30am-7:30pm daily. $. SF WA PRESS

Lonnegan’s Grill and Sports Pub 310 Grapevine Hwy, Hurst. 817-577-4006. Twenty-six TVs, 11 pool tables and two shuffleboards provide entertainment to go with burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, entrees and desserts. 3pm-2am daily. $-$$. Full bar. WA

Manny G’s! 444 Keller Parkway, Keller. 817-431-9393. Family-owned restaurant in a rehabbed ranch house serves big burgers, humongous sandwiches, hearty breakfasts; bar stays open a couple hours after dinner service stops. 6:30am-8pm Tues-Fri; 8 am-8pm Sat-Sun. $-$$. Full bar. Major cards. SF WA

Market Street 5605 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville. 817-577-5020. Uber-grocer serves impressive hot meals to eat in or take home. Made-to-order breakfast burritos, Caesar salads, wood-oven pizzas and pork au poivre are hits, as are cappuccinos and blackberry cobbler. Patio seating rather nice. 6am-10pm daily. $-$$. Beer & wine Smoking on patio WA www.marketstreetunited.com

MG’s Restaurant and Brewery 301 W University, Denton. 940-243-3311. Burgers, Tex-Mex, salads and American entrees are here. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11Fri, 11am-10pm Sat, noon-8pm Sun. $.

Mimi’s Cafe 1449 Texas 114 West, Grapevine. 817-410-7270. American and Cajun items range from salads to heavy entrees. 7am-10pm Sun-Thu, 7am-11pm Fri-Sat. $.Beer & wine Smoking on patio WA www.mimicafe.com

Pockets 210 S Industrial Blvd, Euless. 817-858-0507. 15 kinds of burgers lure patrons of every description to this pool hall and bar. 11am-2am daily. $. Full bar. WA PRESS

Prairie House 304 S US 377, Roanoke. 817-491-4855. Burgers, venison, quail, chicken, shrimp and catfish. Most meats can be prepared barbecued, fried or mesquite-grilled. May want to opt for the fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs. 11am-10pm Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. $-$$. WA

Rainforest Cafe Grapevine Mills Mall, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine. 972-539-5001. Disneyesque version of a rain forest, with animatronic animals, waterfalls, talking trees and recorded jungle noises, features menu of grilled fish, crab cakes, coconut shrimp and steaks. 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-10:30pm Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. $$. Checks. Full bar. SF WA

Raven’s Grille Conference Centre at Texas Star, 1400 Texas Star Pkwy, Euless. 817-685-1843. Overlooking a gorgeous golf course and given the Cherokee nickname for Sam Houston, this out-of-the-way spot features crab cakes, quesadillas, chicken-fried steaks and salad. 7am-9pm daily. $-$$. Full bar. Smoking on patio. WA PRESSwww.texasstargolf.com/index2.htm

Riverwalk Cafe Inside the Gaylord Texan, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. 817-778-1000. Vegas-like buffet offers different tables featuring salads, hot entrees, pastas, carved meats, kid grub and desserts. 6:30-10:30am, 11:30am-2pm & 5-9pm Mon-Fri, 5pm-10pm Sat. Sun brunch 11am-3pm. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Snooty Pig Cafe and Catering Company 4010 William D. Tate Av, Grapevine. 817-283-3800. A breakfast-and-lunch place with home-cooking-style food and strip-mall atmosphere. Try the yummy eggs Benedict with crispy hash browns. 6:30am-2pm Mon-Fri, 7am-2pm Sat-Sun. $. No bar. SF WA Other location 1540 Keller Pkwy, Suite 107, Keller, 817-431-0064.

Southlake Tavern 2700 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake. 817-748-0388. Cozy, comfortable setting several notches up from usual sports bar is perfect for dates and families. House sirloin marinated in cream ale, brown sugar and Worcestershire comes with caramelized onions, while menu rounds out with tortilla soup, chicken Caesar salad and baby back ribs. 11am-11pm Mon-Thu, 11am-midnight Fri, 10am-midnight Sat 10am-10pm Sun. $$. Full bar. WA www.thesouthlaketavern.com

Sportsman’s Club Bar & Grill 2401 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine. 972-724-2600. The diverse menu includes sandwiches, burgers, pasta and a variety of lunch and dinner entrees, with steak au poivre and farfalle with pesto and grilled chicken among them. 11am-1am Sun, 11am-2am Mon-Fri, 11am-2am Sat. $$. WA PRESS

Tap-In Grill & Pub 120 S Main St. 817-329-3117. Pub atmosphere with a surprisingly diverse menu, from hamburgers and fries to grilled tuna steak and creative salads. Relax with a cigar at the bar or cozy up in a comfy booth for lunch, dinner or late-night snacks. 11am-midnight Mon-Thu, 11am-1am Fri-Sat, noon-10pm Sun. $. Full bar. WA

The Vineyard Hilton DFW Lakes, 1800 E Texas 26, Grapevine. 817-481-8444. Lavish breakfast buffets for hearty eaters and waist-watchers. You name it, it’s there. 6am-2:30pm daily. $$-$$$. WA

Volcano’s Sports Bar and Grill 129 E Harwood Rd, Hurst. 817-485-2277. Great burgers and good steak and lasagna, as well as sandwiches and wraps, make for a casual meal. 11am-2am daily. $. Full bar. WA PRESS

Willhoite’s Restaurant 432 S Main St, Grapevine. 817-481-7511. This former auto garage boasts a giant Texas buffet — meats, veggies, salad and desserts — under a real Model-T Ford. Head upstairs for a game of pool after dinner. 11am-2am Mon-Sat, 10:30am-2am Sun. Full bar. WA

Wooden Nickel Family Eatery 7640 NE Loop 820 Ste 110, North Richland Hills. 817-605-0051. Home cooking — think chicken-fried steaks, catfish, baked chicken — served family style. The meats, especially the fried items, outshine the bowls of mashed potatoes and green beans. 11am-9pm Mon-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. $. Major cards. No alcohol. Smoking on patio. WA

UPSCALE

Fort Worth area

Cafe Ashton in the Ashton Hotel, 610 Main St, Fort Worth. 817-332-0100. Towering, showy dishes in a lovely, intimate setting in the Ashton Hotel. A dreamy, creamy risotto featured perfectly cooked arborio rice with aged fontina and mascarpone throughout. The sea bass is heaven, and don’t miss pheasant and ahi tuna. 6:30am-9pm daily. Bar menu 11:30am-6pm daily. Afternoon tea 2-4pm Wed-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Cafe Aspen 6301 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-738-0838. Forget trendy, what diners get here is sure and steady, with a side of elegance. Pretty preparations are key in portobello mushroom stuffed with goat cheese and topped with sweet potato straws, beef tenderloin in blackberry-beaujolais sauce with a bit of Maytag blue cheese, and sea bass atop a pillow of whipped potatoes. Try the signature cake, a tower of coconut-lemon layers. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 6-9pm Mon-Thu, 6-10pm Fri-Sat. $$. Full bar. WA www.cafeaspen.com

Cafe Modern 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817-840-2157. Museum cafe is just what you’d hope for, with a beautiful interior and impeccable food. Moroccan chicken salad is a staple, but can’t-miss seasonal offerings include pork loin in a mild chicken-fried crust with corn pudding, and a nifty savory-cheesecake appetizer served with massive crackers and basil pesto. 11am-2:30pm Tue-Fri, 11am-3pm Sat & Sun. $-$$. Full bar. SF WA www.themodern.org

Pop’s Safari Room 2929 Morton St, Fort Worth. 817-334-0559. Extensive wine list and cigars from around the world are reasons enough to visit, but wait until you try the food in one of two smoke-free dining rooms. Dig into exceedingly tender beef rib-eye, venison tenderloin, ostrich or pan-seared crab cakes with mango tomatillo salsa and Thai remoulade. 11:30am-2pm Tue-Fri, 6-9pm Tue-Thu, 6-10pm Fri-Sat. Reservations recommended Fri & Sat. Live entertainment Thu-Sat. $$-$$$. Beer and wine. WA www.popssafari.com

Vidalias Renaissance Worthington Hotel, 222 Main St, Fort Worth. 817-210-2222. The Worthington’s new fine-dining entry is a winning one, celebrating Southern roots with a chefly menu that stops short of pretentiousness. Chef Brian Farinelli is sourcing local products and turning out intriguing dishes such as fried green tomatoes sandwiched with mozzarella and roasted red peppers, and shrimp atop grits ground in a mill near Elm Mott. Interesting breakfasts, too. 6am-10pm Sun-Thu, 6am-10:30pm Fri-Sat; brunch 10am-2pm Sun. $$$. Bar. SF WA

The Zodiac at Neiman Marcus, 2100 Green Oaks Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-738-3581. Sophisticated and serene, but not overly girlie in style, this lovely lunch spot pleases with salad topped with sauteed shrimp and peppered goat cheese and a manly beef filet with potatoes and caramelized onions. Traditional popovers with strawberry butter still rule. 11am-3pm Mon-Sat. $$-$$$. Wine. SF WA Other location 1618 Main St, Dallas, 214-573-5800, 11am-3pm Mon-Sat.

Northeast and Denton

Bin 555 104 S Denton Tap Rd, Coppell. 972-393-7555. Inspired creations fill a menu brimming with small plates, but a section of entrees provides options, too. Lovely choices include paella, spicy hummus, shrimp bisque, baked goat cheese on crostini, pizza, mussels and pork loin. Wine flights; good choices by the glass, too. 11am-5pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Mon-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Classic Cafe At Roanoke 504 N. Oak St., Roanoke. 817-430-8185. Roanoke’s favorite fine-dining destination, located in a quaint old house, has a casual demeanor but an upscale menu, with good steaks, salads and wines by the glass, and lovely service. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5pm-9pm Mon-Thu, 5pm-9pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.theclassiccafe.com

Grand Met at the Grand Hyatt DFW Terminal D, DFW Airport. 972-973-1244. Scottish chef Ian Beach, with New York and Dallas training, brings a healthy mix of international cuisine to beautiful, sleek hotel. Perfect for layovers, delays and meeting traveling friends, the restaurant charms with organic goat cheese salad, blue crab-tuna tempura, salt-crusted prime beef filet and seared sea scallops romesco. 6:30am-3pm & 5:30-10:30pm daily. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. SF WA

62 Main 62 Main St, Colleyville. 817-605-0858. Renowned chef David McMillan’s stylish renditions of American favorites include roasted chicken with chardonnay-chive butter, beef tenderloin in charred onion-port sauce and wood-roasted shrimp with pepper coulis. Comfortable, chic setting. 11:30am-2pm Tue-Fri, 5:30pm-9pm Tue-Thu, 5:30pm-10pm Fri-Sat. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.62mainrestaurant.com

Sonoma Grill & Wine Bar 380 Parker Square, Flower Mound. 972-899-8989. Elegant food in sunny, Tuscan/Californian setting. Start with tender crab and lobster cakes or rich white-bean-and-bacon soup. Move on to ruby red trout with macadamia nuts on an herb risotto or mint-leaf-rubbed lamb chops with a port wine sauce. Huge wine list. 11:30-2:30pmMon-Fri, 4:30pm-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 4:30pm-10:30pm Fri & Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA PRESSwww.sonomagrillandwinebar.com

Wildwood Inn 2602 Lillian Miller Pkwy, Denton. 866-840-0713 or 940-243-4919. Refined dining room at Wildwood Inn B&B serves New American as devised by CIA grad and chef David Van Aken. To wit: tenderloin topped with melting blue cheese, or a tender chicken breast with basmati rice. Salads have big flavors, and the house bread is delicious — all enhanced by diligent service and homey atmosphere. 6-10pm Thu-Sat. $$-$$$. Beer & wine. Smoking on patio WA www.denton_wildwoodinn.com/dining.html

Dallas area

Angela’s Bistro 51 2701 Guillot, Dallas. 214-979-0051. Lovely Uptown cafe excels with crab cakes, broiled lobster tail with truffled mashed potatoes, and warm apple cake. Nice wine list. Parking can be a challenge. Offers high tea by reservation. 11am-2pm & 5pm-11pm Tue-Fri, 5-11pm Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Cafe Nasher by Wolfgang Puck 2001 Flora St., Dallas. 214-242-5100. Cafe at Dallas’ sculpture museum serves menu by the catering company of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. The bestseller is meatloaf with mac and cheese; grilled panini sandwiches include BBQ shrimp on country bread and Serrano ham on sourdough. 11am-4pm Tue-Sun, 11am-8pm Thu. $$. No alcohol. Smoking on patio. WA

Central 214 at Hotel Palomar 5680 N Central Expressway, Dallas. 214-443-9339. Star chef Tom Fleming runs the show at this sleek, contemporary restaurant, creating intriguing yet unfussy dishes. Grilled flatbread pizza topped with spit-roasted chicken and caramelized onion; roasted sweet corn with lobster fritters; and grilled hanger steak with crispy fries are choice picks. Nice wine list, too. 7-10:30am & 11:30am-3pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Wed, 5-10:30pm Thu-Sat. Brunch 8am-3pm Sat-Sun. Full bar. SF WA

Charlie Palmer at the Joule 1530 Main St, Dallas. 214-261-4600. First Texas effort from New York-based celebrity chef of Aureole fame does his bit with well-loved American food in his signature pretty packaging. Sirloin steak, dry-aged in house, gets high points, as does whole white trout stuffed with chorizo and espresso-mocha tart. Retail wine shop a big bonus. 5:30-10pm Sun-Thu, 5:30-11pm Fri-Sat. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. SF WA

The Conservatory 400 Crescent Court, Dallas. 214-871-3200. www.crescentcourt.com. Inside the Rosewood Crescent Court, this breakfast-lunch spot in a pretty sunroom off the side of Nobu features a nice setting overlooking a flower-filled courtyard. Vanilla shrimp over wilted spinach, sesame scallops and blackened tuna steak with pineapple-black bean salsa all score points. 6:30-11am, Mon-Fri, 7-11am Sat-Sun. 11:30am-2pmMon-Sat, 11am-2pm Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Craft At the W Hotel 2440 Victory Park Lane, Dallas. 214-397-4111. Big-buzz import from New York’s much-lauded Tom Colicchio really delivers, giving top-quality ingredients their due with simple but transcendent preparations. If you’re adept at ordering, you can custom-assemble the dinner of your dreams here — or perhaps one you haven’t dreamed of yet. Sleek room, warmed with dark woods; knowledgeable and indulgent waiters. If you love food, you’ll be transported, but be prepared to blow a bundle. $$$$. 6-11am daily; 11am.-2:30pm daily; 5:30-10:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-11pm Sat-Sun. Reservations recommended. Full bar. Major credit cards. SF WA www.craftrestaurant.com

Dragonfly 2332 Leonard St., Dallas. 214-550-9500. Restaurant at the still-hot boutique Hotel ZaZa. 7am-1am daily. $$-$$$. Full bar. Smoking outside WA www.hotelzaza.com/dining_dragonfly.aspx

Grand Lux Cafe 13420 N Dallas Pkwy at the Galleria, Dallas. 972-385-3114. Giant, glitzy concept from Cheesecake Factory offers enormous menu with Thai chicken pizza, Jamaican pork tenderloin, Cajun rib-eye and Mediterranean halibut. 11am-11pm Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Kitchen 1924 1924 Abrams Rd, Dallas. 214-821-1924. Gussied-up American standards, including crab cakes and char-grilled beef tenderloin, get special treatments from around the globe. Nice surprises include pork carnitas and Valrhona chocolate cake. Stark interior, cool wine list.11am-3pm Mon-Fri, 6-11pm Mon-Sat.$$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.kitchen1924.com.

Legacy Grill Westin Stonebriar Resort, 1549 Legacy Dr, Frisco. 972-668-8000. Highest marks go to lamb chops, swordfish with creamed spinach and grilled rib-eye with fries. Fabulous resort setting. 6:30am-11am-2:30pm & 6-10pm Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm Sun. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. WA

Mansion on Turtle Creek 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd. 214-443-4747. Extensive renovations deliver a more approachable dining experience with relaxed dress code, and a thorough overhaul of the menu lets chef John Tesar show his stuff. Jewels include porcini-crusted filet mignon, Moroccan lamb, baby turbot with mustard sauce and beef cheek ravioli with sweetbreads. $$$$. 6:30-10:30am Mon-Fri, 7-10:30am Sat-Sun; 12:30am-2pm Mon-Sat, 11am-2pmSun; 6-10pm Sun-Thu, 6-11pm Fri-Sat. Full bar. BYOB. SF WA

Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens 2728 N Harwood St, Dallas. 214-871-2097. Breakfast gems include homemade French toast, eggs Benedict and waffles, while lunch picks include shrimp and scallops with sauteed mushrooms in beurre blanc over baby spinach. 7am-2pm Mon-Fri. $$. Wine. SF WA

The Mercury 11909 Preston Rd, Dallas. 972-960-7774. Kumquat-glazed quail with foie gras fritters, pan-seared gnocchi salad, halibut with potato knish. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. WA Other location Shops at Willowbend at 6121 West Park Blvd, Plano. WA

Mirabelle 17610 Midway Rd, Dallas. 972-733-0202. Chef Joseph Maher works magic in treatments such as cranberry vinaigrette and rutabaga puree, and introduces diners to unusual fish, such as hamachi and branzini. Venison, ostrich and South American lobster among intriguing options at this elegant bistro. 11am-2pm Sun-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $$$. Full bar. WA

Nana Grill Wyndham Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. 214-761-7479. Remodeled in late 2001, this tres elegant dining room, decorated with rare Asian artworks. Try chestnut-fried lobster with ginger vinaigrette, antelope tart and roasted asparagus with morels. Magnificent view. 6-10pm Sun-Thu, 6-10:30pm Fri-Sat. $$$$. WA

Parigi 3311 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas. 214-521-0295. Smart setting for the art-gallery, theater-going crowd, this lovely and intimate spot makes a mean tapenade, intriguing Asian beef salad and chile-dusted diver scallops. Wine pairings suggested on menu. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 6pm-10pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-2:30pm Sat & Sun, 6pm-10pm Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.parigirestaurant.com

Perry’s 2911 Routh St, Dallas. 214-871-9991. Swanky shrine of elegant steaks and the like, with lovely works of sea bass in Asian bread crumbs and chile glaze, rosemary veal chop, roasted mussels and excellent Caesar salad. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5pm-10:30pm Mon-Thu, 5pm-11:30pm Fri-Sat. $$$-$$$$. Full bar. WA

Salum 4152 Cole Ave. No. 103, Dallas. 214-252-9604. Enthusiastic, personable chef Abraham Salum, formerly of Parigi’s, opened his own place in Uptown where he’s serving robust, inventive dishes such as seafood cassoulet, roasted chicken and beef tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes. Gorgeous space makes everyone look and feel good. 11:30am-3pm & 6-10:30pm Mon-Sat, 10:30am-3pm Sun. $$$. Full bar. Smoking outside. WA www.salumrestaurant.com

Sevy’s Grill 8201 Preston Rd, Dallas. 214-265-7389. Cool your heels in the busy bar while waiting for a table, then tuck into lobster bisque, roasted duck, sensational steak and anything with the signature toasted pumpkin-seed salsa. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri & Sat, 5-9pm Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA www.sevys.com

Soho Food & Jazz 5290 Belt Line Rd, Addison. 972-490-8686. Blue mussels in a mint butter with sugared ginger toast on the side and grilled beef tenderloin on wilted greens with Roquefort butter, walnuts and Granny Smith apples are examples of this surprisingly winning restaurant. 5pm-9:30pm Sun, 5pm-10:30pm Mon-Thu, 3pm-12:30am Fri, 5pm-12:30am Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA www.sohofoodandjazz.com

Suze 4345 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas. 214-350-6135. Cozy, romantic pair of dining rooms filled with loyal clientele who love Gilbert Garza’s fried green tomatoes, tandoori shrimp with harissa couscous, sea bass in orange-champagne butter and chicken breast stuffed with sage and Serrano ham, and served atop Roquefort polenta. The tiramisu bread pudding with chocolate and mascarpone cream shouldn’t be missed. Very good wine list. 5:30-10:30pm Tue-Sat. $$$. Checks. Beer & wine. Smoking outside WA www.suzerestaurant.com

Taste 2400 Allen St., Dallas. 214-239-1990. Small and large plates at this bistro tantalize with sophisticated creativity. We love the foie gras and duck bacon with tomato jam on brioche, as well as Basque croustade with manchego, ham and poblano. Intimate setting, lovely wine list. $$-$$$. 6-10pm Tue-Sat. Full bar. SF WA www.noblerot.net

Tramontana 8220 Westchester Dr, Dallas. 214-368-4188. Chef James Neel moved to his own spot in Preston Center from his star turn at Al Biernat’s, taking signature dishes and a loyal following along. Certain hits include Caesar salad with Parmesan lavosh, wine-braised osso bucco with saffron risotto, horseradish-crusted pork tenderloin and onion-crusted snapper with avocado and pepper jack cheese. Great service, intimate setting and nice wine list make this a good date place. 11am-2pm Tue-Fri, 5:30-10:30pm Tue-Sat. $$-$$$. SF WA www.mybistro.net

2900 2900 Thomas Ave, Dallas. 214-303-0400. An intimate bistro with inventive, inspired surprises such as foie gras with black-eyed peas, barbecued venison ribs and grilled Boston lettuce salad. Lovely wine list. 5:30-11:30pm Tue-Sat Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. Smoking on patio WA www.2900restaurant.com

York Street 6047 Lewis St. 214-826-0968. This is the destination for palates serious about seasonal, organic food with inspired preparations. Much-lauded owner-chef Sharon Hage ramps up her out-of-the-box work constantly but keeps treatments straightforward. Typical dishes include a salad combining local goat cheese, baby greens, pistachio brittle and pears, and a gorgeous buffalo New York strip over cabernet-soaked wheatberries. Lunch 11:30am-2pm Wed only; dinner 6-10 pm Tue-Sat. $$$-$$$$. Wine. SF WA

ASIAN & PACIFIC

CHINESE

Fort Worth area

Jinhua 5301 E Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth. 817-446-6145. Chinese buffet housed in a former Taco Bell. 10am-9:30pm daily. $. Cash only. SF WA PRESS

Mandarin Chinese Buffet Restaurant 3020 W Seventh St, Ste 210, Fort Worth. 817-335-6027. Buffet, with seafood on weekends. 11am-9pm daily. $. SF WA

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro 400 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth. 817-840-2450. Arizona-based chain offers prettified versions of mostly Chinese cuisine choices, including touted lettuce wraps (soy sauce-drenched tidbits of chicken or tofu, water chestnuts and other stuff with a leaf of iceberg lettuce), salmon steamed with ginger, spinach salad with duck and stir-fried Singapore curry noodles. 11am-11pm Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA Other locations 650 U.S. 114, Grapevine, 817-421-6658, 18323 N Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, 972-818-3336, and 225 NorthPark Center, Dallas, 214-265-8669. WA

Sesame Grill 3980 Boat Club Road, Fort Worth. 817-238-1888. Chinese and Japanese place features buffet, sushi, teriyaki dishes. 11-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. WA

Szechuan Chinese Restaurant 4750 Bryant-Irvin Rd, Ste 825, Fort Worth. 817-346-6111. Perennial favorite both for spicy Sichuan entrees and elegant setting, try the moo shu pork, the shrimp-fried rice and the egg rolls. 11am-10 daily. $$. Beer & wine. SF WA Other location 5712 Locke Ave, 817-738-7300.

Wan Fu 6399 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-731-2388. Pretty, quiet tablecloth-and-silverware setting for extensive menu of hot/spicy and mild dishes, check out the specialty soups, hearty enough for a meal. 11am-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri&Sat. $. Full Bar SF WA

Arlington area

ABC Seafood & BBQ 2420 E Arkansas Lane, Arlington. 817-861-8818. We haven’t yet checked out the vast dinner menu, which stretches from lobster to lotus root. But in Arlington, this is the current destination for dim sum, the delightful brunch/lunch tradition of little dumplings and appetizer-type dishes served from carts. 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 10am-11pm Sat-Sun; dim sum until 3pm Mon-Sun. $$. BYOB. SF WA

China Cafe 3415 S. Cooper St., Suite 118, Arlington. 817-468-2727. Menu includes traditional choices, noodle dishes and specialties such as vanilla prawn. $. SF WA

China Chef 1730 W Randol Mill Rd, No 146, Arlington. 817-276-1688. A marvelous variety of Chinese fare prepared in Hunan, Szechuan and Mandarin styles. 11am-9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri, 4-10pm Sat, 5-9pm Sun. $-$$. SF WA

Chopstiks 355 E Westchester Pkwy, Suite 300, Arlington. 972-809-9000. Heaping helpings of Chinese food done the U.S.A. way. 10:30am-9pm Mon-Thu, 10:30am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. SF WA

First Chinese BBQ 2214 S Collins St, Arlington. 817-469-8876. Anchor of a pan-Asian shopping center, this popular family spot serves outstanding lacquered duck, barbecued pork on pan-fried noodles, excellent crunchy cheese-fried prawns and fine hot pots. 11am-9:30pm daily. $. Cash only. SF WA

Great Wall Chinese Restaurant 1815 W Tarrant Rd, Ste 101. 972-264-6678. The menu of this restaurant tucked in a strip shopping center offers a variety of Mandarin-style dishes — beef, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian — with daily lunch and dinner buffets. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. WA

Jade Cafe 1508-C S Bowen Rd, Arlington. 817-303-0068. The only Chinese restaurant in this Pantego neighborhood, Jade offers only made-to-order including such favorites as sweet and sour shrimp and broccoli beef. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Delivery ($10 minimum) available after 5pm. WA

King Chinese BBQ 907 E. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. 817-795-2338. From the usual suspects such as sweet-and-sour pork and sesame chicken to the exotic, such as jellyfish and sea cucumber, there is something for every taste, as well as a variety of barbecued meats including pork, chicken and duck. 11am-midnight Sun-Thu, 11am-2am Fri-Sat. $$ SF WA

Kowloon Chinese Seafood Restaurant 100 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington. 817-261-6699. Extensive Cantonese and Vietnamese menu of meat and seafood dishes including Vietnamese soups, spring rolls and dim sum. Dinner menu has translations, but dishes such as "pig’s blood with chives" may remain a permanent mystery to Western palates. 10am-midnight Sun-Mon, Wed & Thu 10am-midnight, Fri & Sat 10am-3am Fri & Sat. $-$$. Beer WA

Mandarin Garden 5723 SW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington. 817-483-2655 or 817-483-8979. The Sichuan food gets high marks, whether you’re talking about the orange-flavored General Tao chicken or the lobster with black bean sauce. And the interior’s scrolls and lanterns make a nice contrast to the external strip-center ambience. 11am-10pm daily $. Beer. SF WA

Ocean Chinese Restaurant 1510 New York Ave, Arlington. 817-261-5929. Chinese coastal cooking gets a good workout at this east Arlington spot, where the money goes into food, not fancy decor. Three delicacies soup bursts with honesty and freshness and pan-fried seafood noodles are excellent. Check out hot pots and fire pots, too. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $. SF WA

Panda House Chinese Restaurant 1325 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-265-3833. A Cooper Street institution, Panda House is more about food than atmosphere. Lively Chinese dishes, imaginative sauces, a rich variety of cuisine, hands-on ownership and exemplary service have kept 'em coming back for more at the location since 1986. 11am-9:30pm Wed-Mon. Beer only. SF WA

Royal Panda 2142 N Collins St, Arlington. 817-860-3535. North Arlington eatery offers Chinese food with emphasis on healthful preparation and, thank goodness, no buffet table, though the restaurant’s 16 years are showing in the decor. 11:30am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11:30am-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Delivery ($10 minimum) available 11:30am-2:30pm & 5:30-9:30pm. $$. SF WA

Sam’s Cafe Chinese & Mongolian Grill 837 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington. 817-460-6688. A pan-Asian restaurant in a neighborhood shopping center that aims high with its food and mostly hits the mark. 11am-2:30pm & 5pm-9pm Mon.-Thu, 11am-2:30pm & 5-10pm Fri., 11:30am-9:30am Sat-Sun. $$. SF WA www.samschinesecafe.com

Sesame House Express 2195 W Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington. 817-446-1119. A small Chinese eatery specializing in takeout — doesn’t skimp on primary ingredients such as beef and shrimp. The egg rolls are so-so, but the Sichuan dishes have plenty of fire. And the food has no MSG. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. No alcohol served. SF WA PRESS

Tai-Pan 5835 W I-20, Arlington. 817-561-6188. Cantonese. Buffet. Check out the sesame chicken. Seafood on the weekends. 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. Checks. SF WA

Ying Cafe 2851 Matlock, Suite 408, Mansfield. 682-518-9464. Reliable, by-the-numbers menu of Chinese standards, with friendly service. 11am-9pm Tue-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. $. BYOB. SF WA PRESS

Northeast and Denton

China Town 2807 Central Dr, Bedford. 817-283-1595. Strip center find features a bountiful appetizer sampler of egg rolls, barbecued spare ribs, beef on a stick, fried shrimp, pepper-wrapped chicken and fried wontons. Seafood, meats and vegetables round out entrees. 11 am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri, 11:30am-10:30pm Sat, 11:30am-9pm Sun. $. SF WA

Empress of China IV 2030 Glade Rd, Grapevine. 817-442-0088. Standard but well-prepared Mandarin and Sichuan dishes in an elegant setting with superior service. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri, noon-11pm Sat, noon-10pm Sun. $-$$. Full bar. SF WA

Evergreen Super Buffet 7536 Grapevine Hwy, North Richland Hills. 817-595-1188. Standard Chinese buffet, as well as American dishes and seafood. 11am-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat. WA

Hunan Wok 5142 Rufe Snow Drive, Richland Hills. 817-656-0817. Serene Chinese restaurant with a cozy dining room offering a varied menu, including several flavorful shrimp dishes. 11:30am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11:30am-11pm Fri-Sat. $$. Full bar. WA

Pacific House 4714 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville. 817-503-7888. Sleek in khaki and black, this pretty dining room offers mostly Chinese offerings. The shrimp-beef combo impresses, as do Szechuan pork, pan-fried noodles and tempura banana dessert. 11am-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.pacifichouse.com

The Pearl Chinese Restaurant 1601 W Northwest Hwy, Grapevine. 817-481-8664. Well-established, a favorite haunt of locals. Great selection, reasonable prices. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri, 11:30am-10:30pm Sat, 11:30am-10pm Sun. $-$$. Checks. WA www.pearlchinese.com

Szechuan 660 Grapevine Hwy, Hurst. 817-656-2323. This quiet neighborhood favorite shouldn’t be a well-kept secret. The shrimp toast is superior and the duck dishes are not to be missed at this family-run business with attentive service. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. WA

Taste of Hong Kong 501 N Main St, Ste 119, Euless. 817-283-3318. Popular. Considered one of the best Chinese restaurants in the area. 10am-7pm Wed-Sat, 10am-pm Sun. $. WA

FILIPINO

Northeast and Denton

Filipiniana Bake Shop and Cafe 209 Bedford Rd, Suite 120, Bedford. 817-282-0655. A tiny, no-frills cafe with authentic Filipino dishes such as fried pork belly, sweet barbecued pork and sour catfish soup, plus a display case filled with scrumptious desserts. Indulge in fruit juices such as guava, mango and the lemonlike calamansi. 10am-7pm Wed-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun. $-$$. No alcohol. SF WA PRESS

JAPANESE

Fort Worth area

Blue Ocean 4750 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth. 817-370-0685 Well-prepared sushi, including more than two dozen of the requisite "special rolls," is just the beginning at this Cityview spot. Entrees and appetizers include not only tempura and teriyaki but also unusual offerings such as the Japanese delicacy hamachi kama, grilled yellowtail cheeks. There are a few Korean dishes, too, and a lunch buffet. 11:30am.-2:30pm and 5-10pm Mon-Sat. $$-$$$. Beer and wine. SF WA

Chopstix Express 2105 W Berry St, Fort Worth. 817-920-9888. Serviceable Japanese entrees with basic sushi and soups. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Sat. $. SF WA

Edohana Hibachi & Sushi 5816 SW Loop 820, Fort Worth. 817-731-6002. For those who like to watch others play with their food, this family-friendly suburban hibachi restaurant offers a good variety of chicken, beef and seafood. Sushi, including several inventive rolls, is served both at the bar and in the hibachi room. 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm Mon-Thu, 11:30-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm Fri, 5pm-10:30pm Sat, 4-9pm Sun. $$. Full bar. SF WA Other location Edohana Sushi and Grill, 2704 S Hulen St, 817-924-1144.

Hui Chuan Sushi, Sake, Tapas 6100 Camp Bowie Blvd. Ste 12, Fort Worth. 817-989-8886. Westside sushi and tapas-fusion place is very interesting, especially for those who want a small meal. Impeccably fresh yellow tail sashimi is a bit pricey, but the seafood tempura dish is more for the money. For tapas, green mussels were wonderful and lamb is three chops served with a mango sauce. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri, 4pm-11pm Sat, 5:30pm-10pm Sun. $$-$$$. SF WA

Japanese Palace 8445 Camp Bowie West, Fort Worth. 817-244-0144. Japanese menu includes cooking tables, on-the-floor seating or table seating. Sushi bar. Particularly good steaks and refreshing sesame-seed salad dressing. 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-midnight Fri-Sat. $$. Full bar. SF WA www.japanesepalace.net

O I Shii Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse 6302 Lake Worth Blvd., Lake Worth. 817-238-6788. Entertaining hibachi cooking tables amuse families, serene setting soothes everyone grooving on sushi rolls, noodle bowls and teriyaki grill items. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 11:30am-3pm Sun; 5-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-10pm Fri-Sat. $$. Full bar. SF WA

Piranha Killer Sushi 335 W Third St, Fort Worth. 817-348-0200. West Palm Beach style surprises in this very hip hangout, where sushi, sashimi and yakitori share menu space with a few Thai and Korean delights. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri, 4:30-10pm Sat $-$$. SF WA Other locations 851 NE Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington, 817-261-1636; 309 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington. 817-465-6455. www.piranhakillersushi.com

Ronin Sushi & Sake 2600 W Seventh St, Suite 171. 817-332-0040. Contemporary, chic room serves plentiful sushi offerings, along with shrimp bisque with Thai hints, hamachi ceviche, miso-glazed salmon with edamame cream and saketinis. DJ spins tunes three nights a week. 11am-10pmMon-Thu, 11am-2amFri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WASushi Axiom 4625 Donnelly Ave, Fort Worth. 817-735-9100. Sleek setting, swanky sipping and stylishly plated Japanese and pan-Asian food comes sans attitude. Sashimi ceviche and silky fish salads border on spectacular, as do pretty sushi rolls. For the less bold, there’s panko-crusted steak and seared sea bass in miso sauce. 11am-10pm Mon-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.sushiaxiom.com

Sushi Q 3000 S. Hulen St. #112, Fort Worth. Asian-Japanese-sushi restaurant has fine sushi but also Korean-bred dishes reflecting the heritage of owner Jason Park; kimchi fried-rice is homey and good. 11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm Monday-Friday, 4:30-10pm Saturday, 4:30-9pm Sunday. $$. Full bar. WA

Sushi Tao 4954 Overton Ridge Blvd., Fort Worth. 817-294-7200. You needn’t feel guilty about dragging along someone who’s not sure about sushi; this intriguing menu goes beyond teriyaki and tempura with robata-grilled items for grazing, as well as appetizers like shrimp O’Dynamite, in a dark, spicy barbecue-style sauce. The "signature rolls" list includes some inventive combinations we haven’t seen elsewhere. Endearing service. 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri & Sat, noon-9:30pm Sun. $$-$$$. Beer, wine and sake. SF WA www.sushitao.net

Sushi Yoko 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 280. 817-737-4000. Serene, nicely lit setting, with welcoming service, all the usual sushi items and standbys such as teriyaki, yakisoba and tempura as well as breaded cutlets and udon noodle dishes. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. $$. SF WA

Tokyo Cafe 5121 Pershing Ave., Fort Worth. 817-737-8568. You can chow down cheap with a $5.95 beef bowl, or indulge your trendy side in "small plates" such as salmon rangoon with spicy plum sauce or black cod with miso. This old Camp Bowie standby is definitely keeping up with the times, thanks to chef de cuisine Scott Kaiser, former executive sous chef at Nobu Dallas. Highly recommended: salmon crudo, blackened albacore, wasabi salmon roll, hama chile, spicy tuna tower. 11am.-9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri, noon-10 pm Sat. Beer and wine. $-$$$$. SF WA www.thetokyocafe.com

Tokyo Steakhouse 8742 US 80 W, Fort Worth. 817-560-3664. Attractive, casual place features hibachi tables, sushi bar and great tempura and teriyaki, as well as noodle dishes and Thai curry. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Full bar. SF WA PRESS

Wasabi Sushi Japanese Restaurant 5443 S. Hulen St, Fort Worth. 817-370-9700. Simple, serene room with an ample sushi bar balances the menu with plenty of offerings from the kitchen. Good bets include the New York strip combo dinner, grilled salmon teriyaki, breaded chicken and pork, along with shumai and beef tataki starters. Plenty of special rolls augment the nigiri and sashimi offerings. $$-$$$. 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5-10pm Mon-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Beer, wine, sake. SF WA

Arlington area

Cafe Hana 3610 Cooper St, Arlington. 817-375-0714. Stylish venue offers excellent fresh sushi in lovely presentations. Try the sumo roll and the UTA roll, along with tempura and gyoza.11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5-10pm Mon-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Beer and wine. SF WA

Hibachi Sushi (2007) 4638 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-466-2356. Tony Fukushima has been serving Arlington diners a home-grown version of the Benihana flying-cutlery concept for almost 15 years, first with Hibachi 93, then with Hibachi 97, and now with his new restaurant in a modest shopping center. Although from the outside it looks like a modest restaurant featuring quantity over quality, diners will be delighted by the elegant setting and menu selections that have made this an area favorite. 11:30am-2pm & 5-9:45pm Mon-Fri; 5-10pm Sat-Sun. $-$$. Full bar. SF WA

Nagoya Japanese Restaurant 4040 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-466-3688. Creative adaptation of former Rodizio Grill building, redone in serene, soft colors with Asian artwork. Copious hibachi tables, menu service and a revolving sushi bar featuring Japanese mini-boats floating around a "moat." Choice cuts of meat, exotic dishes, entertaining hibachi chefs, great service and 53 kinds of sushi. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 11:30am-3pm Sat-Sun, 5:30-10pm Sun-Thu, 5:30-11pm Fri-Sat. $$$. WA

Sake Japanese Steak House 5736 SW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington. 817-483-0680. Clever, nimble-fingered chefs dice and toss steak, veggies, chicken and seafood for crowds gathered around their griddles. Big portions, laid-back atmosphere make it family friendly. There’s sushi, too. $$. Full bar. SF WA PRESS

Sushi Domo 3330 Matlock Road, Arlington. 817-557-3135. 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5-10pm Mon-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Upscale sushi bar/restaurant in an unlikely location. $$. Wine, beer, sake. SF WA

Sushi Yaa 1820 SW Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington. 817-472-8800. Great place for newcomers to Japanese cuisine, as simple menu with pretty presentations eases the familiarization process. $$. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. BYOB. SF WA

Sushi Zone 915 E. Road to Six Flags, Arlington. 817-226-4055. Down a quail-egg shooter and order a baroque tempura-battered sushi roll or the trademark Mach 6.2, with "rocket-fuel" mustard. But there’s more than sushi here, including miso sea bass, rosemary seared salmon and the dramatic and delicious tuna carpaccio construction. 11:30am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 5:30-10pm Fri, 5-10pm Sat. $$-$$$. Beer and wine. SF WA

Suzushii 2041 N US 287, Mansfield. 817-453-2334. Cool, serene Japanese dining room offers a happy sushi bar and plenty of tables for sushi-loving couples and groups. Mango Tango roll, tuna tataki salad and spicy crab nachos among several creative options. Teriyaki grill dishes for non-fish eaters. 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 5-10pm Fri, noon-10pm Sat, noon-9pm Sun. $$. Full bar. SF WA

Taisho Japanese Restaurant/Sushi Bar 4101 W Green Oaks Blvd, Arlington. 817-483-9090. Name and ownership change as what was I Love Sushi brings more space and expanded dining options. Tough decisions remain, since so much of the lineup looks good, but it would be hard to go wrong even if you just closed your eyes and pointed. 11:30am-2pm daily, 5:30-10pm Sun-Fri. $$. SF WA

Northeast and Denton

Avocado California Roll & Sushi 2600 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-749-0900. A good neighborhood sushi place, where the fish is fresh, the service fast and friendly. Many of the 50 varieties of rolls have zany ingredients, such as fried chicken and beef. A standout is the Texas Roll, with spicy crab, spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, rice, a bit of tortilla and a salsa topping. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$$ WA

Blue Fish 925 W John Carpenter Freeway, Irving. 972-385-3474. Third branch of local Japanese chain has a large bar and a broad menu of sakes, including a neat four-sake sampler. Lots of sushi rolls as well as sashimi items such as the Blue Fish trio, combining raw tuna, salmon and yellowtail, splashed with a creamy wasabi sauce. The music gets louder later at night, which helps warm up the large warehouse-type room. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 4:30-10:30pm Sun-Thu, 4:30-11:30pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. WA

Cowtown Sushi 2225 W Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-310-0089. Exotically beautiful creations of fresh, flavorful fish creations could be the best in Tarrant. Mount Fuji and Kiss of Death rolls are sensational, as is spicy tuna salad and beef and chicken teriyaki. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. SF WA

Hanasho Japanese Restaurant 2938 N Beltline Rd, Irving. 972-258-0250. Reliable menu of sushi and cooked Japanese dishes. Private room/catering available. 11:30am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5:30-10pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. SF WA

Japango Sushi and Noodle Restaurant 917 Sunset St, Denton. 940-891-6060. Pleasing, if standard, menu of Japanese dishes and sushi list. For dessert, try mochi, golf-ball-size servings of hard ice cream in a doughy rice-paper wrapping — ice cream you can eat with chopsticks. 11am-10pm Mon-Sat. Beer and wine. SF WA

Jinbeh 301 E Las Colinas Blvd, Ste 301, Irving. 972-869-4011. Wide selection, dark but not gloomy, roomy sushi bar, excellent service. Fish is fresh. Draws yuppie Las Colinas set. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-10pm Mon-Thu, 5:30-10:30pm Fri-Sat, 5-9pm Sun. $-$$. Major cards.

Kobeya Steak and Sushi 1230 Main St, Southlake. 817-416-6161. Kobe steak, various seafood hibachi dinners, lovely sushi and pretty presentations are highlights with a chic restaurant. 11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, noon-3:30pm Sat-Sun, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sun. $$-$$$$. WA PRESS

Midori Sushi 4020 N MacArthur Blvd, Ste 114, Irving. 972-887-1818. A great sushi buffet and clean, tasteful surroundings will likely draw throngs of lunch customers. Worth going back for dinner, too. From the usual to the inventive, Midori offers quality sushi at reasonable prices ($9.99 for the lunch buffet). Other Japanese favorites, such as teriyaki-glazed meats and tempura, are done well, too. An extensive, authentic Japanese menu likely to please beginners and regulars alike. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-10pm Mon-Fri, 12:30-10 Sat, 5:30-10 Sat. . $. Full bar. WA

MK Teriyaki & Sushi Roll 2400 Airport Freeway, Suite 130, Bedford. 817-545-4149. Quietly stylish pan-Asian place serves up udon and soba noodle bowls, Chinese dishes like orange beef, and fresh, good-quality sushi, all at reasonable prices. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5-9:30pm Mon-Thu; 5-10pm Fri-Sat. Beer and wine. SF WA www.mkteriyaki.com

Mr. Max 3028 N Beltline Rd, Irving. 972-255-2969. This hidden gem has an extensive menu, but unless you read Japanese, you’ll only find a sample — sashimi, udon and curry dishes — on the printed English menu. Dishes on the exotic side include jellyfish and pickled baby squid. Call to reserve a tatami table. Karaoke — in Japanese — nightly. 5pm-2am Mon-Sat. $$. WA

Osami Japanese Restaurant 2100 W Northwest Hwy, Grapevine. 817-251-1860. Pretty, soothing strip-center oasis offers excellent sushi, grilled fish, duck and steak, and inventive udon noodle bowls. Lovely staff and smooth sake, too. 11am-2:30pm Sun-Fri, 5-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sa. $$. Beer, wine, sake. SF WA PRESS

Shogun Hibachi & Sushi 2970 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-749-0300. Inventive, super-fresh rolls star on the sushi menu, but other worthy picks from an ample menu include squid salad and excellent hibachi selections, including the shrimp-scallop combo. Happy energy fills three dining areas. 11am-2pm Sun-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA

Sushi Kyoto 761 S MacArthur Blvd, Ste 121, Coppell. 972-745-3377. Offers everything from the traditional tempura, miso soup, sushi and sashimi, to such delicacies as fried sea eel and udon noodle plates. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-10:30pm Sun-Fri, 2pm-10:30pm Sat. $-$$. SF WA

Sushi Nikko 3930 Glade Road, Suite 126, Colleyville. 817-685-9800. Sushi spot in small shopping center in Colleyville has sushi samplers, teriyaki dishes, and even Chinese-style fried rice. Chicken Karage was an unusual chicken-tender-like appetizer. House sake came in a nifty vessel with a compartment for ice to keep the sake cold. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm daily. $$. Beer, wine. WA

Sushi Sam Yakitori Bar 500 W Southlake Blvd, Ste 138. 817-410-1991. Authentic and fresh cuisine. Lunch specials are a good value for the money, providing tastes of various Japanese cuisine. The sushi comes in many shapes and sizes, including a few creative house specials. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Sat, 5pm-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Bar. SF WA

MONGOLIAN

Arlington area

Ton’s Mongolian Grill 5904 S Cooper St, Ste 108, Arlington. 817-466-9138. All-you-can-eat fresh and delicious Mongolian food cooked before your eyes in a large, family restaurant. 11am-2:30pm & 5-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 5-10pm Fri-Sat. $$. SF WA

PAN-ASIAN

Fort Worth area

Asia Bowl & Grill 2400 Lands End, Suite 115 (Green Oaks exit off I-30), Fort Worth. 817-738-1688. Tiny strip stop, big flavors. Big variety, too, because the menu spans the Asian spectrum from Korean to Malaysian to Vietnamese to the regional cuisines of China. The level of ingredients and presentation belies the bare-bones setting, this is some of the best Asian food being produced within the city limits. 11am-9:30pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. BYOB. SF WA www.asisabowl.com

Pappa Chang Asia Bistro 1526 Pennsylvania Ave, Fort Worth. 817-348-9888. 10:30am-4pm Mon-Sat; 4-9pm Mon-Thu, 5-9:30pm Fri-Sat.

Sonny’s Diner Vietnamese and Japanese Bistro 6220 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-732-7754. Japanese and Vietnamese dishes, smoothies and crawfish. 10:30am-2:30pm & 4:30-9pm Mon-Sat.

Sonny’s Diner 6220 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-732-7754. Behind the shopping center facade awaits a happy little eatery done in contemporary style and serving fresh, clean versions of Vietnamese and Japanese favorites. Pho offers lovely layering of flavors, vermicelli topped with grilled shrimp is beautiful to behold and eat, and the short rib teriyaki is delightfully messy. 11am-2:30pm and 4:30-8:30 p.m. Mon-Sat. $-$$. No bar. SF WA

Northeast and Denton

Eden Bistro 480 W Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-748-0028. Beautiful Asian restaurant straddles the fence between old-school Chinese and new-wave Asian fusion. No matter which side you choose, you can’t go wrong. Kids’ menu is great for families, but the stunning decor would fit in any big-league city. 11am-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Full bar. $-$$. SF WA www.eden-bistro.com

Lava Asian Grill, 3001 Highway 121, Euless. 817-318-7100. In a sophisticated room, dominated by a full bar lit with a cool greenish glow, choose from the sushi menu or a long list of Thai, Japanese and other Asian specialties. 11am-2:30 pm Mon-Fri; 5pm-9:30pm Mon-Thu; 5pm-11pm Fri-Sat; 11am-9:30pm Sun. $$-$$$. Full bar. SF WA www.lavaasiangrill.com

Pan Acean 777 S MacArthur Blvd, Coppell. 972-745-7788. Pretty dining room with appealing menu offers excellent steamed shu-mai, sake-simmered mussels, soba noodle salad, Korean beef stir-fry and beautiful shrimp pad Thai. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. Full bar. WA www.eocpanacean.com

Uncle Yang’s 1308 Brown Trail, Bedford. 817-282-2698. Uncle Yang is Ray Yang, who joins with Thai chef Nipa Verakul in a restaurant serving Thai and Chinese dishes. Thai specialties such as pad Thai and noodle with broccoli are the picks. Everything is house-made, even sauces and egg rolls. 11am-3pm & 5-9pm. Mon-Sat. $. BYOB. SF WA PRESS

POLYNESIAN

Dallas area

Roy’s 2840 Dallas Pkwy, Plano. 972-473-6263. Chef Roy Yamaguchi, who owns some 30 restaurants in Asia and the United States, is behind this Hawaiian joint, an off-shoot of his Austin restaurant. Tantalizing menu items include macadamia nut mahi-mahi and exotic fish from the islands. 5:30-9 Sun-Tue, 5:30-10 Wed-Fri, 5:30-11pm Sat. $$-$$$. Smoking on patio. WA

Trader Vic’s 5300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. 214-823-0600. Impeccable remodel of kitschy Polynesian restaurant-bar retains many original features, from the surfer-shack fixtures to high-test cocktails such as the signature mai tai. Best dishes included stir-fries like the barbecue veggies & tofu served with thin roll-’em-up mu shu pancakes, and seafood dishes such as the glazed Chilean sea bass. 5-10pm Mon-Thu, 5-11pm Fri-Sat, 5-9pm Sun. $$$. Full bar. SF WA

THAI

Fort Worth area

Bangkok Cuisine 4613 Denton Highway, Suite 35, Haltom City. 817-498-3316. Closing in on its third decade, Bangkok Cuisine is still tiny, still family-owned and -staffed. And the fresh, vividly flavored Thai specialties are still plenty exciting, especially choices like the fried sweet-potato appetizer with tartly vinegared cucumber-and-peanut relish or the thrilling prawn salad, bright with herbs and singing with lime and lemongrass. 11am-9pm Tue-Sun. $. BYOB. SF. WA

Bangkok House 438 S Cherry Lane, Fort Worth. 817-246-0236. Standard buffet fare at lunch with more outre offerings at dinner. Located in a nearly antique strip center. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-9pm Mon-Sat. $. SF WA

Thai Belknap Cuisine 4023 E. Belknap St, Haltom City. 817-838-9600. Superb dishes at a pretty, simple spot among plentiful Vietnamese restaurants include Thai dumplings, spicy seafood soup with lemongrass, lovely curries, plentiful noodle plates and salads featuring grilled beef or crispy duck. 11am-10pm daily. $-$$. BYOB SF WA PRESS

Junsuree Thai House 1109 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth. 817-927-3220. Sweet staff and fiery chile dishes add up to quiet but steady success at this Hospital District retreat. Beef salad, dumplings, vegetable spring rolls, fish cakes and panang curry dependably good and inexpensive. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5-9pm Mon-Thu, 5-10pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. BYOB. SF WA www.fortworththai.com

Rice 'N’ Noodle Thai Cuisine 9094 Camp Bowie West Blvd, Fort Worth. 817-560-3758. Nondescript shopping center space with loyal clientele and super-friendly staff feeds you good, fresh food at budget prices. The dishes ordered with full-on heat will take the top of your head off. That said, the curry dishes have good flavor, if you don’t let the heat interfere. 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-9:30pm Fri-Sat. No alcohol. SF WA

Thaya Cafe 5111 N Beach St., Suite 180, Fort Worth. 817-222-0884. Traditional Thai shines in a simple, clean setting; try any of the mix-and-match curries, one of six curry sauces paired with one of six meat, vegetarian or seafood variations.11am-2:30pm & 5-9pm Mon-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat.; 11am-8pm Sun. BYOB. WA major cards. SF

Arlington area

Sukhothai Restaurant 423 Fielder North Plaza, Arlington. 817-860-4107. Serves authentic Thai preparations of rice and noodle plates with seafood, chicken or vegetarian. Serene setting is a plus. 11am-2pm Mon-Fri, 5pm-9:30pm Mon-Sat. $$. Beer. SF WA

Sweet Pepper Thai Cuisine 2349 W Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. 817 299-9093. Thai food in a one-time fast-food setting. 11am-2:30pm & 5-9pm Mon-Thu; 11am-2:30pm & 5-10 pm Fri; 11am-10pm Sat., 5-9pm Sun. $. No alcohol. SF WA

Taste of Thai 2535 E Arkansas Lane, Suite 319, Arlington. 817-543-0110. Thoughtful, affable service adds to the appeal of a generous menu of crazy-man noodles, perfect little dumplings, tart lime beef salad and lush duck in red curry. 11am-2:30pm and 5:30-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-2:30pm and 5:30-11pm Fri, noon-11pm Sat. $-$$. Beer. SF WA PRESSwww.thetasteofthai.com

Thai House Restaurant 3701 S Cooper St, Arlington. 817-375-0441. Pink-and-green serenity provides welcome setting for freshly prepared Thai dishes. Good picks include fish cakes, steamed pork dumplings, salads piled with chicken or beef, and salmon with vegetables in a lush curry. Lunch specials for $5.95. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri; 5:30-10pm Mon-Thu; 5-10:30pm Fri; noon-10:30 Sat, noon-9pm Sun. $-$$. BYOB. SF WA www.thaihousearlington.com

Northeast and Denton

Blu Ginger Thai Cafe 6550 N. MacArthur Blvd. #150, Irving. 972-373-9799. This offshoot of Noodleswing Thai Cafe in Flower Mound has some of the same dishes and cheeky spirit on the menu. Shrimp in a Blanket brought delicious thrills with its generous dose of black pepper. Cinnamon bull soup had offbeat seasoning of anise and cinnamon. Also noodle dishes, curries and fried rice. 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 12-10pm Sat-Su. $$. Full bar, WA

Magic Springroll 5609-B Watauga Road, Watauga. 817-656-0019. No-frills cafe serves terrific, classic versions of Thai favorites; especially good was the spicy Thai beef salad, the refreshing green papaya salad, and the namesake spring rolls. 11am-9pm Mon-Sat. $. BYOB. SF WA

Nipa’s Kitchen 4900 Broadway Ave, Haltom City. 817-838-6687. Cozy cafe serving bargain-priced platters of spicy or peanutty Thai cooking. 11am-9pm Tue-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. $. Cash only. SF WA

Sea Siam 940 Keller Parkway, Suite 240, Keller. 817-431-1581. Wonderful mom-and-pop Thai in Keller could win the prize for best Thai around. Standards such as pad Thai and beef satay have fresh ingredients and sharp, bright flavors. Good soups, noodle dishes, fried rice with real crab (not the fake stuff) and even chicken wings with plum sauce. 11am-2:30pm, 5-9pm Mon-Fri, 12-9pm Sat. $-$$. BYOB WA

Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine 977 Melbourne Rd, Hurst. 817-268-2899. Fresh flavors and ingredients work together beautifully in a surprisingly stylish dining room, tucked into a strip center. Thai beef salad is outstanding, as is tom yam soup, fish cakes with cucumber sauce, salmon with chiles and ginger, and sinful fried bananas with coconut ice cream. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm Sat. $-$$. Beer and wine. SF WA www.sweetbasil-hurst.com

Thai Chili 397 E Las Colinas, Irving. 972-831-0797. Cozy restaurant with a variety of Thai seafood, curry, noodle and vegetarian dishes. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-10pm Sun-Fri, 5:30-11pm Sat. $$. Beer and wine. WA

Thai Chili Southlake Town Square, Southlake. 817-251-6674. Fresh and healthy foods of Thailand. Thai food is often quite spicy, you choose the level from "Hot 1" to "Kill me!" No kidding. And every sauce is prepared fresh and to order. 11am-2pm, 5-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-2pm, 5-11pm Fri, noon-11pm Sat, noon-10pm Sun. $. SF WA

Thai Jasmine 3104 Harwood Road, Bedford. 817-858-0555. This charming oasis of Southeast Asian food offers excellent fish cakes, green papaya salad, panang curry and seafood with chile and sweet Thai basil leaves. Smiling, helpful service. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm Sat, 5-9pm Sun. $-$$. SF WA

Thai Papaya Garden 1201 W Airport Freeway, Ste 100, Euless. 817-684-9378. A clean, airy restaurant with excellent, fresh Thai food. Start your meal off right with the tempura platter with succulent shrimp, tender strips of calamari and veggies battered in Japanese-style bread crumbs, fried golden brown. Large selection of lunch specials, including noodle and curry dishes. 11am-3pm & 5pm-10pm Mon-Fri, noon-10pm Sat & Sun. $-$$. Beer and wine. SF WA

Thai Rice Restaurant 2100 W Northwest Hwy, Suite 210, Grapevine. 817-424-3765. Range of appetizers, soups, salads, and meat and vegetarian dishes. Quiet, tastefully decorated and sparkling clean. 11am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5-10pm Sun-Fri, noon-10pm Sat. $. SF WA PRESS

Thai Tina’s 8004 Denton Highway, Suite 116, Watauga. 817-281-7400. Upscale Thai food in a pretty setting (don’t let the strip-center setting fool you). Extensive menu includes classic Thai dishes such as pad Thai and larnar and more exotic fare such as slow-cooked oxtail soup, fried salmon in curry, as well as interesting daily specials. Menu includes many meatless options. 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat. $$. Full bar. SF WA www.thaitinas.com

Thai Thippawan 461 Harwood Road, Hurst. 817-285-7298. Unassuming neighborhood spot with good, cheap Thai specialties; try the Spicy Zay, cooked with Thai chili paste and curry, or the crispy sea bass with pineapple and sweet chile paste. $-$$. 11am-9 pm Mon-Sat. WA SF

VIETNAMESE

Fort Worth area

Gia Phu 913 E. Berry St, Fort Worth. 817-923-9898. Neighborhood mom-and-pop strip spot serving fresh, inexpensive and generously portioned versions of all your Vietnamese favorites, including deliciously light Vietnamese crepes. Owners Thomas and Mary Nguyen will treat you as a valued friend. 10am-9pm Mon-Sat, noon-9pm Sun. $. BYOB. WA.

Lieu’s Vietnamese Restaurant & Coffeehouse 3980 Boat Club Rd, Lake Worth. 817-237-0372. Purists will welcome pho, vermicelli bowls and clay pots with simmering seafood, while newbies can cut teeth on tame but well-made dishes of chicken with chile and lemongrass and roasted quail. Pretty interior, sweet service, good coffee drinks and fruit shakes are bonuses. 10am-9pm Sun, Mon-Thu; 10am-10pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. No bar, BYOB. SF WA

Noodles @ Boba Tea House 7355 N Beach St, Fort Worth. 817-234-9996 A neighborhood favorite, this casual cafe offers traditional Vietnamese soups, or phos, plus spring rolls and noodle bowls. Owned by the same sisters who have Haltom City’s Boba Tea House, this spot also serves dozens of flavors of bubble teas and smoothies. 10:30am-9pm Tue-Thu & Sun; 10:30am-10pm Fri-Sat. $-$$. BYOB. SF WA

Nua Hang My Lan 4017 E Belknap St, Fort Worth. 817-222-1471. Family-owned restaurant offers 157 entrees. Every item on the menu is made in-house, most from family recipes. Dinners include pork, beef, chicken and shrimp dishes, many with vegetable combinations, plus an assortment of rice stick plates, bean curd items and soups. 9am-9pm Mon-Tue & Thu-Sun. $. Checks. SF WA

Pho Bella 4023B E Belknap St, Haltom City. A stylish dining room is the setting for Vietnamese standards such as pho and vermicelli bowls, and a few surprises, such as shrimp mousse spring rolls and the crepelike Saigon pancake. 10am-9pm Tue-Sat; 10am-7pm Sun. $-$$. BYOB WA PRESS

Pho Nam 4045 E Belknap, Ste 1, Haltom City. 817-834-0780. For good, soul-nourishing pho — brothy noodle soup — this place in the Haltom City’s busy Vietnam Plaza can’t be beat. Fast service and nice selection of smoothies. 9am-8pm Daily. $-$$. SF WA

Phuong Oriental Restaurant 4045 E Belknap St, Haltom City. 817-831-2010. This Vietnamese staple has been popular with locals for more than 10 years. Try the island soup, a cornucopia of meat and veggie goodness in a light, savory broth. 10am-9pm Wed-Mon. $. Cash only. BYOB. SF WA

Tu Hai 3909 E Belknap St, Haltom City. 817-834-6473. Modest, nondescript cafe serves colorful, flavorful dishes as gratifying as they are inexpensive, including sensational pho, or beef noodle soup, as well as roasted pork over vermicelli. Saigon pancake crosses a crepe with an omelet, with shrimp, pork and grilled onion. Best of all are the cool spring rolls and lemonade. 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun. $. Cash only. WA

Arlington area

Pho Hoa Phat 2230 S Collins St, Arlington. 817-801-0016. New Vietnamese restaurant with the standard fare, noodle soups, rice dishes, vermicelli bowls, spring rolls and more. 9am-9pm Mon-Tue, 9am-9pm Thu-Sun. SF WA

Pho Palace 2126 S Collins St, Arlington. 817-274-6602. Serene shades of celadon have a calming effect in this tidy, well-run strip stop that’s a cut above your basic soup joint. The menu ventures far beyond noodle soup, try the spice-roasted Cornish hen. 9am-9pm Mon-Thu, 9am-10pm Fri-Sat. $. BYOB. SF WA

Pho Pasteur 100 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington. 817-274-6232. This Vietnamese staple in south Arlington has been serving up exemplary dishes for years, from basics like pho and spring rolls to escargot vermicelli soup. 9am-9:30pm Mon-Sat, 8:30am-8:30pm Sun. $-$$. SF WA PRESS

Northeast and Denton

Green Bamboo 721 Keller Parkway, Ste 116, Keller. 817-741-8550. Authentic Vietnamese hits the ’burbs. Beef noodle soup, or pho, is fragrant with cloves and shallots; spring rolls are packed with herbs, shrimp, rice noodles and pork. And everything is fresh, fresh. 10am-9pm Mon-Sat, 10 am-8 pm Sun. $-$$. BYOB. SF WA

Miss Saigon Cafe, 932 Melbourne Road, Hurst. 817-595-0135. Simple but chic cafe serving uncomplicated versions of Vietnamese favorites, including rice noodle bowls and spring rolls. BYOB. $. SF WA PRESS www.misssaigoncafe.com

Pho V Noodle House 2400 Airport Freeway, Ste 115, Bedford. 817-864-0222. Vietnamese food with a sheen of new sophistication; traditional pho, or soup, is served in a white china bowl balanced on an oblong platter; good, fresh spring rolls are attractively arranged on a handsome square plate. Leave room for an iced coffee drink or boba tea. 10:30am-9pm Tue-Thu; 10:30am-10pm Fri-Sat; 11am-9pm Sun. $. BYOB. Major cards. WA

Pho Texas 2120 E Southlake Blvd, Southlake. 817-251-9237. Pretty little jewel tucked into Kroger shopping center excels with pho and other Vietnamese traditions, such as grilled shrimp and pork over vermicelli. Refreshing lemon-limeade and sweet iced coffee, too. 11am-3pm Mon, 11am-8pm Tue-Sat. $-$$. BYOB. SF WA

BARBECUE

Fort Worth area

Angelo’s Barbecue 2533 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth. 817-332-0357. Famous hangout gained legendary status for pork ribs, reasonably spicy sauce, fine brisket sandwich and giant, icy schooners of Bud. Lines are often long. 11am-10pm Mon-Sat. $. Checks. WA

Cousin’s Bar-B-Q 5125 Bryant Irvin Rd, Fort Worth. 817-346-3999. Families love the package dinners that combine beef brisket, smoked ham or chicken with sides. Other goodies include chopped beef Frito pie, stuffed potatoes, St. Louis-style hickory ribs an