With all the great restaurants in East Dallas, picking the perfect Date Night restaurant can be quite a task! We’ve narrowed it down to our 15 Favorite Date Nights in East Dallas, with a little info about what makes each one great.
1. Rapscallion
Located in Lowest Greenville, Rapscallion is known for its delicious modern takes on Southern comfort food like Nashville Hot Chicken, Collard Greens, Cornbread, Pickled Shrimp, Mac n Cheese, and Hopping John. The restaurant also offers an extensive drink menu and a 120 bottle wine list. Rapscallion was designed with specific attention paid to reducing interior noise, making it a great East Dallas date night spot!
2. Smoky Rose
Located across from the Arboretum, Smoky Rose is a great East Dallas date night spot with an expansive patio and lush garden. In addition to delicious smokehouse BBQ, Smoky Rose features small batch cocktails, a selective assortment of wines and a large list of local craft beers that compliment favorite menu items like the Brisket Queso, Smoked Chicken Wings, and big platters of Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Brisket, and House-Made Smoked Sausage.
3. Urbano Café
This Italian/American bistro on Fitzhugh is a favorite of East Dallas diners for its BYOB policy and delicious fare, including crispy duck breast, beef tenderloin, pan seared scallops, pecan crusted redfish, risotto, and more. Located next to legendary Italian food store Jimmy’s, Urbano Cafe is known as a perfect date spot to enjoy classic Italian/American food in a warm and intimate setting.
4. Lounge Here
Founded by musicians of legendary Dallas bands The Polyphonic Spree and Hagfish, Lounge Here is a hot Forest Hills spot with a retro 70’s mod design, craft cocktails, and Southern-inspired dishes like Deviled Eggs, Pimento Cheese, Fried Chicken Confit, Shrimp and Grits and Chicken Fried Akaushi Ribeye. On Sunday evenings, the lounge features live music.
5. Local Traveler
Located at the intersection of Gaston and Grand, Local Traveler is an upscale-casual restaurant that serves dinner seven nights a week. The restaurant backs right up to the Santa Fe Trail, and features a huge patio in the back for diners to enjoy cocktails, a fabulous wine list, and the food of chef Ross Demers (Oak Dallas, Mi Piaci).
6. Gemma
On Henderson Avenue lies the cozy, romantic, coastal-California-inspired Gemma, known for its simple, delicious New American food and outstanding service in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant’s five-course dinner and wine pairing are an East Dallas date night favorite!
7. Cock and Bull Neighborhood Pub
This “hole in the wall” on Gaston near the Lakewood Theater is known for its laid-back vibe, red walls and dimly lit booths, large draft beer selection, and juicy burgers and elevated pub grub (Veal and Mushroom Meatloaf; Maple Bacon Pork Chop; and the “Action Jackson Grilled Cheese!”). East Dallas residents looking for a relaxed date night spot with great food and great atmosphere love the Cock and Bull.
8. The Porch
Known for its “down home food & uptown cocktails,” The Porch, located at Henderson and Willis, is a New American restaurant featuring elevated comfort food classics like Three Grilled Cheese sandwiches, Stroganoff, Pan Roasted Chicken, Pork Chops, and lots of burgers, soups and sandwiches. Free valet parking, classic urban tavern setting, and a full bar with handcrafted cocktails make this a great, laid-back East Dallas date night spot.
9. The Grape
One of the most celebrated East Dallas neighborhood restaurants, The Grape has been a Lower Greenville staple for over 35 years, with a monthly changing blackboard menu and a dining experience like stepping into a little European village. Voted “Best Neighborhood Bistro” by Modern Luxury Magazine, The Grape features signature bistro fare and a number of contemporary and eclectic menu items (Bistro Steak Frites, Dry-Rubbed Texas Redfish), along with interesting ambience and legendary service.
10. Terilli’s
At Greenville and Vickery, and known for over 30 years for its “Tex-Italian” cuisine and live music, Terilli’s is consistently voted as a top date night spot in Dallas, and has also won awards for Best Martini, Best Brunch, Most Romantic, and Best Italian. A charming East Dallas date night spot to enjoy wood-grilled steaks, seafood, and delicious pasta with a private mezzanine and a roof-top patio with a fabulous view of Downtown Dallas.
11. St Martin’s Wine Bistro
Not your average wine bar, St. Martin’s Wine Bistro has a wine list of over two hundred options, with an extensive by-the-glass selection that is seasonally updated. With complimentary valet parking and live piano bar entertainment seven nights a week, St. Martin’s is a perfect East Dallas date night spot, with elegant decor, friendly and attentive service, and exquisite French-inspired dishes like escargot, seared diver scallops, and Chateaubriand.
12. Sa Sa Sushi
In the heart of Lakewood, on Gaston, SaSa Sushi is a popular East Dallas date night spot with sushi lovers, in a space with a clean, modern design and lots of natural stone and wood. With an impressive selection of Japanese beers and sake, and even Japanese whiskey offerings, Sa Sa Sushi features a simple menu that still offers a wide selection of classic sushi rolls, plus sashimi, poke, teriyaki, udon, ramen, and other choices at a reasonable price point. Diners love the ambience and the attentive, friendly service!
13. Times Ten Cellars
Located in a converted Lakewood post office, Times Ten Cellars is a hip wine bar with a large outdoor patio that makes an interesting date night spot. The food menu is composed of small, plates (cheese boards, hummus and other dips, salads, and desserts), but Times Ten allows other local restaurant fare to be delivered to their location so patrons can enjoy more substantial fare with their wine. Wines are available by the glass, by the bottle (on site), and by the bottle (take home). The bar has a vineyard in the St. Alpine mountains where several of the wines on offer are produced.
14. Cafe Izmir
A casual Mediterranean spot on Greenville, across from the Red Jacket nightclub, Cafe Izmir features a live Spanish guitarist on weekends and a nice selection of starters, tapas, and small plates. Tuesday is Customer Appreciation Night with great specials and discounted wine. Valet parking is complimentary on Mondays and Tuesdays. Cafe Izmir is known for their garlicky hummus, and what makes this such a great East Dallas date night spot is that they offer a “date” hummus without the garlic — and also offer complimentary mouthwash in the bathrooms for diners who just can’t resist the garlic!
15. Gung Ho
A casual, colorful spot on Lower Greenville, in between Oram and Prospect, Gung Ho offers chef-driven American Chinese favorites (Broccoli Beef, dumplings, fried rice), and also have vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian menu options. A classy, multi-room, two-story space that is still casual, Gung Ho offers a 5-7pm Happy Hour and is a great Chinese fusion option for a nice East Dallas date night.
