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closeFriday, Oct. 30, 2009
Saint-Emilion, Bonnell's earn strong Zagat scores
Which Fort Worth and Dallas restaurants get some love in the prestigious Zagat book for 2010?
June Naylor
The Roquefort Gratin at Saint Emilion.
Zagat, the international restaurant guide publisher, has just released its America's Top Restaurants 2010, and Fort Worth gets a bit of respect inside the 347-page book. We should point out that Fort Worth restaurants were grouped with Dallas dining, too, but overall, our area held its own against the other 44 markets in the nation.
The five Dallas/Fort Worth restaurants getting the highest marks from reviewers, who are real-life diners and not critics, were the French Room at the Adolphus Hotel; Tei Tei Robata; Local; Teppo Yakitori; and Abacus, all in Dallas. Each of these received 28 points for food, out of a possible 30. None of these places is new or trendy, and with the exception of the French Room, each is a neighborhood spot. This tells me that people are drawn most to places where they feel at home, where they know they'll find reliable food. Those restaurants are blessed with loyal diners. Interestingly, Teppo and Tei Tei are both Japanese restaurants with shared owners.
The Fort Worth restaurants claiming the highest food points are the recently spiffed up Saint-Emilion on Seventh Street; Bonnell's in the southwest part of town; Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana, in the Cultural District; and Del Frisco's downtown. Each of these claimed 27 food points.
Another downtown restaurant getting good notice from Zagat was Mercury Chophouse, but this is a place we never hear anyone talking about. Angelo's is among the more highly rated places, but Railhead was completely left out, which we find rather odd. Zagat had the good sense to include Grace, and Joe T. Garcia's gets its usual kudos for a great setting and fabulous margaritas. Lambert's and Lonesome Dove made the list of "other top places," too - proof that beef is still king in Cowtown.
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