Photo courtesy of www.thebradsblog.com
I don’t know about you, but one of the things my husband and I miss about life before kids is going out with friends. It seems nowadays if we happen to have a person willing to keep both of our kids, we take advantage of our time alone for a much-needed date night. However, that leaves little no time to hang out with our friends without kids. Don’t get me wrong. I love getting together with our friends and their children. We just had a Labor Day cookout with 10 adults and 11 kids. It was crazy and so much fun! But, I do fondly remember the days when we could eat dinner with other couples and enjoy adult conversation without having to wipe a kid’s nose or cut up chicken strips into bite-sized pieces or miss the best part of a story because you have to accompany a little one to the restroom for the 58th time.
A few weeks ago we finally had an opportunity to get together with some of our best friends and head out to a restaurant I’d been dying to try for a while. Neighborhood Services was opened in 2008 by Nick Badovinus, formerly part of the Consilient Group that owns a handful of Dallas restaurants {Hibiscus, Fireside Pies and The Porch, to name a few}. It was for our birthday celebration and because we were going sans kids, we chose a place that was more on the nicer end of the dining out spectrum.
We arrived at Neighborhood Services on Lovers around 8pm on a Saturday night. We had called ahead like their website recommends, and we were told our table would be ready as soon as everyone arrived. From the time we walked in, I knew we had chosen the perfect place. It was loud and full of all kinds of people, and no kids! I love children {being a former school teacher and mom of two, that goes without saying} but when I’ve left mine with the babysitter I would rather not eat around a bunch of other kids. That being said, I think you could go to Neighborhood Services with kids, just make sure you go earlier in the evening. It’s only open for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
There wasn’t a lot of room to wait for our table- the bar area was packed and the restaurant is small. But, we didn’t wait long and we were seated in a cozy booth for six. That’s when the fun started. Adult conversation + yummy food = perfect night. Everything on the appetizer list looked amazing. Per my husband’s recommendation, we ordered the brisket meatballs. Everyone but Trey was a little skeptical, but it turned out, they were one of the best parts of the entire evening. Oh my word. We also ordered a yummy flatbread that was featured as a special that night. Their menu and specials change often so what you see on their online menu many not be available on any particular evening.
When it was time to order our main courses, all three guys chose the Prime Rib with a voodoo peppercorn sauce and frites. Also ordered at our table: sea scallops with Manchego cheese grits {my choice}, beef tenderloin with some tasty asparagus, a tuna dish that was another special that evening, and the Three Jack and Mac casserole for everyone. Jenn was lucky enough to get the “last tuna” of the evening, so our waiter said a lot of other customers were going to be jealous! {Note- go early if you want to make sure you have the option of all the specials.}
So, what’s the verdict? The food was FABULOUS. My sea scallops and grits? Incredible. The steak? I begged Trey for more than just a bite. The mac and cheese? Whoa y’all. Just awesome. All in all, it was one of the best meals I have ever had. I’m sure it was a combination of the amazing food, fun atmosphere, and the friendliest waiter {ask for Kurt, he was great}. But the best part? Spending time with our friends without kids. It was three hours of adult conversation, and I am so thankful that we made it a priority to enjoy a nice dinner together.
If you haven’t had a night out with friends in a while, it’s time to plan one! When deciding where to go, remember Neighborhood Services. We can’t wait to go again and hopefully we’ll get to go on a Tuesday night. Why Tuesday? The current Tuesday special is Bacon Confit Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and a cheddar biscuit. Need I say more?
Neighborhood Services 5027 West Lovers, Dallas, TX 75209, Call Ahead 214-350-5027, http://neighborhoodservicesdallas.com, Other locations: Neighborhood Services Tavern on Henderson and Neighborhood Services Bar & Grill at Preston and Royal
