I am married to a Frenchman who is very snooty about French restaurants not located in France! His rule of thumb is if the word “French” is in the name, or a French flag is in the logo… steer clear! He also prefers to dine at restaurants that have an authentic French chef. That being said, I thought I would do a post to share our (aka HIS) favorite French-approved restaurants in Dallas.
Cadot
I completely judged this North Dallas strip mall restaurant until we stepped inside and conversed with the French chef, Jean-Marie Cadot. Everything here is made from scratch (fait maison) and is absolutely delicious. On the weekends they have a live accordion player who will wander table to table and play romantic tunes for you and your significant other. So romantic and delicious! Definitely a special occasion place.
Lavendou
We were introduced to this gem in North Dallas on a double date. The atmosphere is very authentic French (which I can attest to since we lived there for 2 years), and the food is delicious. They have a great international wine selection, my Frenchman loved his veau (veal) dish, and I loved our chocolate soufflé for dessert.
St. Martin’s
We visited St. Martin’s during Valentine’s Day one year with a preset menu complete with wine pairings. Located on Lower Greenville, it has a really fun vibe and is very lively at night. Make sure to order a Kir Royale while you wait at the bar and listen to live music. (Kir Royale is cassis or raspberry liqueur with champagne. You will not regret it.)
rise no. 1
If you have not been to this Dallas hot spot, you MUST go. From the indoor twinkly lights in the trees to the incredible soufflés, this restaurant will not disappoint. It has a great atmosphere for a birthday dinner, date night, or special celebration. I spotted George W. and Laura Bush here one time, which was added bonus. Make sure you get the marshmallow soup and try a flight of wine (including champagne) or beer.
Boulevardier
Mercat Bistro
A great little gem located in Uptown. Quaint and small, perfect for a date night. The food wasn’t the BEST we’ve had (although the Frenchman loved his coq-au-vin), and it is a bit on the pricier side, the ambiance and location are truly great.
If you have any others to add to this list, please comment below. We would LOVE to try them out on our next date night!
We love le bilboquet, however I don’t think the chef is French!
Have you tried Toulouse on Knox? It’s probably not super authentic (I have no clue, ha!), but it’s delish!
Cadot and Lavendou are both in Dallas not Plano