As a way of thanking all the contributors to this newsgroup who vented their opinions on Dallas restaurants, I'd like to summarize my recent sampling: 1. La Calle Doce (on 12th St., natch). This is a very good Mexican seafood restaurant, particularly in view of the moderate price scale. I loved the marinated, grilled whole catfish: a treat and a bargain at $10. 2. Cuquita's was decidedly so-so. Homestyle and friendly, yes, but not particularly interesting or well-prepared food. The carnitas were overly salty, redeemed only by a mound of avocado I had ordered on the side. 3. Pomodoro. Well, this was my one extravaganza, and I found it good bordering on excellent. I ordered one of the daily specials, a huge tuna steak in garlic-wine sauce. The sauce was good, if rather conventional, but the tuna was overcooked. The four garlicky shrimp on the side were tasty, however, and there was the standard mound of lightly steamed vegetables (for health) smothered in butter (for early death). The best part of the meal was the pasta side dish: perfectly al dente bowties with an intense garlic and toasted almond sauce. This was out of the ordinary and absolutely wonderful. (The waitress offered to grind some parmesan over it, as she did with all the other pastas in the room, even though cheese would have been completely out of place. I suppose that the restaurant does this routinely, since some patrons would not think they were getting their money's worth if they didn't get that middlebrow gesture of service.) Pomodoro is somewhat more upscale, although a notch below the real money extractors. Not a bad place to go on an expense account, however. 4. Bread Winner Caf=E9. Almost. I was looking for a perfectly satisfyin= g place for a large breakfast, with a choice between hippie indulgence and downright decadence. BW came close, but ultimately missed the mark. = The whole grain presence is missing, even as an option. (The pancakes choices are white and white sprinkled with granola. Is this the Dallas brand of crunchy?) The breads are of a white persuasion too, except for a very sweet banana bread that is given free to all comers. The scrambles, migas, etc. are perfectly respectable, however, even if the potatoes are too sedate by my standards (austere little cubes, not crispy hunks). Sylvester's in Northampton, anyone? So that's how it went in Dallas last weekend. = Peter Dorman
Dallas, TX