Dallas Eats: Reliving the Best Food & Drink of 2008

Take a delicious trip down memory lane to 2008, when the Dallas Observer recognized the city’s standout culinary establishments. From comforting classics to exotic flavors, these awards celebrated the vibrant and diverse food scene that continues to shape Dallas today. Let’s revisit some of the top picks and see what made them truly special.

Iconic Bites & Local Favorites

The 2008 Food & Drink awards highlighted a fantastic array of local treasures, proving that quality and passion for food have long been cornerstones of Dallas dining. Whether you were seeking a quick, satisfying lunch or an unforgettable date night, the city had something to offer.

Best Lunchtime Delights

For a refreshing and hearty midday meal, the Xochitl Soup at Luna de Noche was crowned the Best Liquid Lunch. This aromatic chicken broth, laden with rice, chicken, pico, avocado, and tortilla strips, offered a wholesome and invigorating escape from the office grind. If pizza was more your style, Pizza By Marco offered the Best Slice of Lunch with its $2 deal for a three-topping slice and a soda, featuring fresh, family-recipe dough and sauce. Another unbeatable lunch deal came from Divino’s Pizza, providing a two-topping slice and drink for just $2.30.

Unforgettable Dinner Experiences

When it came to burgers, Twisted Root Burger Co. took the Best Burger title in Deep Ellum, praised not only for its beef burgers but also its moist turkey burger on a wheat bun. For those craving exotic flavors, Star of Siam was recognized for the Best Hole-in-the-Wall Pad Kee Mao, offering incredibly flavorful Thai stir-fried noodles in a cozy, low-key setting. Mai’s Vietnamese Restaurant earned Best Vietnamese Restaurant for its fiery chicken clay pot and soothing shrimp imperial rolls, while Royal Thai stood out as the Best Thai Restaurant for its elegant dishes and impeccable service.

Sweet Endings & Unique Treats

Dessert lovers had plenty to celebrate. Natsumi Gelato and Frozen Yogurt was hailed for the Best Ice Cream, praised for its authentic fruit, nut, and spice flavors in gelato like green tea, avocado, and pistachio. For a comforting classic, the Hot Chocolate Chip Cookie at Kathleen’s Sky Diner won Best Way the Cookie Crumbles, served warm with oatmeal, pecans, chocolate chips, and vanilla ice cream. And for a truly unique frozen experience, Savoy Sorbet at the Dallas Farmers Market was awarded Best Sorbet in the History of Frozen, with its locally grown herb-infused concoctions like rosemary Chablis and rose geranium-raspberry.

Beyond the Plate: Ingredients and Ambiance

The Dallas Observer also recognized establishments that excelled in specific culinary aspects, from sourcing ingredients to setting the perfect mood.

Sourcing & Spicing It Up

Home cooks were directed to Penzeys Spices, named Best Place to Spice Things Up, for its vast selection of over 250 herbs, spices, and blends, including numerous varieties of curry and chili peppers. For the freshest coffee beans, Dunn Bros. Coffee secured the Best Fresh-Roasted Cup of Joe, roasting beans in-house daily. The Dallas Farmers Market was a hotspot for quality ingredients, with La Cuesta Farm’s Goat Cheese winning Best Goat Cheese in the History of Goats for its salty, spready varieties, especially the flame-roasted green chile and garlic flavor. Similarly, Texas Meats Supernatural was awarded Best Grass-Fed Beef for its organic, humane practices, offering beef, lamb, and poultry from North Texas farms.

Dining Atmosphere & Concepts

For a romantic evening, Avanti Ristorante was crowned Best Place to Take a Date, with its dim lighting, intimate setting, live music, and diverse menu. If you were looking for a “never knew it was a restaurant” type of place, The Cock and Bull in Lakewood surprised diners with its quality food, including the highly recommended Blue Bell Burger, hidden within a dive bar exterior. Royal China received an award for Best Iconic Eatery Makeover, transforming its Preston Royal mainstay into a modern space with an updated menu featuring dumpling specialties and diverse teas. For a truly fancy experience, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek was the Best Fancy Restaurant, showcasing new chef John Tesar’s Euro-Yankee mosaic flavors in a revitalized, elegant setting.

The Local Food Movement and Community Spirit

The 2008 awards also highlighted a growing consciousness around local and natural food sourcing, demonstrating Dallas’s embrace of sustainable practices and community-focused dining.

Garden Café earned the title of Best “Local Food Movement” Restaurant by growing its own vegetables and herbs in its backyard, delivering fresh-from-the-garden ingredients directly to their tasty meat and potatoes menu. This commitment to local, self-reliant food economies was exemplified by farmers like Robert Hutchins of Rehoboth Ranch, whose pasture-raised animals and organic methods were changing the landscape of food production. His efforts, detailed in the article, underscored a significant shift towards understanding the connection between food and overall health, advocating for antibiotic and hormone-free meats and dairy.

Notable Mentions & Hidden Gems

Dallas proved to be a city of delightful surprises, with awards going to places that defied expectations.

• Best Fast-Casual Indian Restaurant: Roti Grill – Offering delicious, quick Indian fare without the pomp.
• Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Spiral Diner – An overwhelming abundance of vegan choices beyond just salads.
• Best Vegan Adventure: New Start Veggie Garden – An all-vegan buffet featuring unique Asian and traditional veggie dishes.
• Best Greasy Spoon: J’s Breakfast & Burgers – A 24-hour time capsule with outstanding chicken-fried steak and classic diner charm.
• Best Cheap Tacos: Fuel City – A truck stop with legendary, cheap tacos (picadillo and barbacoa recommended, cash only!).
• Best Gas Station Hot Dog: Exxon On The Run – Praised for consistently fresh, well-stocked hot dogs and a good condiment selection.

Foodie Favorites at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas’s Best of 2008 Food & Drink

• What kind of food did the 2008 Dallas Observer awards cover?
  The awards covered a wide range of categories from Best Liquid Lunch and Best Burger to Best Vegan Adventure and Best Fancy Restaurant, showcasing Dallas’s diverse culinary landscape.
• Are there options for specific diets like vegetarian or vegan among the winners?
  Yes! Spiral Diner was named Best Vegetarian Restaurant (fully vegan), and New Start Veggie Garden won Best Vegan Adventure for its extensive vegan buffet. Avila’s also featured Best Meatless Enchiladas.
• Where can I find unique food experiences mentioned in these awards?
  Explore places like Star of Siam for authentic Pad Kee Mao, The Cock and Bull for surprisingly good bar food, or Fuel City for legendary cheap tacos from a unique truck stop.
• Were the award-winning places generally affordable?
  Many categories celebrated great value, such as Pizza By Marco for Best Slice of Lunch and Divino’s Pizza for Best Lunch Deal, both offering affordable meals. Fuel City also won for Best Cheap Tacos.
• What was recommended as the Best Place to Take a Date in 2008?
  Avanti Ristorante was highlighted for its intimate ambiance, dim lighting, live music, and diverse menu, creating a perfect romantic dining experience.

These 2008 selections from the Dallas Observer’s Food & Drink awards offer a timeless guide to quality and innovation in the city’s culinary scene. Whether you’re seeking a nostalgic revisit or a fresh discovery, many of these award-winning qualities continue to define Dallas’s gastronomic appeal.

Relive Dallas Best Food and Drink