Tag Archive | Great wine list

Mille Lire

Oct21

Dallas, Texas

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I love having friends who are foodies! They are a wealth of information regarding new restaurants, new food trends, and the latest recipes. One of my best “foodie friends” just happened to turn me on to Mille Lire.

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Mille Lire is a great little Italian restaurant located in the Dallas Arts District near Cedar Springs, in the Centrum Building. From the second I walked in, I liked it. I was impressed with the chic, modern decor and the “homey” feel. The tables were beautifully set. Interesting art work was located throughout the dining rooms. A high glass ceiling, colorful floor tiles, big windows, and beautiful lighting fixtures created a warm, welcoming atmosphere. So far, so good!

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The hostess was welcoming and my husband and I were promptly seated at our table in the middle of the restaurant. Our server made us feel welcome and delivered the right amount of attentiveness throughout our meal. The cocktail and wine lists were impressive and the menu selections were very appealing. Now it was time to make some tough decisions!

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I opted for a glass of Amore Prosecco and it was cool and crisp – just the way I like it. My husband ordered the Italiano Mule and it was awesome! Limoncello was the secret ingredient that gave the mule its special  “oomph!” Delicioso on both counts.

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We chose the Roasted Cauliflower and the Roasted Beet Salad for our antipasti. The cauliflower florets were drizzled with Thai chili cream sauce and the flavor was amazing. The roasted beets were cut into bite-size squares and were served with goat cheese, toasted pistachios and orange slices. The textures, flavors, and plating of both of these appetizers was spot-on. Our server also brought over a complimentary bread basket, creamy butter, and dipping oil that was a nice addition to our other dishes.

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For our entrees, we decided to try a couple of the housemade pasta dishes. We opted for the Fettuccine Carbonara and the Pappardelle al Ragu. The fettuccine dish was served al dente with pecorino cheese, pancetta, a poached egg, and topped with crispy Brussels sprouts. This dish was rich, creamy, and delicious and made for some great leftovers. The pappardelle was also al dente and was served with a bold sauce of dry-aged beef bolognese, tomatoes, and fresh grated parmesan. This was authentic Italian cooking at its best – simple and flavorful.

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Dessert might have been my favorite part of the meal…no surprise there! My husband and I shared a piece of Ricotta & Amaretto Cheesecake topped with wild cherries. At this point, I really, really wished I had not agreed to share. I would have licked the saucer clean if it would not have embarrassed my husband! The slice of cheesecake was creamy and smooth with the perfect amount of sweetness versus tartness. More, please!

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At one point during our dinner, I saw the chef come out from the open kitchen and talk to a few patrons. Giuliana Matarese is the owner and executive chef of Mille Lire. He was born and raised in Napoli and has over 20 years experience at top-notch restaurants, including in NYC. This new restaurant of his just received the 2018 Open Table Diner’s Choice Award, so they must be doing something right! Mille Lire is not open just for dinner hours. They also offer “Pranzo Veloce”  (quick lunch) specials Tuesday thru Friday and a Prosecco Brunch with a Live DJ on Sundays.

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My husband and I really enjoyed our visit and I would love to return soon to try their Sunday brunch and Prosecco Bar. I hope you will check them out the next time you are in the mood for some authentic Italian fare. Buon appetito!

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Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

Jul3

Dallas, Texas

If you are looking for that perfect fine-dining meal, I would like to suggest Perry’s in uptown Dallas. This is a great restaurant for a date night, a celebration or a business meeting. 

Perry’s Steakhouse has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a meat market and butcher shop that began in 1979. Today Perry’s remains true to its roots and serves only the finest cuts of hand-selected, USDA-aged prime beef and pork. If you are a meat lover – this is definitely your kind of place.

My husband and I just recently dined at Perry’s for the third time and had another wonderful dining experience. The valet parking is very convenient and affordable ($5). The upscale interior is warm and inviting, refined and elegant. I immediately noticed the beautiful light fixtures that set the tone and give the dining rooms a romantic ambiance. There is a modern bar area, a 5,000-bottle “wine wall”, several large open dining areas, an outdoor patio and a sunken wine cellar where we were seated. It was very cozy, private, and comfortable. The award-winning menu offers an impressive list of wine and cocktails. Appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts are all upscale and every dish is high quality.  Service has always been very attentive, personable and prompt.

During the month of July,  Perry’s is offering two special anniversary menus. On Sunday evenings they offer a 3-course Pork Chop Dinner (salad, pork chop and dessert) for $34.95. They are also offering an evening special “4 for $44” (appetizer, salad, entree and dessert). These are both great deals since the 32 oz. pork chop usually runs $40 alone!

Now let’s talk about their incredible Signature Pork Chop. Perry’s famous pork chop is a “7 finger high” pork chop (think three, very thick pork chops stacked on top of each other). The pork is cured, roasted, slow-smoked and then caramelized. It is brought out to your table whole and is then carved table-side for your viewing pleasure. It is cut and separated on your plate with one huge chunk of pork loin (fork tender), the eyelash (the tastiest and most tender part) and the three individual, thick-cut, bone-in pork chops (very flavorful). It is absolutely delicious and enough meat for at least two people. This is served with a side of tasty applesauce. Perfection.

We chose to have the “4 for $44” special this particular evening. We began with house-made Polish Sausage and Fried Asparagus appetizers. Both were good but my favorite was the battered asparagus spears with a garlic/lemon/butter sauce and the crab topping. Yum! The Caesar Salad and Kale Salad were both fresh and delicious. My favorite here was the Kale Salad with its tangy jalapeno vinaigrette dressing, shaved parmesan, and tiny, crunchy croutons. Next came our entrees – the signature Pork Chop for my husband and the Chicken Oscar with Roasted Aparagus for me. The two chicken cutlets were well-seasoned and the lump crab meat was very tasty but nothing really compares to that hunka-hunka pork chop! Our dessert choices were the Dessert Trio (vanilla bean crème brulée, chocolate crunch and praline cheesecake bites) and the Nutty D’Angelo – which we shared. This “nutty” dessert was quite the spectacle. The wait staff came to our table and flambéed crushed pecans, brown sugar and brandy and poured it over a huge ball of vanilla ice cream that was topped with white chocolate and almonds plated on a chocolate drizzled dessert plate. Need I say more?

Overall, we had a great dining experience. It is rare when we hit the trifecta these days with service, food, and atmosphere. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is well worth checking out and I hope you go visit during the month of July for these great money-saving specials. Perry’s is not inexpensive… but the quality and quantity of food easily justifies the cost. Bon appetit!