Flora Street Cafe

Since it debuted in 2016, this sleek Dallas Arts District restaurant has landed on all the "best lists" and earned a five-star rating by the Dallas Morning News. Which should come as no surprise considering this is the flagship restaurant of James Beard Award winning chef Stephan Pyles. And though it may be one of the most beautiful restaurants in the area (think: walls of glass with dazzling views of the Meyerson Symphony Center) you'll probably be too distracted by the Instagram-worthy dishes to notice. But the pretty presentation is only part of the story: Good flavor combinations and cutting-edge cooking techniques are also in play here. Showcasing elevated Texas cuisine, the menu offers up everything from lobster tamale pie to kumquat-crusted sea scallops and dry aged Texas Akaushi striploin steaks. Desserts are also worth a browse, not-to-be-missed is the fleur de sel chocolate mousse with goat's milk ice cream. As you might expect, the restaurant stays jammed on a nightly basis, so be sure to make reservations well in advance.