Ten Dallas Restaurants You Should Be Eating at Right Now: Fall 2014 Edition

Oh, Nonna.

For the past few months we've been nibbling like rabbits on vegetables while visions of ourselves in bathing suits flicker on the projector screen in our brains. But now there's a snap in the air, and skimpy clothes and frail fabrics will slowly take the back seat to wardrobes with bulk. You could hide a lot underneath your old, favorite sweater -- two or three cassoulets-worth.

So dig your coat out of the back of you closet and abandon all shame. Here's where to eat in Dallas, now:

Proof + Pantry (pictured above)
Forget the hype surrounding the tension between owner Michael Martensen and Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner. All you care about is eating well, and it turns out that it is reasonably easy to eat very well here. Bring friends and work your way though the "bulk" plates that feature large servings meant for sharing, or look to the rest of the menu for plates you can finish on your own. And don't sleep on the specials.

Catherine Downes

Gemma
This little Henderson Avenue gem is still going strong, and now that it's fall the oysters they serve so proudly will really come into their own. Sit at the bar, get a glass of something bubbly and eat all the bivalves you can afford before you go wherever the menu takes you. Just save room for dessert. Always save room for dessert when dining at Gemma.

Lori Bandi

If you're going to have another burger, make it this one.

Boulevardier
You had to know this one was coming as soon as we mentioned cassoulet. The French dish that combines hearty duck confit with a rich bean stew is a quintessential cold weather dish. As a bonus, the oyster selection is top notch here as well, and the dining room is always lively. (Read: reservations, please.)

Catherine Downes

Blind Butcher
Think you've gotten to know The Butcher? You may want to revisit that notion, as some recent menu updates have given the place a new spin. There's tripe, now, which is already gaining quite a buzz, and Shepherd's pie. Don't worry, your favorite sausages remain, but the Blind Butcher you once knew just got a whole lot more well-rounded.

Kathy Tran

Casa Rubia
If there's one good reason to go to Trinity Groves it's Casa Rubia. The restaurant is coming up on its first anniversary and if anything it looks like chef Omar Flores is gaining momentum. Don't miss the octopus, or the charcuterie board, or the roast chicken breast. Actually, make sure you bring enough friends so you can really explore and do your best to put a solid dent in this menu.

Catherine Downs

FT33
A meal at FT-33 speaks for itself. This was arguably the hottest reservation in Dallas the last time we published this list, and it still is now. Vegetarians rejoice: Matt McCallister's treatment of produce can sway even the most devout of carnivores, and summer's bounty is here. Not looking to spend a big wad of cash on any given evening? Grab a seat at the bar and have just one dish and a drink. You can always pad your evening out somewhere else on the cheap, but this will be the plate you remember for the night and long into the weekend.