French Room (The)

Description:

• Dinner here is the closest thing in Dallas to a state dinner at Versailles. This is the restaurant that will make the biggest impression on your dining companions (and perhaps, though not necessarily, on your credit card statement). The grand French Room -- under an elaborate vaulted ceiling and crystal chandeliers in the historic Adolphus Hotel, with a new chef at the helm and named the top hotel restaurant in the country by Zagat -- is a standout in every way. Formal but not stuffy, with impeccable service, it's a place to feel like king and queen for a day. The three-course prix fixe at $78 and the six-course Chef's Selection tasting menu at $95 ($145 with wine) represent excellent values for such a setting and all-around elegance and quality. From beef tenderloin with a black truffle-potato terrine to miso-marinated Alaskan halibut with baby shiitake and sweet potatoes in carrot-ginger sauce, the menu is superb throughout. Dessert may be a crème brûlée trio or, even better, the soufflé of the day (flavors change daily). As you might expect, the wine list is museum-quality, but there are also accessible options. The ambience is formal: Jackets are required for men; no jeans or tennis shoes permitted.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010