Few dining experiences compare to tableside presentations that give you the opportunity to see the finishing touches put on a dish or beverage. Tex-Mex restaurants in Dallas and Fort Worth dominate the scene for tableside shows, with prepared-to-order guacamole, but there are plenty of others that put pizazz into their presentations of cocktails, main courses, and desserts.
From liquid nitrogen to giant wheels of cheese, ingredients and techniques required to give you the old razzle-dazzle vary greatly, but always succeed in putting a smile on your face and a “Wow!” on your tongue. Read on for more than a dozen recommendations.
La Stella Italian Steakhouse
When it comes to tableside showstoppers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a restaurant with more options. From appetizer to dessert, La Stella Italian Steakhouse features a trio of tableside dishes: the Imperial Caesar Salad tossed with Ossetra caviar; the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, a whopping 40-ounce, 45-day-aged, Tuscan-style porterhouse carved upon arrival; and for dessert, order some gelato and a cute little cart will be wheeled up for you to make your selection from a variety of housemade flavors. 14655 Dallas Pkwy., Dallas, lastellaitaliansteakhouse
Beto & Son
When Julian Rodarte and his father, Beto, opened the Trinity Groves Tex-Mex restaurant in 2016, they earned buzz almost immediately for a showstopping, off-the-menu creation: the liquid-nitrogen margarita. After six months of instant-freezing tequila, lime juice, and encapsulated fruit pearls tableside for every customer that ordered one, chef Julian trained the servers to take over. The liquid-nitro marg soon became a permanent fixture on the menu, as did three additional liquid-nitrogen-crafted options: a tableside frosé, piña colada, and mezcal-spiked Heisenberg cocktail. 3011 Gulden Ln. #108, Dallas, betoandsondallas.com
Te Deseo
Save room for dessert at this Harwood District Mexican favorite. The Flaming Skull arrives at the table looking more like a minimalist work of art suitable for Dia de los Muertos. But don’t worry, it’s entirely edible. Inside the handcrafted chocolate outer layer awaits a molten lava cake, waffle tuile, hibiscus creme anglaise, and decadent Mexican vanilla ice cream. All the skull’s secrets will be revealed once the server pours colorful flames over the skull. 2700 Olive St., Dallas, tedeseo.com
Dolce Riviera
Cacio e Pepe may be one of the most classic Italian pasta dishes with its simple-yet-perfect blend of cheese and pepper. But at Dolce Riviera, don’t order the one on the menu if you want the most memorable version in town. Instead, ask for the off-menu Cheese Wheel Pasta, which gets finished tableside as your server adds hot pasta to a giant wheel of cheese, its creamy rewards infusing the pasta with each twist of the tongs and turn of the spoon. 2950 N Harwood St #115, Dallas, dolceriviera.com
Haywire
Smoke ’em if you got ’em. That’s the philosophy behind at least one cocktail at Haywire’s two North Texas locations. Request the Judd, and you’ll soon be greeted at your table by a bartender with a barrel, symbolic of the restaurant’s exclusive, hand-selected batch of Balcones Texas Single Malt Whiskey. The bartender adds simple syrup, peach bitters, and spiced pecans to the spirit before lighting a piece of mesquite wood and closing the barrel. After a few moments, the top is lifted, and it’s time for a pre-cocktail smoke show. Multiple locations, haywirerestaurant.com
Perry’s Steakhouse
With locations in Frisco, Grapevine, and Uptown’s Park District, you won’t have to journey far for Perry’s Famous Pork Chop, a seven-finger-high slab of cured, roasted, and slow-smoked decadence. Guests are welcome to choose cuts like eyelash, loin, and ribs as servers carve the pork chop tableside. Order the chop during Sunday Supper, and get a bonus soup or salad and dessert trio. Multiple locations, perryssteakhouse.com
SER Steak + Spirits
Two tableside temptations await at this striking steakhouse located on the 27th floor of the Hilton Anatole. For the ultimate beef bonanza, try the Wagyu tomahawk steak. A server rolls out your selection on a cart and slices it tableside. If you save room, you can end your meal with a burst of flames with the meringue flambé, a baked Alaska-style dessert that combines vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream doused in Texas bourbon whiskey before a server sets it ablaze. 2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Floor 27, Dallas, sersteak.com
Monarch
On the 49th floor of the National Downtown, Monarch’s team creates an impeccable dining experience with Italian flair. After indulging in popular dishes like the crudo trio, fire-roasted lasagna Diane, and Mountain River venison, cap your meal off with the tableside tiramisu. The service captain heats coffee at the table, adds a splash of Frangelico for a boozy kick, and then the assembly begins. Housemade lady fingers are soaked in coffee before being topped with mascarpone mousse and sprinkled with cocoa powder and chocolate shavings. 1401 Elm St., Dallas, monarchrestaurants.com
Catch Dallas
Catch Dallas in Uptown hasn’t been open long, but it’s quickly gained a feverish following and fully embraces the tableside trend. A variety of items are finished with a flourish right at your seat, including the crab-based Catch roll, which gets torched upon delivery for a nice light char; and the wagyu fried rice, which is presented in a hot stone vessel with chili crunch, togarashi, and a fried egg mixed in by a server. The tableside experiences extend to dessert with the strawberry shortcake kakigōri, a large dessert of strawberry shaved ice, mascarpone mousse, lemon cookie crumble, and strawberry compote that melts into a heavenly blend of flavors once the server pours condensed milk on top. 3005 Maple Ave., Dallas, catchrestaurants.com
Emilia’s
Flag down the mimosa trolley during brunch at the Crescent Hotel Fort Worth and prepare for some tough decisions. Start by choosing from a selection of bubbles, ranging from Villa Marcello Brut Prosecco to Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut. Then, peruse ample juice options like pear, pineapple, peach, and raspberry. Meanwhile, upstairs at the Blue Room, you can opt for martinis shaken tableside, as well as Dover sole filleted upon arrival and topped with sauce Meunière. 3300 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, emiliasfortworth.com
Cantina Laredo
Even though Dallas has dozens of options for tableside guac, consider this a notable one among them. Every order of Cantina Laredo’s top-shelf guacamole starts with ripe avocados, but guests can doctor them up as preferred. Add-ins include charred jalapeño for a nuanced snap of heat, along with chopped tomato, red onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and queso fresco. Add a bowl of queso Laredo and a side of flour tortillas for the ultimate appetizer experience. Multiple locations, cantinalaredo.com
Good Graces
If you want to give the bartender at Good Graces a good workout, order a cocktail like the pineapple-coconut-accented Goodness & Grace Fizz or the How Sweet the Sour. Soon, the Tanqueray Champion Shaker will be rolled up to your table. As you marvel at the steampunk-looking contraption, the bartender will begin to crank a wheel that gets two cocktail shakers gyrating vigorously, resulting in a perfectly chilled cocktail. Know before you go: The tableside cocktails are offered only on Friday and Saturday nights. 3033 Fairmount St., Dallas, goodgracesdallas.com
