This place located inside the hotel ZAZA was at one time "THE PLACE TO BE" in Dallas....not any more.
The tragically hip still try to be cool there but time has passed this place by. Â Sad to see really as they dont seem to understand they need to update lots of things to get the crowds back.
The hotel remains fantastic though!
We're fans of Hotel Zaza. We were married there and have returned every year for our anniversary. Since we were visiting family outside of Dallas, and we thought we'd stop by the Dallas version of Houston's Monarch. Â
So, we gave this place four stars. The food was definitely better than the food at Monarch at Hotel Zaza Houston, and the service was both impeccable and friendly! We were expecting an ostentatious atmosphere, snippy waiters and waitresses, and average food. Â Wow, were we surprised!
The service was impeccable, the food was priced just right, and the taste was wonderful! We had a great time! We started off with delicious dumplings, and as we anticipated our entrees, we sipped wonderful white wine (they have a great wine list!). Â My husband had the whole fish and said it was the best he'd ever had! I had scallops with lump crab (a special for that day). Â It was fantastic, and our waitress, Lindsey, was so helpful! She helped us choose the wine, and our dessert: Oreo slice of ice, and wow, it was amazing in both presentation and taste! It looked like a sliced sirloin but covered in Oreo crumbs and filled with chocolate ice cream. You must try this!
So, why not five stars? Well, because the atmosphere seemed to welcome an older age bracket than we're accustomed to being around. We like the sexiness of Hotel Zaza in Houston and were hoping for something similar here as well. And, as nice as the weather was, their patio allowed smoking and super loud residents at the pool - -not my cup of tea.
Oh, well, we left with super happy tummies and will definitely stop by the next time we're in Uptown Dallas :)
Brunch here was delicious and the space has cool/interesting art and decor. My only complaint was the service--don't be in a rush!
They were really pushing the huevos rancheros and the lobster benedict; my friend did get the former, but I got the chicken waffles. I remembered a tepid Yelp review about the chicken waffles and was a little hesitant, but couldn't resist. Well maybe something has changed because those chicken waffle are TO DIE FOR. They come with bacon marmalade and roasted poblano gravy...what a food party.
The mimosas were tasty but I can't tell you how much they were--they charged us $10 each for the first one, $1 each for the second one, and then some dude came and refilled mine for free. Your guess is as good as mine. :/
Wow, this place is trendy! You definitely feel cool when you're here.  You are paying to hang out  (there are lots of pretty people), because the food is meh.  I mean, it's pricey at $39 for an 8 oz steak, $8 per side, and $12 per martini.  I had a great time with friends (which was worth it) but if I was visiting strictly for food, I coulda done better.  Also, our server seemed bored and inattentive. I get that might be part of ZaZa'z image, but I'm still paying! The drinks were fabulous  and I loved the location near McKinney.
Review Source:Brunch on Sunday...Cinco de Mayo...it was a party! Â They were very busy. We had Ballet tickets and I was a little concerned about timing...but should not have been..service was great,knowledgable and timely.
I have always been a fan of Chef Dan...so talented and such a nice person. The brunch menu was delicious. I had the pork stew topped with eggs and it was wonderful,spiced to perfection! My friend had the special of the day , shrimp and grits...I must learn how to cook grits...these were yummy! Â My daughter had the cheese burger omelet...a new addition to the menu. It sounded a little strange, but it all worked. It was huge, Â so we all had a bite and it was really good.
My daughter and friend had a Moscow Mule....I' m out of the loop and had never heard of that drink...must admit it is quite tasty.
I will come back again...Thanks to all!
Nice swanky location inside the zaza hotel. The atmosphere for dining allows for alot of people watching and the place is trendy enough you will see those dressed to impress. The menu is delicious: ginger beef tenderloin was cooked to perfection. Delicious treat if you find yourself in uptown Dallas.
Review Source:Visually a pretty restaurant. Atmosphere was nice, but during prime time on a Saturday night a nice place like this should be busy. I can see now why it's not. Tortilla soup was thick and bland. Steaks were tender but terribly over-salted, and a surprisingly thin-cut strip.
Service completely fell apart toward the end of the meal. We had to get up from the table and find someone to close our tab and get us out of there. Definitely would not go back here unless they had major management changes and a new chef/menu. Â $200 poorly spent.
Beautiful place but the food was soooo average. For a fine dining restaurant, I expected to be wow but sadly wasn't. The food was was so tiny in portion and the pricing was beyond ridic for what was offered. Usually, if a one bite portion really blew me away then I wouldn't care. This however, was so mediocre that I couldn't justify paying for what I paid for. Â I understand that you are also paying for the experience when it comes to fine dining but I still can't justify our bill that night. Thank goodness I ate a little beforehand. I think the only thing I thoroughly enjoyed were the cocktails.
Review Source:We were visiting Dallas for a conference and one of my friend has recommended this place. The restaurant is located in hotel Zala. As the hotel, the restaurant's decor is very trendy, eclectic and glamorous! The staff is very pleasant. Our server, Mike is excellent and right on with his recommendation. We ordered calamari salad, tuna taco, lamb lollipops, stirred fried spinach, and whole fish served on quinoa and saffron! All are excellent! We asked our server for some spicy sauce and we got Siracha chilly hot sauce! I was very impressed! For deserve, we ordered creme brûlée and fried ice cream which are very tasty as well.
Over all, everyone in our group are happy with our dinner. The restaurant's atmosphere is very pleasant and relaxing!
I would definitely come back next time when I'm visiting Dallas! I would recommend to this place for a romantic dinner, friend gathering or just because you like to have nice meal!
The Dragonfly is beautiful! I love the classy atmosphere and the lounge/pool area that is connected to it is also very pretty! Butttt... that is about it.
My experience at Dragonfly was very mediocre. I went here for a friends birthday and I had already eaten beforehand so my friends and I decided we would just eat finger foods so we ordered the Noah's arc and some drinks to share. It included TINYYYYY dumplings, ahi tuna tacos, sliders, and two other things that were so not memorable that I can't even recall. I was still hungry after the small portions that I had to order pork belly and lamb chop appetizers. Everything was very average and nobody in my group was impressed at all. The check came out to about $80+ a person and although we got free champagne because it was a birthday gathering, I don't think the meal was worth it at all. The waiter was very nice but we found out the day after that my friend's credit card was charged for $250! I love going to nice restaurants but this place was not what I would call fine dining. What a very disappointing experience.
If I were being completely honest, there were two reasons why I decided to go to make reservations at Dragonfly: they were offering 1000 Opentable points and their steak options were reasonably priced. I was worried that there may be a reason why Dragonfly was offering such a promotion but fret not, fellow Yelpers: Dragonfly's food is deeeelicious!
We came here on a random weekday night (I think maybe right after Christmas) so the place was pretty empty, save for 3-4 tables. Wine aficionados, they have a pretty varied wine list but not as many options as I would've liked.
They had a seasonal soup, the lobster bisque, so my friend and I both decided to give it a whirl. This was much spicier than I thought it would be but I enjoyed the generous piece of fried lobster floating around in my bisque. Yums.
Then came the steaks. I got the 5 oz tenderloin filet (only $22!) and shared the gruyere mac and cheese and crispy brussel sprouts with my friend. I thought their these three things went sooo well together. Their steaks come with sauces on the side and I decided to give both the shiitake mushroom demi and the charred tomato cabernet jus a whirl. I liked the shiitake one better but mostly because I tend to err on the side of sweet.
Finally, we ended with their hazelnut mocha creme brulee. It pains me to say this but it just wasn't my favorite. I thougth I would love it because I love "hazelnut," "mocha," and "creme brulee" separately but some things may be better not mixed together.
I'm glad Opentable was offering 1,000 points to dine here because otherwise, I never would've discovered this reasonably priced, delicious, and trendy restaurant in Uptown Dallas.
Attended a company function Friday night  and I really like this place.  Ordered the 14oz  rib eye and it had to be more on the 20oz. size.  It was cooked a perfect Medium Rare and the Butternut Squash Grits were the best I have ever had.  The Baby Red Oak and Herb Salad was OK as the goat milk ricotta was not as creamy as I expected.
Service was fine and my only complaint was that my entree was delivered before I could finish my salad.
5 stars on atmosphere and service. Â Valet is quick and the club next door was rocking... Great place to people watch.
Ran into a friend at the airport who recommended this spot for drinks - Â so I met a local friend while traveling for work. Â This is a good spot for drinks and small plates.
The hotel is very nice (did not stay here) but I talked with several guests with positive comments on the rooms and the property. Â Good selection of spirits (thank you for stocking Hangar One) and very attentive bartenders. Â
I had the beef coins (wrapped in pancetta) and the Scallops with crimini mushrooms and noodles. Â The food was fine. Â Call me old fashioned, but I want to feel a WOW about a $32 entree. Â Not quite. Â The scallops were well prepared and seasoned, on a bed of noodles and four mushrooms. Â OK...
Fun bar crowd, though. Â I would return for drinks and small plates.
We had some of our favorite cocktails in Dallas here. Â Top, was the Diamond in the Rough...something about tequila, basil and black pepper...amazing. Â
The food was pretty fantastic too. Â The pork belly app was delicious. Â The lamb lollipops just okay, as they were a bit chewy and the horseradish sauce was as spicy as plain Greek yogurt.
The diver scallops and house ramen were very well conceived and executed and the broth was fantastic. Â The oso bucco was good, but the grits served on the side were delicious. Â Filet was perfectly cooked and there were nice side dishes.
Service was excellent and the pace of the meal was perfect.
I was staying at Hotel ZaZa for business and decided to grab a quick bite at Dragon Fly. Â Very trendy, unique restaurant. Â I am usually not a fan of Asian food, but Dragon Fly proved me wrong. Â The Asian Salad was spectacular; the chicken had just the right kick of spice and the ginger dressing was a great compliment. Â The salad was presented inside a Chinese to-go box tipped on the side letting the salad spill out on the plate. Â The salad was served with chop sticks ~ very unique and innovative.
Review Source:Dragonfly is the best restaurant that I have ever been to! Â Very trendy, upscale dining in uptown Dallas located in Hotel Zaza. Â Best meal I've ever had. Â The entire service staff was excellent and they treat their customers very well. Â
The whole vibe of Dragonfly is very fun and hip. Â Great place to go and hang out after work and enjoy the atmosphere and mingle with others!
I'm a big fan of Hotel ZaZa and a regular at both the Dallas and Houston locations.. I was a little surprised by the mixed reviews on Dragonfly. I've had nothing but great experiences here. It's such a fun atmosphere, great for people watching.. if you can make it for an event you'll have a great time. Last time I was there they were having a Men's Health event and it turned out to be a great evening.
The waitstaff always takes good care of us, the bartenders pour 'em like we like... and the food is solid. We decided to split one of the pizzas (definitely improved.. thin crust, crisp and delish!), the hummus (only thing I wasn't super sold on.. it was just okay), and the citrus poached chilled rock shrimp (love the dipping sauces they come with).
But the real winner.. the thing you have to order is the ginger glazed beef tenderloin. That's definitely the best entree on the menu.. full of a flavor and super tender. But if you're more of a fish person, I've also had the Bay of Fundy Salmon which is divine.. the potato pancetta hash and olive tapenade it comes with really make the dish.
The only thing I never seem to have room for at Dragonfly is dessert, so I can't comment.. but perhaps I'll have to take a break on the cocktails next time so I can try some!
Went here on a friday night for a friend's birthday.
Great decor, and set for a very trendy, upscale dining experience.
However, the food was very subpar, and overpriced. Â I got the mahi mahi, and it was a bit soul-foodish, which was fine but not for its price. Â The meat was not tender but stiff and just not very appetizing. Â
My friend got some asparagus to go with his meal.. ugh.. undercooked, it was crunchy. Â The mac and cheese was soupy and skimpy but ok, probably would not order it again. Â Their ice cookies and cream, was surprisingly light, and really good. Â Lamb lollipops, meh.. that was probably one of the most mediocre pieces of lamb i've ever eaten, not savory at all.
So in conclusion, would i come here for dinner again unless i had to? No. Â The only reason it gets a 3 star is for hospitality, decor, and atmosphere, being right next to the lounge and all. Â So if that's what you're going for, go for it!
I went here last night with my friends and we had LOTS of fun! Â The music was good, the outdoor area near the pool was gorgeous, and the feel of the place was rich-y / fancy / elite, but comfortable...
1st off, the huge candy store jar of hot tamales on the bar is genius--I couldn't get enough! Â I'd been here before, but I'd forgotten how fantastic the people watching is. Â There was a really wide variety of people who were here--and most of them looked amazing.
The manager, Alex, is hilarious. Â He photo-bombed a picture I was taking with my friends. Â I admit it...I got a little sassy with him, but then he brought us drinks he called "deliciousness". Â It smelled like angel food cake with fresh strawberries--I want to bathe in it every day! Â
I imagine we'll be back. Â I feel like I've only scratched the surface here...
We ate at Dragonfly a few years ago and decided to return. Our overall impression is that the place has gotten really comfortable with it original acclaim and lost its edge. Our experience tonight was good, not great, but overpriced for what we received.
First, the hipster sent to help us with the wine started us off on a bit of a sour note. His selection of the Behrens Family Spare Me was right a very good one, but had entered telling us he was going to find us something great and get us a good deal. The wine he selected is sold at retail at $50, and he gave us a "deal" at $100. Â I certainly understand the 2 times markup on wine at restaurant as standard practice (in this case 2.5 times above their wholesale price), but please don't call that a "deal." As a parting mistake, he followed the Spring Mountain Napa Cab with a California blend red at the same price. There was no way that could be anything but a step backward.
The 3 stars were for the appetizers. The soup and caprese salad were both very good. Â For entrees a few of us selected steak and a few salmon. Â The salmon was overcooked and dry and the 3 steaks were also consistently overcooked. The side vegetable with the steak was supposed to have a lemon seasoning; one had no lemon flavor and another was over-seasoned. At least I got the one that was just right.
There are too many good options that are priced appropriately for what you receive to go back to Dragonfly again.
I went here for a friends birthday. After dining at this place, all I did was complained... to my bf. Haha. The food is overpriced for one thing. The service was crap for a $50 dinner. It was like fine dining/casual hang out. I was confused. The food was confused as well. It didn't know what it wanted to be. I felt the clash makes me think it's an overpriced bad idea. The waiter was hard to tracked down because we were looking for her to order another dish. Also, it's a small restaurant. We just gave up. She didn't present us the special until I asked her. I'm only harsh because it's a $50 plus meal. YOU GOTTA expect more! Another thing... the manager stopped by our table to see how everything was going. He wasn't welcoming like he should be. After dinner, we were at the lounge area. Like I said... too much confusion. The music was blasting like it was a club.
Only thing I like about this place... The jalapenos colada. Â Yum. It was weird, but the lychee and tabasco sauce was a great combo!
Let me start by saying that I don't want to trash the place just because I didn't like, this is more of a neutral rating on my experience. Â
A little snooty for my taste but what do I know, I'm just a simple Redneck to most. Â All joking aside, this place definitely gives me a bad vibe though. Â It has nothing to do with the decor, Â Very high end white and black them with some great pieces of art. Â I think the bad vibe comes from the $30,000 millionaires running around the place with their noses turned up. Â I came to look at Dragonfly as a venue for a party and the staff was friendly and accommodating. Â Most of the clientele just rubbed me the wrong way some. Â Great pool and bar area outside.
This place has totally gone downhill since it first opened. Â My second time here, and this time was not a good experience. Â Came on a Friday night with a big group - dressed to go out. Â
First star - good spot for getting dressed up and indulging. Â A little older crowd, but very high-society dress-to-impress type of atmosphere. Â
We were seated in the private dining room inside so it was a little less noisy (outside is like a club). Â Our waiter brought us our menus, his busboys filled our waters, and then he disappeared for 30 min. Â What a dumb idea! we were ready to get our drank on...and he disappears?? By the time he came back (which we had to ask the manager to get him) - we were already sober and starving.
We ordered a range of things -
1) Filet - decently priced at $22 for a 4 oz? execpt - one of our filets came out cold
2) Pasta - Again - one came out cold...
3) Calamari Salad - on top of a bed of greens and some RIDICULOUSLY sweet asian dressiing ... we passed it around the table and everyone hated it
4) Salmon -...tasted like salmon. nothing special
5) Soup - heard was delish
6) Truffle Tator Tots - Was YUM! very very good - mushy melt in your mouth richness
7) Lamb Chops - were ok, butterflied (2 butterflied in half were $15) kinda cold again, but not very much meat
...nothing spectacular of a meal. Â Prices weren't unreasonable but I've never had cold steak and pasta at a restaurant!
The outside bar on the other hand - a good time!! always a line and a much older crowd, but fun place to people watch!
HOT!! Located in Hotel Zaza in Uptown Dallas, Dragonfly is definitely the sweetest place to be on a Saturday night. Came here for a post-wedding after party with bottle service, poolside. Had one of the best times ever.
As we came up to the entrance, a brand new Ferrari rolled up to valet. All the girls knew how to dress and not a single one wore heels less than 4 inches. Helpful and professional bouncers in suits who guided us to our table, and they were very lenient on the 15 people/2 bottles rule, although we did end up getting another bottle and 4 more bottles of champagne. Great prices too, $275/liquor bottle and $50/bottle of champagne.
Fantastic electro/house club music, super sexy & fun crowd, all together a winner. If you get tired, go inside Dragonfly for a fancy, richly decorated lobby and restaurant. Definitely coming here again.
I like Dragon Fly. Â The ambiance is fantastic as the crowd is well-mannered. Â It's busy but not disgustingly crowded so if you want to goto a happening place where you can still hear each other without yelling at the top of your lungs into their ear and or have to fight your way through a crowd to get to the bathroom, this is your place. Â I really enjoyed dining in their private room in the back on one occasion. Â It's more intimate and amazingly fabulous. Â A good place for private parties.
Their menu is intriguing but not as fabulous as their ambiance. Â One dish that REALLY stood out to us on their menu is the truffled tater tots side. Â OMG. Â Do not miss this. Â It's crispy on the outside, buttery and creamy on the inside and bursts with truffle flavor. Â Next time I go I wish I can just get two orders of this for dinner. Â
It doesn't get a full five stars from me because of the rest of the menu was just ok, but it's still definitely a gem I'd like to return to.
Thought for modern-day society, How to be chic fabulous and live forever
Socialize here, It's mysterious and intelligent. Â The bar scence is short hemlines, tall wine glasses, with a good dose of design come rub elbows with the "in" crowd. Â A place where people head to dance, eat and drink.
I have to say I have come a long way and now am understanding the  rules of etiquette here at the Dragonfly.  My first time here I was frequently ordering $20 doubles for the crew.  Picture me sitting near the glass top pool, drunk as a skunk,  and I notice a Gentleman wearing designer suit that probably cost more then my car.  Well The DJ is spinning, the fists are pumping, the ladies are dancing (away from him) and I notice he was dancing on the glass top pool with a drink in his hand.  So of course I get up with my drink  and two step.  It was raw as hell,  I laughed and giggled falling over asking him if I can dance with his glass.  Apparently this did not go over well but my boys had my back.
Over the years I have matured a bit and stopped wetting my pants and now enjoy the scene without exhibiting Frat like boy behavior. Â Yes I said Frat boy because I get crazy like one. Â I wish I could say I morphed into a calm Britney Spears talking about the spawn movie and time travel when consuming alcoholic beverages. Â I strongly believe I would be more fun and less stressful when it's time to explain to the management why I am climbing on top of the balcony yelling O'doyle Rules"
So now I have grown up a bit and only indulge in maybe a few pelvic thrusts at the bar. Â and pretty much chillax. Â I have enjoyed many dinners here and love everything the kitchen prepares. Â Recently just consumed the steak and mac and Ahi Tuna Tacos. Â High five they were delish.
My favorite place is the private glass door dinning area when you first walk in. Â I enjoyed 4 course brunch in there many of times. Â The coffee is top notch and I always go with any of the Bennies
American Sleek Cuisine with flare and yes very CHIC
'Il faut se dorer pour se faire adorer' - you must be gilded to be adored
Here is a story of how I am a forgiving patron/yelper. I ordered the three-course lunch, which includes a starter, salad or sandwich, and dessert. I've been on a lamb chop craze recently, so I ordered the lamb chop lollipops for a starter, a shrimp caesar salad, and warm chocolate cinnamon cake.
The lamb chops come served with 4 (not bad for an appetizer combo portion!). I took the first chop and dipped it in the savory horseradish sauce. SO GOOD! Well seasoned and cooked just to the right temperature.
I was about to repeat this process and take a bite out of the second pork chop and [gasp!] there was a fried fly perched on the edge of the meat. No, it wasn't a random living fly that flew onto my food. It was a COOKED and CHARRED fly. Surprisingly, my first reaction was not of disgust, but rather, I turned to my friend and said: Is this for real? Or is this part of the 'decoration' and you know...Dragonfly theme? That'd be a pretty twisted joke.
I'm not one to make a scene, but my friends insisted and called the waiter over. Everyone at the restaurant was very apologetic and told me my entire meal would be comped and asked me to order whatever I wanted off the menu. And then, they took my lamb chops away.
Despite the "fly" incident, the only thing I wanted to eat were the lamb chops!! Yes, they were that good!
Most reviewers may straight up give the Dragonfly one-star after the fly incident, but I still think the food deserved five-stars. Average it out and I'm giving the Dragonfly three-stars.
Dragonfly has always made me happy. Hotel Zaza is magnificent. Dragonfly is well decorated. The customers are always look beautiful. The drinks are tasty and the food is good.
But last night I was let down.
We went for the Thursday "Neighborhood Night" happy hour. From 5 p.m. until close, guests can enjoy beer, wine and well drinks and a selection of delicious appetizers from the Dragonfly menu, each for $5.00.
One would assume that if they are advertising this special and trying to get business, when you arrive at Dragonfly they would mention it. Instead they don't bring it up. Â
After we ordered we randomly heard someone next to us ask what the story on the HH special was. THAT is when the waitress broke down and started to explain what items were on the $5 menu.
So to sum it all up, if you go on Thursday ASK about the special. It was my fault for not asking when I went but I would assume that a good waitress would offer the information. My assumptions were wrong.
My first time at Dragonfly I had a chance to taste their Fall menu.
The look and feel of the place is very nice... just as you would expect....
The sampling of new Fall items was really great--- very hard to choose just one. Â I ended up choosing the Ginger Beef Tenderloin with sesame Mashed Potatoes and Wasabi sauce --- it was fantastic... Â I don't usually order steak out (I don't like to order things i can do) but this was great and most important unique.
The Braised Bison Short Ribs also looked great as did the Pheasant Brest. Â
The Tuna Tacos and Grilled Texas Quail for appetizers were fantastic as was the Calamari Salad. Â
Though outside of my normal price range at $37 the steak is about average on the market. Â While i can't afford to be a regular it is a great special occasion spot to add to my list. Â The Starters started at about $12 Â and the main courses start at $30.
RESTAURANT WEEK '09, B%@#$ES!!!
Man, I heart Restaurant Week (RW). Before we get to the review, I'd like to share a simple disclaimer: I believe you can tell a lot about a restaurant in how they "handle" RW. Yes, a portion of your noticeably discounted meal is going to charity, but a great restaurant notices that patrons who wouldn't normally dine at said restaurant are, and that the opportunity is upon them to treat you like gold and perhaps you'll dine there again....at the non-discounted rate. It's Restaurant Customer Service For Dummies. I should pen the book. But I digress....
Dragonfly gets an A+ for customer service. They get it. And, you know who else gets it? Ryan, our server. (And ain't nobody calling him "Mr. Personality" if you catch my drift, ladies. Holla!)
Wine? Sure. Casa Lapostolle from Chile? One of my personal favs. done and done. Ryan even shared a little "It's made by the Grand Marnier people" anecdote. I heart him.
On to my RW selections...and boy did they have many to choose from! Way to go, Dragonfly!
1. P.E.I. Mussels. Fantastic broth. Perfect appetizer portion. Only drawback: as an Italian, I enjoy bread to "oops, I've dropped my bread in this yummy broth and now I must nosh on this delectably fantastic ooey gooey starchy soggy goodness." None of that was happening. A waste of broth if you ask me....
2. Ginger beef. They're known for it. I'd had it before. And, ya know, it doesn't disappoint. Medium rare, cooked to perfection. And, again, Dragonfly, way to have your signature dish on the RW menu.
3. Chocolate Cake. I'm a sucker for it. The flour-less kind makes me swoon. Add a raspberry sauce and I pass out on the table.
The only way to revive me? A cold Bailey's shooter, compliments of the chef. Ryan, you had me at hello.
Great meal. Great friends. Still a great restaurant.
I've been wanting to go here for YEARS!!! I guess I just couldn't get anyone to come with me...so this year for RW I brought the smack down!
Most of the reviews I've seen here have been mostly about the bar or the pool. I'm reviewing the food!!! Unlike my friend who had a ridiculously creeepy evening!!! Ha
The whole evening from start to finish was A-mazing.
Our waiter was very easy on the eyes (you know who you are Ryan!). *Ahem* anyway. The menu was perfect for RW. Great selection and options. I started with the Calamari Salad (sidenote: I heart Calamari, if it were the only thing on the menu I would order it for each course. Easy). The salad had this sweet sesame dressing with crispy calamari and spinach leaves. Mmmmm, oh and you're supposed to eat this salad with chop stix. Normal.
2nd Course...Ginger Beef with mashed potatoes and brocollini. My mouth has never tasted such happiness (that's what she said).
Dessert...Texas Peach Pie with a scoop of Basil ice cream. Odd, yes. Allison nervous, yes. Allison's tummy happy after, yes. It took a few bites to "warm" up if you will, but man. It was so delicious, you can tell that someone really thought about the food.
Sidenote: My friends Mama tagged along. Her exact words "These are the best scallops I've ever had in my life". BAM!!! You got served! If you knew this mommy, you would get the importance of said statement. Everyone else was VERY happy with their selections, no sad faces at this table!
When Ryan (see above for reference) brought our check, he brought over an Amuse busche. Â Um, it was almost like a Brandy Alexander. Â Perfect one sip delight. Â
Awesome decor in this place. I don't think I've seen anything else like it in Dallas. Â Â Oh, don't forget to get your car validated. Â You wish you could charge me $17 for valet and get away with it!
I will definitely go back...even if its not RW. I'm crying inside cause I waited so long.
I went to Dragonfly with some friends not knowing what to expect. Â I did not expect to be treated like a girl. Â The hostess pulled out my chair for me and put a napkin on my lap, which was a strange feeling. Â I am not sure I will or want for that to happen again.
But nevertheless, I was impressed by the swank surroundings. Â Since my friends and I went after the lunch rush we were given constant attention by the waiter. Â I had the steak sandwich, fries and the soup du jour. Â The food was great for the lunch price but I am not sure if it would have been worth it during dinner dining. Â Like most restaurants in this area, parking is valet or street only.
I was staying at the hotel and needed a break from work and so I wandered into Dragonfly. Not before I changed of course-- there is a sign when you enter the restaurant that says "Dress to impress" and they mean it. There are lots of upscale people in this joint including older men from hotels all over downtown Dallas. I think they come here to get lucky. Either that or they come to gawk at the hot waitstaff.
I sat at the bar where I partook of some delicious wines from a nice selection. My meal melted in my mouth and I was on cloud nine for about 10 minutes while I shoveled it down. It was over so quickly, I only wanted to relive it again. Which is why I came back for lunch the following day.
Lunch was... not so good. All six of us were just blah on our meals. My lemonade took the spotlight. Breakfast was also... not so good. Undercooked onions, rock hard sun dried tomatoes, and gobs of goat cheese. Who wants to eat that in the morning and spend $15?
Not so good lunch and all, I still give Dragonfly a big thumbs up. Stick to dinner and drinks and you should be fine.
Being that it was summer, my intimate dinner @ Dragonfly was not very intimate at all! Â
We had reservations @ 7:00pm and was seated near the pool view. Â I'm sure that's one of the coveted seating areas, but for me the sun didn't set until 8:30ish. Â That extra light shining in the dining room floor killed all the "candlelit and intimate" feeling. Â
Far as the restaurant, it's seemingly cramped... tables were jammed too close to one another. Â Then again the dining room was kinda small, especially compared to its Houston counterpart (Monarch). Â
The decor of the restaurant is very eclectically hip. Â The chandeliers, i like that in dining rooms, made this place very cool in my book. Â I can see why this joint is still very popular among the Dallasites. Â
Now for the food... a very limited menu left me wondering why I chose this place. Â There was no entree that really jumped out. Â Nothing seem to excite me other then the appetizers. Â I was really considering ordering just 3 or 4 appetizers and make that as an entree. Â
Well I did order the crispy calamari salad and a lump crab cake to start off with.  The salad came out in a bowl with an ample amount  of calamari.  It was good at first bite, but the sweet vinaigrette was too much for me after several bites later. Â
As for the crab cake, it not very memorable because I can't remember if I liked it or not. Â Probably not, if I can't recall how it tasted. Â
My entree came out to be the pan roasted scallops and my dinner companion had the Guiness braised short ribs. Â My scallops were good, just not great for me... another unmemorable dish. Â Her short ribs however, was very tender. Â It too was sweet tasting, but I actually liked it. Â
Getting on to the highlight of the night... the dessert. Â We shared the orange creme brulee. Â My goodness, the custard was inside an actual orange. Â You can smell and taste the orange fragrances seeping inside the custard. Â Very very delicious. Â
Service was slow to a crawl. Â It took us almost 10 minutes after being seated to finally see our waiter. Â After taking our drink order, we didn't see him again until 15 minutes later. Â We knew where this was going so we just bit the bullet and made the best of it. Â The waiter was nice and all, just seemingly non-existent at most times. Â In the end, our meal for two was a little over two hours long... and believe me, we weren't the ones prolonging it. Â Luckily I didn't make any plans afterwards!
Oh Merideth! Â While I agree with your assessment of the bar scene, I wouldn't write it off as a restaurant! Â I did spend many months in Dallas, and Dragonfly was the occasional treat. Â My travel week is usually Mon-Thurs, so I frequented this place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
---The Selection---
4 out of 5. Â Though I am an avid meat eater, I tend to order fish at this restaurant. Â The specials change often, so check those out.
---The Food---
5 out of 5. Â The grilled cod and bone-in ribeye are my clear favorites. Â The golden brown cod had a nice texture and flavor while the bone-in ribeye had the very meaty man-ish way about it. Â Okay, maybe not man-ish, but you knew you were biting into a big piece of cow. Â Mooo! Â Also try the baked clams or calamari to start. Â
---The Wine, The Booze---
4 out of 5. Â No idea what I had here, but I remember thinking it was just okay and fairly pricey. Â On the other hand, I ordered a relatively particular cocktail and they made it for me. Â Most of the time, the conversation goes like this: Â Me: "Triple goose martini, up, very cold, with three blue cheese stuffed olives." Â Them: "We don't have that, sir." Â Me: "What, the goose martini or the olives??" Â Them: "The blue cheese stuffed olives." Â Me: "So you don't have blue cheese. Â Or you don't have olives. Â Or you just don't want to stuff them for me." Â At Dragonfly, the nice waitress says, "We don't have blue cheese stuffed olives, but we have blue cheese and olives. Â I'll go stuff them for you." Â SUPERB! Â
---The Service---
3 out of 5. Â The servers are all generally great. Â They are polite and attentive. Â However, nice restaurants like this usually come with an additional person to help. Â Get some water, pour our wine, etc. Â A few times, we had this young kid who acted like he was stoned. Â Slow moving, trying really hard not to spill anything, glazed look on his face... and he would take the wine away from us every time. Â I mean try to take it back into the kitchen. Â We had to flag him down a few times. Â Oh, and one time, we asked for some wines and the server just started making stuff up. Â It's not a problem to say you don't know; they got a lot of wines here!
---The Location---
4.5 out of 5. Â I like the Hotel Za Za. Â During the winter, they close the pool and install some clear plexiglass over the water. Â It's a bit cheesy, but it can be fun to sit on a couch on top of a pool... Â Also, the location is downtown so you can easily get to the bars or clubs for a hip night out.
I definitely recommend coming on an empty night and bringing your own company. Â But beyond that, food is good, service is decent, and I got my triple martini with my triple olives stuffed with blue cheese.
If you love a swank scene with a posh crowd, then this is the place to go. Â I thought the food and desserts are amazing. Â Both visits were excellent.
I did have a little bit of a problem on my second visit. Â My reservations for a Saturday night were scheduled for the wrong week. Â I had to wait 1.5 hours for a table. Â The comped dessert but that may have been because the bill was $500+.
DISCLAIMER: i went here as part of a work trip and my SVP throws down the platinum amex so i can eat and drink for free which DECIDELY affects my ability to offer an unbiased review
food and drink here are above average but people in Dallas act as though Dragonfly is a national treasure. Â highly recommended is the calamari|salad appetizier dealio. Â lightly dressed in field greens with crispy calamari makes for an interesting change from straight up fried squid with dipping sauce. Â the bar goes OFF 3-5 nights a week. Â it is tied to Hotel ZaZa which is a mid-sized hotel with a good sense for decor. Â again, i think the problem here is that Dallas has less culture than your average tub of yogurt and, therefore, the people think that this place is the Taj Mahal or something. Â that entire city seems like it is stuck in 1985.
be careful if you get the older Spanish waiter. Â he is attendant and efficient but has ZERO personality and no trace of a sense of humor providing an overall cold experience. Â in his defense, he may be a career table jockey and have grown weary of the "movers and shakers" that haunt his daily life.
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