Dakota's Steakhouse Is A Dallas Gem

Dakota's Steakhouse Is A Dallas Gem

I am certain that Dakota's Steakhouse, opposite Dallas's Fairmont Hotel at the corner of Akard and San Jacinto streets, may be in the running today to be considered the finest dining spot in the DFW metroplex, certainly for lunch. I have eaten there half-a-dozen times in the last twelve weeks; I have never been disappointed. Indeed, I've been delighted each time, and I've decided that the venerable Dakota's is doing a better job than many of the newer (and flashier!) additions to the Dallas dining scene.

I first was a guest at Dakota's more than twenty years ago, at a dinner for twelve in honor of a visiting diplomat from Peru. The venue itself attracts attention, and there is indeed an interesting story behind Dakota's magnificently lush underground space. Dakota's was built in 1984 by the Lincoln Property Company, which built a sleekly modern glass tower that still stands next door. The owners wanted a signature restaurant at street level, but the land on which the building went up was purchased from a neighboring Baptist church, and the deed contained a legally binding clause that absolutely forbade the sale of alcohol on the former church grounds, in perpetuity.

Everyone understood that a "dry" restaurant would not be able to compete in modern Dallas. So a group of lawyers at Lincoln Property Company debated the difference between the phrases "on the grounds" and "below ground" - and the upshot of that discussion was an excavation twenty feet below street level to create the underground restaurant we find today. It has as its "roof" the rough asphalt of San Jacinto Street. An elevator peeps up above ground at street level, with valet parking provided. Dakota's can also be reached through a series of air-conditioned tunnels connecting it to the Fairmont Hotel and all the neighboring buildings. In the tropical heat of summer, you don't need to get your clothes wrinkled to eat there!

In the scores of visits I have made to Dakota's, I have never once heard the rumble of a car or truck above me. That is because Dakota's is encased in very solid stuff -- the restaurant takes its name from the eight million pounds of Dakota mahogany-colored granite that was used to insulate this gilded dining cave from the noisy world outside. It is a fortress of stone.

I last dined at Dakota's this week. The luncheon menu is traditional and rich and I never tire of it. For starters this time, I ordered the jumbo lump crab cake served with sweet corn puree and a touch of cilantro. It was absolutely free of breadcrumbs, pure slivers of delicious crab, done exactly the right way. My partner ordered a field greens salad served with walnuts, marvelous lumps of snow-white goat cheese, and lightly drenched in blackberry vinaigrette. I stole a few bites. Both dishes are wonderful ways to whet the appetite.

For my main course I ordered what I have ordered consistently for my last three visits to Dakota's, which is the outstanding six-ounce filet mignon. I asked that it be prepared with intense, searing heat so that the outside was blackened and crusted while the tender inside remained pink. The chef at Dakota's is fussy about the cuts he uses -- his steaks are corn-fed beef supplied by Allen Brothers. The filet mignon at Dakota's is consistently perfect every time, crusted in black pepper. I was offered a choice of green beans, broccoli, or mashed potatoes. I always take the mashed potatoes, which are creamy Yukon Gold potatoes served with Layla Farms butter and a hint of garlic. They are the best in town.

My partner had the Atlantic salmon, which was seared with a light crust of tomato jam, perfectly cooked, complemented with asparagus orzo. It was a very fine cut of prime salmon exposed briefly to such intense heat that a delicious light crust formed on the surface of the fish. I confess that I stole a bite. I had an espresso after my meal while my partner had coffee.

The restaurant fills up quickly around noon with a local business crowd, mainly well to do lawyers and bankers. I usually ask for a different table each time I visit Dakota's, and I have occasionally dined outdoors in the sunken patio, which is open to the sky above Akard Street and has a lovely little waterfall. Part of the fun of Dakota's is just taking in the décor and the ambience.

Dakota's was built sparing no expense and no visitor should fail to take in the restaurant itself while enjoying the food and service. The floor is hand-cut Italian Carrera marble in a basket weave, the paneling is a dark tropical hardwood veneer with brass gas lamps and some attractive wood columns that were scavenged from a stately Dallas home of the last century. Get up and wander around a little while you are waiting for your meal. Dakota's is worth not just one visit, but many.

Dakota's Steakhouse is at 600 North Akard Street in downtown Dallas. It is always wise to make a reservation, especially for dinner. Call 214-740-4001.

Choose The Most Suitable College In South Carolina and South Dakota Today!

There is a great variety of Colleges in South Carolina & South Dakota. Colleges situated in South Carolina are rather popular and widely-known in their responsibility field as well as their major goal of meeting professional needs and interests of their students in the best way. This sort of dedication to the students attracts more and more young people with every next year. Let us speak about one of the best Colleges in South Carolina - Columbia International University. From its name it becomes clear that this university gives high-rate education to students from many countries of the world. With the help of this university you will obtain an excellent opportunity to earn the needed degree without much difficulty or obstacles through the undergraduate studies.

As for the graduate studies, they are going to offer students more professional options. The Associate's and the Bachelor's degrees will certainly be of great help to you in moving closer towards your successful career. Would you like to move even further? In this case it is highly advisable to obtain the Mater's or Philosopher's degree. As there is about one professor for every nine students available in the Columbia International University has, you may obtain a very qualitative education there. No matter whether you would choose to live in the campus and visit everyday regular classes or you are a very busy person and have chosen to obtain the education via online distance learning classes, the Columbia International University is completely accredited. So, you don't need to worry about your diploma, as it will be recognized in every country of the world and accepted by almost all employers, no matter what specialty you are going to choose. It has to be mentioned that all of the colleges in South Carolina have a state accreditation, so no matter what institute you will choose. If you have come from another country in order to receive the education, you are welcome to obtain your TEFL certificate at the Columbia International University. This university offers education of a highly quality and guarantees a prestigious studying process. By the way, this educational establishment is famous for its long and successful history as well as the Southern Wesleyan University is. So, you may consider this university as well.

In general, it has to be emphasized that the colleges situated in South Carolina are undoubtedly some of the most famous and complete ones in the United States of America.

Let us now speak about the colleges situated in South Dakota. Here you are going to face a similar situation. You are going to find about thirty universities in South Dakota. If you decide to compare the number of educational establishments situated in South Dakota with the number of educational establishments in other states, it may seem to you at first that these colleges in South Dakota provide their willing students with too few specialty options. Nevertheless, this point of view is completely wrong. You will probably agree that there may be not many universities, however the number is not important. What is really important is the quality of the education offered by these colleges.

It is really necessary to realize that any student who is going to study at one of the colleges in South Dakota will be able to find something that fits him or her. In fact, there is a great variety of different programs and courses which are offered to students by the colleges situated in South Dakota. The only disadvantage of the colleges situated in South Dakota in comparison with colleges of the other states is that there is not too much competition. Nevertheless, this is not a problem because you are certainly going to find at least two or three common programs which will meet your professional needs and interests. The only thing you need to do is to search for ones in all the offered institutions.

The Dakota State University is probably one of the oldest and most complete higher educational establishments in South Dakota. According to the information stated by the Dakota State University almost ninety-three percent of its 2009 graduates have found an excellent job in the field they were studying. This is a proud statement of the university which was established in the year of 1881. You will probably lose all hesitations concerning to study or not to study at the Dakota State University if you learn that there are approximately fifty different programs you are welcome to choose from?

One of the most famous institutions in South Dakota is DeVry University which is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. This university suggests its students much flexibility of more than ninety locations, as well as online courses and a great number of Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. It doesn't really matter where you are going to obtain the needed degree - either on campus, or with the help of distance learning, or combining these two ways of studying, you will find not big classes and much personal approach towards every student. The teaching staff is highly professional and experienced who emphasize the educational and career success of each student who has chosen this university.

Some other colleges situated in South Dakota, including the Northern State University, the Sinte Gleska University, the Southeast Technical Institute, may be characterized in the same way - accredited, offering high-rate education, though few programs in number. Nevertheless, if you choose to study at one of the universities of South Dakota, be aware that you are studying at a unique & superior university. Some institutions of South Dakota emphasize mainly one or two professions, while others try to give education in as many fields as possible. It has to be finally said that these colleges are not at all competitors, on the contrary, they make up a complete and wide system of colleges in South Dakota. These universities tend to wonderfully complement each other.

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