On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Latin American, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
4620 McKinney Ave"Cindi's gets five stars solely for their cheese danish. No matter what you order at Cindi's, please also order a cheese danish. I have…" read more »
Loading...
La Duni offers a unique combination of elegance and informality. While care is taken to attend to every detail (beautiful decor, professional staff, long-stem roses in vases along the wall, sparkling glasses lined and trimmed with mint for mojitos at the bar), you'll also find loving photos of the founder's young son playing with flour or eating whipped cream framed on the wall. Thus, La Duni is a great restaurant for many occasions (warm brunch with friends, romantic dinner dates, special family dinners, etc.).
Also, with 4-star dishes (Michelin rating, I believe) and award-winning desserts (Cuatro Leches Cake, yum!) on the order of $10-15 (especially at brunch), this beautiful restaurant is accessible on a budget.
Tips -
1. The menu offers a selection of continental and Latin dishes. If you can convince your table mates to share, I recommend ordering some of each and trying both types.
2. Arrive early to avoid the peak time lines!
A small group of us gathered here over the weekend for a birthday brunch, so that is the only menu I can speak to in this review. We met up around 10 a.m. and were seated immediately by the chipper hostess. There was an option to sit outside, but, even though it was a nice day, the weather was too muggy for our tastes. Besides, the indoor area is so cozy and inviting, how could we resist it? The walls are bright and adorned with various paintings. The windows and patio door area have lovely, gossamer curtains that allow the sunlight to dance across the room. It is probably one of my favorite indoor spaces amongst the other brunch competitors.
We slid into one of the comfortable booths and looked over the menu. Talk about choices! I was overwhelmed when I first glanced at my options, but once I narrowed it down to breakfast/brunch items, I felt more at ease. The waiter brought us water & coffee to start, along with some fresh breads straight from the kitchen. Thank goodness there weren't too many of them, because I'd have never gotten around to ordering real food!
To satisfy my brunch craving, I settled on the Breakfast Perico Tacos which came with three scrambled egg tacos (wrapped in corn tortillas), black beans, two types of salsa (green & red), and crispy potatoes. The black beans were flavorful and bold, and both salsas had a slight kick to them, which I love. I was a bit disappointed in the eggs themselves, however. They were pretty bland and had no taste of their own. Granted, after I tossed on some black beans and salsa, the tacos were great, but I thought the eggs could have used some spice and flavor of their own. The potatoes were light & crunchy, and went well with the salsas. Sadly, the waiter took my dish before I could lick the remaining crumbs from the plate. I guess he did save me that bit of public embarrassment, so that upped his tip some :)
All of the waiters and hostesses were quick and pleasant, but not overbearing. They were there when we needed them, but didn't loom or disappear without a trace. It was a comfortable middle ground that only enhanced our meal & the experience of the restaurant.
Tips:
* If you're hitting brunch, err on the early side of things. The place was practically empty at 10 a.m., but by 11 a.m., there wasn't a free seat in the place.
* Sure, valet isn't that expensive, but if you drive up the street a little, you can park for free and walk off a few of the hundreds of calories you consume.
* Go ahead & have your waiter leave a water pitcher on your table. You'll go through it quicker than you think!
Happy brunching :)
OMG!
Here I go again.....I dont know where to start (same thing happened at the Sunday brunch). Must start with the pastry basket and make sure you ask them for the "Gloria's" in there. Depending on the situation, you should either order the "Cafe Con Leche" or the awesome "Mojitos". For your entree, you MUST order the "Chile Relleno", which is THE BEST I have ever had!!!
Make sure you dont finish the Relleno, so that you could have their super-moist "4-Leches Cake"....Few minutes before your ready to leave, call (9-1-1) and if you time it right, they will show up just as you're ready to be rolled-out of the restaurant cuz your so full!
FYI: SAT & SUN Brunch is the best time to go.
My advice. Get chips, salsa, a mojito and cuatros leches cake. Everything else is fine but those 4 items at La Duni are so good that you don't want to waste room or anything else.
I think their chips and salsa are the best in town.
La Duni is one of the hidden treasures of Dallas, I dont go there as often as i used to simply because i try to stay away from their lovely dessert and if i do go i simply go there for a dessert and a cocktail. I normally go to their sister establishment, ALO but since Alo has been shut down for a few months due to a fire i had no choice but to meet my date at La Duni.
As soon as i walked in i remembered why i loved the place. Very cozy, small but warmly decorated venue with an outside patio. You can even say the place is cramped but no different from any Italian or French eatery i have dined in Europe so space is not so important to me.
I started out with the Berry Limonada which is like one of my favorite non alcoholic drinks and my date had the Mojito. We didnt bother doing dessert since we know the place very well so we went on to order our entree's. I got the Pescado del dia or Fish of the Day and she ordered the Pollo di Brocolli. The food was very tasty, Mine came with a couple of plantains and tostones with some Basmalti rice and some grilled Asparagus. The Fish was well seasoned and firm. The food was on point and nicely arranged .
For Dessert we decided to share of the the Cafe Con Leche Frozen Bars which was a Chocolate with Icecream and a Heart shaped Cookie to top it. It was good enough to make my taste buds go crazy.
Overall Laduni is a great place to take a date or good friends even if not for the food but for some of their great tasting cakes and they also have Brunch on Weekends which i must say is pretty good.
I thought breadwinners was my favorite brunch in dallas, but I think I might have a new top spot. I had my first visit to La Duni this morning for sunday brunch, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Pastry basket is now chilling as an extra layer around my stomach, hips, and thighs-- yeah, the popovers were amazing and the orange butter, lemon butter, and strawberry butters pretty much were good enough to just eat on their own. I went with the 4 cheese migas, and loved them. Just the right amount of crunch from the tortilla strips, smokiness from the bacon, and spice from the salsa. The place has a totally cool euro-latin american vibe that really makes you feel like you are in another country. Can't wait to go back and try one of their french toasts!
Brunch at La Duni is a must. I've been for dinner, still good - but I love love love La Duni on a Sunday morning. Food is great, there are tons of unique items you can't get just anywhere, and if you're feeling a sweet tooth you can have the most elaborate french toast in town.
However, I will warn you - the service is terrible. I have to say, every time we go there are at least 6-8 of us, so maybe that's why. But I havent been to La Duni ONCE when I got my drinks the first time I ordered them, didnt have to wait 15-20 mins for at least one of said drinks, needed ketchup for my taters and my food was cold before I got it, or wanted to pay and leave to catch a movie or just not spend another hour waiting on shit, and the bill took longer than all of the above.
So how can I still give it 4 stars? Its just GOOD. You have to go in knowing that it's going to take forever to get a drink and close out, but while you're there you get to nosh on the best fruit, pastries, eggs, guac and homemade tortillas in town. And they have peach bellinis....
Definitely check it out if you havent been, and maybe it's different if you go with just 2-4 people...but at least if you have a big table you can enjoy good company while you wait on ketchup for your tates :)
Love this little place! Like the salsa music on the background and the great coffee smell.
I went here for a be-lated Mother's Day brunch with my in-laws and g-mom and it was great.
Love the coffee first of all strong and good.
I had trhe Huevos guachos and yummy. I stole my husband's potatoes and that was yummy too.
The cakes were good but I don't like that spongy cake type. Still the nutella cake and the Venezuelan triple chocolate cake. Kind of pricey though it was like $8 a slice. Still glad I tried it.
Anyway, nice atmosphere, food, and plenty of coffee so I would definitely go again.
Oh, their peach bellini's are delicious!
My girlfriend asks for no horseradish in her bloody mary. Bloody mary comes back like 10 minutes later with horseradish in it. We tell the waitress, who says that "the radish is there for decoration" (!). Then she tells us the bloody mary is premixed. We send said bloody mary back, then the manager comes back with the drink in hand, apparently personally offended about this bloody mary situation. Food was bland (arepas). I ask server to wrap up 1/2 my meal, I ask where it is on the way out and she tells me it was thrown away. And that....was brunch!
Brunch at La Duni is fine. We arrived there by 11am on a Saturday night and it was very easy to get a table without any reservation. They got outside seating but I don't think it is the good season in Dallas to look for seating outside ;)
On the food stand point, I've tried their nut waffles (with chocolate sirop, strawberry and banana). This dish was good but nothing exceptional here.
If you plan to go at La Duni I think it is more to enjoy the surroundings, the music and probably because they were are popular for award-winning desserts. Unfortunately I was not able to tried ether the "Cuatro Leches Cake" or the "Venezuelan Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake".
This was our first experience at this La Duni location. We typically frequent the Oak Lawn location, but decided to try the McKinney Avenue location. The first thing we noticed was how small the parking lot was, so we ended up having to valet the car.
The food and service were excellent. Nothing to complain about there.
Once we got our car back from the valet service, we noticed that it had been wrecked. When we confronted La Duni management, they informed us that the valet service was not their responsibility, and that they were not liable for this. We contacted the owner of the valet service, U.S.A. Park and he too informed us that there was nothing he could do about it, because we could not prove "with a video" that it was wrecked in their hands.
We expected that La Duni management would take ownership of this, since they hired this valet service, however they did not. Think twice abefore you valet your car here.
Wow - what a great place for brunch. La Duni has a phenomenal mix of latin pastries and classic breakfast favorites with a twist that kept me wondering why I hadnt been here sooner.
Some of the excellent menu highlights we had during our visit today:
- French Hot Chocolate (real hot chocolate with an amazing side of thick whipped cream topping)
- Guava Pastries (I've had better in Miami, but these were still great)
- Banana and Strawberry Rum Waffles (served with a side of strawberry butter...delicious)
- Top Over with Seasoned Potatoes (flawless)
- Mantecados (these were little cake bites and were fantastic)
- Cuatro Leches Cake (I don't know how we had room for this after everything else we ate, but it was definitely worth it b/c this is one of the top tres leches style cakes I've had)
The decor here was classy and we had no problems with service. There was only valet parking available at $4, so we just looked for street parking and all was good. Like I said earlier, a fantastic brunch joint, and definitely one of the few Dallas options to get some authentic Latin pastries.
I'm really just writing to tell you about the cake. The quatro leches cake has no rival so far. I normally like to mix it up and try different desserts, but it's so good I end up getting it every time I go there. And the coffee bar is excellent, with tons of options. I had a hot chocolate that was perfect -- rich and chocolaty without being overpoweringly sweet.
Now that I think about it, they have food, too. It was on the pricey side, but also good. But not as good as the cake. I have to go get some cake now...
Been here twice and been amazed every time! Their food is presented with care and it's very obvious that someone who knows what they're doing is in the kitchen.
If you eat anything here make it the cakes. I'm sure we don't need one more person to say this but I will anyway : )
Great small dining room that makes everyone in the room feel like family, it's great!
Brunch is the best here. Don't get me wrong, the Bloody Mary's are pricey, but amazing.
Love the atmosphere, especially all the fresh roses. Sometimes it's packed on Sundays but the patio is nice when the weather is good.
Huge fan of the Huevos Rancheros, with the red sauce. Lately, we've also been getting the pastry basket before our entrees. I looove the strawberry/butter whip. The Guava & Cheese Glorias & Popovers are awesome.
The only thing I don't like about La Duni is their flour tortillas. They are seriously lacking. Store-bought level.
One of these days I'm going to try their French toast or waffles. Oh, and did I mention how wonderful the Cuatros Leches is????
AMAZING brunch. Pricey but amazing. The coffee is up to par with Italy! I had the Vaca Blanca (Made with Espresso, Melted Belgium WhiteChocolate, Milk, with extra foam).
We were actually looking for a nice place to have brunch after our run at Katy's trail and we yelped it :)
For breakfast, I had the Brunch Chile Relleno (Roasted Poblano Pepper, filled with Refried Beans, 2 Scrambled Eggs with Bacon , Cheddar, Provolone and Gruyere Cheeses, Stone Ground Corn Tortilla Chips, topped with Queso Fresco and choice of Salsa Roja or Verde and
Roasted Potatoes). I loved it. My friend had the Huevos Finos (Sliced Popover with Honey baked Ham, 2 poached Eggs, Gruyere Cheese and
fresh Hollandaise sauce). She loved it.
Since we burnt all those calories running, we ordered the Cuatro Leches Cake for dessert ^_^. It was very very rich but good. I'd suggest an espresso with it.
Do you like cake? Sure you do. La Duni is pretty effin awesome at cake.
I wasn't hungry enough for an actual meal of food, so I ordered solely off of the dessert menu. I was having dinner at a friend's place the next day and he was making cedar plank salmon, so I thought it fitting to bring a dessert of similar caliber.
La Duni has a special where you can select 4 slices of their cake for $21. What a deal for people who can't make up their minds like me! So I decided, one piece for me now, and three to share the next day. I am not a chocolate cake person (I only like chocolate in certain situations, including bar form) so I picked the Rollo de Canela Y Nuez (cinnamon roll), Nutella Milk Chocolate Cake (I would probably eat a jar of Nutella if it were socially acceptable), Panque de Limon (sponge cake with lemon custard), and of course the Cuatro Leches Cake. Cuatros leches? I only really know of three that exist...
Anyway, the cinnamon bun was divine. I think Cinnabon still makes my favorite cinnamon bun and only because of the frosting, but this was pretty frickin good too. I liked the pecans and the fact that my roll came warmed so that the caramel was melty and gooey. The ice cream scoop did leave a little more to be desired.. think more like ice cream melon baller instead. I was more than excited to try the rest of the cakes but I restrained myself.
Now before you say, "Hey Angela G., you and your friend are gluttons. Three pieces of cake? Really?" keep in mind these pieces are on the small side. And another person stopped by to share in the dessert fun. So we each laid claim to one piece and basically lazy-susaned around the coffee table. My favorite would have to be the cuatros leches, followed by the Nutella, and then the lemon cake. When you're feeling a little sinful, grab a friend and a couple spoons and get the Cuatros Cakes Special.
Cuatro Leches - OMG, think moist vanilla cake served in apuddle of condensed milk...calorie bomb but sooo worth it.
The rest of the food was good too. I had the chimmichuri marianted beef which was great and so were the freebie chips and salsa. I am definitely going back
Good food, even better desserts! Quattro Leches is AWESOME. Parking can sometimes be a challenge at this location, so you usually have to valet for $4.
Went recently for dinner and had the Asado Brasilero ($19.95) Marinated then Grilled Picanha Steak, served on a bed of
Garlic Rice, with Chimichurri, roasted pimentos, plantains
and sour orange pickled onions - Very yummy. My wife had Frijol Con Puerco ($18.95) Bed of White Long Grain Rice and Pampero Black Beans, Topped with Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Dressed with
Radish-Lime Picadillo. Served with Arepa or Tortillas - also good, but I liked the flavor of my dish better. Finally, our friend had Pechuga de Pollo con Broccoli ($16.75) Grilled Boneless Skinless Breast of Chicken with Lime Oregano - Mojo, Served with Garlic - Chili Flakes Pan Seared
Broccoli - Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Tomato.- also good, but again, I liked my dish better.
Beverages:
I had the Naranjada ($3.50) Fresh Orange, Citrus Juices, Simple Syrup,
Soda Water and Crushed Ice - refreshing!
My wife had the Limonada Con Menta ($3.50) Fresh Hand Crushed Mint, Lemons & Limes with Cane Sugar, Soda and Crushed Ice - (basically a non-alcoholic Mojito)
Our friend had their Award Winner Mojito (cuba) ($9.75) 2oz Bacardi Silver Rum, hand muddled limes,sugar , fresh mint, soda and crushed
ice. traditional, orange or berries - stong, but yummy.
Romantic atmosphere...we were they only party with a toddler & baby! Also, the dishes are crafted like an artform, so it does take a little while to be served...don't go here if you don't have time to enjoy a long meal!
Espresso bar with killer desserts. Mid-afternoon or late on any night you can get the best European/South American-style coffees available in Dallas. Your server will take a look at you and tell you what to have if you wink properly. Share the desserts; they are sooo rich.
Did I mention that they also serve food? Great South America influence and their mojito's are killer. But the espresso bar is also a real bar; serving anything icy and wet in the summer or hot and satisfying in the winter.
Lastly, it always ticks me off where there is lot in front of a restaurant but they block it off for the valets. Yep, they do it here, so I park over in the Crate and Barrel parking lot after they have closed and walk across the street; unless the baby needs a wash and then - Go Figure, they have a hand wash station next door that will wash your car while you eat.
I loved this place for dinner at the north park location..but I had brung here on sunday.. It was at best Bland like others have said...nothing sounded too good..My friend had the french toast with orange suryp...wasnt bad ...I didnt see anything great for me, so I had the spicey beef sandwhich..which had no real flavor, no spice, and no salt..it was like eating a slice of meat with cheese , bread and mayo....i expected some latin flare..but nope.. didnt like the unsalted, plain frieds either, seemed like yucca fries, couldnt tell
I love there dinner menu, but i guess im not a fan of there brunch.
We enjoyed our visit to La Duni, but I am not sure if we will return. The coffee was so-so, but the flavored tea was refreshing & delicious. A lot of the food was just too cheesy or greasy for us. Nice atmosphere, but the tables are about 2 ft. apart, so you feel as if you're dining with strangers.
I came here for Brunch last weekend. The interior is very cool. There are a bunch of chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Everythying is elegant/casual all in one.
Pros: The food I ordered was really good. It was a stuffed poblano pepper with eggs and cheese inside. The waiter was very helpful, the bread basket we ordered before the food came was pastries with different fillings. That went great with the espresso. We got tres leches cake for desert, again that was great.
Cons: The other breakfasts my friends got seemed mediocre. They got scrambled eggs with cheese melted on top with tortialla bread. It seemed very ordinary for the prices that were being charged. Some of the food just isn't that special.
I enjoyed my lunch (especially the great tea), but I had to take away one star. How in the name of Dios can you serve a Cuban sandwich with no mustard & no pickle?
It was a damn fine sandwich, but missing the tang that makes a Cubano a Cubano.
My yucca fries were great. The bite of cake from my coworker's plate was really tasty.
The non-Tortas menu prices were insane for lunch.
The service was excellent, the chips & salsa excellent, and the atmosphere swanky, but the lunch prices & the lack of pickles drops you down, La Duni.
Finally made it to this place. Parking is an absolute nightmare, they have a small lot but full and hard to get to. Big turnoff. The food was good, particularly the wings which were awesome. The empanadas were just ok as well as the dumplings. Good drinks and cool atmosphere. They let you bring dogs onto the patio, dont understand this. No big deal if its just a bar, but not ok if they are serving food. Will go back.
La Duni has been one of my favorite restaurants in Dallas for the past few years, but what everyone else has said so far is true...the service is usually not good. The servers just seem to care very little about timeliness and things like refilling drinks and they tend to disappear once you are done eating and want to get your check.
And....I love, Love, Love their desserts. My two favorits are the Cuatro Leches and the Milk Chocolate Pudding Cake....however, recently they seem to have changed to pastry chefs or recipes for these two desserts. I've eaten both of these desserts probably 15 times in the past 2 years as I always take out-of-town guests there for the good food and moderate prices....but LATELY (the past two times I went), the milk chocolate pudding was dry (!) and the cuatro leches had dry spots.....this is not the La Duni I had raved about to my friends.
So...perhaps if they retrain the new pastry chefs I will go back to the 5 stars. They still have my favorite yucca fries in town....
My Mother is from Nicaragua so we are always hunting for good latin food and we finally found it! Everything was fantastic and authentic.
For dinner, I had the fish of the day Mahi Mahi served on a bed of asparugus. To drink I had my favorite....a Mojito. It was almost as good as the ones I make myself ;) I normally never order dessert but since that is their claim to fame I had to try it. I had a Lemon cake that melted in my mouth! I left feeling completely satisfied.
We will be back, we havent stopped talking about it for days!
had 'tasteriffic' brunch here this past weekend - love the whatever they call the virgin mojito drink, crisp & refreshing. And thank goodness i didn't give into my sweet tooth (as this place can easily do) and had the grilled (yea, not fried) chile relleno stuffed with eggs/tortilla chips/perfect 'touch' of cheese. GOOD stuff.
LOVE La Duni!
it's been a while since i've had this but if you like dessert - try the Cuatros (no, no, this aint any measly 'tres') Leches cake.
I can see we are all in agreement that La Duni rocks the dessert train. And I whole-heartedly agree... I think they have some of the most amazing Quatro (aka Tres) Leches Cake I've ever laid my lips on, and the Nutella Milk Chocolate Cake?? Simply divine. They should just call it a slice of heaven. Or the toe-curler. Take your pick.
Serving themselves up as a dinner destination? Ehh, I'm not fully convinced yet. While the decor is charming, romantic and lovely, sitting on the patio in their strip mall parking lot is not. Dining al fresco is not the strong suit here. The service was also absurdly slow despite the restaurant being half empty on a Wednesday night. A quick dinner turned into an almost 2 hour affair and there were just two of us.
The Patacon de Oriente appetizer (plantains with beans, beef and cheese on a bed of rice) was not well seasoned and left me feeling pretty unsatisfied. Our entrees, however, took a turn for the better (despite the long wait time) and served up some goodness! The Carne Asada Arrachera was not only delicious but plentiful with the portion. The salsa and mashed avocado were a great treat and nice touch. My friends enchiladas were also a solid choice, with gruyere cheese and basmati rice this is definitely not your standard Mexi fare. Inventive and tasty.
I have to admit the lack of prompt and attentive service with such empty surroundings was a cause for annoyance and concern. What would it be like on a legitimately busy night? Perhaps they should stick to bakery service only and be the hottest spot this side of the equator? I fear their service may be their demise, but to live without that Nutella cake would truly be torture.
Another stop on the breakfast tour of Dallas, the b-club went here for brunch at 9 this morning. We sat on the patio. They didn't open the shutters and turn on the fans until we were enjoying post-meal coffee, which was a bummer. Everything else, however, was not.
A fifteen dollar carafe of orange juice. Youch. It was worth it, though. All else was very reasonably priced (under $10). Keep in mind this is brunch, though. I can't vouch for lunch/dinner.
I ordered the huevos finos, which is their take on eggs benny, (a breakfast club staple of mine) substituting one of their popovers for the muffin and served with these amazing breakfast potatoes. It was very enjoyable, although the egg was cooked a bit more than I like. I want it about to say "bok" and walk away to peck at the grass. Hey, that's just me.
The boys ordered Rollos de Canela French Toast (a pecan cinnamon roll) and Migas. The french toast came with two strips of bacon, strawberry butter, pecan maple syrup and fresh bananas and strawberries. It was like an elaborate dessert for breakfast. My diabetes hurt just looking at it. The migas came with the aforementioned potatoes and some yummy green and red salsa.
The service was a bit spotty, although everyone who helped us was very friendly. Could've been more expeditious with the coffee refills.
All in all, I'd definitely come back for brunch. There's too much on the menu we wanted to try. Lovely bonus: their "brunch" starts at 9. We're early risers and tired of the noon brunch places.
Read the reviews for this place a few months ago, around May, and we have been there so many times. At least 1 day on occasion twice on a weekend, either for dessert or casual dinner & dessert. We sometimes make it to La Duni to end the weekend with their fabulous deserts. Pretty much tried every desert on their menu and I have to say the Venezuelan rum cake is my best. The service here has been excellent each time, not to mention they know we eat there a lot and we always eat out on the patio.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and they do not rush you at all. The chips and salsa along with mint lemonade is perfect for a slow relaxing day. The fried banana's available on the side or with the Rice salad; enchiladas are my fav's.
Parking there could be a nightmare if you are too lazy to park across the street at the Crate and Barrel parking lot . Not sure what the hassle is with the valet service that is available.
Looking forward to being there this weekend again - I can already picture what I'm going to eat !!
This is one of my Dallas favorites. Their drinks are awesome and the Food is awesome. Things to try:
Mojito
Pollo Aljibe
Torta Cubana
Carne Asada Arrachera
Quatros Leches Cake
Also try their new restaurant ALO. I have only been there for Brunch but it was amazing.
I'm torn when it comes to La Duni. On one hand, I love the food and atmosphere. On the other hand, the prices are ridiculous and the service is snail-paced at best. The brunch chile relleno is my favorite pick on the menu, but I'm always offended by the $4.25 price for 8oz of orange juice. I mean, seriously, a whole carton of Tropicana is only $3 at the grocery store!
Despite my complaining, I know I'll keep going back for more.
La Duni is amazing -- no doubt about it. It blends Mexican and South American flavors in a beautiful, elegant way. But it has a dark side. I'll get to that later.
I love their salsa! No other restaurant has a flavor exactly like theirs. If you're new to La Duni, try their platon campero; which allows you to sample some of their appetizers. It's still what my family orders every time we go! One of my favorite entrees is the Carne Asada, which is marinated in lime and olive oil and is so juicy. My other favorite are the quesadillas de pescado. They are deep fried fish tacos served with guacamole. Every entree is satisfying for two people to share, I think.
They have an amazing selection of desserts and coffees. You will have to try all of their cakes and specialty drinks over the course of many visits, but they are all worth it. I get my mother the cuatro leches cake for mothers' day and special occasions. She loves it!
But the number one best thing about La Duni is their mojito. Refreshing, crisp and always perfectly balanced. Served tall in a skinny glass. Unfortunately this is also the bad news. La Duni is well aware of their ultra-delicious mojito. They charge $9 for it.
$9? Are you fucking kidding me? I could clear it in like two sips. There's a lot of ice and crushed up limes and foliage floating in there -- not to mention soda water. $9? So basically I order two and that's like getting another entree. But let's face it... THIS GUY never has just two. I get at least five. And if you have guests that are also ordering mojitos? Holy shit! I've seen a very reasonable bill skyrocket past $100 easily at this place because of everyone's drinks. Most of their cocktails cost $9.
Not only that, but the service is consistently... how can I put this?
Well, it's very consistent with restaurants in Latin America. It's bad.
The service gushes with charm and then disappears. Simple things like refilling bowls of chips and salsa -- things that less fancy restaurants with south-of-the-border menus automatically take care of -- are something that I've had to ask for repeatedly with the same waiter. Drinks have come out after appetizers -- and not just ordered beverages, but water. Bus boys clang plates into their bins right in the middle of the restaurant like they're angry about something.
I'm a very patient person and I've had my patience wear right down to the bone on several occasions. I HATE being an asshole because my parents always find something to complain to somebody about at any restaurant we go to and I promised myself I wouldn't be like that -- but La Duni has CHALLENGED ME on several occasions.
One time -- at the OAK LAWN LOCATION when I went for brunch with my fiancee, we were guided to a 4-top table by the hostess. Holly (my fiancee) asked to sit in a booth because her back was hurting. The hostess guided us to where the booths were, saw that they weren't made up and directed us to a normal 4-top instead, the same as the original one we were going to sit at, but just CLOSER to the booth -- like that would be enough. We sat down and kinda looked at each other like, "What the hell just happened there? Did we just have a complete breakdown in communication?"
We agreed to just leave. I couldn't believe we had just been blown off like that. The manager came rushing out behind us as we got into our car.
"Was there a problem senor? Please, senor, please come back in and we will make it right!"
We were reluctant, but we agreed. Holly and I were like, "Right on, a free meal." They brought us mimosas -- refilling them without asking and checked on us every 5 minutes.
"Alright! This is nice!" I'm thinking to myself.
Then they brought a dessert we didn't ask for as we ordered coffee. We didn't have room for dessert, but we appreciated the gesture and took a couple of bites. We agreed that they definitely made it up to us and we would be back.
Then the check came.
Every mimosa and the entire meal was still expected to be paid for -- EXCEPT for the dessert, which we didn't order.
We were dumfounded, but paid the check and left. We haven't been back since -- to either location. When you go through the trouble of getting someone out of their car as they are leaving your restaurant. Pick up their bill. No questions asked.
HOWEVER. I don't want this to discourage anyone from going to La Duni and trying it. It is a culinary experience unlike any in Dallas. This is just my own personal experience that I wanted to share. If you start to see a pattern in your visits with bad service, just don't say I didn't warn you.
Bottom Line:
Delicious food and drinks, but keep track of how much you're spending on those cocktails! Everything about this place screams Latin America -- including the blow-off service. Be warned!
Three stars. It used to be 4 and a half for me.
HOLY COW!!! I think I can't wish for better weather while I am in Dallas this week. I sat outside at the patio.
I took the suggestion from the waiter and tried the Carne Asada
Arrachera (Lime-Garlic Marinated and Grilled 10 oz Prime Skirt Steak, Served with Garlic Basmati Rice, Sweet Plantains, Black Beans, Duni Onions, Roasted Poblano and Red Bell Pepper Cheese Rajas, Salsa and Mashed Avocado)
The steak was so tender, it just melt in your mouth. And the garlic basmati rice was pretty good also.
Of course you have to save room for the dessert. Cuatro Leches Cake was to die for....hmmm....ahhhh....oooo....yaaaaaa......
I can't wait to come back here next time!!!!
Don't go here. Its crowded. There's no parking. I think the owners are foreigners or something. (....This way we'll get in faster and not have amateurs)
Seriously. This may be one of the crown jewels of Dallas. The tres leches
cake is referred to by our family as "nectar of the Gods'.
Sunday brunch is a journey through South America. Everything is excellent.
La Duni is ....Perfection.
Sunday brunch is the best there...the Mimosa's are so tasty. There prices are fair and the setting is beautiful!
Its a place for friends, dates or business lunches.
Truly a jewel of Dallas. They do it very right here. The queso fundido appetizer is amazing and even the darn enchiladas are super sabroso.
But then comes the dessert. Their cakes are beyond wonderful and you can get a sampler for like $22 where you get to taste four of them. A rare instance in which it's worth stuffing yourself and working out double the next day if you're with someone willing to do the same.
Our drinks were served on a coaster that said "Taste Love." I wasn't tasting the love.
The food wasn't particularly noteworthy. I had the flautas, which I thought were comparable to something I could get from the frozen section of Trader Joe's...if Dallas had a Trader Joe's.
To the good, the capirinha was the best I've had outside of Brazil. I also noticed the valet guy was nursing a 16 oz. plastic container of Mojito.
La Duni is one of my favorite places to take my foodie friends for a meal. Everything I've ever had here is wonderful, the only downside to this restaurant is the service, or the lack thereof.
As for the food, one of my favorite things to order is the Torta Cubana, a pressed sandwich with moist pork, ham, cheese, pickles and mustard. Served with this is delicious yucca fries, more delicate and flavorful than any I've had elsewhere. As others have said, the Cuatro Leches cake is one of my 2 favorite desserts, EVER!! Yummy! As for drinks, the mojitos are wonderful, but if it's too early for you to drink or you're the designated driver, try the Limonda con Minta, essentially a lemon-limeade with mint, but it's fresh juice, cane sugar and fresh mint, absolutely delicious!
The environment is nice and relaxed elegance and there are a few small TVs around the place, with Food Network showing, even in the restrooms, lol.
Now the service is the only reason I lowered the score, and I would have lowered the score to 3 stars, but the quality of the food had to up it more. An example: we went to La Duni for my birthday, but due to traffic, we were a bit late on a Friday night, which led to an hour and a half wait. We were finally seated and our orders taken, when our food arrived we realized that one of my friend's order was missing, apparently the waiter forgot to write it down, then rather than rushing his order it took over 30 minutes for it to come out of the kitchen. Then, when I stepped away to wash my hands, my friends requested the dessert menu, after all it was my birthday. But, a minute later, the waiter brought our check and started clearing the table without another word. I wish I could say this was a unique happening, but while this was the worst, the service here is usually pretty lax.
Kids Eat Free
Dallas, TX
Specials at Cuba Libre!
Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX
Category: Bars
Dallas, TX
Category: American (New)
Dallas, TX
Category: Tapas Bars
Dallas, TX
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Dallas, TX
Category: Bars
These are the places I just have to go to in…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in Dallas…
I can do breakfast anytime, anywhere. My…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the big…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
