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Stephan Pyles does a lot of things really well. The service is impeccable. The mood is great - not stuffy, a little music and noise (but not too much), and the lighting is comfortable. They do a great job with the decor, mixing modern and Southwest very well. Now, let's talk a little about the food.
As for the bread service, it was definitely some of the best bread I've ever had - you don't get very much, but the blue corn muffin was possibly my favorite part of the meal. The ceviche was different than I expected. I'm used to ceviche being pico de gallo-ish with seafood mixed in, but here theirs is a little more simple; basically just the fish chilled in a flavored sauce. I wasn't that impressed. We then tried the crispy pork belly, and dear Lord was this an interesting texture. I loved the crispy part (it was essentially bacon), but the soft portion of the belly was pretty strange. I'm definitely a foodie, but I'll probably stay away from foods taken from an animal's stomach from now on. The caesar salad was really good in parts. The actual salad didn't blow me away, but the jalapeno croutons were awesome. I would order it again just to eat those.
Now, the main course. I chose the 21 ounce bone-in ribeye because it is their signature dish, and it was very tasty. The steak sits under a mountain of thin, crispy onion rings, and the plate is covered in sauce and beans. I normally enjoy my steaks dry, but the sauce actually added to the flavor. I had no problem finishing all 21 ounces, although my pants were probably a little tighter afterwards. There was definitely no room left for dessert.
Overall, most of the food was very good, the service couldn't have been better, and the atmosphere was perfect. The menu was varied, but I think they could stand to add another 5-10 entree choices. I was really looking forward to eating at Stephan Pyles, and although everything wasn't outstanding, I'd probably give it somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.
We went to Stephen Pyles for our wedding anniversary. The restaurant is really beautiful, and the service is flawless. We arrived a little early and had drinks at the bar. Once our table was ready, the gentleman that was seating us insisted that he carry our drinks even after I offered to carry my own. He was very professional & sweet.
We selected the 6 course tasting menu with wine. As our courses started to arrive, we started noticing the little "details" that made SP different. As a course is brought to you, the food is placed on your table at the exact same time (even if you are sitting at a table of 4 or 6)...just like they do on Top Chef! Haha. The food was so delicious- there wasn't one course that we weren't in love with. My husband said that the scallops were the best he'd ever had. I loved the peeky-toe crab tamale tart in a tomato butter sauce...I definitely could have had seconds. The olive oil black cod had the most wonderful crisp to the skin- perfectly cooked.
The most surprising part was that for the dessert course, there was 4 selections. We were trying to decide when our waitor let us know that we would get to eat all 4!! Including their "coffee & donuts," which is their coffee creme brulee with a little donut on top for dunking!
We want to go back very soon!
So the first thing you'll notice is that the dude is into fire. There's fire on the open patio you walk by on the way to the front door. There's fire right up front at the tapas bar - in the form of a French LePanyuls wood fired oven. Sit down - and you can see the fire in the open kitchen. No wait, it's many fires. One big fire/grill pit for steaks, another one for who knows what, a big open fire rotisserie in the rear of the kitchen. The dude is into fire.
But the dude has pretty well mastered the fire. It's true that I only had one dish - a wood-fired catch of the day with vanilla-infused fennel and Israeli couscous (they actually told me what today's catch is, but I had no idea what it was, some Mediterranean sea bass). It's also true that it's not easy to do fish like this well on an open fire. But Stephan Pyles and friends totally nailed it. Perfectly moist, well charred, enough robust fire flavor that the recommended pairing was a Spanish tempranillo - and it worked beautifully (the tempranillo even had hints of vanilla to play right in). Yes it was just one dish, but I trust if they mastered fire on this dish, they get the rest of them right too.
Oh - there's one more fire for you. It's the one on your credit card. They've pretty well mastered lighting that on fire too. I was here solo on a biz dinner and still couldn't justify anything more than an entree since that alone was $35 (others go to $49). The lowest red wine by glass was something like $12. If I came in here hungry - or if I worked for Enron - it'd be real easy to ring up $150 or more a person here.
This is the rare place where it's probably worth it.
I have dined here three times this year and love the impeccably trained service. On two of my visits Chef Pyles has stopped by our table. The food is wonderful and I prefer the tasting menu for the variety and adventure. Do not miss sampling a foam or the ceviche.
Went back this past weekend and got their six course tasting. That ish is the ish.
We accidentally under-tipped the waitress. She was really nice. I felt like a dirtbag. I promise if/when I go back, I'll get you back. You have my word.
How common is it to spell your name Stephan instead of Stephen? I've only known of Stephens, but… Read more »
Beware, I'm about to fawn all over this place for about 10 paragraphs...the Readers Digest version is I officially LIUV this place and wish I could add it to my neighborhood "Places I go to, like, all the freakin' time" list.
Based on my first two RW experiences this year (Fearing's and Abacus) I decided not to review them because I figure their regular offerings are better than their RW ones and I didn't want to unfairly review the restaurant. Don't get me wrong, Fearing's was good and Abacus was great, but Stephan Pyles was EXCELLENT. It's the only one that has me saying "when can I come back?"
First off, I love the decor of this place. It was beautiful and airy. Almost all of the tables were full but it didn't feel crowded at all. There were some lovely artistic touches. Next, we met our waiter (don't recall his name) who was absolutely superb the whole night. The way he described everything on the food and drink menus had me salivating right then and there. The menu sounded good on it's own but he took it to another level. I must also add he was always there when we needed something, and on occasion I noticed him purposefully not bothering us when he saw we were deep in conversation, which I appreciated.
To start Dr. S had a mojito and I had a Passion Chile Martini. His mojito was perfectly made--nothing unusual about it, but a damn good drink. I don't recall what was in my drink, but I do remember passion fruit puree and serrano chiles. It was delightful, especially when i took the pepper off the rim and drank from that part of the glass--my mouth was burning, and lately, I like that :) I later also tried the Pina Diablo which was supposed to be spicier (this one had light, dark, and coconut rum along with pineapple and several different types of chiles) but while it was more flavorful (thanks rums) I didn't find it spicier. It sure got me tipsy though!
The heirloom tomato salad on a thin baguette with fresh herbs, mozzarella, fried avocado and balsamic gelee was the bomb. SO fresh tasting. The scallop with pork-belly carnita "scallop" (loved the play on the scallop shape!) and sweet potato hash was also divine. Everything worked so well with each other and the scallop was one of the best I've ever had. The extra course (which we had a coupon for but we got an extra order for $5) was the red snapper in masa with red curry and veracruzana sauce and rice. It was also awesome, with my only complaint being the masa was a little too mushy, and stuck to the roof of my mouth a bit...I would have rather it been cooked a bit more like in a tamale. But the flavors, again, really went well together.
For our main course I had the salmon with pesto on a corn cake, with a side of black beans, pico, and chunky avocado sauce. It was the only underwhelming dish--I really wish we had both ordered the slow-cooked beef cheek but silly me wanted to try more things. I tried to snag bites of his dish all night, with the garlic mashed potatoes and baby squash. SO tender and flavorful.
But the BEST thing of the night was my dessert. He had the mexican chocolate whatever. I had a bite or two and it was good but I am not a chocolate person. Now normally I am not a cheesecake person either, but I am when it is a GOAT CHEESE CHEESECAKE!!!! Ohhh, what a marvelous idea. It was a deconstructed dessert that was so pretty to look at. A half moon-shaped sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs on one side of the plate, and a moon shaped pile of delicious whipped goat cheesecake sitting atop a bed of thyme infused cherries jubilee. It was darn near one of the best desserts that has ever passed these lips. I kind of just want to go back, sit at the bar with my passion chile martinis, and have one (or two) of these cheesecake dishes.
What I liked best about Stephan Pyles was that the dishes and flavors surprised us (ok except the salmon). That's what we were lacking from Fearing's and Abacus (maybe the lobster shooters would have added that wow factor had everyone and their mom not hyped them up to the moon and back.) I'm glad this was our last RW dinner for the year...we ended on a good note. Will definitely be back soon!
I want to come back here. This place was really nice. This is definitely one of those "seen and be seen" kind of places in Dallas. The menu makes everything sound so good, that you want to explore all the different dishes. I came here for lunch and my house smoked salmon on toasted brioche with yogurt-dill dressing was tasty. I was expecting more of a green dish, since it was classified as a "Large Salad"...but instead it seemed like more of a sandwich. The smoked salmon was to die for though...so it still made me happy.
Lucky the rep treating us to lunch recommended the shrimp/popcorn ceviche with the habanero ahi tuna/watermelon ceviche. Both were weirdly tasty. Shrimp and popcorn was my favorite.
The dinner roll they give you is unspeakably awesome. It took me a while to figure out if it was the roll that was so yummy or the butter with lava salt making it taste great. It was the bread. Does anyone know what those are because they should put it on the menu!
The specials looked delicious and my friends loved the shrimp pasta special and fish special. I had to have the Artichokes Crab Louis ($18). It was a small portion and I forgot how to eat the artichoke shell and wasn't sure if it was edible or not. Kristie A. informed me later that it probably was, but oh well, I had to save room for dessert. The Crab Louis had a couple small pieces of crab cartilage I had to spit out but just be warned before you bite down too hard.
If you're headed to anything in the Arts District you should at least stop by the bar and have a drink before or after. It has a great vibe and good feel.
I wasn't crazy about their iced tea. I'm not sure if it was flavored with something strange or just bad tea but I wasn't there for the tea so it could as well have been water for all I cared.
We shared the HUGE peanut butter Heaven & Hell cake. I am not hooked on chocolate filled raspberries! That was the best part. Those and a shot of raspberry liquer and some kind of raspberry sorbet was on the side of the cake. It was enough for 4 of us and even though I hate angel food cake I sucked this thing down!
It's too expensive for me to get back there any time soon but if you go, definitely try to splurge on the 3 courses of it.
I didn't get to see the bathroom which bummed me out. I bet it was fab!
Our waiter for lunch was awesome. I can't remember his name but he looked like a Stallone. He was cracking us up and was easy to talk to the entire time.
**A disclaimer before I begin: I started this review in May and am now finishing it September. My recollection of this very special evening has faded a bit, though I pretty much remember all of the important parts.**
As we all know, it's that time of year when some of us get a little jolt in our wallets from our tax refunds. In the past, I've only heard about these "refunds" in myth and legend, as tax season for a freelance music composer means paying out an additional three thousand or so.
However, being recently married -- and to a DISD employee -- I found myself FINALLY receiving one of these much-coveted refunds. My joy cannot adequately be expressed in a Yelp review, suffice it to say cartwheels and bouts of joyous, uncontrollable sobbing were involved.
We thought long and hard about how to spend our money. Pay down credit debt? Donate to NPR? Save it for a rainy day? Well, you can see where I'm going with this. We ended up doing none of those things and went straight to Stephan Pyles to get the ten course meal with wine pairing.
That we came to this mutually agreeable -- and irresponsible -- solution on how to spend our money is exactly why we will always be poor but happy.
And happy we were. I think that the dinner we had last night might be the single most exciting culinary experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I've only ordered a la carte at SP in the past, but I can see now that is like letting a blind 4 year old pick out his favorite Monet painting. Will you get a good painting? Yes, because Monet is a genius. Will you experience Monet the way he wishes to be perceived by his audience? Maybe, maybe not.
That is exactly what you get when you order the 10 course dinner. You get to take the Stephan Pyle's acid trip down the rabbit hole. You are in HIS world. He will COMMAND YOUR SENSES! Just don't panic and remember that (barring any food allergies) you are perfectly safe.
We started the meal off with a cocktail, but now I wish I hadn't. I wish I'd started the meal with the first drink they brought as to keep myself 100% immersed in the experience. It was a Spanish sparking wine -- a cava. It kicked off the evening with a bang, like announcing "OK, the food party has started, so get ready." Four little spoons were brought out with just a tiny bit of ceviche on each. "Eat them left to right. GOD HELP YOU IF YOU EAT THEM RIGHT TO LEFT!" instructed the waiter. Wide eyed and trembling I put each spoon in my mouth and experienced different emotions with each bite. The amount of ceviche on each spoon was tiny, but the flavors exploded with the force of 10 atom bombs. The first was a salmon ceviche that was surprising and quirky. The next was a more intense spicy scallop ceviche. After that, the flavors mellowed with the subtly sweet kampachi and last was (I think) the sea bass with avacado, which reminded me of a fine guacamole -- it was the most familiar flavor.
Do you see what SP just did there? He took you around the flavor solar system and landed you back on your home planet! GENIUS, I SAY!
Next up was the poblano soup with golden tomato foam. It was presented in a double shot glass with a long spoon -- very understated for how sophisticated the flavors were. There was that familiar pinch of cilantro and a balancing tart in the tomato foam. Follow it up with a sip of the white wine that came with and you are finally seeing the Mona Lisa as Leonardo Da Vinci intended. The hot soup was followed up by their chilled lobster gazpacho. To behold the visual beauty of the lobster gazpacho was like looking in a kalaediscope. Little floating pools of orange and red oils sat calmly against the white broth. It was only when my spoon disturbed the tranquility that the colors began swirling and racing around the bowl -- and WHAT'S THIS?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?! Tiny, baby grapes bubble up to the service! A single tear fell from my face into the beautiful hallucination I was having below, and all I could think was "the salt from my tear probably screwed up the balance of this masterpiece." Fortunately, his recipe apparently allows for (and probably expects) a few tears to be shed into the bowl, because it was exquisite. SP, you got me at EVERY TURN you sly dog!
The scallop and seabass were the next heavenly steps on our little walk with a culinary god. They were flaky and delicious. Next was... um... (It's September now...) um... something on a corn patty of some sort. Perhaps lamb? It kicked ass. Then I think there was another course before dessert. Dammit I just don't remember. Then, of course, we had our amazing desserts -- I remember my favorite was the coffee and donuts which is anything but the Dunkin Donuts variety.
All I gotta say is Stephan Pyles is my favorite restaurant in the world and I happen to live in the same city as it! I can't wait for his new restaurant!
For my Stephan Pyles review, I decided to include a blog I wrote about the restaurant for my 23rd… Read more »
This place is really too expensive for me. I went for restaurant week, and I honestly wasn't blown away by the food. I expected more creativity.
I had a goatcheese cheese cake that was good and the most invotive thing on my pres fixe menu.
They have a ceviche bar that looks good.
This is a place to take your Mom for her birthday if you have some extra cash. But again, I really wasn't that impressed.
I cannot believe I haven't written a review for this place! It is always outstanding! The food is top notch, the service is as good as it gets, and the restaurant is gorgeous! This is one of my favorite spots in town!
A friend and I lunched here today, and it was divine as always. I had the goat cheese salad to start. The presentation is like a miniature science experiment. The salad is placed on the table with 3 kinds of sea salts (white, pink, and a dark hickory smoked variety) and the server has 6 tubes of oils and flavorings. The server explains what each liquid is as it is squirted onto your salad. You get to decorate it after with the salts. The concoction is delish!
For my entree I had the salmon with blackened shrimp over tomato quinoa. The portion size looked tiny on the gigantic plate, but it was more than adequate. This meal made my taste buds dance. Everything was perfectly cooked (medium rare for the salmon) and expertly seasoned. The different foods that composed my entree married beautifully. It was heaven.
My friend had the Cuban pressed sandwich. It is served with a choice of french fries or onion rings...neither of which she eats. So, she requested veggies instead. Her sandwich arrived with gorgeous asparagus topped with pepper ribbons and julienned zucchini. Yummmmmmm! She gave me a bite of her sammie, and it had some kick! Again, the flavors melded together to create a remarkable sandwich.
I love you Stephan!
I had a business lunch here a while ago and I can't wait to go back for dinner service. It had been recommended to me on numerous occasions and Stephan Pyles did NOT disappoint. I can't wait to write a follow up. Stay tuned!
I had the great fortune of relishing an elaborate tasting menu at Stephen Pyles that tickled, tantalized, and delighted my palate. Sensations that my taste buds had forgotten existed were awakened and brought to life. The appetizers were astoundingly inventive and unique, while savory, delicious, and visually pleasing. Service was professional and well-orchestrated to create a truly enjoyable and memorable dining experience.
Now the following is not due to the culinary ability of the venerable chef and restaurateur Stephan Pyles but of the dessert/pastry chef who also introduced himself to our table. My only complaint about our meal is that some of the desserts were not particularly enjoyable. I remember one or more of them being overly tart to the point of being almost inedible. I also remember only really liking 2 of the 9 desserts, which is not a very good ratio. Looks like Mr. Pyles may need to find a new dessert/pastry chef!
Watch out before getting into the water...
First - we enjoyed a delightful lunch here yesterday. Had the Caesar salad, tile-fish with blackeyed peas and polenta, closed with raspberry sorbet - DELICIOUS! My guest enjoyed the same entree, the oil/vinegar simple salad, and what he termed an amazing panna cotta.
The sole disappointment cast a shadow over the whole lunch, though. That was upon receiving the bill and seeing that a bottle of San Pellegrino sparking water (the very same brand and size which is available for about $2.00 at RETAIL) was $7.00! As we had two, the overall tare was $14.00. Perhaps they import the water from Italy themselves and have to pay to fly it in...a bottle at a time.
I won't be buying bottled water here again, if I return at all. An unfortunate negative finish to an otherwise memorable luncheon.
Be forewarned!
This is one of the few places that we can say we would never return. Not necessarily because of the food (the osso buco was tender, flavorful, and and the rest of the food was okay), but it was the service. We made a reservation for 6:30pm, arrived a little early and checked in. There were two tables sat in the whole place with the rest of the tables prepared for the patrons who would soon be arriving. When we checked in with the host, she had to go get the manager and then they had the audacity to say that they did not have a table ready for us - yet they had down that we had a reservation.
No matter what the reason, we had to wait 10 minutes for our table while another group, which was more "old-rich looking" made it in. Later on we also saw the private room they had promised us was empty.
They put us in the back corner, close to where the glasses were stored so we were continually interrupted. Keep in mind, the restaurant was not full, not even half full.
If you fit a particular demographic, I would recommend not going here - you'll leaving feeling like...well a pyle of crap.
I am not sure why this place has less than 5 stars - I've been here four times and all have been unique and wonderful experiences.
Beyond the fact that Stephen is still actively involved with the restaurants - he came over to our table twice last Saturday to talk to us (and we're nobodies! :) = the atmosphere is unique [to Dallas] and the food is everything any foodie could want.
This time we had crab tart and ceviche for starters. Then a goat cheese salad and a field greens salad with different oils and vinegars (I've had it everytime). Our entrees were a fish dish that was the only disappointment of the meal, and I had the smoked pork chop. I've had pork chops at Houstons and Brio's and this one tops them all with flavor. Finally, we had the "donuts and coffee" desert, which does not have any coffee.
Throughout the meal, treats arrived from the kitchen... not because we are anyone special, but because they want to make everyone and every meal special and unique.
SP is worth the trip (we drove 28 miles from Southlake) and we'll definitely be back
I have been dying to try this place for a while now and finally decided to go with some friends for Restaurant Week. It definitely lived up to its reputation!
Once our full party arrived, the bartender carried our wine to the table and I was instantly impressed with the set up. For once a restaurant with big enough tables that you are not eating dinner in your friends lap AND with enough room between the tables that you don't have to hear the cougar behind you commenting on how much she spent on her Louis.
You could tell almost immediately that the typical age of the clientele here was north of 50 because our early 30s waiter gladly offered us extra wine if we agreed to flirt with him a little. Hmmm let me think, that's a tough one...heeeey cutie, bring on the wine! So we ordered the wine pairing for $20 extra and it was well worth it. Every glass I tried, I loved...even the Chardonnay which I normally hate.
I chose the heirloom tomato salad for my first course which was delightful all mixed up with green and red tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and balsamic jello. The extra course Central Market coupon got us what I considered the best course on the menu. It was a red snapper with cooked plantains and melted in your mouth with every bite. My main course selection was the braised beef - I strayed from the pack of girls who all ordered the salmon. It was pretty good, kind of like a fancier roast beef with wasabi mashed potatoes. Good but definitely not the best thing all night.
Now for the desert, my favorite part...I was surely the champion orderer in this round for ordering the chocolate fondant with whipped cream and caramel sauce. The sad sad girls who went with the goat cheese cheesecake with cherries jubilee were crying in their bitter, disgusting excuse for a "desert" that I have ever tasted. The goat cheese and hot cherries turned me off enough to not order it but I had to taste it just out of principal. Note to self: change your principals more often.
All in all the evening was a great success. The pace of each course was great, the wine was delicious and the friendly but slightly too friendly waiter (who had a girlfriend apparently but knows how to work for tips) definitely added some entertainment to the mix.
Gold star for Stephan Pyles!
I'm not a big fan of the holiday season. For the most part, I consider the "ho-ho-ho" season to be one giant boil on the ass.
Call me a scrooge. A curmudgeon. I don't care.
Nope, you won't find me putting faux reindeer antlers on the grill of my car or wearing a stupid santa cap while shopping at Neimans in Northpark. I'm one of those types who actually crosses the days off of the calendar--eagerly awaiting the arrival of January 2nd when I can put the whole sordid mess behind me.
One of the only things I like about the holidays is that the booze flows a little more freely.
Now, given my disposition, holidays are even more of a literal Hell given that my SO is a yuletide season junkie. This is a woman who begins planning for the holidays in earnest in August of each year. So, needless to say, to get me through this traumatic time of the year, my self-medication program begins sometime in the middle of November.
And the holiday season is not without rituals. And one of the rituals involves ringing in the New Year.
One day, in the first week of December, the SO walked into my office and said, "What are we doing for New Years Eve this year?"
I rolled my eyes. This game had been played out every year since I met the SO--in all likelihood, she had already hatched a plan--including reservations---for New Year's Eve back in September.
"Why don't we break with tradition this year and stay home," I said. "We can watch a little Rockin' New Year's Eve with Dick Clark, have hot monkey sex on top of the washing machine, and then head over and do some hit-and-run eggings on cars rolling up Greenville Avenue like I did when I was single."
As usual, she acted as if I hadn't said a word. "Well, I've booked us a late seating at Stephan Pyles," she said. "And this year, you're going to look presentable. Your over-the-hill Goth look is out. That means you're wearing a tux."
Since I knew that calling in sick would never work, I decided to make the best of it.
We've been to Stephan Pyles nearly ten times over the last few years. And, to be honest, SP's is still one of my top three restaurants in Dallas.
And, I must admit, our New Year's Eve dinner this year at SP's was superb. While I won't go into detail on the intricacies of each dish, our six-course meal included curried kumamoto oysters, ricotta gnudi with lobster, kampachi tiradito, spiced quail, foie gras done two ways, chipotle smoked loin,and champagne mousse. To make it even more special, we decided to break the bank and did the wine pairings.
I've got to say, it was a perfect way to finish off a not-so-perfect year.
The Rib Eye. I tasted it. "Holy shit honey I've had this steak before". (I said while grinning like a little kid). Well, this was our first time in Dallas and my wife gave me that "you have lost your mind (again) look".
July 2002 at the Star Canyon restaurant inside the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas I had this steak...I told her.
Someone (maybe the owner) checked in with all the tables. I told him the story. He confirmed that Stephan Pyles was the man at the Star Canyon restaurant at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas back then.
This confirmation was perhaps my best 'AHA' moment as a food critic.
Onward...to the review.
Made reservations the day before. It was a special occasion dinner. I was prepared for the prices.
The menu is eclectic. Steaks, Chops, Seafood, and when I say eclectic, I mean stuff you never heard of e.g. Boar chops with pickled peaches...the menu is posted on line. I'm real sure I'll screw it up trying to remember.
The only items I can comment on are the Steaks my wife and I ordered.
The Rib Eye...
Trimmed out well, this steak didn't need any salt, sauce or even a sharp knife, just use the side of your fork. Try to keep your self from going 'caveman style' and just getting Neanderthal with it. You can do that when you get home with the rest of the steak you couldn't finish.
The Rib Eye is not just good...not just great, but literally the best. For perspective, I am a steak snob. No one can make a steak as good as I can. There is something unique about the rub they use on the Rib Eye. I can't place it precisely. My guess is maybe cumin, chili powder, garlic, onion. The fried onions on top are very good as were the beans they serve with the steak.
The service was very good (it should be...you are paying for "hover around me and call me sir a lot" service).
They brought out "from the chef" small spoons with a pumpkin reduction something or other that was "interesting" (my code word for ahhh okaayy that was weird to me and I don't want more, but I can tell a friend about it)
The breads were also unusual...some corn'ish and too salty, others sort of mainstay bread and good.
Extensive wine list, as well as a scotch menu. Great bar to wait before your table is ready.
If I lived in the Dallas area, I would go here a few times per year. The prices are justified. We didn't order dessert. Next time for sure. I have a reason to visit Dallas, TX again someday.
I guess the hard times have finally hit Stephan Pyles. This time last year SP would have been an easy 4 or 5 stars, but the stress of the times have definitely started to show the cracks.
The former attention to detail seems to have all but faded away, just like their menu--literally. I was handed a gritty, worn out with the padding coming out of the corners menu. Now, this minor detail isn't why I think SP has jumped the shark, but epitomizes their growing carelessness.
While other restaurants in these tough times seems to have really dug in to make an even more stand out dining experience, it feels like this restaurant seems entirely ambivalent. The formerly great service where 2-3 waiters proactively anticipate your needs has all but disappeared. At one point we waited 30 minutes before seeing the waiter again. The trio sliders which looked wonderful on paper came out dry, a bit flavorless, and leaving me quite disappointed.
Fortunately, the bookends of the namesake Caesar salad and "Coffee & Donuts" dessert haven't changed. I used to come about once a month, but at this point, I probably wouldn't return to Stephan Pyles, as I suspect other diners have already decided as well seeing this place half deserted at lunch on a Friday.
Tenderest meat I have ever had. Fell apart as i touched it. Mashed potatoes were nothing special. The "fancy" soda that have doesn't taste that great. It's served at room temperature. The mexican chocolate was the best dessert they had. The "Summer Pudding" is similar to a strawberry short cake. Still, mexican chocolate was amazing. The yellow and red beet salad is usually disgusting to me, but here, I was able to eat some of my girlfriends. The wait staff was excellent. The atmosphere was very nice. Really interesting art. Music was up-beat but not the focal point of the atmosphere. Average price was $35.00 a plate. If you want water, make sure you specify what type you want. "Dallas' finest" was free, but as a review said earlier, the water is somewhat pricey.
Easily the best restaurant I have eaten during my trip to Dallas. Stephan Pyles lives up to the hype. I felt like I had 5 waiters during my lunch there. My glass was constantly full and I was attended to but not treated like a baby. I guess most of the patrons at the upper echelon places need the constant attention or would throw hissy fits. I sat in a booth. Why is that relevant? Usually hosts/hostesses would help seat you by pulling/pushing out your chair but...here they pulled out the TABLE so you could slide in comfortably.
The food was goooooood. I started out with what I believe was the "Poblano-Asiago Soup with Golden Tomato Foam." Note: It is my discovery that the green soup at most restaurants is the best, even if it does not look the most appetizing. For my main course I had the "Hickory-Smoked Beef Tenderloin
with Fingerling Potato Confit and Chimichurri" It was so tender and smokey flavored as I expected. For dessert I got the coffee and donuts. Of all the tasty desserts on the menu why did I pick this? Perhaps Stephan Pyles was catering to the need of Popos (police officers)? Nah. This thing was DEEEEEEELICIOUS. I uploaded some pictures on yelp. You receive 2 powder donuts & holes with chocolate/caramel syrup with coffee creme brulee. Worth it.
I walked here since I was working downtown but I assume parking is bad.
For my pictures click here:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I went to SP's for dinner with coworkers, we each ordered an appetizer, entree and dessert. This review will combine my option plus the comments I can remember from my 7 coworkers.
Decor and Service: Decor was modern and clean, nothing that really stuck out one way or another. It looked like they separated the restaurant into two dress code sections, one section for the suites, the other for the casual folks.
Our service was excellent.
Appetizers: the Tamale Tart with Roast Garlic CustardPeekytoe Crab and Smoked Tomato Sauce was very salty, but unique. I couldn't finish it all. The Seared Foie Gras with Vanilla-Mascarpone Polenta Cake was enjoyed by a Foie Gras snob. The Seared Sea Scallops with Black Bean Cake and Heirloom Tomato Salsa was the favorite of the group and the Banana Empanada with Cardamom Scented Spit Roasted Suckling Pig was sweet and seemed more like a dessert.
Entrees: Coriander-Cured Rack of Lamb with Ecuadorian Potato Cake
and Ranier Cherry Mojo the meat was very tender, I didn't enjoy the mojo. The Wild King Salmon with Stewed Tomato Fumet, Mussels and Barbecued Baby Corn was greatly enjoyed.
Desserts: I had the Stephan's Heaven and Hell Cake which was large, but not special. The "Coffee and Doughnuts" was different, my coworker enjoyed it. The Lemon Lemon Lemon desert was devoured by a lemon lover who said "you can never go wrong with lemon".
Without any drinks we each spent $80. I'm glad I checked out Stephan Pyles but did not have anything that impressed me well enough to be a repeat customer.
OH GOD! This place was horrible!!
I went there for lunch and the restaurant was completely empty but the hostess had me waiting for a good 10 minutes for reasons I still don't understand.
The food was really SALTY! When I say salty - I think that's actually being nice. If you can imagine accidentally gulping salty sea water and then multiplying that by 100 then you have the food at Stephen Pyles. We ordered the fish cerviche to start because we heard it was really good - I almost went into sodium shock. Then my lobster salad sandwich came out and the bread was just a mess. It looked like they tried to toast the bread on the griddle, but instead of using a small amount of butter to toast it - they drenched it in butter. The bread was falling apart to the point that it was impossible for me to pick up my sandwich. I especially enjoyed the typical rosemary stem used as a skewer to hold the halved sandwich together - so unoriginal!!!
Unfortunately, my Restaurant Week meal at SP was so long ago that I've forgotten lots of the details. Fortunately, that means I get to go back and refresh my memory!
Four of us went to SP for one of the last nights of RW and it was nothing last than spectacular. The guys got the ceasar salad, which they enjoyed, and we ladies had the Chilled Cucumber and Jicama Soup with Masala Shrimp and Basil. I'd like to say I loved it, but all I can say is that it was interesting. It was my least favorite part of the meal. Next came the Central Market course, which was incredible: Salmon in Hoja Santa with Black Bean-Roast Banana Mash and Coconut-Serrano Broth. I think all four of us were licking our plates after we devoured the perfectly prepared fish and the tasty mash. I should also mention that this course was big enough to be an entree. At this point in the meal, the choice of a very light soup was looking like a great idea.
Next up, the entrees. My three companions had the Split Roasted Adobo Chicken with Oaxacan Mashed Potatoes and Barbecued Corn Sauce. I am not a red meat eater, but I figured if I'm eating at Stephen Pyles, I'm going all out. So I ordered the Chipotle Barbecued Short Rib with Corn Pudding Tamale and Summer Bean - Tomato Stew and I could not have been happier. Everyone enjoyed their chicken, but when one friend tasted my short rib, he immediately regretted his decision. It was perfectly tender and the corn pudding tamale was rich and delicious.
At this point, I needed to be tipped out of my chair and rolled out of Stephen Pyles and into the car. But wait - dessert! Given the choice between the Heaven and Hell Cake and some sort of cherry cobbler, we all opted for the cake. It was described as having numerous layers of chocolate, peanut butter, ganache, and other things escaping my memory. Cobbler? I don't think so.
The cake was, in a word, ridiculous. We were each given a HUGE piece of cake with one zillion layers of yumminess accompanied by chocolate filled raspberries and a raspberry sauce. Since we all looked 5 months pregnant by this time, we took a few bites and took the rest home to be enjoyed once we had recovered.
I should also mention that the service was really great, as well. We mentioned offhand that one of us was celebrating a birthday and without missing a beat, her dessert was accompanied by "Happy Birthday" spelled out in chocolate on her plate. Every dish was explained in detail and all questions were answered.
There is no question I will be returning to Stephen Pyles for a proper, non-RW meal. But, I would encourage everyone to try to snag a RW reservation - it's more than worth it.
Wanna have a great dinner after you win the lottery? Go here! Wanna take your wife/GF or both when you need to get out of the dog house? Go here! Wanna close a big deal over lunch? Go here! Catchin my drift yet? This is one of the better restaurants in Dallas. Ive had lunch here three or four times and have always been impressed. The foie gras burger is amazing. Its actually a fork and knife burger with foi gras in the middle, crisp beefsteak tomato and some micro greens on top....excellent! The coffee rubbed flat iron steak with chipotle mashed potatoes is also amazing as is the poblano-asiago Soup with golden tomato foam. If you get an appetizer go for the sampling of ceviche over the flatbreads. Also, stay away from the beef brisket sandwhich unless you like sweets. The sauce is too sweet which overpowers everything. Other than that this restaurant is fantastic!
The only thing good on the menu is the ceviche (which is to die for), and the ceasar salad is also pretty good. Have not had any luck with lunch entrees so far. I work two blocks away and the coworkers I go with agree: entrees suck, ceviche rocks. Don't quite understand the popularity of this place.
I really like the setting, which is both open yet intimate. The restaurant is mostly an open space but divided by the tapas bar in the middle. I love the large communal table which sits right smack in front as you enter the restaurant - wish we had a big enough group to eat there.
They have a selection of specialty cocktails as well as a nice wine selection. I tried the Pina Diablo, which was supposed to be infused with jalapeno. If there was jalapeno in there it was overwhelmed by the pineapple and the drink ended up tasting like a rum colada. Good but didn't live up to the unique description.
We were in the mood for tapas, but unfortunately there weren't enough spots to accommodate our group - and they only serve tapas at the tapas bar. We sampled what I'm told is one of the house specialties - ceviche. It was my first time and everything was tasty and interesting. If you like sushi you will probably enjoy ceviche since it's kinda like Peruvian sushi. Small pieces marinated in lime juice and spices.
I had the roasted chicken which was good, and the other fellas had the snapper and the ribeye. Everyone enjoyed their meal, but I don't think any of us would use the word "spectacular." The quality, preparation and presentation were definitely well done, and each dish offered a somewhat unique twist on the usual chicken, fish, beef that comprises the normal dinner meats, but I guess it just didn't wow any of us.
Overall, I think it's got a very sexy ambiance, with good drinks and service, but I'd score the food only above average. Maybe I'll have more to report if I get to the tapas bar next time.
So I'm in Dallas for a meeting and meeting my long lost friend from 8th grade Anne B. (not to be confused with the housekeeper on the Brady Bunch - Anne B. Davis).
We connected via Facebook and this has enabled me to actually connect with someone from my childhood - pretty good given the fact that I interact with NO ONE from elementary, high school, or college. Wow, is there something wrong with me?
Anne suggests Stephan Pyles and we do it.
Great ambiance, cool furniture, attentive staff, and roaming chef - groovy across the board.
No booze and meat for me cuz of Lent - aargh!
However, very tempting and tasty ceviche - Anne and I split the three offering (she had a glass of tempranillo) and they were awesome. One of them had a blend of bronzillo (or something like that), citrus, and vanilla. The vanilla would be a theme that haunted us this night...
Cool interlude: these guys use POPCORN as a palette cleanser between each ceviche - have to admit the CG (coolness quotient) rang on that.
Anyway, we got red snapper entree's; I got the special and Anne got the menu item.
Anne won.
Think vanilla gone wrong and that was my plate; regardless, it was okay, just not a taste combo I have been losing sleep over to experience.
Coffee for dessert.
All in all, a nice evening. Anne pulled out the class pictures from 5th and 7th grades (gulp - was my head THAT big??!!!) and we had a nice time identifying who was working at 7&11 now and who was a mogul.
Short Version: What they said.
Long Version: It was lunch so the menu was pared down. I tried the Coffee-Cured Flat Iron Steak with Chipotle Mashed Potatoes and Molasses-Balsamic Demi (yep...copied and pasted from the website). It was good, but not as special as our waitstaff had promised. The coffee flavor was a little lost in the sweetness of the glaze.
I finished with the Peanut Butter Heaven and Hell Cake with Chocolate Stuffed Raspberries. I honestly wish I'd skipped the entrees and ordered a sampling of desserts. They all sounded amazing, and if the cake was an example of the quality involved in the remaining offerings, then I'm sure they are all equally amazing. (Note the use of proper grammar and the lack of extra ....'s. I'm trying to be serious.)
I will return to peruse the Dinner Menu and the Wine List.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....but I regress.
Perfection. Three visits. Three occasions. Three perfect meals.
Had lunch with friends yesterday there and could not have been more impressed.
Lobster Monte Cristo sandwich? Ayyyiyi magnificent. The waiter told me it was made with a entire fresh Lobster. It was massive(..too massive!?!)
can't complain cuz it was awesome.
We also had the shrimp feta and pesto pizza which was smoky, crisp and had a wonderful reveal of each taste. Delicious.
Hayley had the stuffed flat steak and loved it. Jill and Leslie had ceasars- a full stalk of romaine, parmessan taco shell and homemade chilie-ceasar dressing.
Dessert was that seven layer, peanutbutter,chocolate Heven and hell cake and the flourless chocolate cake. Loved it.
I don't think there is any place I've ever been that has delivered better food, in a more beautiful, hip atmosphere with competent, not intrusive waiters (my ultimate pet peeve.) If I could eat one meal in Dallas, or maybe my last meal ever...I'd eat here.
I'm simply a fan. No relation. No agenda. Just trying to give credit where its due.
I'd give this a higher rating, but I wasn't crazy about the food. It was good, it just didn't send me over the top.
That being said the Tamale Tart with Peeky Toe Crab was very good. Nice savory eggy custard with a restrained garlic flavor. The tomato sauce was sparse, but it was the right amount for this dish.
The Banana Empanada with suckling pig was interesting. A bit too sweet, but interesting none the less.
The Gazpachos were good, except for the blanco. Seemed like a blah sweet soup.
The wild boar chops were tasty, not gamey and perfectly grilled. The sausage was good, but the texture was a bit tough. The Red Lentil Tacu Tacu was addictive. The sauce on the plate was bitter.
I would like to go back and try the ceviches, caesar salad (table mates ordered it and I had salad envy), and the beef short rib. And there are probably a few other things I'd like to try ;-)
Incredible lunch. Do NOT miss the sea bass & guacamole ceviche. It was heavenly...
Went there for restaurant week, as that would be the only way I can afford to eat there right now. I was extremely impressed, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The service was impeccable--great waiter and friendly greeting staff. We were a group of young girls, and we never once felt a snobby vibe and they didn't try to rush us out of there just bc we weren't ordering $$$$ dollar bottles of wine. The scallop and "pork scallop" sweet potato hash appetizers was o so tasty and I could have eaten like 5 orders of it. Beef cheek was melt in your mouth good. Like a giant hunk of the most tender bbq beef you've ever had--coupled with some tasty sauces. Mashed potatoes were the only underwealming thing--a little dry for my taste, but that was good bc it allowed me to save room for dessert. The chocolate dessert on the restaurant week menu was a tiny square of chocolate heaven-- perfect level of sweet complimented by a salty caramel sauce. Can't wait to go back--especially if someone else wants to foot the bill!
Holy moly, my husband and I are gluttonous pigs. I am still full from our outing to Stephen Pyles last night and feel like I need to be rolled around the office. My expectations were middle of the road because I have heard mixed reviews but they were quickly exceeded the moment I sat down. First, our service was spectacular. It is some of the best we have had in Dallas with a knowledgeable, professional waitstaff, perfectly spaced courses, and full water and wine at all times. I must say that the waiters are pretty hyped up about Stephen Pyles but their enthusiasm is all part of the experience.
To begin, we had the trio of ceviches including the Sea Bass with Avocados and Tomatillos, Sea Scallops Amarillo with Golden Tomatoes and Aji Mirasol and Lobster with Mango and Basil. All three were quite different, yet delicious. With each bite, one became the favorite over the other...at the end, we just decided they were all worthy of praise. Then, we split the Dallas Mozzarella, Watermelon and Heirloom Tomatoes with Serrano Ham, Smoked Sea Salt and Monte Vibiano Unfiltered EVOO. This was good, but it is truly the only dish I would probably not order again because it did not blow me away. We also shared the gazpachos. They come with four shot glasses full of different types of cold vegetable soup. The Amarillo, Verde and Rojo were fabulous but the Blanco was a little rich for my taste.
For entrees, I ordered the Seared Red Snapper with Aji-Creamed Corn and Crab Ceviche and my husband ordered the Hickory-Smoked Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Mash, Picon Blue Anaheim Relleno and Charred Tomato Mole. We shared with each other and both were incredible. My snapper came perfectly pan seared on top of diced potatoes that mixed beautifully with bacon and creamed corn that was more like a puree. On top was a healthy portion of fresh crab. My husband tenderloin came out exactly the medium rare it was ordered. He literally looked at me and said "this is one of the best entrees I have ever had." I think I even saw a tear roll down his cheek :)
All of the flavors SP combines make the entrees innovative and unlike anything else offered around the big D. Because it was the husband's birthday (and although we were about to pop), we ordered the signature "Coffee and Doughnuts." Oh my goodness...this is richest, loveliest dessert including a coffee infused creme brulee topped with powdered doughnuts with a goats milk caramel for dipping. Buh. I am not eating for the rest of the week.
I'm turning into my mother.
My mother gets taken to some of the nicest restaurants in Dallas (The Mansion, Fearing's, etc.) and every time, without fail, comes home saying "eh, it was good, but overpriced." As I sat there eating Stephan Pyles' "famous" Caesar salad -- a bunch of uncut romaine leaves, sickeningly drenched in dressing and accompanied with some (admittedly delicious) polenta squares and baked asiago -- I found myself uttering those very words. And then I died a little inside.
The bf and I went here for our 2-year anniversary (kinda...the date is loosely interpreted) on a Tuesday evening. It was a surprise -- he knew I'd been dying to try it, but I still felt bad. This place is expensive. I mean, WAY more expensive than it should be. I tried to order cheap stuff. At Stephan Pyles, cheap means a $28 fish entree. Ouch.
Yes, the food is delicious. I think the ribeye is rubbed with a mixture of pepper and crack -- stuffed as I was, I kept stealing bites from the bf. But was it worth $50? I don't think so. Plus, the so-called "red chile" onion rings that came piled on top if it tasted no different than the onion strings you can get at any burger joint.
My red snapper arrived sitting on top of uninspired hash browns. They had no flavor and looked like they had just been cooked in oil for a little bit. The fish itself was good, but the sauce it was in was so incredibly rich that I couldn't eat more than half the fish. Whoa. Couldn't eat more than half a FISH? This was no 30-foot swordfish; it was just a modest serving of snapper. That's when you know there's way too much butter in your food. And overall, I would have rather spent that $28 on a filet mignon at a less pretentious restaurant. (The decor actually wasn't too pretentious -- rather comfortable, actually -- but the service and prices were.)
So, here's the thing. For a restaurant that gets SUCH good reviews, I think that every single item on the menu should be phenomenal, even the cheapest choices. Instead, my snapper was just okay -- nothing special.
Service was another questionable thing here (I know you're shocked considering the other reviews, but hear me out). At the beginning of the meal, we were presented with an amuse-bouche from the chef, by one of the several waiters who were passing by our table taking care of our drinks and whatnot. About five minutes later, our main waiter came by and announced that he was sending out an amuse-bouche. His description of it was totally different, so we thought we were getting another one (woo!). Umm...we never did. Poor communication among the waiters, I guess. Then, at the end of the meal, we were left sitting for a good 15 minutes without anything on our table, waiting for the dessert menus. Our waiter had gotten preoccupied with a large group in the corner. We passed on dessert by the time he finally got back to us -- and after I had gotten bored enough to go spend a solid five minutes inspecting the bathroom. (It passed the cool test.)
There were some aspects of the meal, however, that really impressed me. For starters, their wine list includes offerings from Sawyer Cellars, my all-time favorite winery from my days in Napa. It's incredibly hard to find wine from Sawyer Cellars, because they only ship to very select restaurants. Sadly, we passed on the half-bottle, since at $50, it was way out of our price range.
Another impressive thing is that Stephan Pyles, the man himself, walked around to all the tables to greet us. In fact, pretty much every person in the joint walked around to ask how we were doing. I counted three guys in suits. I thought the first one was the maitre'd. After that, I was just confused...but impressed. And at the end of the meal, we were given house-made chocolates and truffles. Aww, that was nice.
So, yeah, I guess I'm just one step away from wearing Mom Jeans (http://www.hulu.com/wa...).
The minute you enter the door, you know this is going to be special! The interior is beautifully designed, awesome light fixtures, handsome bar, extravagant art work, the wait staff is elegantly dressed, no detail has been missed. Even the menus are pretty. No lie.
I went in for lunch and opted to sit on the patio. Service by Kenneth was totally awesome He was willing to assist me in every way to ensure my visit was a wonderful experience. I opted for the barbecue beef brisket sandwich with onion rings. It was a perfect blend of sweet and spicy hot. For dessert, I had the most beautiful Tres Leches I have ever seen or eaten. It was infused with fresh berries and served with fresh strawberries and ice cream. So delicious!
This experience deserves 10 stars~!
Don't forget to make reservations, I was there on a week day for lunch and the place was pretty booked up.
Stephan Pyles lived up to all the hype. My husband took me here for a late Valentines day dinner and I loved everything we ordered. We started out with the trio of ceviches and loved the lobster and sea bass ceviche the best. My husband thought the bronzini ceviche was too infused with vanilla so I ended up finishing that one myself. For our entrees, he had the signature prime ribeye topped with a tower, literally a very tall tower of onion strings. I had the snapper with creamed corn and topped with crab. I loved the snapper and thought the sauce was luxurious as well as complementary to the fish. I tasted my husband steak and it was cooked very well but tasted a bit too charred for my taste. The onion strings were delicious and went well with the pinto beans that were on the bottom of the plate.
We could not leave without any dessert so we decided to share the coffee and donuts. This was a great end to such a good meal. It came with 4 powdered donuts and a creme brulee, along with a caramel type dipping sauce made out of goat's milk for the donuts.
This is a great restaurant, definitely a place to celebrate special occasions. I definitely plan on coming back and trying the tasting menu this time.
Dallas loves to lunch. I'm broke, so I can't afford to come here at dinner, so a girlfriend and I are trying all the best restaurants in Dallas during lunchtime. Thankfully, there are a lot of them. And man...Stephan Pyles does a damn good lunch.
We started with the Caesar Salad that he's famous for, with jalapeno polenta croutons. I have to say that I was not all that impressed. They were a bit too salty for my liking. Take away the croutons, and you have your basic caesar. It was good, but I was a little bummed that our server talked me out of the chilled spring soup with garlic and crab salad.
I had the flat iron steak, cooked to perfection, and a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir that was perfectly paired to suit the reduction with the beef. The roasted tomatoes were a nice touch, adding a smoky texture to the plate. My friend had the special snapper which looked delicate and perfect, and she seemed to be in heaven.
Then dessert: Peanut Butter Heaven & Hell. No hell, all heaven. Devils food, angel food, layered with peanut butter ganache and drizzled with raspberry puree. This is a seriously large piece of cake. You could easily split with 2 other people.
The only bad thing: We sat down and the server asked us what we wanted to drink. I said, "I don't know yet...we literally just sat down." She walked away and came back five minutes later and we had to ask for a wine list. She was very attentive, but a little too hover-y for an upscale place. Granted, it was lunch and people are on time constraints, so I imagine dinner would be a little less rushed. Our check was dropped before we were done with dessert, which is really odd for a place like this. It wasn't "bad" service, just "ok".
I highly recommend it, and will repost after I trick, er...talk my husband into taking me here for dinner one night. Good stuff, folks.
I finally made a visit to Stephen Pyles after living downtown almost a year. I had always been drawn by the restaurant's trendy exterior and its close proximity to the heart of Dallas' Arts District, and I was even more impressed with the food and the service. My date and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, from our appetizers of salmon and prawns, to our main dishes of sea bass and the 26 oz bone-in cowboy cut ribeye. Fantastic, all of it.
The service is impeccable and not once do you feel as if you are going without. At the same time, you aren't bombarded with waitstaff interrupting your conversations. Stephen Pyles himself walks around during dinner and checks up on his guests. This is a very nice touch. I will be returning again and again and will try more of the menu.
Dallas, TX
Category: American (New)
Dallas, TX
Category: American (New)
Dallas, TX
Category: Steakhouses
Dallas, TX
Category: American (New)
Dallas, TX
Category: American (New)
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