The Place at Perry’s
About a month ago, we attended one of the opening nights at Perry’s Steakhouse—a new import from Houston. We had a good time, a lot to drink, and left feeling pretty positive about the whole experience. And then came the backlash. Not being so steakhouse savvy, I was unaware that since 2001, Dallas has had its own Perry’s. A completely separate company, they were forced to change their name to “The Place at Perry’s” when the Houston-based Perry’s Steakhouse moved in. Got that straight? Not the same.
Well, diligent readers and fans of “the original” Perry’s were up in arms and insisted we pay a visit to the first Perry’s. And what’s the fuss about? So there’s a new restaurant in town that makes the local guy change his name? Why should we automatically vilify the bigger restaurant, just because they’re big? After all, they’re family-owned and Texan too! So this weekend, we visited The Place at Perry’s and it didn’t take long for me to realize why so many people had rallied behind it. This is a really special place in Dallas—a destination worth getting a little defensive over.
Dinner was impeccable. We hardly ever mention our servers, but Levi was the best of the best. He was kind, considerate, really knowledgeable, and offered some spot-on menu recommendations. Case in point? The crab cakes: plump crab meat, ever-so-lightly breaded, and served in a peppery sauce that was equal parts spicy and tangy. That was all his idea.
The blue cheese wedge salad—a steakhouse standard—was better than average, but what we really loved was the mozzarella, heirloom tomato, and basil salad. Perry’s uses a lot of local ingredients, including farm-grown tomatoes and mozzarella from the The Mozzarella Co. in Deep Ellum. The cheese was undeniably the highlight of the salad. Probably some of the creamiest mozzarella I’ve had. The The Mozzarella Co. actually offers tastings and hands-on classes, which I definitely want to look into now.
When it comes to steak, The Place at Perry’s is really impressive. They are the only restaurant in Dallas that exclusively serves naturally and humanely raised steaks from Niman Ranch. The filet was melt-in-your-mouth tender. I’m rather an amateur when it comes to cooking steak, but I can tell you this was the most uniformly cooked steak I’ve ever had. At medium-rare, the outside was perfectly seared, while the inside was juicy, red, and just slightly warm.
They offer a long list of sauces to accompany your steak. Choose anything from a creamy tarragon béarnaise, to a rosemary demi-glace, or a roasted shallot au jus. Try one or even two. It’s nice because the sauces are served on the side. They’re a great addition, but not a necessary one. The naked steak, with just a little pepper, was perfect as is.
As far as sides go, I was told ahead of time that I needed to try their mac & cheese. No wonder. It’s the most sinfully delicious incarnation since… well, maybe ever. (And I’ve made Barefoot Contessa’s recipe which involves a stick of butter and about 6 cups of cheese.) The sides are served family style, so there’s definitely enough to share.
Dessert ended the evening on a ridiculously high note with another recommendation from Levi: their apple pie, individually cooked in brown paper bags. I’m not sure if it was just the quality of the crust or the brown bag technique, but it was so crunchy and amazing. To be honest, I think it even trumped the steaks. And of course, they didn’t serve it with just any ice cream. Vanilla ice cream from Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream in Plano was the finishing touch.
I left The Place at Perry’s happy, very full, and completely understanding of the loyalty their customers have shown. It’s a fantastic restaurant with a refined charm that didn’t once strike me as gimmicky or over-thought. I left rooting for them too, but you know what? There are a ton of steakhouses in Dallas. The new one in town with a similar name might make googling a little more complicated, but beyond that The Place at Perry’s shouldn’t have a worry in their mind. They stand apart perfectly on their own.
Visit their site to check out their full menus including affordable lunch options, happy hour specials, and their new Sunday brunch. A great option for a date night would be their Summer Performing Arts Menu featuring a prix fixe three-course dinner for two. For $50 a couple, dinner includes soup or salad, two entrees from a daily menu, and a dessert to share. It’s served early enough (4-6 PM daily) so you can go from there to a show with no problem. (P.S. Get the apple pie.)
2911 Routh St.
Dallas, TX
214.871.9991
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come on! it’s Dallas vs. Houston! whose skyline is in your banner? gotta be loyal at all costs! (that includes presentation, texture and flavor)
creth – you are so right. i love everything texan, but what were we thinking? dallas should always win over houston
I like how Creth thinks.
definitely want to visit for their “slider saturday”!
the crab cakes look awesome. i like how the lemon half is wrapped so that the seeds/pulp won’t squeeze out. (i think that is what’s going on….)
love the review
Those pictures look good too..makes me wanna eat some steak!!
[...] now you should realize that we love The Place At Perry’s. We’ve already raved about their dinner service and just the other day we went in to enjoy a fantastic brunch—that we’ve yet to tell you [...]