You might see a Mazarati or two while driving through Southlake, plus more than your share of Mercedes and BMWs. Southlake is a highly affluent city located in Tarrant County, about halfway between Fort Worth and Dallas.
The city boom began after the completion of the DFW International Airport in the 1970s. In the early 1990s, Southlake began developing master-planned neighborhoods, and luxury neighborhoods grew in the 2000s.
Exemplary rated in academics and sports, Carroll Independent School District boasts the Carroll Dragons sports teams, state champs in almost every sport. You’ll find Southlake home to dozens of sports figures like Terry Bradshaw, Mark McLemore, Darren Oliver, and football players DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, Terrence Newman, plus baseball’s Jon Daniels, Ken Hill, and David Murphy, to name a few. Who knows, you might run into one of them as you explore these eleven standout restaurants in Southlake.
Not in the mood to go out to eat tonight? Click here to have Grubhub deliver directly from the best restaurants in town to your doorstep.
Visiting other destinations in Texas? Check out our other delicious guides:
- The 8 Best Mexican Restaurants in Keller
- The 7 Best Grapevine Mexican Restaurants
- The 8 Best Bars in Grapevine
- The 9 Best BBQ Restaurants in Grapevine
- The 7 Best Main Street Grapevine Restaurants
11 Best Restaurants In Southlake, Texas
TruFire Kitchen & Bar
1239 Main Street in Southlake Town Square // 817-488-6280
Life happens in the kitchen with a progressive American concept of Mediterranean, Italian, and globally inspired dishes, freshly prepared, carefully selected, and updated seasonally.
Favorite items include naked avocado salad, hummus, Latin fire pizza, cocktails with fresh muddled fruits, house-prepared sours, and syrups. I especially like the black splash, made with vodka, fresh strawberries, lemon, and balsamic vinegar. I like how TruFire serves specific glassware with each perfectly chilled wine.
My favorite is the signature drink Back in Texas, made with Fort Worth, TX Firestone & Robertson Whiskey, with muddled strawberries mixed with lemon, and house balsamic that adds a little spice. It was truly legendary.
My appetizer, a grilled split artichoke roasted with garlic and herbs, wine, and spicy lemon aioli, was tasty. I opted for a lunch-sized Mediterranean Shrimp salad with chiffonade spinach, four giant gulf shrimp, orzo, feta, cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions. The mustard dill vinaigrette melded all the flavors with a delicious tartness.
The very moist blue lemon, house-baked olive oil cake with lemon jam, cream, and blueberry caramel was a home run!
Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood & Crab
1420 Plaza Place // 817-912-0500
At Truluck’s, I like to order a series of appetizers like Crab Louie Cocktail, Jumbo Lump Crab with remoulade, or Crab Dip Taramasalata, a Mediterranean spread topped with blue crab and olives. I love the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with dilled tartar sauce and the Parmesan Yeast Rolls finished with Maldon sea salt.
The Lobster Bisque features lobster morsels with horseradish goat cheese. Add a Sonoma Greens Salad with spicy pecans, goat cheese, apples, kalamata olives, and honey vinaigrette, and I’m in heaven. Shared accompaniments, served family-style, are delicious, like the Lobster Mashed Potatoes or Crab Fried Rice.
Order a house Old Fashioned or the Passion Margarita. Curbside bottles of wine are 50% off, plus an extra 5% off for six bottles. I chose a Merlot, two Malbecs, two Spanish Riojas, and a Paso Robles Cab. Cocktail hour offers 25% off all spirits under $25 and wines by the glass in the Stone Crab Lounge.
Don’t miss this seasonal specialty: Florida Stone Crab Claws arriving fresh to your table, not frozen, from October 15 through May 1. This chain brings precision, execution, and classic preparation that is consistent.
Feedstore BBQ & More
530 S White Chapel Boulevard // 817-488-1445
The Feedstore BBQ is Southlake’s oldest retail establishment, selling classic Texas barbecue here since 2001. Miller’s Grocery was the spot’s name when the Lafavers moved to Southlake in June 1974. They purchased the Feed and Tack store in 1997 and changed it to the Feedstore BBQ in 2001 when they decided to feed people instead of animals. They’ve been serving the best Texas BBQ, and fixin’s ever since.
Order meats by the pound, meat plates, mama’s lite plate, combo plates, lunch specials, sandwiches, and big bowl salads. Get Feedstore’s famous St. Louis Style Pork Ribs, Papa Bill’s burgers, Baked Taters, Catfish, and Chicken Fried Steak with Southern Sides. The lunch special is hard to beat, two homemade sides with chopped brisket or pulled pork sandwich.
Save room for Cobbler of the Day with Ice Cream or Banana Pudding. Order whole fruit cobblers or whole pecan cobblers with advanced notice. Beer and wine are available. One of my favorite places to eat in Southlake!
Malai Kitchen
1161 East Southlake Boulevard // 817-251-9141
There’s a whole different side of Southeast Asian cuisine in Southlake here, led by husband-and-wife team Braden and Yasmin Wages, inspired by their travels through Vietnam and Thailand. You’ll find a commitment to sourcing quality ingredients and from-scratch preparation.
The fried Thai Chicken Wings are wok-seared in the homemade lemongrass-chili glaze. My favorite is the pan-seared firecracker salmon with a siracha soy glaze, served on a bed of squid ink noodles with a mustard green salad. The sesame-crusted tempura ahi tuna with ginger-coriander-coconut sauce comes with fragrant jasmine rice and Siamese watercress.
They brew six different kinds of beer right in their kitchen, hard to do but very successful. The Dragonfruit Kolsch is smooth and crisp bodied with low bitterness and a balanced biscuit malt flavor paired with the delicate sweet aroma of dragonfruit. It’s smooth drinking, balanced by a variety of pilsner and lightly roasted malts.
You’ll find two other locations in Uptown Dallas and Clearfork in Fort Worth.
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
1121 E Southlake Boulevard // 817-305-0000
I love Gloria’s creative recipes and fresh ingredients. Gloria and Jose Fuentes came from El Salvador to escape the unrest, starting a small Salvadorian eatery in Oak Cliff, which became a life-long career, growing to 23 Texas locations.
My favorite lunch is the refreshing Tropical Salad, spring mix greens, strawberries, mango, pineapple, mandarins with honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing served with grilled shrimp, or you can choose grilled chicken breast, steak, or salmon.
Lunch and dinner menu items include appetizers, soups, salads, special plates like surf and turf, top sirloin, two jumbo shrimp, Carne flameada with chicken or steak, and sirloin or pork tenderloin served with fried plantain, yuca, and chimichurri sauce.
My favorite dinner is the Pescado a la Gloria, pan-seared tilapia, shrimp, scallops, red snapper, mussels in seafood broth with Spanish rice. Find Tex-Mex dishes like burritos, chili relleno, chicken flautas, crispy taco dinner, chimichanga, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, or taco al carbon.
Don’t miss dessert: flan, chocolate turtle brownie, or tres leches cake, which have added inches to my waistline. You’ll get great Mexican food in Southlake when you visit Gloria’s.
Taverna Rossa
1151 E Southlake Boulevard // 817-809-4533
Preston Lancaster collaborated with Chef Brian Luscher to create a favorite pizza place with a cold brew where he grew up. Make yourself at home, and jive to local live music on weekends from blues to country to rock. Craft pizzas from Boss Hog to Local Goat and Fig are creative and flavorful. Choose from salads, appetizers, pasta, sandwiches, brunch favorites, and desserts.
Savor the Picnic Platter with house pimento, basil goat spread, gorgonzola ciao pepperoni stick, prosciutto, salami, pickled veggies, assorted fruits, and nuts with pizza chips. Pasta like TX Lasagna or Bucatini Pomodoro are comforting.
Brunch on Sunday Funday includes mimosas or bloody Mary’s until 3 pm, with avocado toast, Rossa breakfast, the sunrise breakfast pizza, or apple strudel pizza.
Desserts: save room for the homemade TX whiskey chocolate stout cake with homemade ice cream over candied bacon. So yummy!
Plano is home to a second location, but make sure you visit this Southlake restaurant for great pizza and other Italian specialties.
Calabrese Southlake
1281 E State Highway // 114 817-251-8798
You can make a meal out of the appetizers here, jumbo lump crab cakes, calamari fritti, mussels sauteed in garlic and olive oil, or beef meatballs in tomato sauce with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
Dinner salads and soups accompany main dishes like bucatini allo scoglio made of spaghetti, sea scallops, mussels, shrimps, clams, Calabria peppers, fresh tomatoes, basil, and a touch of marinara. My favorite, linguine with sauteed shrimp served with sun-dried tomato, fresh arugula, mascarpone cheese, and white wine, is so delicious!
My husband’s go-to dish is bourbon braised port shank with sauteed shallots and mushrooms served on a bed of gorgonzola polenta.
The last time I had Cioppino di mare, I was in San Francisco. This seafood stew with shrimps, scallops, white fish, mussels, crab claws, and clams served with garlic toasted crostini brought back heart-felt memories. Think Tony Bennett, singing “I left my heart in San Francisco.”
Don’t pass up the desserts: my favorite tiramisu, carrot cake, but the bombolini alla Nutella, a mini donut, with cinnamon sugar, cream anglaise, and warm hazelnut Nutella, is the bomb. For fine dining Italian food in Southlake, go to Calabrese.
Mi Cocina
1276 Main Street // 817-410-6426
My favorite go-to lunch at Mi Cocina is the Rico Salad; sliced fajita chicken served over romaine, aged cheddar cheese, tomato, and bacon, all chopped and tossed “Ricardo Style” with spicy ranch dressing. You can also choose beef or shrimp.
Sometimes I add the Shrimp Brochette appetizer; four bacon-wrapped wild gulf shrimp with jack cheese, jalapeno, poblano crema, and guacamole. I order the Shrimp Brochette dinner that comes with rice, bean soup, and guacamole.
You can get breakfast all day, rancheros eggs; I add the fajita beef or chorizo sausage, served with ranchero sauce, potato wedges, refried beans, ensalada, pico, and sliced avocado. Or opt for the breakfast quesadillas served with scrambled eggs, brisket or bacon, jack cheese, pico de gallo with salsa verde y crema. You can’t go wrong with anything- they offer some seriously delicious food!
Choose from the Tex-Mex basics with tacos, enchiladas, tamales, chalupas, refried beans, and rice. Order specials like pollo moderno, ribeye al carbon, chicken enchilada verdes, or spinach enchiladas. I love the fajitas with stir fry veggies and your choice of beef, chicken, half and half, shrimp, or ribeye.
The go-to margarita is the Mambo Taxi mixed with sangria, or try the Mambo limousine with a meltdown of Chambord. There are plenty of tequilas, cervezas, or vinos.
Mi Cocina has 19 locations in North Texas; visit one for some great Mexican food in Southlake.
Wildwood South
2700 E Southlake Blvd 817-748-2100
You’ll find chef-inspired dishes and comfort food made with farm-fresh ingredients at Wildwood South, locally owned since 2009. I can always get a quality meal like made-from-scratch burgers, seafood dishes, steak dinners, and delectable desserts.
Relax in a comfortable, casual atmosphere with an upscale bar and friendly bartenders who offer excellent service and can prepare a wide selection of beverages, whiskey, bourbon, craft beer, wine, handcrafted cocktails.
Any one of these is a winner. The Cowtown Manhattan and Mary’s Texas Peach Tea are both made with TX Whiskey from Fort Worth. The smoked old fashion has a special tableside presentation. Tito’s Texas mule or the Salud made with tequila, prosecco, peach, grapefruit, and orange juice hit the mark.
For starters, I like the smokin’ jalapeno shrimp combined with asadero cheese, jalapeno, bacon, and avocado cream. My husband’s go-to is the Hickory Smoked Wings, a pound of smoked, seasoned, fried wings with whiskey bbq sauce.
Other favorites are ancho steak flatbread, hanger steak, Nashville hot fried chicken, Shiner Bock fish & chips, skillet baked mac ‘n cheese, grilled tenderloin, or whiskey BBQ burger.
Save room for Grilled Peach Ice Cream with caramel sauce. It’s definitely worth trying!
You will love this restaurant for American food in Southlake.
Armend’s Pizza And Pasta Restaurante
2315 East Southlake Boulevard 817-251-0270
Tops on the menu: order a large Italian Special pizza with six toppings, and you’re done! Maybe add a fresh and crisp tossed side salad or Caesar salad, arguably the best pizza in Southlake! It’s hard to beat a large shrimp Caesar salad with a serving of tomato basil soup at this family-owned restaurant.
My favorite appetizer? I love the stuffed mushrooms with crabmeat and served with aurora sauce. Mussels Marinara comes in a close second. Are you looking for stuffed shells or eggplant parmigiana for lunch? Any of the lunch dishes come with a salad. Check-plus! Try a hot sub like meatball parmigiana or a Philadelphia steak sandwich.
Dinner favorites are chicken cacciatora, veal scallopine in white wine, lemon butter sauce, fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, or spaghetti and meatballs. Or add a side order of meatballs to any order.
Don’t forget to try something from their dessert selection. Please, grab a bite from one of each! Limoncello Cake, Cannoli, Tiramasu, New York Cheesecake, or Nutella Cheesecake all hit the spot in this must-try Italian restaurant in Southlake.
Anamia’s Tex-Mex
2980 E Southlake Boulevard // 817-748-0100
Tex-Mex choices include enchiladas, nachos, flautas, and tamales, plus a variety of specialty surprises, where contemporary meets sabor.
For starters, I love the Guacamole En Molcajete prepared tableside with avocado, jalapeno, tomato, onion, and cilantro. Add the Shrimp Ceviche, citrus-marinated shrimp, mango, jicama, avocado, and pico de gallo for a beautiful appetizer. My daughter will always add the queso fundido, melted jack cheese, chorizo, rajas, salsa verde, and flour tortillas.
Favorites are eight different quesadillas, nachos, soups and salads, and the fifteen Tex Mex combinations. Try the Cha Cha, chicken, spinach enchilada, puffy taco with guacamole, cheese enchilada, or the enchilada and taco specials.
My go-to dinner is the shrimp brochette, the bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with jack cheese and poblano, bean soup, rice, and guacamole. My husband’s favorite is the La Parrillada, a sizzling platter of grilled shrimp, chicken, and beef on a bed of sauteed vegetables with guacamole, pico de gallo, rice, beans, and flour tortillas. It serves two. We have a take-home for lunch the next day.
Save room for tres leches Napolitano cake or traditional flan.
Anamia’s Tex-Mex has five other locations in North Texas. This is one of the best places for fresh and tasty Tex-mex!
These eleven restaurants in Southlake offer a variety of dining experiences that you won’t soon forget. Good luck! As you dine, I hope you run into a sports personality that you recognize. They are all nice enough to let you take an Instagram photo, I’m sure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Foodies Also Ask
What are the best restaurants in Southlake for cheap eats?
Southlake, Texas, is known for its upscale dining and shopping, especially in areas like Southlake Town Square.
However, there are still some places that offer great food without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that “cheap” is relative, especially in affluent areas like Southlake, and that restaurants change over time.
Here are some popular and more affordable dining options in Southlake:
- Tommy Tamale
- Torchys Tacos
- Weinberger’s Deli
- Joe’s Pizza & Pasta
What are the best restaurants in Southlake that deliver?
Here are some notable restaurants that were known to offer delivery:
- Wildwood Southlake
- Mi Cocina
- Taverna Rossa
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Which of these Southlake TX restaurants do you most want to try? Let us know in the comments section below!
Janie H. Pace is a travel writer and photographer based in Fort Worth, Texas. Her culinary, wine, and travel photo adventures have led her across Peru from Cusco, through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, up the Icefield Parkway from Lake Louise to Banff and Jasper, photographing wildlife, landscapes, and indulging in Fairmont luxury hotels. Whether a wine tasting, restaurant review, or local craft beer or distillery tour, Janie posts her adventures at www.journeymapped.com.