R+D Kitchen

From the people who brought us one of the consistently best restaurants in Dallas’ Park Cities, Houston’s, comes R + D Kitchen – a place that doesn’t need much tweaking.

R + D Kitchen is a modern glass and teak rectangle with louvered wooden blinds over the windows, a patio and a flowing waterfall outside – a treehouse effect.  But, instead of overlooking a bucolic scene, the patio overlooks a Preston Center parking lot.  But, on those days where dining alfresco is inviting, you won’t mind the view.

The restaurant is dominated by a huge horseshoe shaped bar and a couple rows of cozy booths – no tables – perfect for a date.  The light and airy open kitchen contrasts with the muted lighting in the restaurant itself.  The well-heeled diners can even eat café/bar style at stools surrounding the kitchen so you can get a close-up view.  The menu is about equally divided between seafood and land food – sushi with comfort.  One of R + D’s signature appetizers are deviled eggs – something my mother used to serve her cocktail party guests.  These eggs are just as good and nostalgic to boot.

Along with those eggs you can order a tuna roll or a dip duo with guacamole and pimento cheese.  The entrée salads are all substantial.  The Chopped Chicken Salad is R + D’s homage to Houston’s Thai Steak and Noodle Salad.  And, the Newporter Salad – with roast chicken, apples, bacon and cashews is excellent.

For entrees, the wild mushroom meatloaf is phenomenal.  And, the Blackbird – rotisserie chicken black beans and with Monterey Jack cheese is very, very good.  The carnitas sandwich with pulled barbeque pork, avocado and slaw atop a homemade bun is yummy.  The seafood is equally well done.  Roasted Scottish salmon with beurre blanc is superb – the salmon is cooked perfectly to order.

For dessert, don’t forget the Bananas Foster pie with a graham cracker and chocolate crust that’s to die for! R + D Kitchen serves brunch until 4 pm on weekends, featuring Bloody Marys, Mimosas and Greyhounds along with great brunch meals.

HelloDallas Tip: Call ahead and the host or hostess will put your name on the waiting list.

- by Constance Hannon, Dallas Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Constance Hannon

Connie Hannon is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. She is a native Texan and has lived in Dallas and Washington, D.C. for the majority of her life. Connie graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and received her masters in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University. She was a staffer on Capitol Hill and worked in CNN’s Washington Bureau, and with most of the television stations in the Dallas market.