We're making a quick trip to Dallas for the hockey game Tuesday night (3/16). We'll drive up Monday, leave on Wed and are staying near the arena. Other than Lola's, which unfortunately is closed on Mondays, can anyone suggest somewhere for dinner Monday night and lunch on Tuesday?

txtaster,

Soooo many to pick from

As you said, LoLa's is closed. I would look at Il Sole, Nick & Sam's and York Street for sure.

Pull up www.guidelive.com to see reveiws. If something catchs your eye and you are not sure, let me know and I will give you my opinion. I assume you are staying close to American Airline Center.

Michael

txtaster,

I forgot about lunch...

I would head to the West Village. Many options, but you might want to try Ferre. Again, see reveiw at guidelive.com.

Let me hear from you,

Michael

P.S. Now if you want an offline

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into them. However, since you mentioned it, where would you want to offline? Are any of the places you mentioned BYOB friendly?

txtaster,

I would pick Il Sole for the offline.

Michael

Well, if our tickets ever arrive, that was our choice for dinner tonight. Our tickets were supposed to be here by 3, but we're still waiting. If we make it, it will be rather late. They have a nice wine list, and half price glasses on Mondays, so do you BYOB or order from their wine list? Thanks again for the info.

Oh, assuming we BYOB, what kind of wine do you like? We have mainly Calif Cabs and Bordeaux.

Ok, we're on our way, sans tickets. Apparently Fed Ex has lost them, but we've been assured that they will be delivered to our hotel. We'll probably arrive around 9, if traffic isn't too bad. Please join us if you can! Ask for Marty and Jennifer.

TXTASTER,

Just saw your e-mail and now too late.

Please give us a little notice on your next trip to the Metroplex and we will plan an offline for sure

I hope your trip goes well and you make it to Il Sole before they close the kitchen.

E-mail me at michaelgvi@hotmail.com and I will give you my cell number.

Michael

Michael, thank you for recommending Il Sol, we made it just in time and had a delicious meal at the bar. Their half price wines by the glass on Mondays are a real bargain. Sorry we didn't have more time to plan anything, but our trip was very last minute. We may be back for a playoff game if we can get tickets and we'll try to plan that a little further in advance.

txtaster,

Welcome to Dallas, and glad you made it before they closed the kitchen.

They have a great wine room for a BYOB offline tasting on your next visit.

Enjoy the game and are you going to try Ferre for lunch?

Michael

txtaster

Assuming the Stars make the playoffs (WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD PERIOD!!!!), I have two extra tickets for the playoffs (Section 321, Row A, first row upper level). Let me know if you are interested.

Thank you for the offer, Preferred. First, though, I have to tell you that we came in teal jersies and thoroughly enjoyed the last 6 minutes of the game. That said, if Texas had paid any respect to hockey years ago, we'd be Stars fans 1st, Sharks fans 2nd. Although my husband is originally from Texas, he lived in San Jose when the Sharks started and fell in love with the game there. He's a very loyal fan, but we do root for the Stars in the playoffs, if the Sharks aren't in it.

Marty Turco and Brendon Morrow were at Il Sole when we got there. That was exciting.

Due to overtime (and horrible traffic), it was too late for dinner anywhere last night, but we had a nice lunch today at Ferre. My gnocchi were like little pillows in a perfect classic Bolognase (sp?) sauce. Unfortunately, my wine choice overwhelmed it. A light red Italian something, slightly cooler than the Meritage I had, would have been perfect, but I didn't see a by the glass choice that fit the bill. My husband's tortellini with truffle oil came with several large black truffle shavings over the top. The sauce was redolent, even overpowered, with truffle, but when eaten with the pasta the flavors blended perfectly. No wine for him tho, since he was doing the driving back to Austin, and then into work.

A great trip and many thanks again for the suggestions.

[This message was edited by txtaster on Mar 18, 2004 at 01:47 AM.]

[This message was edited by txtaster on Mar 18, 2004 at 01:52 AM.]

You are welcome to any of the tickets as long as we (THE STARS) are not playing the Sharks. My fellow season ticket holders in the section would kill me if we brought in THE Enemy!!!!

Il Sole seems to a favorite of Stars' players. I've seen Modano there. Although your tatse in hockey teams is in question, you seem to have a good palate!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by txtaster:
That said, if Texas had paid any respect to hockey years ago, we'd be Stars fans 1st, Sharks fans 2nd.

I guess I don't understand your remark. I first attended and watched hockey in Dallas in 1971 when the Dallas Black Hawks (Chicago minor league team)played. Texas now has more pro hockey teams than any other state.

My first NHL game was watching the Denver Rockies play. Denver lost this team and then got the Avalanche. Minnesota didn't support the North Stars so they moved. I guess Denver and Minnesota showed "respect" to hockey?

How long has San Jose and California been a hotbed of hockey?

preferred,

I as well went to Fair Park to watch the Black Hawks Do you remember J.P.LaBlanc and who the radio play-by-play man was?

Geary, where have you been hiding?

txtaster,

I hope you were not buying Turco and Morrow drinks with a BIG game looming

Hope you enjoyed your visit to our fair city.

Michael

My husbands says that about hockey because while he was growing up in Marshall there was absolutely no hockey coverage there. Even now, in Austin, hockey news almost never makes the first 3 pages of the sports section. You have to dig into the back, past the high school football (or baseball/basketball) scores, to get any information. I guess between a lack of media coverage and no ice in the area to encourage kids to pick up the sport, it seems like it doesn't get the respect it deserves. Golf gets more coverage here.

I didn't think you'd really want the enemy so close, but... maybe we could sweeten the deal with a little wine?

THE 291

I'm not hiding. You can find me between 7 AM and 8 pm at my office between now and April 15.

txtaster

Don't you support the Austin Ice Bats?

We'd love to catch some Ice Bats games, we just can't seem to squeeze it in right now. Excuses, excuses...

I worked for an accountant a long time ago -- I feel for you. Since we will be filing an extension, perhaps some time after 4/15 I can bribe you with wine for some advise about depletion with respect to oil & gas royalties.