While many Dallas neighborhoods are blossoming into hubs for dining and entertainment, Lower Greenville remains the pocket that created the blueprint for them all. The bustling East Dallas street is enveloped into a walkable neighborhood that’s built a reputation as a culinary launching pad. It is home to flagship spots that have grown into Dallas institutions and one-of-a-kind gems with lauded cocktails, creative menus, and a drive for culinary excellence that can’t be replicated.
Here, the best of the best sit side by side. From morning pizzas to time-traveling cocktails, these are the must-visit restaurants in Lower Greenville.
Rye
Rye’s philosophy is why have one, when you can try them all. The seasonal, small plates restaurant is known for its inventive American fare and its reign as the 2024 Michelin Guide Texas Exceptional Cocktails award winner. The chef’s tasting menu ($185) showcases playful hits like Send Gnudis, made with ricotta, aged grana padano, brown butter, sage, and aleppo; and Edible Napkins made from rillettes. Go à la carte with Guy Fieri-approved dishes like Duroc pork belly lollipops ($22) and Kraut Cake ($16), featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives earlier this year. 1920 Greenville Ave., rye.restaurant
Apothecary
Like its sister concept Rye, this speakeasy-style cocktail lounge is known for its craftsmanship and boundless creativity. The ever-changing cocktail menu stays fresh with themed experiences like Alice in Wonderland and Drinking through the Decades, which transported guests to times past, like the nifty 1950s and the groovy, rebellious 1970s. Expect inventive, boundary-pushing drinks with a complementing small plates menu. 1922 Greenville Ave., apothecary.bar
Via Triozzi
Nonnas are having a moment, thanks to Vince Vaughn’s Netflix hit Nonnas and buzz around its muse, Staten Island’s Enoteca Maria. In Dallas, Leigh Hutchinson evokes that same nurturing spirit at Via Triozzi. Her lasagna al forno ($35) is “nonna caliber,” according to former Texas Monthly critic Pat Sharpe. Other must-tries include Ricotta Montata ($18), Linguine alle Vongole ($30), and Nani Angie’s Chicken Cacciatore ($32). 1806 Greenville Ave., viatriozzi.com
Terrazza Di Triozzi
Lower Greenville’s hottest new rooftop comes courtesy of the women-led team behind Via Triozzi. Terrazza Di Triozzi is a breezy Italian escape that channels the Italian Riviera with chic cabanas and an aperitivo-perfect menu of antipasti, pizzettes, and sweets. Sip on a Limoncello Spritz ($16), frozen Rossini Spritz ($15) and frozen Italian Margarita ($15), while soaking in la dolce vita from above. 1806 Greenville Ave., viatriozzi.com/terraza
Botolino Gelato Artigianale
Third-generation gelatiere Carlo “Botolo” Gattini is on a roll, fresh off the Collin County debut of Botolino Gelato Artigianale’s fourth location in Plano. His gelato empire began in 2017 on Greenville Avenue, where the original still serves 16 daily flavors, including classics like French chocolate and Italian hazelnut flavored Gianduia and Don Pistachio, made with Sicilian pistachios. Rotating favorites like Turkish coffee and peanut butter and jelly sandwich keep the menu playful. For a grown-up treat, try the rum chocolate affogato, topped with six-year aged dark rum and white chocolate pearls. 2116 Greenville Ave., botolino.com
Leela’s Wine Bar
Leela’s may technically be a wine bar, but this must-visit haunt is famed for its espresso martini and over-the-top, oh-so-girly themed pop-ups. The Lower Greenville mainstay draws a line during its holiday and Valentine’s installations, but it’s also a year-round gem for cheesy, Tonda Romana-style thin crust pizzas, Instagram-ready cocktails, and half-priced bottles of rosé on Wednesdays. 1914 Greenville Ave., leelaswinebar.com
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
Michelin Bib Gourmand Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen is owner Carol Nguyen’s tribute to her mother Ngôn, and the word “ngon”, meaning delicious in Vietnamese. The menu delivers comfort and value with starters like vegan summer beet rolls, pineapple and beef shank-stuffed August rolls, or Nha Trang rolls. The menu spans dried-noodles, brothy noodle bowls, rice dishes, Vietnamese curry cá ri, and nearly 20 cocktails, including Hanoi Oi ($14), a rum and lychee liqueur-based cocktail that is a nod to Vietnam’s capital. 1907 Greenville Ave., ngonvietkitchen.com
Goodwins
In just a year, Goodwins has earned its place as a neighborhood go-to and city-wide favorite. Slip into a cozy U-shaped leather booth and dig into comfort food done right. The GW Burger ($19) with black Angus, charred onions, horseradish pickle, American cheese spread, and dijonnaise on a brioche bun, has developed a serious cult following. Before dinner, duck into Goose Bar, Goodwin’s tucked-away speakeasy, for $10 martinis during the daily martini happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. 2905 Greenville Ave., goodwinsdallas.com
Sister
Named one of The New York Times’ 50 Favorite Restaurants in the U.S. in 2022, this Italian-Mediterranean gem lives up to its hype. Every inch of the cozy space is picture-perfect, from ornate mirrors and memorabilia to charming dinnerware and cascading greenery. The food is just as swoon-worthy with heaping plates filled with housemade pastas and wood-fired meats. Start with the beets and avocado, and don’t skip the cacio e pepe potatoes, which offer a decadent approach to a traditional spud. 2808 Greenville Ave., sempresister.com
Café Duro
Café Duro is a European retreat. The café feels plucked from Venice with its red marble paneling, yellow and green walls, white herringbone backsplash, and chic bistro seating. The menu is just as pristine. Try the banana horchata matcha ($6) paired with a breakfast pizzetta ($11). The morning pizza is topped with wagyu gravy, jalapeño, mushrooms, egg, and honey. For lunch, the ‘Haute’ Jon Italian panini ($14) is the way to go. 2804 Greenville Ave., cafe-duro.com
HG Sply Co.
The best time to visit this Lower Greenville staple is at sunset. Every evening, Monday through Friday, guests of HG Sply Co. raise a glass restaurant-wide for a complimentary sunset toast featuring rotating cocktails. Beyond the free sips and communal vibes, the restaurant boasts a revamped, health-conscious menu packed with pasture-raised proteins, organic produce, and zero seed oils. Calorie and macro counts are listed throughout, including on the under-120-calorie cocktail menu. 2008 Greenville Ave., hgsplyco.com
Quarter Acre
Owner and chef Toby Archibald brings his New Zealand roots and fine dining training to this Michelin-recommended spot. His menu shines in a two-hour, seven-course “Chef’s Tasting” experience ($125), which changes seasonally, and sometimes even daily. Plates like Fish on Chip, Archibald’s refined version of fish ‘n chips, have quickly garnered intrigue. 2023 Greenville Ave., Unit 110, quarteracrerestaurant.com
