Mansion on Turtle Creek Restaurant – Dallas, TX
Located in – what else? – a mansion, the restaurant is part of the hotel, which is also known as The Mansion on Turtle Creek. If you’re not from this part of the country, you probably know the name only as the title of a cookbook, so ubiquitous was (and still is) chef Dean Fearing and his championing of Southwestern cuisine. Even with its lush, romantic setting, some may argue that the restaurant isn’t the trend-setting maverick it once was, but it’s still one of the top choices for the elite in Dallas and Fort Worth. Doorder the signature dishes of tortilla soup and the lobster taco, and you won’t be disappointed. Don’texpect reasonably priced wine.

Hudson’s on the Bend – West Austin, TX
Situated just out of town on a bend in the Colorado River, the most compelling reason to visit Hudson’s on the Bend is for its extensive menu of exotic game: Sure, they offer wild boar, pheasant, and quail, but this spring they’re featuring an Aussie barbie: Chipotle BBQ kangaroo, and grilled ostrich with strawberry-raspberry sauce. In true Texas style, they often offer rattlesnake, and modestly claim they have “way too many wines.” (It’s also Lance Armstrong’s favorite spot.) The restaurant is in a rustic farmhouse surrounded by lush gardens, but this is not a temple for food to be worshipped; Texans tend to make their enthusiasm more obvious. In other words, it can get loud.

Jeffrey's on West Lynn