Happy birthday to...

October 31, 2007 8:22 AM

Dallas, TX - Fun restaurant ideas for my my wife’s 29th b-day.

Possibly something along the lines of Magic Time Machine or Medieval Times. I went to Magic Time Machine in high school but I don’t remember anything specifically that would still make it fun today and Medieval Times would work but I just wanted to see what else was out there before forking over $60 a person.

posted by doorsfan to food & drink (10 comments total)

La Duni is a classy, wondeful restaurant. Nothing like MT or MTM but you'll get major, major points for classiness and great food.

The chefs/owners treat their customers great. My wife and I drive to Dallas once a month from Oklahoma simply eat there.
posted by damiano99 at 8:48 AM on October 31, 2007

You have pretty much named all the gimmick restaurants in Dallas. Antares in Reunion Tower is a pretty neat experience, but pricey. They close for renovations in November.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 8:50 AM on October 31, 2007

Dick's Last Resort is an insult restaurant (intentionally rude staff), if that's your thing. There's also dinner theater. Or movie dining. Dinner at a comedy club?
posted by erikgrande at 9:02 AM on October 31, 2007

Pocket Sandwich Theatre was my thought as well. There's always things like Japanese steakhouse hibachi, fondue, or churrascaria for not your normal dining experience.

MT and MTM (most gimmick restaurants in general) have such crap food and mediocre entertainment for what you pay (and the food at the Addison Improv is really awful, but there's also a million restaurants right there). The food is not particularly good at the Studio Movie Grill either (except for the pizza, which is surprisingly good), but it's also not quite $30/person.

As far as I know, we don't have any good singing-waiter restaurants here, which is a pity. I think the Italian Inn in Fort Worth does, but the last time I was there it seemed to be decorated and lit to match the women's restroom. Byblos in Fort Worth has bellydancing Thurs-Sat I think. I would assume there's somewhere in Dallas that has similar.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:20 AM on October 31, 2007

Are there any good Moroccan places in your area? The ones I've been to have all had outstanding food w/ belly dancing to boot. They are great fun for small groups, and the ones I've been to are right at the $60/head for a prix fixe multi-course menu.
posted by jquinby at 9:26 AM on October 31, 2007

There's Simply Fondue over on Greenville.

I get a Cuatro Leches cake from La Duni every year for my birthday, there's nothing else like it.

But honestly, if you want gimmicky go with Medieval Times. I went there with some friends from out of town and we had a blast. Pay for the premium seats, you get a front row view and they hand all the women flowers.
posted by lhall at 9:47 AM on October 31, 2007

For Moroccan, there is The Velvet Hookah, and there's another place on Greenville.
posted by lhall at 9:50 AM on October 31, 2007

Al-Amir (warning: sound) is a good Lebanese place and they have hookahs and belly-dancing. I wouldn't go on a weekend, though, as it tends to get a bit clubby in there (or at least, that's how I remember it....been a few years since I last visited).
posted by Ufez Jones at 1:19 PM on October 31, 2007

I like the Pope room at Buca Di Beppo. The room is round, small enough for a good party, and the acoustics are wonderful. Plus the food is tasty, served family style. There are several locations in Dallas.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 4:57 PM on October 31, 2007

Dallas' recently re-opened Trader Vic's. Catch the floor show and have some *divine* cocktails!
posted by Brittanie at 7:27 PM on October 31, 2007