Front Room Tavern - Dallas

We had a reservation at 6:00. We arrived (apparently by the back door) and waited for someone to approach us. After several minutes a patron asked if we needed help. She directed us to the front of the room. We were greeted, fro, behind the bar, and told we could sit anywhere. Sort of an odd experience. Our server was darling and our food was delicious. They had just transitioned to a new chef. Limited menu.

I hadn’t been there for a long time and was shocked at the deterioration of this place. I recalled a farm to table menu with diverse and delicious options. The food was no better than something I guy ordwr at the Dallas Zoo or a water park. There were only 3 dinner options- a burger, a chicken club were 2 of them. The salads used nice greens at least. Sitting outside there were screaming toddlers running around taking very loudly with no parental oversight (not the restaurants fault but also not great). The tables were old outside with few options and I was facing north so that every car tha pulled in to valet was shining it’s light directly in my eyes (maybe have people turn off lights asap? In addition the seating was next to the road and a narrow driveway so that those same suvs pulled next to me as the left writhin a foot or so with almost no barrier. A little thought to detail would go a long way. Service was okay. Dinner and drinks were. It quick either time I came.

The restaurant looked more like a diner than a tavern. There was no ambience. But the staff was very pleasant; the **** Marys were quite good, and the brunch items were tasty and generous. My Mexican style eggs over refried beans with cotija cheese and crema was real comfort food on a blustery January morning. Good coffee too.

The quality and service at this restaurant has declined markedly since it was bought by a Chicago hedge fund. The place is chronically understaffed and the quality is suffering. It is across the street from a major university so they have a somewhat captive audience. But don't say we didn't warn you! There are great choices within a 5 minute drive.

We have come here annually on a Saturday night in June for dinner before a show across the street. The service has never gotten any better over many years. Last night we arrived at 5:45, knowing it would take a long time to get our drinks and food. The restaurant was empty save for two people having a drink at the bar. Our food finally came at 7:20 and we had to leave for the show at 7:35. Never again. Beyond awful. Oh yeah, and the temperature inside was about 55 degrees!