Restaurants near Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Dallas-Stemmons Freeway I-35 East

We went while it was decorated for the holidays and it was such a wonderful experience. The burger is amazing!

Birthday Celebration #2 -We headed to Drake’s for the man’s second celebration of the weekend, marking our second visit there. The menu had changed a bit since our last time, but the ambiance remained fantastic. We continue to love the attentive service and live music. For appetizers, we ordered the shrimp cocktail and crab scampi. The shrimp (4) were massive, and the cocktail sauce was spot on. The crab claws (5) were absolutely delicious, and the accompanying sauce was so good I saved it to use on my mashed potatoes. For our entrées, I had the crab cake, and he chose the ribeye (medium well), and we shared a side of mashed potatoes. The crab cake was outstanding, with a perfectly crisp top layer and plenty of flavorful crab. The ribeye was cooked exactly how he likes it—tender, flavorful, and just juicy enough (though I would have preferred medium). Drinks-wise, I enjoyed three Bogart’s Gimlets and a shot of Don Julio Añejo, while he had three Manhattans, a shot of Michter’s, and we split a beer. The drinks were tasty, but neither of us felt tipsy—interpret that as you will regarding the pour strength. We did mention we were celebrating a birthday, but there were no special treats or mentions for us. We noticed other tables receiving birthday cakes, cotton candy, etc., so it seems you might have to request or pay for those. Not a big deal, but worth noting for anyone expecting a complimentary celebration gesture. Overall, we had a great time and will definitely return for the ambiance, live music, and excellent food. The total cost was $436, including the tip.

Great fresh sushi and delicious cocktails. Highly recommend.

Always a special experience at Pappas Bros. Attentive bar tenders while enjoying drinks before dinner, an extensive wine list, a wide variety of appetizer choices, delicious dry aged steaks and enormous deserts. What makes it even better is the service form one of the best waiters around, Scott Kline. Be sure to ask for Scott when you dine at Pappas Bros. You won't be disappointed.

Food was fantastic, every ingredient had a purpose and a unique blend, easily the best Latino/hispanic themed restaurant I have experienced in 25+ years as an adult who spent many years working in the front and back of house in restaurants