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Café 43, Dallas, TX

Café 43

4.9
4.9
1543 Reviews
$30 and under
American

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2 people
9:30 pm
Booked 7 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
  • Healthy
Café 43, located at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, is a contemporary American restaurant which features a locally sourced, organic, seasonal and sustainable menu for weekday lunch and weekend brunch. It is one of the most preferred venues in the city for private events in the evening for groups of up to 150 because of its stunning design, flexibility, private entrance and breezy terrace. Admission to the Center is not required as Café 43 has its own entrance.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (214) 200-4302
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    John Maas
  • Catering
    Upscale American cuisine focused on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
  • Private party facilities
    Cafe 43 is available evenings for seated dinners of up to 120 guests and cocktail receptions for up to 150 guests. There are other private event spaces located throughout the Center.
  • Area
    Downtown
  • Cross Street
    Bush Avenue
  • Parking details
    There are several nearby parking garages on the SMU campus.
  • Public transit
    From the Dart Mockingbord Station take the Mustang Express bus route 768.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,543 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Dallas

    Best Value

  • Dallas

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Café 43 is a delightful dining destination, offering "excellent food" and "fantastic service" in a picturesque setting. Ideal for both business lunches and leisurely meals, this "hidden gem" on SMU's campus provides a "calm oasis" with a varied menu. Visitors consistently praise its "attentive staff" and reasonable prices.

1,543 Reviews
  1. Lee

    VIP

    Dallas

    111 reviews

    5.0

    111 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another great lunch. The Reuben sand was very good, as was our server. I recommend this place for everyday, or special occasions. The GM Brain is always there oversee his business. The Sanders Dallas

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  2. Renee

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and beautiful atmosphere. Service was excellent!

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  3. Anne

    Richmond

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lunch was really tasty, the banana pecan ice cream was our favorite!

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  4. Ray

    VIP

    Dallas

    49 reviews

    5.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on 3 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Café 43 is a beautiful retreat from a hectic day or a lovely gift for a special occasion celebration. The room is spacious and scenic with wraparound windows of forest and interesting artwork on interior walls. Our lunch for 17 was treated to exemplary service, a varied and well-priced menu, and extremely tasty food. Standouts for today were the lumpcrab salad, corned beef sandwich (Reubenesque), and the corn chowder with the Cobb salad and mushroom omelet also popular. They can handle a crowd or make a table for two feel pampered. We'll be back!

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  5. Jill

    Dallas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 30 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An oasis of calm in a busy city. The patio was refreshing on a lovely day.

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  6. Neal

    Kansas City

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 27 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance and aesthetics were calming and stimulating at the same time. Very enjoyable and the food was delicious and I took home leftovers.

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  7. Judy

    Dallas

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on 23 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food, great menu and beautiful dining room with floor to ceiling glass. The pecan-crusted chicken was fabulous! And so were First Lady Laura’s Cowboy Cookies!

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  8. Lee

    VIP

    Dallas

    111 reviews

    5.0

    111 reviews

    Dined on 20 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another wonderful visit. Cecelia was a great server. Brian operates a very buttoned up restaurant. Sanders

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  9. Gray

    Dallas

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 20 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food in a great setting. Nice open decor. Good menu choices.

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  10. Matt

    Orlando

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 16 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Corn soup was spectacular along with crab salad and salmon. Cowboy cookies to die for. Fantastic experience with great food and service.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Café 43 is rated 4.9 stars by 1543 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
9:30 pm
Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Café 43

2943 SMU Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Bush Avenue
  • Area
    Downtown
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    There are several nearby parking garages on the SMU campus.
  • Public transit
    From the Dart Mockingbord Station take the Mustang Express bus route 768.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    John Maas
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (214) 200-4302
  • Catering
    Upscale American cuisine focused on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
  • Private party facilities
    Cafe 43 is available evenings for seated dinners of up to 120 guests and cocktail receptions for up to 150 guests. There are other private event spaces located throughout the Center.
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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