We are lucky. Collin County and the rest of North Texas offer so much to do — and eat. So as the year winds down, let’s take a moment to pause and reflect. What were the most memorable dining experiences 2024? There were a lot of good ones — very good ones. But these are the best.
Local Profile handpicked these spots after dining and thoroughly enjoying everything they have to offer. These are our personal favorites, you may disagree, and that is perfectly okay!
So, without adieu, here is Local Profile's selection of this year's best of the best dining:
Best Allergen-Friendly Restaurant
True Food Kitchen
7601 Windrose Ave. Ste F100, Plano
Reservations
Don’t sacrifice flavor for allergen-friendly foods. At True Food Kitchen vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free folks and those simply looking to eat good food can rest easy. From grass-fed steak to spaghetti squash casserole, every dish is made with quality ingredients and superb flavors.
Bellagreen (honorable mention)
2408 Preston Rd Ste 704A, Plano
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The knowledgeable staff are sure to help those with dietary restrictions find their perfect meal, whether that’s wagyu meatball pasta, honey-fried goat cheese and arugula salad, or chicken tacos.
Best Brunch
Toulouse Cafe and Bar
7301 Windrose Ave. Suite C150, Plano
Reservations
Bonjour! Toulouse serves up French-influenced Belgian cuisine with a modern twist. Savor French classics like croque madame, beignets and omelette provençale, or opt for a more Américain touch with steak and eggs or avocado toast. Brunch is Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant looks truly glorious in the late morning and early afternoon hours. Is there a better way to start the day? A better place?
Whiskey Cake (honorable mention)
3601 Dallas Pkwy, Plano
Reservations
Don't limit brunch to mimosa flights. Whiskey Cake doesn't. Here, they're great, sure, but so are the bourbon pours. Perfect for pairing with their signature chicken and waffles, the carrot cake pancakes or the farmer's Benedict. Sip on their chilled coffee-infused old fashioned — aptly named the "cold fashioned," or head over to the build-your-own bloody mary bar.
Best Bloody Mary
Lockhart Smokehouse
1026 E 15th St, Plano
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Forget about fluffy pancakes and fancy French toast — real Texans brunch at Lockhart’s Smokehouse. The $13 burnt-end bloody mary comes with a skewer of meat hefty enough to be a small meal, plus enough pickled vegetables to cover at least one serving of your daily greens.
Pie Tap (honorable mention)
Locations in Plano, Frisco and Dallas
Reservations
Pie Tap’s ionic bloody mary is a recipe for success. This tangy creation is not only served with bacon and veggies, but an entire slice of pizza. Whether you’re recovering from a night out, or just getting your weekend started, this is the way to do it.
Best Boardwalk
The Boardwalk at Granite Park
5880 State Hwy 121, Plano
Reservations
This boardwalk is perfect for any time of the year with five restaurants to choose from — each, with its own patio. From the creative cocktails at the Suburban Yacht Club to fresh guacamole at Blue Mesa, any restaurant you pick has a great patio with an even better view of the boardwalk.
Best Build Your Own Burger
Chip’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
5872 State Hwy 121 #105, Plano
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Burgers, malts and fries. Oh my! Chip’s is dishing up great customizable burgers. Pick your meat (or non-meat) base and fill up the rest of your burger with toppings galore. From fried egg to shoestring onions, every visit can be something new.
Best Comfort Food
Depot Café
6733 Main St, Frisco
Reservations
Stroll down Main Street in Frisco and you’ll discover trendy boutiques, and sun-soaked patios ideal for happy hour. You’ll also come across Frisco’s oldest family-owned business: The Depot Café, serving comfort food classics to locals since 1999. Though the original depot is long gone, the Depot Café continues to thrive nearly 25 years later, dishing up homestyle favorites from cherished family recipes.
Bill Smith's Cafe (honorable mention)
233 E Jefferson St, Van Alstyne
More info
Opened in 1956, the oldest cafe in Collin County closed its doors in 2022. Since then, by popular demand, the cafe reopened in Van Alstyne. A comfort food destination!
Best Date Night Restaurants
Harvest at the Masonic
215 N Kentucky St, McKinney
Reservations
Not many date spots are at former Free Mason lodges. Opened in 2023 Harvest at the Masonic serves up steaks and farm-to-table cuisine in a rather unusual, renovated building. For a nightcap, head to the third floor for cocktails and live music. No need to worry if you don’t know the secret Masonic handshake.
CRÚ Food and Wine Bar (honorable mention)
842 Watters Creek Blvd, Allen
Reservations
Attention wine lovers! CRÚ boasts a selection of more than 300 wines, including over 30 available by the glass and daily wine flights. Their wine list is among the best in North Texas, and that’s not just our opinion: Wine Spectator awarded CRÚ its Best of Award of Excellence "for having an exceptional wine list and displaying a deep commitment to wine." The food is perfect for pairing, and the intimate setting, surrounded by delicious reds and whites, makes for a romantic date night.
Best Dog-Friendly Dining
Mutt’s Canine Cantina
2889 Cityplace W Blvd, Dallas
More info
Calling all dog moms and dads! If you’re searching for a place to bring your furry friend for an afternoon of fun, look no further. Mutt’s off-leash dog park, bar and grill caters to both two-legged and four-legged friends alike. The human food is excellent, we can’t vouch for the canine cuisine. Our dogs seemed to love it though.
The Shacks (honorable mention)
5800 Windhaven Pkwy, The Colony
More info
With six small restaurants that share a large open-air patio, there’s something yummy for everyone (including your furry companion). Not to mention there’s a large dog park to entertain the four-legged friends and plenty of stiff beverages for the two-legged ones.
Best Fine Dining
Truluck’s
7161 Bishop Rd, Plano
Reservations
Trulucks’s is an award-winning seafood eatery with delectable dishes like miso-glazed salmon and redfish pontchartrain. Their Florida stone crab claws are big, beautiful and fresh — shipped and served in less than 24 hours after being caught. Not a seafood person? No problem. Truluck’s also serves up steaks and vegetarian options. Truluck’s has been named among OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in America. If that’s not enough, the restaurant is a stunner, and the service is impeccable.
The Heritage Table (honorable mention)
7110 Main St, Frisco
Reservations
Located in a 100-year-old-plus country house, The Heritage Table serves up locally sourced food in a charming setting — and does so exceedingly well. Chef and owner Rich Vana was a James Beard semi-finalist for best chef in Texas in 2024. Try the Brussels sprouts, the venison meatballs, the chicken piccata and the Texas Gulf redfish. Try everything, really.
Best Hidden Gem
BAR-Ranch
1016 E 15th St, Plano
Reservations
No two downtown Plano dining establishments are alike. But a small steakhouse in the neighborhood boasts an experience unlike any other. BAR-Ranch began with just four tables and relied heavily on word of mouth to spread the word. Today, the restaurant has fewer than a dozen tables. This intimate dining setting offers great cuts and a great vibe.
Best Pasta
Lombardi Cucina Italiana
6655 Winning Dr, Frisco
Reservations
The namesake of famed restauranteur Alberto Lombardi, Lombardi Cucina Italiana serves up delicious pasta in a beautiful setting, complete with Italian marble, Venetian chandeliers and olive trees. The chefs will do al dente right, just ask your server.
Luis’ Prime (honorable mention)
8103 Rasor Boulevard Suite #110, Plano
Reservations
Originally launched as Cathedral Italian Bistro, Luis’ Prime is a North Texas staple for its true Italian pasta. From the bucatini to the fusilli, each pasta at Luis’ is handmade in-house. Be sure to ask your server to pair a wine with each entree, as the restaurant has a sommelier-curated wine list.
Best Place To Dine With Kids (Little Kids)
Hat Creek
Locations in McKinney, Allen and Richardson
More info
With burgers and a playground, this place is kiddo heaven. Plus, gluten-free chicken nuggets and buns help make this our go-to fast-food burger joint.
The HUB (honorable mention)
1289 Johnson Rd, Allen
More info
Lots of space for little ones to round around in the turf-covered gathering space, and a bunch of kid-favorite food options (burgers, pizza, tacos and soft-serve) to replenish their bellies. Check out the regular movie nights, showing Disney and Pixar classics.
Best Place To Dine With Kids (Bigger Kids)
Ford’s Garage
3904 Dallas Pkwy, Plano
Reservations
Ford’s Garage won’t just keep the kids (and husbands) entertained with its life-size Ford cars, trucks and fuel pumps, the food is also fantastic. No road rage here.
Best Southern Cuisine
Tupelo Honey
6725 Winning Dr, Frisco
Reservations
This is Southern hospitality done right. From smothered chicken and biscuits to shrimp and grits, there’s nothing that says flavors of the south like Tupelo Honey.
Best Brewery
Tupps
402 E Louisiana St Building 2, McKinney
More info
After over eight years of crafting unique brews, Tupps Brewery recently began an exciting new chapter with a fresh location. The move involves the ambitious transformation of a 120-year-old grain mill, turning it into a modern 25,000 sq. ft. production brewery, while also creating a unique retail craft community housed in repurposed grain bins. From lagers to IPAs, Tupps is brewing up tasty, bold beers.
Windmills (honorable mention)
5755 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony
Reservations
Listen to some live music at the iconic Windmills while sipping on some of the best beer around. Pair that with colorful and delicious Indian fair from Ajay Nagarajan and you’ve got a great evening ahead of you.
Best Sports Bar
Fanzo
5977 Preston Rd Retail Building 1, Suite 100, Frisco
Reservations
This isn’t your typical sports bar. The elevated menu highlights culinary creations from famed chef Vijay Sadhu, including bang bang chicken, chicken lollipops and Mediterranean flatbreads. The cocktails are great, too. A delicious place to watch America’s team.
Goat’s Arena (honorable mention)
1710 FM423 Suite 1100, Frisco
More info
Big games are always on, and this sports bar has classics like deviled eggs, onion ring towers and burgers. But what we really like is that this sports bar serves up great meatless options for our vegetarian friends.
This article was featured in Local Profile’s best of the best magazine. To read more, visit the link here.
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