Truluck’s
One of Dallas’s top seafood destinations.
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One of Dallas’s top seafood destinations.
For those of us who have lived in Dallas for some time, we remember the old Truluck’s that was in the same location as the current, modern masterpiece. The old building needed a facelift, and after dining in the renovated location, I can say, they did a marvelous job. On this night, I had a craving for some great seafood, and thankfully our friends were game. We hit Uptown and headed out for what should be considered one of Dallas’s top seafood destinations.
When you first arrive, you realize that the only way to get in is to valet. Upon entering we were led upstairs. This was a bummer, because later I realized (on my trek to the restroom) that the bar downstairs was the happening spot to sit! Next time I’ll definitely grab a cocktail before I throw myself into the ocean fare.
I came to Truluck’s for the Stone Crab, and at $22 per claw they did not disappoint. Paired with a nice French Rose, the crab was the perfect starter when coupled with my spring salad. A kind of boring salad choice, but it was perfect with the claws.
For dinner I ordered the Seabass($42) and unfortunately, I would give it a so-so grade on flavor. The rice pilaf served with it was quite bland as well. My wife and I shared some of the filet and I wished I had ordered that as my main course, because it was fantastic. Thankfully the mashed potatoes served with it were pretty tasty too. My buddy ordered the South African Lobster Tail, and I was amazed by how beautiful it looked plated up. He didn’t share though (some friend, right?), so I can’t comment on how it tasted. Dammit!
On the bright side, our waiter was a pro and took great care of us. I was in the mood for something different in the wine department, so we steered clear of “bourdieu boredom” and opted for the Celani Family Tenacious Cab 2011 instead. This unfiltered cab was unique, and a bit young, but opened up nicely. I need a few bottles for my cellar, because in a few years this wine will be a rock-star.
We ended the night with a cheesecake and a house specialty called the Baked Alaska. The Baked Alaska isn’t on the menu, and is reserved for “special occasions”, but we ordered it anyway and the accommodating staff made it happen! I wanted to order the Dolce, from Far Niente, but it was only available by the bottle, so I had to pass. Didn’t want to see any of that $168 bottle of dessert wine go to waste! All in all, Truluck’s makes for a good date. It’s also perfect for a business dinner, and next time I’ll definitely stop for a few drinks at the bar.
A Dallas classic, Truluck’s did not let us down! The cool, yet formal atmosphere is coupled with excellent service from the time you reach the front door through to dessert. Downstairs has an amazing bar area with live piano and a singer, but upstairs is really the place to be. The view on the second floor is gorgeous at night and definitely added to our incredible dining experience.
We were immediately greeted by our server and offered water, bread, and a look at Truluck’s extensive wine list. Our server was great: friendly, knowledgeable, thorough, and patient. We opted for a rose wine to start off, a nice pairing for our salads and stone crab claws. I chose the Sonoma Greens salad with spicy pecans, local goat cheese, apples, kalamata olives, and a honey vinaigrette. He Dines enjoyed the fresh Florida Stone Crab Claws, served pre-cracked with lemon and a specialty mustard sauce. All the enjoyment with none of the work!
For my entrée, I chose the 7-ounce filet served with scrumptious parmesan mashed potatoes. Even though I love fish, this felt like a steak kind of night (that being said, I did try some of He Dine’s Chilean Seabass and thought it was the best I’ve ever had).
After I’d eaten my filet, I joked that it was way too small, dinky even, but only because I could have eaten two of them. It was seriously some of the tenderest, most melt in your mouth steak I’ve had in a long time. He dines ordered the Miso-Glazed Seabass with Crab Fried rice (minus the crab, because I have a shellfish allergy and insisted that he share). As if all this was not enough, we ended the meal with some truly delicious classic cheesecake.
Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 Truluck’s has a great happy hour menu! Half off cocktails, wine, and selected appetizers, so definitely don’t let the prices scare you off. Some appetizers and a cocktail from Truluck’s could be the perfect end to your work day! I know I’ll be back.
