…if you haven’t ventured off to visit Pappas Bros yet, you definitely should make the trip. The steakhouse has one of the largest and most diverse wine lists in the city…
For those of us who live in town and frequent the local Dallas establishment steak houses, Pappas Brothers may be a little off the beaten path. It’s off I35 and Northwest Highway, closer to Las Colinas than to Dallas.
But if you haven’t ventured off to visit Pappas Bros yet, you definitely should make the trip. The steakhouse has one of the largest and most diverse wine lists in the city, including a few bottles that could set you back five digits. It’s an impressive collection, one that any Sommelier would be proud of, and it’s sure to have something for every kind of wine drinker. On this particular night we started with a cocktail. We decided to go off menu, and asked them to make our signature sangria martini which you can find on our site. I’m happy to report that the Pappas bartenders made it perfectly; our drinks didn’t last long, which is always a good sign.
After our martinis we moved on to bubbles! Because we had a long night ahead of us, I ordered only a half bottle of Nicolas Feuillate Brut Rosé Champagne. This champagne has both a lovely color and delicate bubbles; I could praise its appearance all night.
But instead of waxing poetic about the champagne, I want to tell you why I took a few points off of the normally impeccable Pappas Bros’ service tonight. When the somm came over, I asked her about this particular rosé, about its sweetness, its method, its flavor profile. Her description of the wine was so basic that I knew right away she was not intimately familiar with it, not in the way an experienced somm should be. While I was disappointed by this, it didn’t detract from the evening too much, because the wine still tasted fantastic. The champagne paired perfectly with my salad, a basic house with applewood bacon and homemade ranch dressing. Basic, yes, but I was in the mood for big comfort food.
After devouring my salad I was ready to move on to something red and deep. I needed a wine that would go with my steak, but still leave room for me to order something from the sea, so I went with a Malbec. The ITF Gran Reserva 2007, to be specific. This deep Malbec was easy to drink, with a nice earthy nose, hints of tobacco, and a mildness that made it a perfect pair for my entrée. For dinner I ordered the special: an 8 oz filet with a king tiger prawn draped across it, served on a bed of asparagus, potatoes, and a red wine reduction. The presentation was phenomenal! The tiger prawn was so large it seemed to cover the entire plate. The behemoth crustacean drew stares from tables all around. Because it was so much food, we elected to take the New York cheesecake to go.
Like every other time I have been to Pappas, the service was fantastic. My only suggestion: the somm should do a little homework so she can comment substantively on every wine on the list. Ultimately, that’s a bit of a nitpick though. Don’t wait for a special occasion, make a reservation and go to Pappas Brothers to enjoy a great steak and a huge wine list.
This has quickly become one of Tim and I’s favorite restaurants! We have celebrated our last two anniversaries here, and I have to say, it really is the perfect spot. It’s dark, romantic, and reminiscent of the roaring twenties. While I adore the ambiance, I would definitely say it’s more of a special occasion establishment because of the price point, but it’s phenomenal anytime.
We started with some sangria martinis. We simply gave the ingredients to the waiter and the bartender happily whipped them up for us! Great service and expertly made drinks. Love it. Next up was a round of warm bread and softened butter, followed by our usual: the house salad with ranch dressing (because we’re Texan). The lettuce here is always crisp, and all of the ingredients are fresh. The real stars of this salad show are the thick slices of brown sugar glazed bacon piled on top.
I had a juicy 8 oz filet for dinner, which I couldn’t finish because, I swear, there’s no way this gargantuan cut of beef was only 8 oz. I’m pleased to report, my steak was cooked just as I asked, and served with a generous side of sumptuous potatoes au gratin. The potatoes were creamy, cheesy, and had just the right amount of sharpness. As if all of this wasn’t enough , we ended our meal with some rich, dense cheesecake the size of the whole plate. Along the way, we enjoyed some bubbly with salad and a bottle of wine with dinner. Pappas also gave us our cheesecake dessert gratis to celebrate our anniversary. A very nice touch!
Service at this steakhouse from beginning to end is impeccable! The wait staff is well trained to be available to you without hovering petulantly. It’s a difficult balancing act, serving hungry, demanding customers, an act Pappas always seems to pull off flawlessly. The sommelier even made a visit to our table to offer suggestions, which only served to further personalize our experience. Like always, we had an amazing evening at Pappas Bros, and I look forward to our next visit. On a side note, the restaurant offers various events throughout the year such as wine pairing dinners and tastings. Don’t let the location scare you off! You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but I promise you won’t be disappointed.
