Il Cane Rosso - Dallas: Deep Ellum

Party of . . . 22

My husband and I, along with the other 3rd grade parents, were invited to a social at Il Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum tonight.  We thought sure why not - we know most of the families going - and boy are we glad we did!

The evening was a private party and when we got our of his car you could smell the goodness coming from the restaurant.  We walked inside this new restaurant and were warmly greeted by friends.  Almost immediately the wait staff brought out the appetizers: garlic knots, mushroom knots, pepporini knots and veggie knots.  Garlic was hands down the best - all of the knots was warm dough baked with the different goodies inside them.  Three bites and you were done with your knot and on to the next.  Leave it to the husbands, they broke the ice and dove right in! 

Next the salads were brought out - I started out with the ceasar salad - it was good and I love a lettuce not too cold.  My friends Julie, said how good the other salad was so off I go to taste and boy was she right.  It was an Insalata Mista with balsamic vinaigrette. Love balsamic vinegar!

The wait staff was amazing and cleared off plates after each course and were Johnny on the spot with the drinks.  Glad I am not doing the dishes!  Pizzas were brought out - one yummy creation after another.  This isn't your typical pepporini pizza.  These pizzas had speciality meats and high end ingredients you would only find at home but who has a wood buring pizza over?

We were done eating pizza and into the good gossip only to smell a most amazing scent!  It was their Smores pizza and Nutella Pizza.  Being a professional consumer of anything sweet I was in.  My husband brought me one piece of each and there was none left.  Our boys would have loved the Smores as it was textbook gooey marshmellow - warmed chocolate and the pizza dough was the perfect subsitute for graham crackers. Their apple pizza was also very good!  Perfect way to end the night!!!

The evening was absolutely wonderful - good friends, good times and really great food!  Thanks Il Cane Rosso (the Red Dog) named after their red dog!

Oh, check them out for your next party!  They have a traveling pizza oven!!!

http://www.ilcanerosso.com/

Il Cane Rosso

On a mission to bring authentic Neapolitan pizza to Dallas

Maxim's - Richardson: Greenville & Beltline

Party of . . . 9

I know 9 . . . right!  Our family eats together each Sunday, the ages span from my husband's 91 year old grandmother to our youngest son Jake, who is 3.   One of our usual stomping grounds is Maxim's in Richardson.

Maxim's is a Chinese restaurant but we go for the Dim Sum.  It is pretty rare that you can make the 91 and 3 year old happy at the same restaurant.  We have been dining here for 10+ years.  Dim Sum is a Chinese buffet on carts served in appetizer sized portions.  Dim Sum is served on the weekends beginning at 11am.  Best service time and food turn-over is from 11am to 1pm.

The building is pretty unassuming.  Looks like a big warehouse but as you enter there is a big fish tank with a fish in it that is not so nice.  You then enter through two doors and on the walls is 100s of pictures of people who have celebrated special events at this restaurant.  Most are wedding reception pictures but some are celebrities.  Present yourself at the desk and you will be seated. Depending on the time of day you come determines your wait - we usually arrive at 11am and have no problems however, if you arrive after 11:45 you can expect a wait.  We always sit with the same waitstaff which ensures a very successful Dim Sum.  The attention and customer service is great!

My husband does the general dim sum ordering for the family - we always get their har gau (shrimp ball in a clear steamed dumpling shell), scallops with jalapenos, eggrolls FROM THE BACK, spiders (tara grated and fried like a patty), sui mai (pork steamed dumping with a shrimp on top), ho fun,and pockets (and we are not sure what is inside those). 

Our family also orders items off the menu for the less adventuresome eaters (me and the children) we order the chicken fried rice with extra chicken, sweet and sour chicken for the boys, chicken egg fu yung in a brown oyster sauce and occasionally a beef and snowpea.  They always bring out white rice. 

Each table is set with soy sauce and a hot sauce of some kind.  The plates are on the table so you can start dim summing as soon as you sit.  They also offer hot tea as well as you usual sodas, cold tea and have a full bar for a special drink.

Maxim's does an awesome Chinese New Year.  We have been attending for so many years that we now get to reserve our spot for the New Years celebration.  This year we had three tables of 8 and had many friends joining us.  With our family not being of Asian decent it is such an awesome opportunity for my children to experience a celebration with another culture just 10 minutes from home.

Next time you crave Chienese food and want some - come for Dim Sum. 


Kid Friendly:  Absolutely - there is even a stage that many of the kids play on while families are finishing up their meal.
Cleanliness:  Yes
Service: Excellent!
Cost:  $
How likely to go back: There on Sundays!