The Woolworth in Dallas has been at the top of my list of new places to try, and it did not disappoint!
We tried out The Woolworth on a Saturday night, before heading to the Dallas City Performance Hall for a dance show. We were flying by the seat of our pants that evening, so we didn’t have reservations. Luckily, we were there early in the night, and there was seating for two available on the patio. It was a chilly night, but with the heaters and patio enclosure, it was warm and pleasant.
We started with mojitos and two appetizers to share — calamari fries and ahi tuna wontons. The mojitos were refreshing and sweet (but not too sweet) — just the way I like them. The wontons were a one-bite flavor explosion, and the calamari fries were tender and thick. They were served with 2 dipping sauces — a sweet & spicy chili sauce and a house-made marinara. Nine times out of ten, give me marinara dipping sauce for calamari. But the sweet & spicy chili sauce was so divine that when I return, I’m going to ask for 2 (or 3). Don’t get me wrong; the marinara was delicious. It just couldn’t hold a candle to the chili dipping sauce! If they sold it in a jar, I would buy it and take it home.
Next, we ordered side salads and the grouper special to share. The Woolworth’s side salad is among the best side salad I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, my photos didn’t turn out. Fortunately, that’s a great excuse to return and try some other menu items to share (like the sliders), inhale some more of the chili sauce, order the side salad again and share another entree. The sea scallops look tempting (and a pink smoking cocktail I kept seeing), although the Fresh Catch (which was grouper the night we dined there) was perfect. The outside of the fish was slightly crisp, and the rest of the fish was flaky, light and full of flavor. The vegetables (braised brussels sprouts, zucchini, wild mushrooms and pearl onions) were delicious. And the juice it all bathed in? Well, let’s just say that I was one step away from picking up my plate and slurping up the remaining broth (my date said I would embarrass him). It was such a shame to let it go to waste.
Which brings me to my only suggestion for improvement: a little bread to sop up that incredible broth!
I especially love that the menu is perfect for sharing apps and entrees. The Woolworth is cozy, cool, delicious and fun. If you haven’t been there yet, you need to go try it! I recommend making reservations (we lucked out not having them but won’t take that kind of chance next time).
SECOND VISIT – WITH FRIENDS
I went back to The Woolworth again (with reservations), when friends were visiting from Austin, before we all went to see Alvin Ailey perform.
Since I was eyeing the scallops during our first visit, I ordered them this time (so did one of our friends). The dish features seared scallops with a salt and pepper crust, a sweet potato puree, brussels sprouts, pancetta, wild mushrooms, English peas and a marsala jus. Scallops are either amazing or awful, and these were on the amazing side. The combination of fresh flavors were perfectly balanced. It would be a toss up between the grouper I ordered the first time and the scallops on my next visit. If I had bread, I’d opt for the grouper and try to talk someone else into ordering the scallops, so I could have both (yes, I do that).
My other friend, in the mood for some comfort food, ordered the Pork Chop 101, shown below. He enjoyed it and ate every bite.
Another friend ordered the Southern Fried Chicken, which features a buttermilk chicken breast, red-eye gravy, smoked gouda jalapeno polenta and a side of braised spinach with bacon and onion. He said he felt sorry for me with my cow’s milk allergy because he really wanted me to be able to try it. I’ll take his word that it was delicious. 🙂
Remember the smoking drink I wanted to try when I returned? It’s called Smoke and Spice and, yes, that was delicious too! In addition to some dry ice to make it “smoke,” the cocktail is made with tequila, lime, jalapeno-cumin simple syrup and a cayenne-sugar rim on the outside of the glass. I loved it. A friend ordered one too and didn’t love it, so I helped him out by making sure his didn’t go to waste. 😉
 
​Location – 1520 Elm St. in Downtown Dallas
Website – www.thewoolworthdallas.com
