Fearing's Restaurant Review

So I know this doesn't pertain to my son, but I promised my "foodie" friends that I would post a review of this restaurant. For those of you that don't know, Dean Fearing is a highly regarded chef not only in Dallas but in the country. He was at the Mansion on Turtle Creek for over 25 years and left to start his own restaurant and brand.

The restaurant is tucked inside the new Ritz Carlton in Dallas. The design is really great with Texas charm but not overly done. The design reviews were mixed within my group. My architect friends thought it was too retrained, but my interior design friends were in love. The restaurant had many small rooms for more private dining as well as some open rooms with a big open kitchen. Right from the start Dean himself was standing at our table with his big Texas grin promising to get us anything we wanted. He is really a nice and genuine guy. He came by and checked on us at least three or four times, which is very commendable seeing that the restaurant had a steady flow of guests.

Our resident wine expert ordered Peju merlot for the table, which is a Napa Valley favorite. I almost choked when I was told it costs around $300/bottle. We drank at least 3 bottles, maybe 4.

Right away we were presented with an amuse-bouche in a square shot glass. I will try to remember the items not listed on the menu, but it was a chilled cantaloupe gazpacho with shredded zucchini, jicama and I believe some roasted red peppers and a kick of spice. It was very refreshing and a great way to set the palette for the evening.

We each ordered different appetizers to share. Dean is known for his tortilla soup, but I thought it was a little thick, dark and dated. There have been better tortilla soups, in my opinion. The rest of the appetizers were outstanding though. I tried the Barbecued Shrimp Taco with Mango-Pickled Red Onion Salad and Smoky Citrus Vinaigrette as well as the Crispy Barbecued Bluepoint Oysters with Creamed Spinach, Artichokes, Apple Smoked Bacon and Gulf Crab. Both were table favorites. I am not a fan of oysters, but fry them up and add bacon, then I'm an instant fan!

Next, the entree. We were a party of 9. When the entrees were ready, nine waiter grabbed one dish, and a line a waiters surrounded our table and all of the entrees were promptly presented at one time on cue. Unfortunately, the buffalo (farm-raised in Lawton, OK!) was so hyped that everyone but one person ordered it, so I only got to try one dish. I had the Maple-Black Peppercorn Soaked Buffalo Tenderloin on Anson Mills Jalapeño Grits and Crispy Butternut Squash Taquito. Everything was so good, and all of the food had a little kick. Almost a little spicy for me, but I had plenty to drink to wash it down! I couldn't get the exact flavor of the buffalo because of the maple glaze, but it was really tender and flavorful. The grits were great and the squash taquito was extremely good and a table favorite.

Next, they brought a palette cleanser to prepare us for dessert. We had a passionfruit puree that was heavenly. I really didn't need dessert after that, but I forced my tablemate to order some so I could have a bite. We ordered the Chocolate Ice Cream Crunch Cake with Caramelized Bananas and Rice Crispy Crunch as well as the Warm Blueberry Crisp with Fried Lemon Pies and Vanilla Ice Cream. Both were outstanding, but I think my favorite was the blueberry crisp. It was a little tart, but it paired well with the melt in your mouth Lemon pies.

Overall, I would definitely go back. They have a bar full of businessmen every night and a great patio with a completely different feel with an outdoor fireplace that's very cozy as not as pretentious as the bar. I look forward to meeting Dean again in the future...