Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman on José in Dallas Celebrating Its Seven Year Anniversary | Eater Dallas

"Celebrating seven years in business, José feels like an institution for many — a place to commiserate or celebrate — and I find few dining experiences in Dallas as beautiful as the one it offers: a unique façade, an indoor-outdoor patio, luminous dining room, rich color palette, and traditional Mexican décor. Under chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman and owners Brady and Megan Wood, the menu draws on Jalisco-style cuisine inspired by travels to Guadalajara, Oaxaca, and Mexico City rather than strict authenticity; highlights include the tacos de tacha on heirloom masa (featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles), Baja-style mahi-mahi tacos, a lion’s mane tinga, standout seafood dishes and enchiladas, and an amply inventive cocktail program. Creativity is evident in the seasonal Tacos de Tacha — short rib on cold, rainy days, squash blossom in peak summer, and impromptu salsas when fruit is on the verge — and the restaurant has benefitted from guest-chef collaborations that have kept the menu lively. The team showed resilience during COVID, pivoting from fine dining to producing over a thousand to-go meals a day for hospital staff while keeping and supporting employees through family meals and close teamwork. The restaurant’s profile has grown — Anastacia was a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef in Texas in 2023 and 2024, José was filmed for Taco Chronicles, and Anastacia appears in a Visit Dallas campaign poster with personal Easter eggs — and the restaurant plans to keep evolving; reservations are available now for seventh-anniversary parties on May 4 and 5 with live music, a food truck, and special treats." - Courtney E. Smith