Mirador in Downtown Dallas Serves Up a Modern Take on Tea Service | Eater Dallas
"I found the tea service at Mirador to be hands down the best in Dallas: chef Travis Wyatt — a tattooed guy who admits his wife, who works at Charles Schwab, only agreed to let him run this kitchen because there is no dinner service to interrupt parenting their six-year-old — has taken the idea of high tea and turned it on its head. The elegant, pastel-filled Downtown restaurant gives off a tasteful vibe without being boring; it’s whimsical and unpredictable in a Mad Hatter way, and while a few guests wore fascinators the atmosphere is very modern. Service begins with traditional scones served with crème fraîche, seasonal jams, and a glass of Champagne, and the first course (with the first cup of tea in a thin coffee mug) delivers bites in sets of three: a coronation-chicken reinterpretation stood up and stuffed into a pirouette-cookie–shaped crust, a sunflower tart with sunflower seeds atop a soft center and a crispy shell, and a buñuelo-style Colombian fritter made with queso fresco and Parmesan. The second course replaces cucumber sandwiches with clever finger sandwiches — a signature wagyu short-rib sando (the short rib is circulated 48 hours and pressed for a total of 72 hours), topped with cold, crispy shallots between milk bread and served on a shiso leaf to eat with each bite; an empanada riff loaded with smoked cucumber–infused cheese, dense fresh herbs, and shiro dashi (fried so the soft interior remains intact); and a new spring salmon rillette between chips with capers, dill, tarragon, and everything spice. The ideas are simple but the prep is complex, and the exciting, artful presentations helped earn Mirador the 2024 Eater Award for Best Tea Service; the dining room offers nice views of surrounding buildings and the patio is a delight on sunny days." - Courtney E. Smith
