Cool River Cafe

Finding an airport restaurant that you look forward to dining in is a treasure and a pleasure. Dallas Love Field Cool River Cafe, is one of these places. I have eaten there several times in the last 4 years. The staff is always friendly, gracious and professional. On one visit, I left my credit card after dining. I walked away to do some wandering during my layover; on my walking back by, still unaware of my forgotten credit card, my waitress saw me go by and she returned my credit card, which I gladly rewarded her with a $20 tip on top of the $10 tip I provided with the meal. The service is fast, the food is exceptional and the portions are generous. The atlantic salmon, broccoli and finger potatoes were outstanding.

Restaurant is in the middle of the terminal and one can see all of the traffic flow! The food is not bad overall. I got the prime rib hash and was tasty, but my spouse got the avocado toast and was not the best. The avocado was way passed and had very little spread on it. Not bad for airport food though.

My experience at this restaurant inside the Dallas airport was surprisingly pleasant. The service was prompt, and our server, Ana, was not only friendly but also very attentive to our needs. The restaurant itself appeared clean and well-maintained. As for the food, it exceeded my expectations – delicious with no complaints whatsoever. Overall, it was a positive dining experience, and I would definitely recommend it to fellow travelers.

Overall, this was a positive experience. The burger was solid, especially given an airport burger, and the sweet potato fries were very tasty. The waiter was nice and smiley. The food came out very quickly which you would expect in an airport. The beer was extremely cold which made for a very refreshing beer.

I’m not sure how this place is in business. The bar has to be the only thing carrying them through! I use to go to Cool River, Las Colinas location years ago, so when I saw them in the airport I said they’re not bad! I should’ve kept walking. The Cesar salad was SUPER old, the dressing was none existing, the meat was dried out yet was still pink in some areas. The. coffee was cool, it was hot hours ago, the fries were edible enough to not waist $11. The hostess staff was friendly, they deserve more stars but the food is TRASH. The waitress obviously didn’t want to be there. The ONLY reason I paid is because my flight was boarding and I didn’t have time to wait on the manager since my server walked like she had come out of retirement to work and could care less on how the food was because she knows it’s Trash! Please stay away! This place needs their food license revoked. I’ve had better food at a play kitchen

Ask for Lefty! ★★★★★ Cool River Cafe at Dallas Love Field Airport is a “frequent flier’s favorite” that elevates the dining at Love experience to a whole new level - so we try to stop by for a drink and a snack whenever we pass through Dallas. This nice little steakhouse specializes in getting you good food quickly. Cool River is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM, making it a perfect stop whether you’re grabbing breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick to-go bite. But trust me, you’ll want to linger if you have time. Almost makes you pray for a flight delay. We only had 45 minutes to boarding as we headed to Montrose for a ski trip, and almost just surrendered to the gate to wait all hungry and thirsty. So glad we went to see if things were too busy. We arrived to see there was no line and quick seating. We let our server, “Lefty” know that time was of the essence, and he assured us we were gonna be just fine. We therefore kicked things off with a Bloody Mary (perfectly spiced) - and Sauvignon Blanc (crisp and cold) for my better half. Drinks set the stage for the star of the show: the beef quesadillas. Packed with tender, flavorful beef and melted cheese, they were a delightful surprise—far beyond typical airport fare. Every bite was a resounding testament to Cool River’s commitment to quality. but made it with time to spare. We let Lefty know time was tight, and he made it happen. This most recent visit was even better than usual thanks to Stephen (aka “Lefty”) and his friendly, professional service. I washed dishes at a steakhouse in high school, and always spot the top servers. Lefty definitely fits the bill. Lithe, quick-witted, and a little snarky - Lefty was right on the spot every time. His fabulous outlook and high - energy turned a great meal into a memorable one; and we made it to our gate with five minutes to spare. An absolute win. Cool River’s ambiance is upscale yet friendly and welcoming, and Lefty’s over-the-top service is the newest reason we’ll keep coming back. If you’re passing through Love Field, make this your stop—and be sure to ask for Lefty!

It is in an airport, that explains a lot of the minor issues. Though, when my co-worker and I needed a place to eat and live with our 3-hour layover, the service fit our exact needs. We both got burgers, her the Classic and myself the Bacon Burger. The burgers were cooked to specification, and came as advertised. I cannot complain other than it was a little lackluster when it comes to flavor. The waiter was nice, attentive, kept my drinks full and didnt pressure us to leave, or even order for that matter. I made sure to leave him a fat tip for the long time we spent in his section, but I never felt pressured to leave! Overall, if I had to spend another layover in Love Field, that is where I will go to lunch!

I ordered the Chipotle burger with extra pickles and onions and sweet potatoes on the side. They charged me for the extra onions even though I didn't receive the extra pickles. They tried to make up for this by giving me a pack of lays chips instead of giving me a refund. The bun tasted like cardboard, the burger lacked seasoning, and the potato fries were cold and limp. I will make sure to avoid this restaurant on future trips through Dallas.