Cool River Cafe

Outstanding service at the bar—Ms. Dora. Killer old fashioned. IPA on tap. Monday is the day for this airport. Quiet and cool atmosphere. Food is good and the kitchen gets it out quick. Listen, is it pricey—every single airport on the planet is pricey. Merry Christmas y’all!

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.

Carla was an excellent waitress very cool and easy breezy. The avocado toast leads much to be desired but the bacon was on point. I neglected to take a picture of the food. Wonderful view and music.

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!

The food is bottom tier generic mass produced American. Had a Cesar and TBLAST. somehow they jacked up a BLT which is impossible. McDonald's gives better bacon. Soggy romaine, cheapest deli meat I've ever seen. Staff was nice. Also it was premium airport prices, absolute robbery, literally just go to Chick fil A you'll thank new later.

Stopped here to grab a bite to eat during our layover in Dallas. Service was quick and attentive and for being at an airport, the restaurant was actually decorated pretty cool. They sat us next to a large window where we could watch the planes come and go. The menu had a nice variety of options. I ordered their burger cause it looked appealing but unfortunately the patty came out maaaaaybe a little softer than a hockey puck. The waiter acknowledged the issue and apologized but didn't offer to bring a replacement which was fine cause at that point we were on a time limit before having to catch our next flight. During our meal we received an update from Southwest that our connecting flight was being delayed 2 hours so we took the extra time to enjoy a few drinks which helped balance out the experience, hence the 3 star rating.

Our Southwest flights were delayed so late so we had to find somewhere to eat in DAL airport before most places closed. We picked this cafe to grab a bite based on how it was more spacious and relaxed to sit for a longer block of time without feeling cramped or rushed. It's one of the larger places to dine in the airport and the back wall is all windows facing the planes. Food is as expected of airport choices so just set your expectations for markup prices + no flavor. this one is part of HMSHost, now Avolta AG which operates a large network of concession locations in airports, including restaurants, bars, and retail outlets and everything tastes the same. I ordered the Gouda Bacon Burger (comes out on texas toast) which comes w a side and the sweet potato fries were a good portion for sharing. Burger meat was completely flavorless (definitely previously frozen, don't expect fresh) like it had no seasoning whatsoever so you'll have to depend on the salt and pepper shakers at the table. Typical choices for beers on tap w a couple Texas craft brews in the mix. Service was prompt and courteous despite it being quite busy. I will bookmark this spot so I have it if I have to be in Dallas again in the future bc it has one of the largest seating spaces to unwind and grab a bite in the small DAL airport.

Not a bad spot for a meal for airport food. Much better than the fast food options. I had the Gouda bacon burger on Texas toast with a side of mushrooms. The burger was OK but the mushrooms stole the show. Service was nice and attentive. Dining room is a nice open area in the main intersection of the airport Concourse.

Great restaurant in center of concourse with nice views of tarmac to watch planes arriving and departing. Menu selection is broad with appetizers, sandwiches and fine meals. This isn't a fast food type restaurant it caterers to the traveler with extra time that is looking to enjoy a great meal. The service is attentive and fairly quick considering the dishes they are serving. I would dare to say that it is the nicest restaurant in this terminal. Food quality is a step above the other options. Highly Recommended

It's the airport so manage your expectations. We were seated and while there are QR code menus and you can order your food without a human. We had a human. Mary. She was very nice and we were seated overlooking the runway and gates. My sandwich was basically a cold cut Sandwich for 21 bucks. They did not leave it in the pan I press long enough to warm it all the way through. Not sure if by design. The fries seems to have been made ahead of time. Warm but hot like fresh out of the fryer. The chipotle burger was flavorful and. The star of the whole experience was the sweet potato fries. They were hot so they seemed to have been made to order. Food came out quickly so I think a lot is made ahead of time. Not sure but the burger was it yuck to come out and my sandwich was cold like it had been premade and refrigerated. Pretty pricy but the ability to sit and relax was appreciated. Over all OK.

Restaurant inside Dallas love field airport. It has many tables and power stations. Came here between connecting flights. Server: Elyssa was our server. She was super busy working many tables. She has a great sense of humor, great customer service and highly recommend you look for her. Food: got the chipotle burger. Asked Elyssa to cut the burger in half, she said no problem. The burger was cooked perfectly and a great portion of burger to bread. Nice toasted sesame bun. The burger had a great taste and just the right sweetness. We got the sweet potato fried extra crispy. They came out super crunchy. Beer: ordered Sam Adam Oktoberfest and it was delicious.

Flight delay prompted me to stop in for a burger. The chipotle burger with sweet potato fries was great! Burger had a great flavor and the fries were excellent. Paired with a draft Community Medical IPA, this was a pleasant flight delay. For an airport restaurant, far better than average service. Elyssa was terrific!

Cool River Cafe is a relatively large sit-down restaurant inside the Dallas Love Field Airport in Dallas, TX. They have high top tables & chairs with charging ports. The table where they sat us did not. Lol. The bar area was nice. My children did not like their kid's menu that much. It had the typical boring kid options. Lol. So my youngest requested an adult-size cheeseburger ($21.99) that came with fries. The waitress warned us that it was a lot of food, but none of the kid's options appealed to her. My oldest daughter opted for the kid's corn dog meal ($8.99). Between that and Cool River not having milk or apple juice for a drink on June 9, 2024, she ended up disappointed. Can't say I blame her. Their regular fries weren't all that good. I ordered the cheeseburger & sweet potato fries ($21.99)... it was good & filling. Good place for adults and cocktails, but not that great for my family plus it was pricey for what it was. The eclectically-dressed host/manager was fantastic. Our waitress was fine. Just not great with kids in my opinion.

Service was great and our server was so sweet. The food was fast as well which made it nice for anyone needing to eat and catch a flight. Food was decent for an airport meal.

One of the worst airport meals I've ever had, and one of the most expensive. I showed up hungry and couldn't finish more than half of my ultra dry TBLAST sandwich or put a dent in the mound of limp, lukewarm sweet potato fries. Now I know why the line at Chick Fil A was so long, the options at DAL are shit. Nice staff and space, but I can't recommend this place for anything other than a drink.

Had the crab cakes and a glass of wine. Pricey but yummy. This is an appetizer but hit the spot. Cocktail sauce is spicy but still good. Remoulade tasty. Crab cakes were crispy and good sized.

Seated immediately. Waited on quickly. Food came and was DELICIOUS! Definitely recommend Totally worth it.

Only giving it one star because the servers deserve a star for being wonderful. The lack of four stars pertains to the food. This is a decent spot to sit down and drink, but spending $20 on avocado toast that's flavorless, and below average, is frustrating. The bread wasn't even toasted!! Very disappointing

Dallas Airport Eats * If you are in the Dallas Airport, highly recommend stopping here for some foods. Other options in the airport are more "fast food" but here are actually good dishes. Larger seating area with a bar if you want an adult beverage. We had a larger group and the waiter was very fast, attentive and helpful in deciding between a few options. From the Bacon Gouda Burger to the T.B.L.A.S.T. nothing was disappointing. Oh and I also got an espresso martini

This place is located inside the airport. They have plenty of seating and chargers for your phone. They have a large bar area as well. The customer service was excellent! 5/5 The food was okay. They are on the pricey side as well. 2/5

This place is over priced for the flavorless, dried out food they serve. Only positive was the sitting booth and outlets to charge devices while waiting for a flight. Also, the hostesses are nice.

Stopped by the Cool River Cafe prior to our flight! We opted to sit at the bar and have a drink and our bartender Joel was awesome. He was very personable and kind! The cafe was pretty packed but overall the atmosphere seemed pretty chill and relaxed for an airport bar!

Beware of credit card fraud. It was the only place I used my credit card where they took it to a remote location to do their transaction. A few days later I had unauthorized credit card transactions. Most restaurants use handheld terminals to perform transactions in front of you. The receipt they provided had no identification of their restaurant.

Traveling with an allergy to most cooking oils usually makes it impossible to get a hot meal, but Dustin Willie came out to greet me, listened intently, and prepared a meal that was safe for me to eat. He even cross referenced packaging on the prepared food items to make sure there weren't hidden ingredients that would make me sick. I have not received this level of care and attention at 5-star restaurants. Considering this is a busy airport restaurant and they could have easily sent me on my way, Dustin's extra effort made my entire day. THANK YOU!

Really great cafe at Dallas Love Airport.... Service is great and the food is delicious. Ordered the cheeseburger and fries and it was super big and filled me up. Inside is nice.. a lot of people watching. Highly recommend on the pit stop for food at this airport.

I was able to walk a we were sat by the window it was a nice blue sky day with big white puffy clouds here Dallas Server was okay I ordered a bbq pork sandwich with sweet potatoes fries. When our food came it wasn't pork! It's was beef I was able to get her attention She came and said Hi I said I asked for the bbq pork sandwich Yeah that's pork....no it's beef She looked not happy and said it's pork I looked at the her. She wasn't going to change my order she said you order something else Our flight was soon boarding this sandwich It's was dry and stringy like beef and Tough my sweet potato fries were good that the only best thing on my plate. Not my day and didn't want to argue

Food is good I had the Cheese burger and it is a nice portion that comes with a side of your choice. Can't do a side salad for free that comes with a $9 up charge according to the waitress. With that being said expect to pay airport prices for your meal.

Nice spot in the food court and takes up a lot of real estate. Plenty of seating for sure. Front hostess staff are super nice and friendly. Food runners (no wait staff here) are really nice as well. All employees seem happy to work here. Food was online with expectations of airport restaurants. QR codes only to order food, leaving the patron to scan only so those with any form of limitations or lack of technology are denied a way to order. those who traditionally are wait staff are all food runners and do not take orders for food as that is all handled on the app. This forces people to use the QR code. Someone else ordered for me as my camera does not work and the app presents for payment before the food arrives. We asked the staff if we could hold off paying and discovered you can but know the app will ask for payment up front. Food prep was slow and for the number of food runners there seems to be a bottleneck in the kitchen. Keep in mind this a a burger and sandwich type spot so nothing really fancy. Will be busy often due to location and people who have restricted movement to leave the airport and return this spot will attract people. Nice looking and well decorated, open air and no walls. Large bar area and well stocked. Near other places to eat and close to restrooms Live music stage is close the to the location for a cool ambiance.

I've reviewed this place a few times. Before Covid, this was a good spot at DAL. During Covid, the service was horrendous and this poor service continued until recently. The service still is not terrific, but has improved. Seems one day they want customers to use the QR code to order and pay and the next day they want to manually take your order, which becomes a problem when the server goes "poof" away and cannot be found for ten minutes and you've got to leave for your flight. I had the steak salad a few days ago. Wasn't bad, the the size of the pieces of beef are too small which makes for a lackluster experience.

Love Field - Dallas Those of you that read my reviews know that I am a BBQ fanatic. Wherever I go, I want to try the local BBQ. Ordering a pork BBQ sandwich at this place was a mistake. I can honestly say this was the worst BBQ I have ever had. Now, keep in mind that Texas BBQ is king as far as brisket goes but that wasn't on the menu so I tried the pork sandwich. It was served on a ciabatta bun (really?! I pondered calling the BBQ police about that!) with slightly sauteed onions (wtf?!) with sauce on the side. The BBQ was slimy, greasy and soaked the aforementioned ciabatta. The sauce provided was actually pretty good. It was a maple/bourbon sauce that tried hard but could not rescue the slimy mess that they said was BBQ. The best thing on the plate was the sweet potato fries. $30.00 later for the meal and a beer, I was out of there to my exit wondering when the indigestion or worse was going to hit. Service was quick and friendly. As far as ambiance, well, it IS an airport restaurant so you aren't going to take a date there! There is a Dickey's BBQ restaurant in the airport. See my previous review about Dickey's. Go there if you want some semblance of decent BBQ.

Just a mediocre experience - - order from a QR code. No wait staff greets you after you're seated so you hope your food is ordered - ordered med rare filet ($54 for 7oz filet). Comes out thirty min later. Brown. Send it back and it comes out with a massive hunk of grizzle through it. $54. I've paid that at good steak houses and it was worth it. - had to go to bar for a refill. Bartender was overloaded and didn't wanna bother. - go to check out. They rang in a second steak to replace my first but no one removed it. Walked around to find the manager (who was a good guy) - again the only time I saw staff was when they dropped food off. And the food was generally not great.

For a packed airport bar, I really liked this fully prepared airport eatery with outlets on all tables, and great service!! I sat at the bar but had tables and benches and long bar height tables with plug in's for tons of people's. I got a TBASH sandwich turkey ,bacon with avocado provolone with a nice bread and sweet potato fries and it was actually quite tasty. Got me a couple of cold Stella's and I actually relaxed enough I almost missed my flight. For an airport restaurant I was pleasantly surprised again, the service from the bar was spot on and I never complain about pricing in the airport because they're always ridiculous. They did have a $50 fillet mignon but not something I would order at a place like this but for what I had, I highly recommend.

The first time I went it was great, the food and beer were good then. This time all I had was a Hayden Old Fashioned cocktail and that was quite good. The service was prompt, the waitress came back a couple times to check on me which was great. Its out in the middle of the terminal so its gonna be a bit noisy.

Nice place to sit, recharge (literally!), grab a bite or drink, and people watch! We had a great server. Kept the soda glass full. The only thing is that it's a bit expensive. We shared a kids chicken fingers platter and it was plenty for both of us ($9.99 at the time of this review). Sodas are $4.95 - but free refills. I'd go here again on our next stop through Dallas for sure.

Overpriced and under delivers. I wouldn't life the price point if the quality was there but it was just lacking severely. I should have went to Chili's...and I hate Chili's...

Early morning kickback awaiting my boarding. Francisco behind the bar was my server and he kicked ass! Took my order (selective items off menu) and sent it accurately to the kitchen. My coffee stayed topped off and hot. What can I say... fantastic! Thank you Francisco and Cool River Cafe. P.s. Francisco needs a raise... he is killing it.l!!

Cool River is a sit down restaurant in the Dallas Love Field Airport. The food is expensive, but it is one of the few sit down places where you might get something somewhat healthy. They have seats around a circular bar with TVs and tables near the window where you can watch activity outside. Sadly, I always end up against the rail where people rushing around the airport stop to chat on their cell, meet with their travel companions or are milling about. It's a bit intrusive. It's also noisy as you can hear the noise of the people in the airport, music in the airport, and music in the restaurant. It's not my favorite place, but it beats eating at one of the fast food places. There were a bunch of empty 2-seater tables and hightop seats near the entrance, but you have to wait to be seated. I'm not sure why because you can use your smartphone and the QR code at your table to view the menu, order food and drink, and pay your tab. I tried this option because it seemed very efficient, and I didn't wait for a server. I saw my waitress twice. She delivered my Avocado Toast plate ($14) and a glass of water, and then appeared a moment later to deliver silverware and my iced tea. No one checked on me to see how my food was or if I needed a refill. I can use the QR code to add another iced tea to my tab, but it's $3.89 per drink. Usually there is a free refill and that is why the cost of these beverages is usually so high. I didn't see an option to request a free refill, and my waitress wasn't anywhere to be found.l to ask for another. The online system defaults to a 20% tip, but it seems over the top considering the minimum service I received. You can choose another option, pay it in cash, or write in a custom tip amount. There is a charity optionally added to the tab, and you have the ability to toggle the switch on to round up your tab amount to the nearest whole dollar. What a great idea to capitalize on a lot of small transactions that probably add up to a lot in a short period of time. HMS Host Foundation contributes to a variety of organizations (veterans, homeless, children, education, etc.)

Service was great. Food was okay. Could have been hotter or fresher. Couldn't tell which is was. Fries were crispy?!? I will say it was great to order something and pay airport prices and not feel completely ripped off. Which is the case at most airport eateries. So if at Dallas Love Field. Go ahead and pay a few bucks more and get great service and a quiet place to enjoy your time.

Hostess took me to a dirty table and was a bit rude when I asked if I could not sit at the dirty table. Didn't get a menu, but some other tables did. They had QR codes on the tables, but kinda nice to be asked if you want a menu when some of the tables are getting them but others aren't. Took 15 minutes to get a coffee and water. Coffee was cold and had to ask for cream and not given a stir spoon. Got a salad with chicken. Chicken was luke warm at best and can't figure out what the dressing was but quite a lot of oil on the greens.

Ordered cesar salad with chicken and get to gate , not nearby and had to go back for dressing. Details are important and they weren't focused on them

Came here for a drink before the flight. Lots of outlets. Comfortable booths and bar area is cool. Reasonable drink prices. Chill spot right in the middle of the airport when past security. Did not try the food.

They seated us quickly...it looked like 1 waiter was trying to wait on the entire restaurant. We got the ABLT...very doughy texas toast with 2 very small slices of bacon, 1 leaf of lettuce and at most 3 very small slices of tomatoes. The side was "homemade chips"....they looked and tasted like they just threw some ruffles in the fryer. They were terrible and greasy. The aioli was decent but for $65 for two of these and an iced tea and a mimosa so not worth the price.

Ask for Faith if you want a great Bloody Mary! Perfect from first to last sip!!! We didn't eat but the food looked and smelled great!!

I had a long layover so I decided to give this place a try. After repeatedly trying to use the wrong code finally after 15 min I was told they turned something on. It then worked. The refills were sparse and a tip was requested for little more than dropping off food. The burger was ok but saturated with mustard. I'd probably go to the food court next time.

Came in at 5:10 on Jan 22nd. Hostess with red dreadlocks wouldn't even look at us or greet us. She behaved like we were a nuisance. We smiled at her greeted her, she seemed annoyed we were even there. Shortly after the bartender exuded the same vibes. Female. Just wow. You're in the customer service industry. Don't understand. Anyway. Happy travels!

Service- sit at the bar. The bartender dude, so sad I forgot his name, but he was incredible! He was super nice, personable, and attentive. We didn't see anything on the menu that we liked and he said we can go to the food court and get anything we wanted and come back and eat it at his bar, as long as we were paying customers (we were already there grabbing drinks there). He was able to accommodate us. We went to get BBQ and brought it back to eat.

I wish I read the reviews before we went there! Don't go here, literally any other option in the food court would be better. My family and I ate lunch here during a layover and everything we got was bad. The French fries and potato fries seemed like they'd been microwaved. The chipotle burger was sad, raw and just overall bad. Even the turkey and chicken sandwiches weren't good. The worst part, we paid $22 a plate at least for the terrible food. Don't be tempted by the available seating. It's available for a reason. Go anywhere else!

Not sure why all the bad reviews. Came here with 6 people for dinner service and it was great. I'm always skeptical of airport food but everything was hot, cooked to order, good service, the works. I'd recommend. Vibe is nice for a moderate to long layover too.

Getting ready to fly out of Lovefield stopped for an afternoon beverage. Great conversation with those at bar while waiting to head to gate. Maria our waitress /bartender was amazing and very friendly.

Great spot to grab a bite. Food is pretty good! Ceasar salad with salmon was good. 9 ounce glasses of wine, too! What's new is you order and pay with an online system on your phone. Happy travels!

I always try to give airport restaurants the benefit of the doubt. They don't operate under great conditions and they have to get the food out quickly because nearly all of their customers are in a hurry. Unfortunately, Cool River Cafe isn't very cool. It's a decent place to get a drink but that's about it. Needless to say, the prices are absurd but I expect that in an airport. But to pay $30+ for a chicken sandwich and fries and a beer and have everything be disappointing is the ultimate kick in the teeth. Chicken sandwich (dry, overcooked), fries (dry, slightly overcooked) beer ($8) delivered in a can with no cold glass offered. The service was decent but that was it. Next time I'll just eat at one of the many fast food options.

Don't waste your time! Too many better options in this airport to waste time and money on slow AF food that is mediocre. Boo hiss!

It's been a long time since I've gotten bad service at a restaurant, so I guess the server I had here felt it was time for me to have an unpleasant dining experience. I had ample time to eat, drink, and get a lil work done before my flight. But because of my server, who couldn't care less about me as a patron, I ended up having to scramble to get to my gate on time. It took forever for him to take my order. I had to ask him if I was allowed to order. Meanwhile, the table of women directly next to me had apps and drinks although they were seated later than I was. The food itself was as unappealing as the service. And when I wanted to pay, I was brushed off for several minutes. It almost came down to me just leaving so I could avoid missing my flight. I'll never be a patron here again.

Amazing service and great food as well! Our waiter Clayton was a wonderful gentleman with a great personality and upbeat attitude. The whole experience was amazing especially for an airport restaurant. 5 STARS!!!