Dream Cafe

American restaurant · State Thomas

Dream Cafe

American restaurant · State Thomas

1

2811 McKinney Ave Suite 26, 2808 Howell St Parking Garage, Dallas, TX 75204

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Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null
Dream Cafe by null

Highlights

One of a small chain of relaxed eateries with health-minded American fare, live jazz & a play area.  

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2811 McKinney Ave Suite 26, 2808 Howell St Parking Garage, Dallas, TX 75204 Get directions

dreamcafedallas.com

$$ · Menu

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2811 McKinney Ave Suite 26, 2808 Howell St Parking Garage, Dallas, TX 75204 Get directions

+1 214 954 0486
dreamcafedallas.com

$$ · Menu

Reserve

Features

dine in
wifi
payment credit card
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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"Dream Cafe, the long-running vegetarian-friendly restaurant located in Uptown, is getting a new address. The cafe will move to 2811 McKinney Avenue by early summer, CultureMap reports. That’s the former address of longtime sports bar Christie’s, which closed due to the coronavirus shutdown in July but is reopening on Greenville Avenue. Dream Cafe first opened on Knox Street in 1986. before moving to its current address in the Quadrangle in 1988. It was one of the first restaurants in Dallas to serve vegan and vegetarian fare, and is known for its brunches and artsy clientele. The new location will include a courtyard perfect for al fresco dining." - Brittanie Shey

Texas Hunger Relief Organizations Urge Legislators to Make It Easier for Seniors to Sign Up for Food Assistance - Eater Dallas
View Postcard for Dream Cafe

Juan M. Alvarado

Google
If you are in a hurry and starving, this is not your place. If you are looking for a great atmosphere, friendly service and food prepared fresh when ordered, then this is the Perfect place. My chicken and waffles were incredible, Avocado toast on the mark and their specialty cloud cake was impressionable! The Mimosas and Bloody Mary are one of a kind. Highly recommend when in Dallas.

Ivan Quezada

Google
This is my option and what I thought about it. Pro: great small place, french pastry, amazing customer service( were the only ones there) coffee was great but still needed more caffeine haha, and a lot of different menu options. Cons: parking was a pain!, French toast was very disappointing, the breakfast sandwich was okay. This is why I rated it 3 the food needs improvement but service was great.

Jesse Lovelace

Google
The hidden courtyard was great! We had one of our dogs with us and they offered to bring water for him too. This is a great brunch place with a chill atmosphere

rusty neighbors

Google
Great place to eat service was great, staff were friendly, and the food was great.

Prachi Ambegaonkar

Google
Dream Cafe is an adorable spot with an expansive patio area that caught my eye. We had the pleasure of sampling both the Country Benedict and the Farmers Omlette. The Omlette was a delightful surprise, accompanied by a side of toast and fresh fruits that complemented it perfectly. Meanwhile, the Benedict arrived with a side of hash browns and a poached egg that added a delightful touch, although I found the fried chicken could use a bit more seasoning to truly hit the spot for my palate. The energizer juice was an absolute treat, offering a rejuvenating and revitalizing experience. Their array of juices and shakes is impressive, and the option to boost your shake with added protein is a fantastic touch. One aspect that stood out to me was the attentive and courteous staff, who went the extra mile to ensure a memorable dining experience. In terms of parking, it's worth noting that validating your ticket is a breeze if you choose to park in the underground garage. A helpful tip for fellow diners: there are two garages, but only one offers ticket validation. To sum it up, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Dream Cafe. Would visit again!!

Vanessa Tonche

Google
Such a cute place. The atmosphere is vibing. The service and the food is great. I wish I would’ve taken more pictures. A must try place..

Kathy Gordon

Google
The food was good but nothing spectacular . Bloody mary was exceptional. Although the weather was warm, we decided to eat on the patio. Unfortunately, even the fans weren't on making for a less than pleasant experience. Will try again next time in the area visiting. I am looking forward to a GREAT experience next time.

Mike Walpin

Google
Walked in and felt very inviting. The waitress Misty was incredibly sweet and on top of everything we needed. To start we ordered beignets, a cappuccino and a latte. For main brunch we ate the Country Benedict and avocado toast. The Country Benedict was surprisingly fantastic. The eggs were poached to perfection surrounded by perfectly fried chicken. Which was seasoned and so moist. Topped with this hollandaise style gravy. So good. It reminded me of chicken and waffles. Now the only thing i wish i asked was for a crispier home fries. But it was buttery and delicious, almost didnt even need that extra texture of the crispy potatoes, as long as I portioned it correctly. I would come back again. Thank you Misty for food and sightseeing recommendations!

Juanita R.

Yelp
Great customer service from the host to the waiter to the manager , we called and couldn't find parking host came out to greet us to show us where to park and she walk us from the garage to the restaurant that was so nice of her , excellent service and the food was amazing as well .

Libby B.

Yelp
So so good. Great food, atmosphere and staff. Makes you feel right at home. 10/10 recommend sitting on the terrace

Stacy W.

Yelp
Came on a Saturday during brunch time and thankfully had no wait times. Our server was amazing and continuously checked in on us and fill up our water cups. I ordered a small grapefruit juice and monte cristo and my boyfriend ordered the eggs Benedict with the energizer juice. Overall, the drinks and food were great! I really enjoyed the monte cristo, flavorful with the ham and paired well with the honey mustard. It comes with a fruit cup but I wasn't able to eat majority of the fruits as there was pineapple inside (my fault for not informing them of food allergy) however, was able to try the orange and it was sweet. Both grapefruit juice and the Energizer were fresh. Energizer has some ginger so I didn't try it but was told that the ginger wasn't too strong. Overall, would come back to try the other items!

Jesse B.

Yelp
Cute little diner with amazing food! It was a Saturday morning and a group dinner for us visiting Dallas wanted brunch and mimosas and Dream Cafe did not disappoint. The parking garage was hard to find but if you go to a specific garage that they recommend on their website they will validate your parking so that was a plus. Our waitress was the sweetest lady ever and despite how busy they were she always found time to check on us and answer any questions we had about food or drinks. I will definitely be back again the next time I'm in Dallas.

Drina R.

Yelp
I had an absolutely delightful experience at Dream Cafe. Although it was extremely busy and Father's Day weekend, exceptional service was provided by Manager, Gregory. He ensured that everything ran smoothly and made sure we were well taken care of throughout our meal. The food was delicious, and Gregory's attention to detail truly elevated our dining experience. Highly recommend this place, especially for Gregory's outstanding hospitality!"

Latoya E.

Yelp
The experience we had here was very different. The food was so so. We asked the server for suggestions. We did not personally enjoy the selections. They were kind enough to take the items away and allow us to order something else. The food was lacking in flavor. The bone in the establishment was very laid back and chill. The staff seemed to like working there. I wish we would have realized the offered frozen treats. We didn't see them until we were leaving out the door.

Nancy S.

Yelp
This is an incredible, fun and uplifting place that serves a fabulous variety of delicious, fresh foods and wonderful beverages. You will always receive great, friendly service. 2 hours of free, validated parking if you park in the garage on Howell, just behind the restaurant, then take the elevator up to ground level. Gregory, the manager, is a super kind and hardworking gentleman. He runs an amazing, deservedly well loved uptown restaurant.

Pete H.

Yelp
Simply the worst breakfast I have ever had. Not only was the establishment not all that busy for a Saturday. it took 30 minutes to have been served the worst tasting breakfast I have had in Dallas. If there isn't a wait line it's likely for a good reason.

Kate A.

Yelp
This is one of the best brunch spots in Dallas. Their mimosa - called the Dreamosa, is bubbly with an ice cube of orange juice and fruit. They're delicious and beautiful. This place has a great menu with a ton of options. My go-to here is the "You're So Vegan" plate, while my boyfriend absolutely loves their Austin tacos. The service is always great and their outdoor seating is the place to be on a beautiful day.

Bigdaddy Juan S.

Yelp
The waiter was a good person. Let us know what his pics on the menu you were. I got there two eggs, my choice of meat, hashbrowns, and wheat toast my eggs I ordered them easy he brought my eggs out. One was overcooked and one was asked me if I wanted to send the egg back. I don't think it's very good business. I mean it wasn't very busy and I wasn't in a hurry. I was having lunch with a friend of mine. It was her birthday and the food food was good not an exception, although she had your money Crisco, why didn't he just exchange the egg while he had the plate in the back there you go restaurant

Kayla N.

Yelp
During a recent visit to my company's Dallas office, my team and I decided to order from Dream Cafe for breakfast. While we all ordered a variety of items as a group, I tried the following items: - Popover with strawberry butter: While it looked like a misshapen croissant, it was undercooked and doughy but also pretty flavorless. I thought the strawberry butter might help but it was also flavorless. I didn't end up eating this and wouldn't order this item again. Cinnamon snail: I expected this to be soft like a normal cinnamon roll, but it was very crunchy. Because of how crunchy it was, the plastic knife didn't even cut through it. We ended up each tearing a piece off using our hands. Nola beignets: These tasted great but weren't like your normal beignets as they were more dense and not as fluffy. We all agreed that these tasted like fried donuts. Cold brew with sugar free syrup: The flavor of the syrup wasn't very prominent in this cold brew but otherwise it was good. Overall, the food was OK but I wouldn't order from here again during our next team event.

Jeanette P.

Yelp
The staff is friendly and the food is decent. Pretty location and they even have mouth wash in their rr

Sarah P.

Yelp
It was busy but the workers were attentive and friendly! Food and drinks were good too.

Marisa N.

Yelp
It is a cute, cozy restaurant with AMAZING food and wonderful service. The people were so nice and friendly, and the food I cannot stress enough was immaculate !

Nety D.

Yelp
We had a 30 minute wait for two at the peak of Sunday brunch hour which was not bad compared to places around us. The food was delicious! I got the French toast and loved the slight granola crunch with rest of the toast. My boyfriend got the mystic pasta which was very creamy and good! Cute little restaurant and would go again!

Channa T.

Yelp
The parking was terrible to find (went to another garage & couldn't get validated). The restaurant is quaint and the servers were all nice & helpful. Now the food, honey! The food was so delicious & filling without putting you in a food coma. It was all fresh & prepared phenomenally.

Melanie M.

Yelp
I was very torn on how to rate Dream Cafe - I had heard good things but unfortunately was a bit disappointed. Honestly, happy I tried, but I don't think I'd return for brunch, only for drinks. For drinks - I'd rate 5 stars! I loved my coffee cocktail and the blood mary was delicious (though not strong at all) For food and service - unfortunately 3 stars. Everyone was so friendly but we waited almost 30 minutes for our food. Neither of us were that impressed with the dishes. The eggs for the Strap Hanger were a little over cooked. The Migas were good, but they could use more avocado! I think the dish lends itself to a lot of possible flavors but they were a little bland here - more avocado would definitely elevate the dish. It was an adorable restaurant and lovely patio - 5 starts for location and atmosphere (and friendly service!). We'd love to come back for drinks Unfortunately, the wait and quality of food made me do 3 stars in the end.

Doug D.

Yelp
A great brunch spot for amazing eats, great service, and a quiet spot for conversation if you head out to the back patio. Highly recommend the mimosas with the orange juice and strawberries frozen into ice cubes. Such a great idea!

Grady O.

Yelp
Ok full disclosure I am Mary's brother Grady, that said I have lived over seas & in many spots in the USA. I am a big Huevos Rancheros fan, made the right way that is. The Dream Cafe hands down delivers the very best Huevos Rancheros I have experienced, So go try it for yourself with Christmas sauces. GO'

Jordan C.

Yelp
I live and breathe by their blueberry muffin. 5 stars for the muffin. The other food is ~3 stars for me. I got the Austin tacos and breakfast bagel which were average. The waitresses are awesome! Also, when you wait in line you get to hold a record which is pretty cool

Misty D.

Yelp
Great food. Our waitress was great. The manager was amazing. Checked on us several times. Convenient parking in garage which the restaurant validates. Loved our food and drinks.

Ema A.

Yelp
My all time favorite brunch spot in Dallas! The drinks, food & vibe never disappoint.

Melody T.

Yelp
This place is super cute, super yum, and so Dreamy! The name fits perfect for this high energy cozy cafe! Beautiful decor, food, ice coffees and more! Every that comes out the kitchen looks so delicious to point it was very hard to make a decision on what to eat! My favorite thing was the ice coffee with the cool red and white thick straw! Very busy, and I love the feeling! A little like New York/Dallas! I'll for sure be back here! Everything was on point! Even the togo order!

Peyton V.

Yelp
The food was so bland. The presentation was good but there about it. I got the crab cake Benedict, the crab cake is full of filler and it lacked any seasoning. The poached eggs were like baseballs, overcooked. The best part was their hashbrowns. The cloud pancake was bland and dense, not fluffy. We got a side order of chicken and that was like jerky. Their juices and elixirs were fresh. The cinnamon snail was alright, overly sweet. The popover was good as well with the strawberry butter. But I would never come back. The service was slow and you can tell they picked and chose who to have better service to...

Rose J.

Yelp
Soooooo.... You know when it starts like that it's a problem! I've eaten here before and never had a problem. Parking: This is my first time at the new location. The parking situation is confusing as you really don't know which garage to park in. There are three parking garages at the street intersection of Howell... I went in a garage and was told it's valet parking only and decided to just park on the street after circling the block a couple of times. Exterior: The building is aesthetically pleasing. I had the feeling of peace, serenity and good health vibes! See my new pictures I took. Hostess: I was greeted immediately which is my reason for the two stars. The hostess took me on a tour of the patio, although I was ordering to go. She was excited about the updates and was a ball of joy, which I appreciated! Bar: The bar seemed to be fully stocked and everything was on beautiful display. Interior: I think it's tight inside but very cozy! Food: I came for the cheese grits! Yes! I came for the grits. I don't live locally and travel this way once a month. The cheese grits was my motivation to find new location. I ordered and got grits as the side. I really only wanted the grits! I came for the grits, right I said that. Uuuuuh I was so disappointed the grits where lumpy and cold. Not the smooth creamy cheesy bowl of love I've devoured before! I was so upset! Bummer!!! I may have to take this place off my list!

Kathleen N.

Yelp
fast and friendly service. spacious interior and patio. the waffle was on the soft/soggy side--wasn't a fan. the mimosas were strong! the eggs benedict were cooked perfectly. the presentation of the hashbrowns could've been a bit better. overall, food was ok.

Jennifer Y.

Yelp
Finally made it to its new location. Easy garage parking at back. Short wait EARLY Sunday morning. Bright and modern setting it is now. Noticed less families, more young professionals here this day. Brunch was okay with an underbaked "popover", great "GRITS", and, unflavored "mile high omelette". Appreciating most with their great service, especially with the continuous pour of hot coffee. I'll be back. Cheers!

Cecilia S.

Yelp
Love the cloud cakes Tomato basil soup delicious Great service! A friendly welcoming atmosphere

Randall R.

Yelp
Flavorless and cold food. Sadly, resting on an old reputation. Not worth the time. Too many better places for breakfast or lunch in Dallas.

Simone P.

Yelp
Great breakfast food with fast service! Will definitely be back! Love the inside and outdoor patio. Good vibes!

Andrea A.

Yelp
My family and I had a great experience at Dream cafe. We came in on a Sunday morning, I was already expecting to wait for a table since it was pretty crowded already and we did not have a reservation but we got sat right away. It was cute and lively, the food was delicious, especially the sky waffle, and most of all I want to shout out Gregory, the manager for this friendliness and hospitality. He was super sweet, made us feel welcomed, and checked on us often. He made conversation, told us a little bit of history of the restaurant and his kindness definitely made us want to come back soon. Also he called my baby cute which is plus

Rachelle W.

Yelp
** HIGH ASS PARKING LOT PRICES ALERT ** so the most important thing I can share with you about Dream Cafe is that they partner with a garage and validate your parking (see photo) Ask for the manager Gregory (aka Mr Blu). Ya'll this lot was $25! for a weekend day - THAT IS HIGH as a giraffe's behind! or am I low-key cheap? Anyway I forgot to take pics. I had the 3 cheese grits with an amazing veggie omelet and my companion had the very delicious off menu SPICY shrimp and grits. Outdoor seating overlooking the busy McKinney Ave - lots of pedestrians if you're a fine guy watcher, I am & make up stories about their lives. I don't know ya'll I'ma little touched. I definitely want to go back. They have another location, not sure what it's like. Maybe I'll try that loc next time. Happy eating guys!

Troy H.

Yelp
The new Yorker is good but u have to make it yourself. The Monty is good especially if you love honey mustard. 60 coconuts

Blake S.

Yelp
Misty made our birthday brunch for my lady a 10/10. Perfect, seamless service. We'll be back and especially ask for Misty!

Willms L.

Yelp
Great food. Awesome service by Gregory and Merit were excellent. The music was perfect and decor was beautiful.

Alex H.

Yelp
I've eaten here twice now and my experience has been very positive both times. This is a hidden gem in the McKinney Ave area. Both times I've gone the crowd was very light so there was no wait time to be seated. They have both indoor and patio seating for when the weather is nice. The service is very quick and pleasant. Drinks were brought out in a timely manner and the service staff is very friendly. When asking for recommendations I felt they gave great feedback to help me makeup my mind. On both trips I've have omelettes because they are really good! I've also had the waffle which are amazing. Overall the food and portion sizes were spot on so no complaints there. Still plenty of items on the menu I look forward to trying so I will be back soon.

Maisie O.

Yelp
The Dream Cafe is my go to breakfast and lunch spot whenever I'm in Dallas! the staff is always so friendly and they've done a beautiful job inside, very vibey and clean! My favorite thing to order is the strap hanger, but you honestly can't go wrong with anything on their menu! If you love great food and supporting local business this will be your new fave spot!

Janee' T.

Yelp
The place was really nice. The staff was amazing. Especially the manager with the blue hair! Food was really good. Especially the Nola beignets! I loved the strawberry butter too. Grits were good and cheesy! Definitely recommend!

Porcsha L.

Yelp
I truly enjoyed this hidden gem Loved the atmosphere and was able to be seated right away! We tried the special and what a delight it was! I'm a sucker for Deviled Eggs, and I was not disappointed! Be sure to check out the Frozen Frenchy if you like coffee and sweetness mixed in one

Abby B.

Yelp
Wow. This is my favorite brunch spot in dallas. And considering the amount of brunch spots, and how seriously dallasites take brunch, I feel like that is high praise! Delicious food. Varied menu. Fantastic and friendly service. Fun and warm atmosphere. Reasonably priced. Great location (although not a ton of parking if you have to drive). I've had savory items on the menu, like omelets, which were great. As well as their cloud pancakes which were so delicious. Highly recommend. I've ordered them to-go as well, and the food was packaged well and tasted just as good.

Lawrencia L.

Yelp
Loved the manager who worked there, I'm not sure of his name, but he was attentive and very friendly. The service overall was great, but there were a few times our server disappeared. The food was okay but not memorable. I will try it again and order something different. I do like that they give you a record to hold as you are waiting for your table.

Elizabeth G.

Yelp
My three favorite things about the dream café where the amazing country Benedict's and pitcher or mimosas we ordered. The country Benedict play it was fairly big, I ended up not finishing it all - I also paired it with a tropical smoothie that the waitress suggested and it was so delicious! Yes for the vitamin C However, I have to knock down two stars for the sad excuse of an avocado toast we were served - it was a literal piece of wheat bread lightly warmed up with avocado sliced on the top and a flick red peppers. Like I teleported out of my body when I saw the avocado toast that neither my cousin nor I ended up even eating. I'm crying just thinking about it. A whole crime.

Michaela P.

Yelp
Beat the rush on a Sunday morning at 10 am, but we had to sit outside under the heaters. Ordered a regular mimosa, Diet Coke and coffee plus our entrees all at the same time. Mimosa came within a couple of minutes, entrees arrived less than 10 minutes after--made us wonder if they were really ours. Waitress arrived several minutes later with the drinks and was surprised we had our food already. Hash browns were under seasoned, Crab cakes Benedict were mediocre and under seasoned. Chicken and waffles were a bit dry, not very seasoned either. Perhaps an off day, might try again next time I'm in town. Could not check in on the app or take pics, phone was broken

Maraj P.

Yelp
Aesthetically pleasing but that's all. Came to visit from out of town and landed on this place for Mother's Day and my birthday. There was a man I assumed to be the owner he was so bubbly and friendly and eccentric. It surprisingly wasn't busy but after being seated and not greeted for about five minutes I started to get impatient. Especially being seated by the sever station and witnessing them be annoyed with still being sat. They were also chatting about life which isn't a big deal. But to witness them not want to take care of us was super off putting. Especially when I came ready to spend in my good Versace! Needless to say I left after about 8 minutes.

Brian Z.

Yelp
Wonderful staff, wonderful food, wonderful management. I loved the mimosas with the fruit ice. Goes great with Dream Cakes!

Aleyssi A.

Yelp
For being open for 24 hrs, it's way more personable than an ihop or dennys. It's like a homey place to go to after prom or something lol food is okay, wouldn't really recommend for a first date.

Amrita J.

Yelp
Stopped by Dream Cafe for brunch before heading out of town, and wasn't overly impressed by the place itself. It's a really small location, we sat outside on the patio and it was actually kind of annoying, because they had these crows flying around as we were eating, and landing on the table and stuff. It was so ghetto. Like they maybe needed to have better siding and an enclosed patio to prevent that. Nobody wants unwanted birds and creatures joining them for a meal when they weren't invited. LoL Luckily the food was good. I thoroughly enjoyed my egg scrambler popover with goat cheese , spinach and and hash browns. The taste was good,but the presentation gets a thumbs up from me as well. The mimosas were good and strong so that helped too. I had a pineapple one, and it came with mostly champagne with a splash of pineapple, just the way I like it....haha! Overall I'd go back but maybe sit inside next time. Because the food was good enough to have me return!

Audrey H.

Yelp
Not my favorite spot so far. We went on a Sunday and waited a very long time for both a table and our food. Server was very sweet, but clearly restaurant was struggling to keep up with volume. Food was okay, though nothing special. BUT very cute interior with patio seating available.

Rachel S.

Yelp
The decor and music create the perfect relaxed but upscale ambience. The beignets are soft and pillowy, delicious. I got the huevos rancheros, I've had better but this did not disappoint. Can't wait to try the rest of the brunch menu! A brunch is incomplete without a mimosa. Here you get a dreamosa, champagne with a splash of OJ and juice ice cubes. The service is 10/10 and the staff is attentive and always smiling. Hidden gem in Uptown, just like a dream!