Trinh T.
Yelp
National Anthem is Dallas restauranteur Nick Badovinus's latest restaurant (Desert Racer, Montlake Cut, Town Hearth, Neighborhood Services, Brass Ram, and OSK (RIP)). It has a similar menu to Neighborhood Services, but with a more casual, upbeat vibe. National Anthen is a place to go for a great food and drinks with friends.
My Overall Rating - 5 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Food, Return)
Atmosphere - National Anthem's is located in a very cool wedge building in downtown Dallas where Commerce and Jackson St. meet. The entrance is at the front of the wedge where you'll find some outdoor seating. Inside, you'll walk into an impressive bar with lounge seating on the sides. It's bright and white on the inside, very busy, and full of energy. 1 Star.
Service - All servers at Nick Badovinus's restaurants are expertly trained. There are many off menu items, which our server shared in detail from memory. They are a team that works together, running out food, clearing dishes, or checking up on us. Outstanding. 1 Star.
Food - I love the food at Nick Badovinus's restaurants, and National Anthem is no different. Some of the menu items are similar, like the excellent Fish & Chips. I've had this at Neighborhood Services, and it's quite good. The battered and fried fish is tender and flaky, but the real star of this dish are the seasoned shoestring fries that I prefer dipping into the tartar sauce vs. catsup. But what really separates National Anthem from the other restaurants are the energy and vibe from the bar. I've had some of the best drinks from Brass Ram upstairs, and National Anthem is just as good, but much more accessible. 2 Stars.
Will I Return? - Yes. We have another winner. I really enjoyed my visit to the National Anthem. I will be back to try the burger (and maybe have another drink). 1 Star.
My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts):
1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm.
1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point.
2 Stars - Food - I'll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the food.
1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return.
Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score.