The Grill on the Alley
California concept modeled after the grills of New York and San Francisco opened a branch in Dallas at the Galleria in July 2006. They do steaks, seafood and bountiful salads, with a Cali-centric wine list specializing in boutique wineries. It's slightly underrated in Dallas because we're overflowing with steakhouses, but the cosmopolitan atmosphere and California tone to the menu -- for example, one side dish is herbed brown rice with almonds -- sets it apart. Specialties include steak, cedar-planked salmon and the French-dip sandwich.