Welcome to "The Monday Mention", a weekly feature where I highlight several local businesses in a Dallas/Fort Worth neighborhood or shopping center. There are tons of great restaurants, coffee spots and businesses around the metroplex, so I'll spend some time each week visiting these neighborhoods, interviewing managers and business owners and sharing my favorite experiences in the form of "mentions".
My latest Monday Mention takes us to Lakewood Village in Lakewood, located in East Dallas near White Rock Lake. Lakewood Village is the shopping center on the southeast corner of Mockingbird and Abrams. There are so many good restaurants and coffee shops in Lakewood and East Dallas, with many of them located within walking distance to Lakewood Village and the Mockingbird/Abrams intersection. The three spots I've decided include in my Monday Mention are Hudson House, Taco Joint & Merit Coffee. Enjoy!!
#1 Hudson House
Hudson House has quickly become the "go-to" spot in Lakewood and East Dallas. Every time we go to Hudson House for lunch or dinner, it's usually packed, and the host or hostess asks if we have a reservation. Lunchtime is a little easier to find a table, but for dinner, you may want to call ahead and make a reservation, due to it's popularity! Hudson House replaced the old IHOP (which has moved over to Gaston near Grand & Garland Road). Hudson House is owned and operated by Vandelay Hospitality Group, which also owns Drake's, DL Mack's, Slider & Blues, East Hampton Sandwich Co., and much more! They are known for their Raw Bar, which includes fresh oysters and sushi. They also serve the "World's Coldest Martini's"! You can enjoy those and more drinks during their Happy Hours which are 3-6 PM every weekday. My personal favorite menu item is their Cheeseburger, which has been mentioned on several "Best Of" lists for Dallas hamburgers! I also like to get the Chicken Parm, which is served with a spicy fussili a la vodka, making it a bit spicy! For private dining or a space to hold an event, you can reserve their Pineapple Room. Hudson House also has locations in Addison, Fort Worth, Frisco, Highland Park, Las Colinas, Preston Hollow, Rice Village, River Oaks and West Village. Hudson House in Lakewood is open from 11 AM - 9 PM on Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 AM - 10 PM on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 AM - 10 PM on Saturdays and 10 AM - 9 PM on Sundays.
#2 Taco Joint
Taco Joint is one of our family's absolute favorite spots to eat at for breakfast, lunch or dinner! We love going their with our kids for a few reasons: the food is great, the prices are affordable, our kids love chips and queso and there are usually a ton of other families with kids there as well. They are open from 6:30 AM - 9 PM every weekday, and from 8 AM - 9 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Recently, they covered their patio and added more seating outside, which is a huge plus when the weather gets nicer in the spring/summer. My favorite menu items to order are the Chorizo Egg & Cheese Tacos, the Taco Joe's Chilaquiles and The Lester Taco, which has a flour tortilla layered with refried beans folded around a crispy taco with meat, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. It's incredible! Taco Joint also has other locations around the metroplex, including Lake Highlands, Inwood, Frisco, Wylie, Plano, Addison, Peak Street and Preston Center. If you haven't been to Taco Joint yet, you're missing out!
#3 Merit Coffee
Merit Coffee is is a fairly new coffee spot addition to Lakewood, but one that is already extremely popular with coffee enthusiasts. According to their website, "since 2009, Merit has been committed to one simple idea: better coffee, shared in community. From the start, our cafés have been places to pause – whether to get work done, connect with friends, or simply find a moment of quiet in the middle of the day." They offer everything, from Cappuccinos to Iced Lattes to Espresso to Iced Matcha to a variety of Teas. They also serve pastries and a variety of incredible breakfast items as well! They are open from 6 AM - 7 PM every weekday, 7 AM - 7 PM on Saturdays and 7 AM - 6 PM on Sundays! It's a nice change of pace to go work, meet a friend or grab some coffee to go!
Other businesses located in Lakewood Village include Lovers Pizza & Pasta, Ginger Thai, Bodega Wine, Creation Station Dance, Knit Dallas, Fossil Creek Liquor, Dallas Pet Den, Lakewood Growler, Jackson Hewitt, Cloud 9 Nail Spa, Merle Norman, The Hive Salon, Dollar Tree, ASI Gymnastics, Sherwin Williams Paint, TCBY, Savoy Chiropractic, House of Skin & Health, Pilates Unlimited, Lakewood Dental Group, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate, Stafford Cleaners, Poké Bop & Subway!
Thank you for following my Monday Mentions! Be on the lookout for more great restaurant recommendations and business highlights each week!