ATTENTION Oak Cliff Foodies
You know who you are.
WE know who you are, too.
It takes one to know one, doesn’t it? And we all know that one of the beauties of living down here in the Cliff is the abundance of small, inexpensive, family-owned restaurants.
Well, welcome the newcomer! Get a group of friends together and head over to the intersection of Ravinia and Clarendon and greet the newest restaurant in the neighborhood, Don Panza.
We were attracted by the sign in the window: Empanadas Argentinas.
And, since it was a relatively cool evening, we were pleased to be able to sit on the patio. It’s the perfect place for people-watching as well as car-watching. We’re still trying to figure out why a long, white, stretch limo passed the corner five times.
Don Panza is clean, clean, clean. As in C-L-E-A-N.
Service was quick and friendly. Our iced tea arrived in just a few minutes. The basket of empanadas arrived several minutes later. We ordered a few each of the spicy beef and the spicy chicken.
Wowza! These babies were served piping hot!
The meat filling was spiced just right. And take a look at the crust: flaky and crunchy. Delicious. Too often, the crust on empanadas is doughy and tough. Not here!
Don Panza serves 30 different pizzas. Next time, we’re going to try the “Americana:” hearts of palm, hard-boiled egg and Argentinian red sauce. Why not? Life is a moveable feast, right? Who knew that hearts of palm could migrate from salad to pizza? Other menu items include wings, tacos, burgers, calzone, bread pudding, and chocolate flancake.
Don Panza is open every day from 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM, so you have no excuse for not trying the place soon.
The family that owns Don Panza moved here several years ago from Argentina. And aren’t we glad they settled in Oak Cliff ?
carla:
ditto! thanks to your great advice we tried Don Panza tonight and it was absolutely delicious! We have a standing Friday night dinner date with several families here in the Cliff, and I’m going to recommend Don Panza for next time. Those pizza’s sound wonderful. I know the empanadas were!!!!
September 20, 2007, 2:06 amMark:
I found your review and checked it out tonight. The food is superb! I had the pizza and empanada. The pizza is cripsy on the bottom, from a stone, and doughy in the middle. The ingredients are top notch. It was one of the best pizza’s I’ve had in Dallas. The empanada were great as well. Ask for the spicy salsa on the side. Everyone in North Oak Cliff and Kessler Park needs to check out this place. They deliver as well.
October 4, 2007, 9:26 pmdave:
Ummmmmmmmmm makes me hungry!
Great site, must stop by more often…
Thanks,
January 2, 2008, 10:34 amDave