Abacus - A Revisit

Hello loyal followers!!!! I have missed you. New Job has kept me busy but I'm ready to get back into the swing of things and WiDiDallas!

We'll start with a new review of one of my old favorites, Abacus. After Il Sole closed (oh, I still miss that calamari and osso bucco), Abacus became my favorite restaurant in town. It has since been replaced by The Grape (which is in the hood and more "me" because it's not quite so fancy), but that doesn't mean Abacus still doesn't rank up there for me. Recently, though, I was speaking to another friend about my favorite restaurants in Dallas and he asked me this question when I mentioned Abacus, "Yeah, it's good, but is it still relevant?" Excellent question, J. I was determined to find out.

Now the last time I had dinner at Abacus, I didn't have the best night. Food was just okay and, later that night, I got dumped. Reading my initial review, I realize it was largely a reflection of me being kinda bummed. Not because that relationship was over; I knew we were pretty much doomed from the start (okay, that's probably an exaggeration, but I'm allowed a little poetic license here, I was the dumpee afterall). But as all girls this age all come to realize, the hardest part about any breakup is not the breakup, it's the getting back into the game. Ugh. It's exhausting. But it can be fun. Getting back in the game requires you to try some new things and revisit old favorites. Like, Abacus (see what I did there?).

It was M's birthday and she decided she wanted a very small dinner with just a handful of her closest friends. I am absolutely honored to be included in that very exclusive group. See, if I had it my way, M and I would have never been friends. We were opposing counsel in this case several years ago, and it was a fierce battle. Could I be friends with opposing counsel? Nope, never. But M thought I was one cool chick and made it her mission for us to be friends. So, as I like to tell it, she stalked me until I eventually gave in. See, sometimes I don't make the best decisions and I need someone to tell me the way it's going to be in order for me to make the correct decision. If someone can volunteer to do that in my dating life, I would really appreciate it. :)

I got to Abacus a little early. This girl needed a cocktail and I just love Abacus' bar. I ordered this drink which was basically a vodka gimlet with a malbec floater. Yup, vodka and wine, a delicious combination. And when the malbec started disappearing, the bartender game around with a little more malbec to float on top. I love you, Mr. Bartender.

We had 6:30 reservations but we didn't get sat until about an hour later. It wasn't Abacus' fault. You see, A had run out of gas on the way to the restaurant (rental car) and was a tad delayed. No problem, we understand, said the hostess. But eventually we got hungry and asked to be seated before A got there. She'd be there eventually and there were lobster shooters calling our names.

Now, I don't care if you have celiac disease, try the bread basket at Abacus. You can't go wrong (well, unless you have celiac). There's a piece of bread for everyone. The little bit of truffle butter didn't hurt, either.

We started with the lobster shooters. Yeah! My favorite. A little lobster meatball with sake and scallions. De-licious.

I next ordered the marinated local burrata mozzarella with balsamic caviar, cherry tomatoes and roasted garlic sourdough crostini. It's the perfect spring/summer salad. The mozzarella melted in your mouth and the balsamic caviar had an unexpected sweet flavor. I would definitely order it again. Other small plates which were ordered were the soft shell crab po' boy (which M said was delicious but a little to big for a "small plate") and a mushroom soup.

My entree was the wood grilled Hawaiian walu with sugar snap peas, Wagyu beef dumplings in a white soy-lemongrass broth. I loved it. The walu was slightly overcooked but the dumplings were amazing and the lemongrass broth added such a wonderful flavor. Other entrees ordered were the tandoori spiced venison, the scottish salmon, the scallops, and the rib eye. A little bit of everything. We all made happy plates (well, except for M who was pretty full after the po' boy).

It was a birthday party so, of course, we had to order dessert (birthday girl found room somehow). My pineapple upside down cake was not too sweet (which I was grateful for). There were also creme brulees, ice cream, and chocolate banana mousse cake ordered. The fact that none of us offered to share speaks volumes.

So, J, to answer your question, YES! Abacus is a absolutely still relevant. The food is great, the service is good, and the wine list is respectable, with plenty of well-priced good bottles (we had a Hogue Cabernet for $75). If you are looking for a "special occasion" place, definitely go to Abacus. You won't be disappointed (well, unless you get dumped that night).

Cheers!