Restaurants in Irving

Though Luna de Noche's menu doesn't stray far from its Mexican roots, the restaurant’s chefs introduce nuanced flavors in all their dressed-up versions of Tex-Mex classics. As staff members make guacamole tableside for patrons, they may add unique ingredients such as pecans, creating a dish that is as distinctive as it is traditional. Even the margaritas—served frozen, on the rocks, or from a hose—build on the classic recipe by incorporating ingredients such as Kahlúa, fresh jalapeño juice, or housemade sangria.

Le Peep's focus on breakfast and lunch stems from a decision made more than 40 years ago, when Buddy and Rhoda Waldman opened The Village Pantry in Aspen, Colorado, and—not wanting to miss a half day of skiing—would close the kitchen each day before noon. The duo would continue to tinker with their concept, stare at it through a novelty-sized microscope, and change its name before it eventually migrated to Texas.

Nowadays, the kitchen staff perpetuates the breakfast-crafting tradition by offering omelets, eggs benedict, skillets, and build-your-own pancake options that use ingredients such as walnuts, bacon, pineapple, and chocolate chips. Traditional dishes are augmented with unique twists, such as the Gooey Buns, english muffins broiled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and almonds and served with a signature side of Mom's Sassy Apples. During midday hours, a variety of salads, burgers, and sandwiches parades out of the kitchen accompanied by smoothies, juices, or Mother Parkers coffee. Le Peep's catering service delivers breakfast and lunch fare to homes, events, or filibustered neighborhood-watch meetings.

From the ninth floor, sweeping views of Arlington’s entertainment district fill the windows at Cacharel Restaurant. Cacharel’s menus list an array of steaks and seafood entrees to accompany the panorama, which includes views of Rangers Ballpark, Cowboys Stadium, and acres of trees planted between them so the buildings would stop fighting. Pale earth tones and plenty of natural light decorate the space as the staff exits the kitchen bearing swordfish piccata, center-cut pork rib chops, and 13 oz. grilled new york strip steaks. At the other end of the restaurant, views of serpentine roller coasters glimmer in the twilight as the staff tempts diners with homemade desserts. The Grand Ballroom portrays the same picturesque scenery through its seventh-floor windows and can be rented for weddings, meetings, and other gerunds.

Flames shoot skyward, then disappear into the ether. Soon they reappear, several feet from where they first emerged. They're not caused by invisible volcanoes or a dragon puffing out his birthday candles. Instead, they stem from saganaki, a cheese that's set ablaze tableside. This brandy-fueled display is just one of the rousing events at Stratos Greek Taverna. Here, cooks rub racks of lamb with fragrant oregano and slice gyro meat from a large rotisserie. Layers of spinach, feta, and phyllo dough form dramatic towers of spanakopita, one of the restaurant's many homemade dishes.

The food isn't the only source of excitement. Three nights a week, belly dancers teach guests to gyrate atop the eatery's tables and wooden dance floor. DJs fill the dining room with melodies on a regular basis, and the Dallas String Quartet harmonizes here on some nights. Guests can also explore a double-decker patio swathed in starlight and the sweet scent of honey-cinnamon baklava.

A spacious and casual gathering spot, Big Shots Sports Café is where visitors can stretch out, watch the game, and have a burger and beer. The staff will also agree that it’s the kind of place supposed founder Millard P. Foonswaggle would have enjoyed, kicking back after wrestling pythons and generally living on the edge. Inside, patrons sidle up to the bar for a frozen margarita or relax in a booth with an appetizer platter piled with onion strings, buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, pickle chips, fries, and fried jalapeños. Stop in on Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday nights for games of Texas hold’em or Friday evenings for live music.

The aroma of catfish filets frying in the kitchen wafts through Catfish Sam's and unites with the scents of hand-breaded-shrimp appetizers and charbroiled rib-eye steaks. Each table comes dressed with complimentary sides, including no-fat pinto beans, coleslaw, housemade yeast rolls, hush puppies, and green-tomato relish.