Bijoux, Dallas

Fine dining doesn’t have to be stuffy. Take the interior of Bijoux: lots of windows and a white-and-grey color scheme give off an airy feel, while soft carpets and chenille chairs were clearly designed for comfort. And being at ease is exactly how you should approach the French-inspired food, which spans from the playful (duck schnitzel) to the just plain decadent (slow-braised veal cheeks). As for dessert, each plate comes with a heaping of artistry, as seen with the flourless chocolate cake served with a single, neat scoop of Chambord ice cream. The concept comes from the husband-and-wife team of Scott and Gina Gottlich—the former is a chef who occasionally hosts classes; the latter, a sommelier who recommends knockout wine pairings.