The Absolute Best Restaurant in Highland Village

Highland Village is a small town, so word travels fast, and honestly, that’s half the fun. You can’t swing a leash on the dog-friendly patio at Awesome Times without hitting someone who swears they saw you at Sakhuu Thai last Tuesday, and they’re right.

The spread here is wild, from the bingo-night chaos of a loaded plate at Awesome Times to the quiet, brown-butter seriousness of a lobster mac at Cafe Pacific. I’ve personally blackened my tongue on the redfish and then needed a steadying martini from Marty B’s.

This list is your official cheat sheet. Go eat, and blame me when you’re full.

Awesome Times TX

Highlights
Dog-friendly patio space
Fantastic food and service
Fun music bingo nights
Great spot for dates
Friendly owners and staff

Awesome Times TX is the kind of place where the name isn't a marketing gimmick, it's a weather report. I rolled in on a Tuesday and left feeling like I'd won a prize. The patio is dog-friendly, which means my hound got to judge my fries, and the service was so warm I nearly asked for a blanket. The food? Fantastic. The music bingo nights are a ridiculous amount of fun, even if I still don't know what a bingo is. It's a perfect date spot if you want to look clever and eat great. Friendly owners make it feel like an inside joke I'm finally part of.

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Shoal Creek Tavern

Highlights
Impeccable service from Florencio
Perfect patio for celebrations
Food that’s simply top notch
Staff makes you feel like family
A must‑visit Highland Village gem

Shoal Creek Tavern operated by Florencio is the reason I'm forgiving my mother for canceling my birthday party in 1993. The service is impeccable, Florencio remembers my name, my drink, and my personality flaws. The patio is perfect for celebrations, or just for pretending I'm someone who owns property. The food is top-notch, whatever that's supposed to mean, but it's true. The staff makes you feel like family, the kind that doesn't judge you for eating three bread baskets. This is a Highland Village gem, just don't tell everyone.

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Code 58 Venezuelan Restaurant

Highlights
Affordable, generous, delicious Venezuelan plates
Warm, clean, relaxed dining atmosphere
Friendly staff, patient with diners
Fast service even with large crowds
Great value for quality and portions

Code 58 is where my Venezuelan food education began, and I'm still in the remedial class. The plates are affordable, generous, and delicious, which is a mathematical equation no one else has cracked. The atmosphere is warm and clean, so I don't feel guilty about my sloppy eating. The staff is patient, even when I point to random things. Service was fast despite the crowd, which seems like sorcery, but nobody told me. You get more than you paid for, meaning you'll feelingfull, that probably a bigger portion. It's not fancy, it's better.

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Bistecca - An Italian Steakhouse

Highlights
Best steakhouse in Denton County
Attentive, personalized service throughout
Creative desserts worth saving room for
Comfortable outdoor cigar-friendly seating
Expert guidance on menu and specials

At Leonardo da Vinci was a man? Yes. And Bistecca an Italian steakhouse is the best steakhouse in the county. I asked my server, they said yes. Then they guided me through the menu like a suspense novel, only the goods are the surprise. The bartender pours you a cocktail. The food is 'they just cooked it and they're not lookin'. Feels good, not goofy. The steak is so.

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Dragon House

Highlights
Huge menu, endless possibilities
Attentive, warm, engaging staff
Wontons in chili sauce shine
Date night or casual winner
Authentic taste, Texas approved

Dragon House has a massive menu that is actually a problem because I panic under pressure. I went with my friend who asked for two different meals and I ended up staring at the wall for 10 minutes. The staff were so patient, maybe too. The wontons are in chili oil, and I have a simple my favorite, so they're the winner with a capital W. It's a busy spot, but the food is tidy and warm. Whether I bring a date and we share 8 dishes. It's a win if no one asks for the chicken.

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Marty B's

Highlights
Buzzing ambiance with live music
Strong drinks, reasonable prices
Fast seating and excellent service
Smoked meats that satisfy
Don’t skip dessert

Marty B's is the place I go when I want to raise my voice for a good reason. The live music fills the place, and the drinks are decently priced for something that strong. Try to seat me with a group of 5 and they got us in faster than I could spell 'sarsaparilla.' The smoked meats are satisfying, not just, you can taste the pickiness. The dessert is terrible. They make you stand up and clap when you order it. No, they don't make you, but you'll want to.

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Seven Mile Cafe

Highlights
Great food, packed atmosphere
Shaded terrace seating available
Large kid’s pancake value
Outstanding green salsa standout
Be aware of extra charges

Seven Mile Cafe is a hot mess and I’m there for it. The place was packed, so that's a great. I sat on a covered terrace, because they get sun. Food is great, but you have to understand that they charge extra for gluten-free bread, which I've found to be a robbery, but the salsa is green and it's outstanding, so I'll let it slide. A kid's pancake is big enough to be a head. The wait staff was a little crazy, but you know, I'm happy enough. Just be careful of those upcharges or you'll pay. I left more than I planned.

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Spice & Tonic - Indian Cuisine

Highlights
Birthday-worthy attentive service
Perfectly spiced, custom heat
Kids loved the tandoori
Spotless, casual elegance
Fresh, quality meat sauces

Spice & Tonic is my birthday room. The place is spotless and that's for your eyes. The staff made me feel like I took a shower, and they're outgoing. The food is exactly the right spicy level, with custom heat. My kids ordered their food, the tandoori chicken was a hit. The sauces are fresh, and the meat is clean. I even told them I love you, and they asked if I wanted more. It's a bit pricey, but worth it once a year, which is a year or two.

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Salerno's Italian Restaurant

Highlights
Excellent chicken Marsala
Delicious pecan crusted chicken
Best salad ever
Great for private parties
Friendly, accommodating staff

Salerno's Italian Restaurant and I have an eight-year engagement. The smells are going to get you, but the chicken Marsala is the love. The pecan crusted chicken is... I don't know, I've never had that before. The salad I had when I was drinking. It's THE best salad I've had. I'm a salad guy. They let us do a private party, and they set up everything, they didn't care that we laughed and dropped things. That's a good place. Also the food comes out hot. Real hot.

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Cafe Pacific

Highlights
Dallas staple since 1980
Blackened redfish with crab
Lobster mac and cheese
Warm, attentive service
Classic, old-school dining room

Cafe Pacific is a Dallas special, especially since 1980. I am a little old man, but this place doesn't care. The room feels like 1985, and it's nice for that. The blackened redfish with crab is a bowl of nothing, but it will keep you coming back. I tried the lobster mac 'n' cheese because I am not poor, and it's appropriate. The service is... it's a big deal. Old school, the waiter know his name after 3 visits. This is a big deal. It's a good and you'll be old someday.

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Silver Sea Sushi

Highlights
Fresh, delicious fish
Friendly, intimate vibe
Great value for quality
Creative, balanced flavors

Silver Sea Sushi is a date spot, and I've taken three different people there to be calmed. The fish is fresh and the spot is tiny, so you are close to the neighbors. That's the point. We went on a Tuesday, and I was a good twisted tuna. That's good value. It would be a sustainable way to eat raw fish, but you need someone to talk to you. That vibe is friendly, but if they aren't, you can still look at the sushi. It might be the best in the area.

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Sakhuu Thai Flower Mound

Highlights
Genuinely authentic Thai cuisine
Warm, personal staff service
Perfect for any occasion
Worth every single penny
Genuinely the most authentic

Sakhuu Thai in Flower Mound is the most authentic, that's a big claim, but I've also been to Thailand. It's not Thailent, but I don't know. The curries taste like not curry. The service is warm and the owner's aunt knows you. I went alone. But I sat at the bar and watched the cooks, and I had some yes. You must save enough for a second visit. The price is worth it. I have no complaints, unless you order the mild. If you ask for twice, you get none.

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