Chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Photo by Mark Davis.
Coconut cream pie. Photo by Mark Davis.
Since 1971, Celebration Restaurant has been serving up comfort food with a conscience. Much of the food is locally sourced,
the ground beef is grass-fed, chickens are raised in pastures, and a farmer’s market fills the parking lot weekly throughout the summer. “I think our emphasis has always been fresh everything,” says founder and owner Ed Lowe, who references Celebration’s vegetables and made-from-scratch grub. “The big story is the people. The people are what make Celebration what it is,” Lowe says. “It’s a home away from home. People have been coming here for 40 years,” says James Wilkinson, who started as a server and now works as general manager. During those 40 years, weddings, first dates and other memories have been made within the stony walls.
4503 W. Lovers, 214.351.5681
Ambiance: Homey
Price range: $9-$16
Did you know? Celebration grows its own rosemary and thyme.
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This family-owned restaurant, started in 1958 by a mom raising daughters, offers breakfast and lunch. Local favorites include the gravy and fried chicken. Some advice from Mama on the restaurant’s website: “Eat your peas and get dessert,” and it is certainly worth it, as desserts include peach cobbler, chocolate pie and coconut meringue. 2610 Royal, 972.241.8646
2 Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen
For high-end Southern food, Rathbun’s hits the spot. Chef Kent Rathbun, who runs several local restaurants, focuses on local ingredients and elegant comfort food. Popular dishes include brussel sprouts and, of course, chicken. Order a house-made flatbread pizza at dinner and get half off a bottle of wine. 6130 Luther, 214.890.1103
A milkman who couldn’t quite afford a new sign bought this restaurant, once the location of Ken’s Kitchen, in 1962. Kel’s prides itself on its salad dressing, homemade banana pudding, yeast rolls, buttermilk biscuits and fresh produce chosen daily at farmers markets. The Belgian waffles come with your choice of toppings, and breakfast is served all day. 5337 Forest, 972.458.7221
