Driving down McKinney, I almost passed by a seemingly average restaurant with a simple white sign and small parking lot. I had heard only the very best reviews from those friends of mine who frequent La Duni, but had yet to try it myself.
I was a little deterred by the parking (be prepared to do a little walking if you don’t want to valet). But the minute I walked through the door, I sensed the elegant ambiance and sophisticated style of this trendy local eatery.
The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and walking in on the spur of the moment on a Friday night I was sure, even for a party of two, that I was going to wait for hours. I had my heart set, though, and decided to put my name on the list with a wait time of 45 minutes.
Pleasantly surprised, I took my buzzer and headed for the bar watching the large groups of fellow SMU students, with some familiar faces in the crowd, enter the restaurant in dresses to enjoy a nice dinner before heading off to formal.
The other parties seemed to be small family gatherings, girls’ nights out and more intimate dates with laughter and pleasant voices permeating the small room.
At the bar, my date decided it was a must to try one of the award-winning and highly celebrated cocktail, the mojito, while taking in the feel of the place. The beautiful wedding cakes on display, traditional music, dim lighting, and captivating aroma of the cuisine made the wait feel more like an experience in itself rather than the usual frustrating feeling of sitting hungry hoping you’re next on the list. But even better, after one drink we were quickly seated inside.
The waiter was pleasant and timely, making the meal that much more enjoyable. After enjoying the complimentary chips and salsa and an appetizer, Provoleta for Two, the main course arrived. I ordered the Quesadillas de Pescado that were served with a side of guacamole, green chili and salsa to make the dish as flavorful as you desire.
After a few courses, I was pretty full and decided to take much of my entrée to go, which made for a great lunch the next day. I made sure to save room for the award-winning desserts, though, to finish off this magical meal.
I ordered the Venezuelan Triple Chocolate Truffle Cake that is sure to appease even the strongest sweet tooth, and it’s definitely enough to split.
I’m not the only one who found this treasure of a restaurant. It was rated among the top five restaurants in Dallas, and it’s Dallas’ only four-star restaurant with entrées under 10 dollars.
Clearly La Duni Latin Café will give you a wonderful dynamic of upscale dining with a relaxing experience, whether you want to dress to kill or be a bit more casual.
Once you experience the intimate and graceful atmosphere you will be hooked. La Duni doesn’t stop there, though. With its bakery, you can order whole cakes and other pastries and even join a cooking class that should be scheduled soon.
