How to Be Frenchy in Dallas
While we don’t have a French district or dedicated area in town, there are many spots where you can soak up a little French culture (or at least food!) in Dallas.
I’ve been paying attention to this lately, because I started taking French language lessons at the Alliance Française de Dallas in January. So, let’s start there.
Alliance Française de Dallas
10830 N Central Expressway, No. 252
afdallas.org
The Alliance is a non-profit cultural and learning center at Royal and Central Expressway, which promotes Francophone culture and cross-cultural dialogue. In addition to year-round language classes for children and adults, the center also host many events from film screenings to social hours. The staff is comprised of native French speakers.
Boulangerie
1921 Greenville Ave.
villagebakingco.com
Another fave is the Village Baking Company’s Boulangerie on lower Greenville.
That fresh-baked aroma of hand-kneaded bread and just-out-of-the-oven pastries will hit you when you walk in. Loaves of pain, aka bread, in the form of thin and crispy crusted loaves and baguettes are available as well as a wide assortment of pastries, brioche, croissants, tarts, eclairs, kouign amann, cookies, and little cakes until they sell out every day.
Whisk Crêpes Café
1888 Sylvan Ave., No. F120
whiskdallas.com
Whisk Crêpes Café at Sylvan Thirty was created and is operated by a legitimate Parisian. This is the spot to get an authentic French crêpe of the savory or sweet variety. The café offers a regular menu plus daily specials and seasonal choices and throws in some Texas-themed options, for fun. The restaurant also caters for that onsite, live crêperie experience.
Anne Fontaine
90 Highland Park Village
annefontaine.com/new-arrivals
You may visit Anne Fontaine in Highland Park Village to stock up on French wardrobe staples. The boutique originated and is still based in France. The French take their presentation seriously and always manage to look chic – even in casual or relaxed environments.
Cadot
18111 Preston Road, No. 120
cadotrestaurant.com
For a French restaurant experience, try Cadot. Chef Jean-Marie Cadot offers proper French food at Preston and Frankford. Lovely for a nice dinner, and the place is also open weekdays for lunch.
Salut!
