By: Elizabeth Ludrick and Lauren Niebes Date Posted: 12/4/2007 Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend

It’s that time of year again when we unveil the results of our annual Best for Families survey. You’ve had your say; we’ve tallied the votes; and now we present the most up-to-date compendium of Dallas’ favorites, across a wide variety of categories. We pride ourselves on bringing you the best for your family. But, don’t take our word for it! As we close 2007, here’s what your peers had to say about the best of Big D:

The family that dines together….
If there’s one thing Dallasites are well versed in, it’s dining out. From fuss-free to international flavors, Uptown to Frisco, here are your choices for the best places to bring your family together over food:

Kid-friendly, upscale dining: Cantina Laredo/Cheesecake Factory (tie)
You don’t limit your kid-friendly restaurant choices to venues with a ball pit. For a night out with the kids, Cantina Laredo and the Cheesecake Factory satisfy everyone. Cantina Laredo’s fun Mexican fare and Cheesecake Factory’s endless menu mean everyone leaves happy.

Cheap eats: Café Express/Purple Cow (tie)
Sometimes, you need a good, quick meal on the cheap. And for that, you have Café Express and the Purple Cow to thank. Dallasites flock to Café Express (now in Plano, too) for easy take-out options, and perennial favorite Purple Cow is a your can’t-miss gem for burgers and shakes (and trains!).

Most original kids’ menu: Café Express
There’s something about Café Express’s kids’ menu that satisfies your little ones every time. Traditional burgers, grilled cheese and chicken tenders taste irresistibly homemade. Like mom would make … if only the kids weren’t so crazy about Café Express!

Vegetarian/organic options: Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market has gone from the domain of serious greensters to mainstream family market in a matter of years. Now, healthy families rely on Whole Foods for the best variety in vegetarian and organic options. Plus, who can resist the colors and flavors of locally grown produce — a Whole Foods staple?

Ready-made meals: Whole Foods Market
Ready-made meals have become indispensable to busy families. Thankfully, you rely on Whole Foods Market for these quickies, also. The Prepared Foods department allows hurried moms and dads to pick up a healthy lunch or dinner (even sushi), plus an extensive choice of sides to make everyone happy.

Pizza: Campisi’s
Campisi’s Pizza has been a Dallas institution since 1946. With a storied history (notorious Jack Ruby dined here in 1963) and spot-on Italian family recipes, Campisi’s is your choice for best pies in the area.

Best place to introduce sushi: Tokyo One
OK, you love a good spider roll, but how do you turn your kids on to the joys of healthy, fresh sushi? It’s easy at Tokyo One, in Dallas, your choice for best kid-friendly sushi spot. Little ones can select their own (with your expert guidance) from the extensive buffet bar.


Party over here; Party over there…
You know what makes a party memorable: food, fun and loved ones. But, you’ve also learned a thing or two about those little extras that make a good party grand. Whether you need a tent, 12-dozen treats, or just a place to party, here are your top-notch party resources:

Party rentals: Ducky Bob’s
When you throw a party, you know just who to call to make it happen. Ducky Bob’s has been a consistent DallasChild reader favorite for years. From tents to tabletops and chairs, Ducky Bob’s makes your event a VIP-worthy affair by providing all the necessities with exquisite touches.

Party entertainment: Chuck E. Cheese
You’ve named Chuck E. Cheese as your top spot for party entertainment, and who are we to argue with success. The kids love the manic mouse, and mom and dad get to kick back and dispense the game tokens (in a secure environment). What’s not to love?

Bakery: Society Bakery
Our readers sure know where to find the sweet stuff. Relatively new on our pastry radar, Greenville Avenue’s Society Bakery produces whimsical, custom cakes, to-die-for cookies, petit-fours, and cupcakes that satiate your sweet tooth and are the icing on any party’s cake.

Party spot: Pump It Up
Pump It Up’s inflatable indoor playgrounds are blowing up across North Texas, and they’re your top choice for party spot. Parents love the ease of these self-contained parties (you bring the cake!), and kids just love bouncing ‘til they drop. The aforementioned Chuck E’s tied for your favorite.


On the map…
Every family has its favorite neighborhood; its little pocket of the city for home, school and family life. But, from downtown to Frisco, and all points in between, DallasChild readers have their favorite city spots — those places that put Dallas on the map for culture, fun and recreation.

Shopping center: NorthPark Center
It’s hard to beat NorthPark Center for shopping in Big D. Recent additions like Cartier, Giorgio Armani and True Religion Brand Jeans cement its spot in our retail hall of fame. And, doing your shopping surrounded by the collected modern art works of Ray Nasher doesn’t diminish the experience of your retail therapy, either!

Sports team: Dallas Cowboys
They’ve always been America’s Team, but this year’s Dallas Cowboys team is really putting on a show. You’ve loved them through thick and thin, and that’s why the ‘Boys are your choice for favorite local sports team.

Family-friendly town: Frisco
Some cities are just made for families. Maybe that’s why you declared the northerly hamlet of Frisco as best place to raise yours. With seemingly equal parts entertainment, culture and dining, Frisco is at once charming and modern. Whether you catch a soccer game at Pizza Hut Park or peruse the singular modern art collection at the Hall Office Park, nearly 100,000 residents have chosen Frisco for work, life and play.

Big D event/festival: State Fair of Texas
Maybe we’re biased, but we Texans know we have the best state fair in the country. And you seem to agree, naming the State Fair of Texas your favorite Big D event. True, the Fair never disappoints, but the addition this year of the Texas Skyway just adds to the fun of this month-long fall fest.

Cultural spot: Dallas Museum of Art
For world-class visual art, exhibits and kids’ activities, families flock to the Dallas Museum of Art. The Late Nights series is a perennial favorite, with arts, crafts and music (not to mention coffee) for the whole family. And the museum’s mascot, Arturo, entertains kids with art-themed events, stories and even online activities.

Fair-weather family hangout: Dallas Arboretum
North Texas is fortunate with its long summers and mild winters, and that makes the Dallas Arboretum your top pick for outdoor amusement. The various gardens bloom year round, so it’s always an idyllic spot for picnics, strolls or the family portrait you’ve always dreamed of.

Rainy-day family hangout: Dallas World Aquarium
When the weather drives us indoors, the Dallas World Aquarium is the place to explore. The aquarium showcases different habitats from across the globe, from the oceans surrounding four continents, to the rainforests of Brazil, and even a South African lagoon. It’s like a trip around the world — in one afternoon.


Lifestyles of the young and Texan …
Your kids have their favorite local haunts, too. From begged-for story time to beloved playground, here are the top attractions for the youngest Dallasites.

Kids’ fitness: Little Gym
Little Gym has been the name to trust in kids’ athletics for years, so it’s no surprise you’ve named it the best place for kids to get fit and get the wiggles out. With programs and exercise devoted more to motor skills and fitness than competitive sports, maybe that’s why kids find the Little Gym so much fun.

Kids’ hair salon: Cool Cuts 4 Kids
Nothing can ruin the start of second grade like an unfortunate hair cut. That’s why local moms and kids trust the stylists at Cool Cuts 4 Kids to tame young manes. Cool Cuts makes sure the kids stay entertained with games and movies, and the snips go smoothly. The results? Sophisticated styles and 100% satisfaction.

Story time: University Park Public Library
Where will you find Dallas’ young literary set? At the University Park Public Library each Thursday morning at 10:45am. Our readers agree: The UP library boasts the best story time in town.

Children’s theater: Dallas Children’s Theater
All the world’s a stage … and the Dallas Children’s Theater lives by this mantra, as the only professional, family-oriented theater in North Texas. The theater has entertained Dallas families hoping to raise young patrons of the arts for 23 years, and has given stage time to many young thespians.

Park/outdoor playground: Caruth Park/Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (tie)
What can we say? Kids know a great playground when they see one. For baseball, soccer, tennis, fishing and more, University Park’s Caruth Park is your favorite for outdoor amusement. With two separate playgrounds for little kids and bigger kids, the park covers all its bases. Tying Caruth Park for the top spot is the extensive playground facility at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.

Indoor play space: Galleria Dallas
Shopping for the perfect pair of jeans with mom would make anyone a little restless. That’s why you’ve named the Galleria Dallas’ play space the best indoor play facility. The soft structures on the third floor (outside Nordstrom) are the ultimate elixir for letting mom take a breather from all the shopping while the little ones blow off some steam.

Need a big weekend?
There’s a plethora of things to do around town on the weekends, but you narrowed the field by letting us in on your hot spots.

Frozen treats: Paciugo Italian Gelato
You don’t have to go to Italy to experience its famous flavors, just stop by locally-based Pacuigo’s, an Italian gelateria (think a lighter version of ice cream) that serves up over 200 gelato recipes made with the finest ingredients and straight out of native Italians’ minds themselves.

Kid-friendly brunch: Dream Café
For those of you who are organically inclined (well, it’s a good thought at least), you’ll be delighted by Dream Café’s healthy (and global) approach and family-friendly atmosphere. The Addison location even has a playground for the kids to play while you eat. Two locations make it easy access for you and your family.

Local family getaway: Dallas World Aquarium/Fort Worth Zoo (tie)
So you wanna get away for the day, but what to do and where to go? You voted the Fort Worth Zoo and the Dallas World Aquarium as a fantastic family diversion in town, both exposing you to other countries and continents with habitats and species from around the world.

Family-friendly vacation spot/Texas Getaway: San Antonio
So what’s so great about our neighboring Spanish-influenced city to the South? Plenty! What’s not to love about a city with a River Walk, the Alamo (Texas’ ultimate symbol of freedom), and Sea World? Family-friendly and beautiful, it’s understandable why it’s been voted as the best family vacation spot in Texas.

Movie theater: AMC NorthPark
One of the latest, and now the greatest movie theater in town with its view of NorthPark’s CenterPark, rarely any long lines for popcorn and comfy-cozy seats with armrests that lift. There’s even automated box offices in front of the real thing if you want to avoid the lines, and cut to the chase (in the movie).


Grown-up enrichment …
You devote most of you waking hours to your kids, but what about you? Who do you turn to for babysitting, pampering and to just get away? Here’s what you said…

Babysitting service: Mom’s Best Friend
Mom’s Best Friend will find you anything from a personal chef, to an executive housekeeper and everything in between. But looking after your little ones is what you voted them the crème de la crème for. Now what can be better than having someone find the right sitter (or maybe a personal assistant) for you? Now, that really is a mom’s best friend.

Date-night restaurant: Nobu
They don’t call Dallas “Big D” for nothing. It’s go big or go home here, and the chosen “date night” restaurant is no exception. Nobu is one of the top Japanese and sushi restaurants in the world, with outposts in London, Melbourne, Milan, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. Dallas knows how to do it right when it comes to dining.

Place for pampering: The Spa at the Crescent
Feel like being a pampered princess for a day? Head to the Spa at the Crescent, where they will treat you like royalty with their worldly treatments and accomplished therapists. Whether it’s to cleanse you skin or to rejuvenate and relax, you’ll find what you need … a mommy break.


Shop like a rock star …
One might say that Dallas is the “New York” of the south as far as shopping is concerned. So with over 340 square miles of land in the Dallas area, we thought you’d like to know where to go first in terra firma filled with ample spending opportunities.

Children’s wear: Gap Kids and Gap Baby
When it comes to the basics … Gap has you covered, which is why we suspect you’ve named them the place to shop for kids’ clothes. Whether it’s the classics that you’re chasing or trends that you’re tracking down, Gap is your store of choice.

Sunday best/Nursing lounge: Nordstrom
Two-time winner, Nordstrom, is where you go to find your kids’ “Sunday best,” whether it be for church, a social or maybe a family night out at a musical play in Fair Park. Nordstrom also has the best nursing lounge in town for those still nurturing their newborns. Big couches and hidden spaces make it easy to keep your baby fed on the go.

Children’s shoes: Stride Rite
The specialty shoe store, Stride Rite, tops the list of kids’ shoe shops on our radar. Their shoes are manufactured to withstand the wear and tear kids inflict on their shoes with the rough and tumble antics they pull on the playground (and sometimes at home).

Furniture: Pottery Barn
Want a family-friendly home with a family-friendly design? Pottery Barn has the answer, according to your votes. With as many styles and options to make a house a home as store locations, Pottery Barn (and its offspring Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Baby) is the answer to many a family’s furnishing conundrums.

Independent toy store: Froggie’s 5 & 10
A Dallas landmark for many, many years, Froggie’s is where it’s at for whimsical accessories and toys that take you back to your childhood! It’s not your everyday toy store, which makes it all the better. It has a vintage charm that only an independent could have.

Best deal on kids’ clothes: Once Upon a Child
Sometimes, it’s just not worth buying new clothes every two weeks when your little one hits a big growth spurt. Besides, they’ll probably drip ketchup all over the new clothes anyway. Your vote for best place to buy “hand-me-downs” is Once Upon a Child. With more than 205 stores across the country, you can be sure you’ll find what you’re looking for, be it furniture, clothes or toys.


Baby your babies …
With an apparent baby boom going on (well, at least in Hollywood), you can never have enough help guiding you to the biggest (although not always) and the best places to buy for and care for your newest addition to the family.

Place to have a baby: Baylor University Medical Center
Baylor takes the cake this year for mommies and their babies. You voted it the best hospital to have a baby, to meet work-at-home and stay-at-home moms, place for unique baby gifts, breastfeeding-friendly workplace and parent/baby class. Whether it is preparing, having or caring for you babies, Baylor is best according to your votes.

Maternity clothes: Pickles & Ice Cream/A Pea in the Pod (tie)
It’s a known fact that maternity clothes aren’t the most appealing to a woman with a keen sense of style. Two stores that break the mold, according to you, are Pickles & Ice Cream and A Pea in the Pod, who tied this year for the Best Maternity Clothes honor.

Doula/Midwife: Anna Marie Nelson
You voted Anna Marie Nelson the best of the best, as far as doulas are concerned. A certified doula, registered massage therapist, Lamaze certified childbirth educator (let’s just say she very qualified) and much more, she’ll make sure that your delivery is as smooth and safe as possible. The three-peat winner is also there for you and your baby postpartum.

Place to stock up on baby essentials: Babies ‘R Us
Where better to stock your nursery than the baby superstore? You voted Babies ‘R Us as the place to pick up the baby necessities. It’s a one-stop shop for just about everything on your list.


Make connections…
It’s good to be connected, especially with other moms. But where do you go to find them? Don’t go anywhere … meet them from through your laptop with mom networking sites. Here’s what local moms have bookmarked.

Best place to connect with local moms: Mamasource.com
Whether it’s online or in person, this site tops the charts of where to meet other local moms according to your votes. Chat with other mothers to get “been there, done that” advice, or just to get the latest scoop about mothering.