Il Bracco Reviews

I don't usually have the opportunity to rave about a meal across the board, but last night was truly exceptional! The ambiance is warm and appealing, albeit somewhat loud, but our table was in a quieter area of the restaurant. Starting with the crispy artichokes which were fried to perfection and served with a dressing on the side which greatly complemented the dish, we went on to order the chicken picatta, the eggplant, the salmon, the trumpet pasta, and finally the tiramasu. Each entree and subsequent dessert exceeded expectations. Friendly staff topped off the evening to make it one of the best dinners we have had in Dallas in a very long time. If you are considering eating here, call weeks ahead for reservations just to make sure. There is ample dining on the patio, with heaters, but this time of year, it's best to eat inside. The menu is not extensive, but what they do is right on the money!

Picturesque a little place, smack dab in the middle of a high end shopping area in Dallas. Plenty of parking plus an outside patio for warmer temps. First and foremost, the industrious, hop-to staff was polite, efficient, accommodating and extremely gracious— One of the most delightful group of girls (in our trip) I have had the pleasure of being attended by. Just Wow!! Never had to ask for more water— I just love that! Prices for lunch were a tad high but given the location, well in keeping with rest of the neighborhood. We started with the meatballs with focaccia bread (and a side of whipped ricotta we added from another appetizer offering); big BIG yum!!! My daughter was so fond , we ordered up another to go. I had the cavatappi with a spicy vodka sauce and fresh basil— delish version of the standard, but not too much heat to dampen the flavors. Could only consume half, with lots left to take home. My daughter had the Caesar salad with chicken—beautifully presented with whole romaine leaves which required cutting, and a tangy Caesar dressing variant (I am guessing a mustard was added??) . Unfortunately, it wasn’t to my daughters liking—the basically untouched dish was removed by our server who offered up an alternative, taking the salad off the bill. Place was PACKED early Saturday for lunch, so if you want a seat, you may want to call ahead.

Very good food, excellent service (once you are seated), and warm, vibrant atmosphere. But, beware that your reservation is not much more than an opportunity to get in line. These folks have been wildly overbooked the last few times we've eaten there. Waits of 20-40 minutes past the time of the reservation have been our experience. (And, there are so many folks at the bar that a drink is out of the question - I kind of wonder about the fire code.) Tonight they blamed our wait on the hot weather. But, July in Dallas is always hot. Best advice is to reserve 8:30pm or later. The wait for folks with reservations seems to be a lot less at that point in the evening. N.B. - After we were forceful in expressing our annoyance, they comped our first drinks. However, the overbooking problem is long standing. So, act accordingly.

We loved it! Our waiter (Jacob) brought us Artichoke Hearts to try since it was our first time - delicious! The meatballs were superb and we thoroughly enjoyed the hamburger and fried chicken sandwich. The vibe of the place was awesome; the service superb and the food was fresh and delicious! We’ll be back!

Great find. Tried at Hillstone but 30 min wait for 2 people on Monday-yes, 4th July Monday but really? So, as we were driving to Corner Bakery, we spied this gem. Jessica was smiling as our bartender and server was super. All welcoming! Hamburger very good with brioche type bun & good hamburger brisket blend am thinking. Chicken piccata wonderful with nice kale salad served with it. Would suggest some other chips for burger but better than some older fries had recently at an upscale eatery. Try this one-you won’t be sorry!

Best Italian restaurant in Dallas! Had a great time at il bracco from the elegant ambiance to our server Brent who was always present when we needed him but not overbearing. I had the special which was osso boco. It was so tender you could cut it with a fork! My girlfriend had the bolognese the fresh made noodles makes the difference.

There were 4 of us, two couples, and we arrived on time for an 8:15pm reservation. We were sent to the bar to wait. A couple in a booth near the bar were trying to watch a small television over the bar, and apparently we blocked their view. Il Bracco is very trendy, it is NOT a sports bar. They were verbally rude, to the extent that one of our party went to the Host stand and advised that we were in a sticky situation, it was very uncomfortable, would they please help. Basically my friend was "blown off". The man in the booth got up and made sure he bumped into my friend. My husband went to the Host stand and again asked for assistance. They did nothing. After 40 minutes waiting for our reservation and two attempts to get help in an uncomfortable situation, the man in the booth body checked my friend. It was clearly intentional. Finally we were getting seated. My husband told the man that he had been totally out of line, he had been an ass. The man in the booth stood and yelled that they should go outside to settle it. Some language followed. Both parties were told to leave the restuarant. We had requested help TWICE, but we were still asked to leave. An example of very poor management, we were insulted to be asked to leave. We should have stayed and waited for the police as my friend was assaulted.

We’ve eaten here twice and had great meals. The place can be noisy but the food is well prepared and generous. It cost $100 for one appetizer , two entres, and two alcoholic beverages.

I returned to il Bracco for another wonderful meal which was only marred by inept handling of online reservations. My friend and I made a last-minute 8:30 pm reservation on a recent mid-week night. The place was jumping, and we weren't seated until 8:55 pm. Based upon the number of people waiting to be seated (and a jammed bar), plus patron comments made on the side, the reservations system is not reliable. I saw two couples who had reservations simply walk out in frustration. Notwithstanding, I give another very high rating to my previous posting, because the food and service continues to be impeccable (and management made up for the late seating by offering a complimentary dessert). We split the Chopped Salad and also the Sea Bass. Both were excellent and substantial enough to feed both of us. The Sea Bass is especially a great choice -- perfectly cooked and lovely presentation. Based upon my prior visit, we skipped drinks and saved a bundle in doing so. Suddenly we were enjoying a good value dinner. Add in the delicious Tiramisu (complimentary thanks to the house), and we walked out very satisfied.

We loved this restaurant! The food was amazing! We were a party of 4 and everyone ordered something different and we all loved our dishes. I had the eggplant Parmesan and it was fantastic! One of the best I’ve had! The cocktails were great as was the wine selection. The service was great! Both the service at the bar and our waiter were delightful and knowledgeable, and helpful. We will definitely return to this restaurant!

Fantastic! I loved every part of my lunch! I especially recommend the crispy artichokes!! Delicious and unlike anything I've ever tried before. I cannot wait to return!

Love the food, ambience and service at this relatively new restaurant in Preston Center. Has quickly become one of my favorites for lunch or dinner!

They don’t honor reservations. They treat you like a walk in that is “on the list.” It used to be nice here but now it’s more like a Chilis. Too bad.

How great it is to get a good Italian Restaurant in Dallas . Great menu and perfect decor for talking and having fun . They have designed the space with sound in consideration ... something most restaurants don’’t do . Great menu and food as well ...

Not perfect but great food, excellent service and fun! A little too loud for my taste but the artichoke starter and Burrata and Caesar Salads were a great place to start. I thought hard about the Sea Bass but went for the pasta and was not disappointed. The homemade pasta dishes were great and pasta cooked perfect al dente! Small but excellent wine list top off the night. It was very crowded but we were seated right away. Bar is very popular and it can get a little too packed but overall great service and good food won us over.

Nicholas the manager set the stage and Allison, our waitress, continued the great service!! Food, wine, and staff treated us wonderfully!! Trendy and very busy restaurant and bar!! Well managed, so things run smoothly and efficiently. Even the restrooms are kept clean and tidy.

There is an outside seating which is good during pandemic. The food is very good and the service as well.

The meatballs are incredible!!! The chicken piccata is so tender and flavorful!! Highly recommended!!!

At the end of the day this place is exceptional because it has great food. The atmosphere is energetic inside and the patio is nicely sound but it does mostly face a parking lot or the corner bakery next door. Did I mention the incredible pastas.. the drinks and desserts and service are also excellent.

We need more authentic Italian restaurants like this in Dallas. Good menu and nice wine list. Server was great. Pastas are all home made with exception of gluten free pasta which is available. Server was really helpful and knowledgeable. Great patio. Only res available was at 6pm. Great to see it crowded and patio packed given it is mid November. Def will be back. Great experience.

Restaurant decor I would describe as elegant simplicity and great art with atmosphere. Outdoor patio is well appointed and will be great for spring evenings. Tasteful with impeccable service. Food was amazing from the artichoke hearts as appetizers, to the Lamb, beef and pork boulliannese( pasta is made in-house). The meatballs were amazing. For dessert we had the panna cotta with blackberry compote which was a great way finish a wonderful dinning experience! Overall a 10 out of 10 experience.

The location is fantastic, the service is excellent and the finish out is beautiful! We went for lunch and our table ordered The Plaza Salad (has a resemblance to The Macho Salad at Honor Bar) and The Chopped Salad (this salad needs a little help - it's pretty bland). I'm hopeful this restaurant is successful and I will be back soon to try the pasta dishes!

great neighborhood gem. the food and service is excellent. very kid friendly as well for the early dinner crowd. the bar is very nice and has great seating. reservations are highly recommended as it is always packed. it can get a little noisy so go early!

Lovely modern decor for this delicious Italian restaurant. Good use of space, including nice bar, outdoor seating, and cozy booths. Steak tartare offering best flavors we’ve ever had. Artichokes good—-not overly breaded—-but perhaps a bit greasy. Entrees good, with great taste. Interesting wine list.

I joined a couple of friends for a mid-week dinner (reservations a must!) at this still relatively new authentic Italian restaurant in Preston Center. The atmosphere is vibrant and service superb. We began with a couple of martinis at $14 (base cost) that are then surcharged if you order Grey Goose and if you add Blue Cheese olives. Ends up being $17. That's towards the high end of the Dallas price spectrum, in my opinion. One of my friends ordered a lovely Delaporte Sancerre wine, at $14, a bit on the high side. We started with crispy artichokes which are fabulous -- very flavorful and crunchy. Yum! The chopped salad is sufficient to be split as a small starter salad for 3 persons....and also delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed my Chicken Picatta -- tender and very tasty. A decent size portion -- enough to take part home for lunch. Fairly priced at $23. This place gets really packed until about 7:30 pm and then tails off. Walk in's after that hour can certainly get a seat at the nice looking bar. As a value proposition, I would say that this restaurant is about 10% too expensive overall, and that's conservative. Thus my rating overall is 4 stars instead of 5 stars.

We were lucky enough to score a few seats at the bar without enduring the long wait for a table. The restaurant is nicely finished out on the interior and has a large patio that will be great for several months of the year. It was purring rain on the night we visited so they finish room was packed a bit more than normal. The influence of Hillstone's/R&D on the front of the house is quite evident, even down to a staff member we recognized from R&D. The wine list is quite good and they had several speciality drinks other guests seemed to be enjoying. We tried the focaccia appetizer, spicy gemelli entree, and full leaf caesar. The food was excellent! The pastas are made in house and it shows. The gemelli is spicy at the name suggests, but manageable. We finished with the chocolate torte which was tasty and quite light. The service was much better than you would expect for a restaurant that has been open less than two weeks. The kitchen was very quick and on point. One thing we noticed in sitting at the bar was that there appeared to be a lead bartender while the other two seemed a bit less engaged. I am sure their confidence will grow as their experience does. We will definitely be back soon!

Outstanding restaurant of non-traditional Italian food. Hits on all cylinders…appetizers, mains, desserts, cocktails all provided via host of cordial and qualified servers.

We had peaked in the window of Il Bracco early one morning and by coincidence one of the employees saw us and we talked about the new restaurant. She was very personable & positive about the recent opening. My wife made a reservation for 4. When we arrived on a Friday night the place was crowded and the friendly hostess told us the table was being readied. the interior is for light and has a huge table bar close to the entry so that you feel a part of the dining area. The young lady told us that she would help us with drinks and the server would be here shortly.We felt right at ease with the drink attendant as she was not pushy and we had a nice relaxing conversation with her. My wife had an Aperol Spritz while I had a Vodka and Tonic and our friends had a Bloody Marry and a Sauvignon Blanc. Drinks were perfect. Our waitress was equally friendly and made some suggestions. I had the eggplant parmesan with "red gravy." the rest of the group had the Pasta with Bolognese sauce. The food was served hot and was delicious. The eggplant was one of the best I had ever eaten. It was perfect in texture with the bread crumbs , cheese and the superb "gravy." I tasted my wife's pasta with Bolognese and it was flavorful and also served hot. We all said that we would return and would highly recommend the dishes. We were not rushed and a service manager named Marry Ann came over and talked with us about our impressions of the restaurant. We said we would rate it A+ based on this visit and the real test would be to return and see if the experience would be consistent. We look forward to returning.

Girls Lunch - delicious lunch, beautiful setting, excellent service! We enjoyed appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert along with a glass of bubbles. We loved it ALL!

Great place with great service. Love their freshly made pasta. The ice cream with olive oil plus pistachio is just perfect for the Dallas summer heat.

My husband and I had dinner with two of our friends. We ordered the artichokes for appetizer which were great. For entrées we ordered the egg plant Parmesan, The linguine pasta, and two trumpet mushroom pastas. All the dishes were delicious the food was served on time, hot. Very polite and friendly servers. The cocktails were served promptly and for dessert we had the Pana cotta and the chocolate torte which were wonderful but the Pana cotta for me was the best. Truly recommend this restaurant For every aspect of dining. Wonderful experience.

This place is spectacular. The food is fabulous and the service is incredible. We visit Dallas often and we will be back.

Very appealing appearance, betrayed by mediocre execution. We went for the homemade pasta. I had the bolognese—the sauce was okay, perhaps a little bland. The pasta was overcooked, however, something any decent Italian restaurant should never do. My wife had a seafood pasta dish that was overwhelmingly lemony. The real kicker was when she asked about a Caesar salad. We were told it wasn’t available because of the romaine lettuce recall. Then, at the next table, we saw several Caesar salads, all with romaine. When we asked about it, we were told that it was iceberg. I promise: we know what romaine looks like. Disappointed, to say the least.

I have historically liked the food at Il Bracco, so we ordered for my wife and her mom for Mother’s Day for curbside pickup. Looking in the restaurant, there were no masks being worn. Even the curbside waiter, THE CURBSIDE WAITER, serving people who actually believe COVID is a real concern, was not wearing a mask. I wouldn’t risk eating there again as Il Bracco doesn’t care about patrons health.

Great new neighborhood gem. The team came from Hillstone so they understand quality food and service. Everything on the menu is great. Very kid friendly as well. Love the bar. Highly recommend this lovely new spot.

Good lunch venue from a couple of former Hillstone guys. Good food and service. It will become one of our regular lunch spots.

We had a very nice meal in this relatively new restaurant. Casual atmosphere but it’s noisy. They were full at 6:30, but most people were having drinks and talking. If you want a quiet meal, eat outside when the weather is nice. We had fried artichokes and beef tartare appetizers which were very good. I had porchetta and my wife had a mixed salad with chicken, grapes, and other goodies. They were both quite good. I want to go back and try the house made pastas.

Delicious all the way around! Meatballs were spectacular and the crispy artichokes were unique & tasty. Focaccia was outstanding. Cacio a pepe was very well done.

We had drinks and appetizers at the bar while we waited for a table. The Sicilian Crudo was dreadful. It was just like pieces of sushi swimming in olive oil and completely drenched in salt. Greasy and way too salty. We mentioned it to the bartender and also to the hostess who asked about our food when she came to collect us to take us to the table, neither of whom seemed to really care. Contrarily the Mediterranean Sea Bass was absolutely delicious. We were nervous after the experience with the sushi at the bar, but my girlfriend had enjoyed it on a previous visit to Ill Bracco. Neither of us fancied the green beans so we swapped them out for the Heirloom Carrots which were truly a delight. Not sure I would actually go back to this restaurant again, but I would for sure order those carrots again if I did. My friend had a chocolate dessert that she said was ok, I ordered some kind of dessert that was reminiscent of the sushi at the bar - drenched in oil. When I mentioned this, the waitress snottily stated "We are an Italian restaurant that's how we cook". I was tempted but did not retort that I had actually lived in Italy for 6 months, have a friend who owns a cooking school in Pizza, and have dined out in some of the top Italian restaurants in the country, and have NEVER had my food drenched in oil like that before. The service at this restaurant is really unfriendly. It felt like several of the servers were looking down their noses at us, seemed like they had some kind of superiority complex. I am not accustomed to service like that. I do not recommend this restaurant.

Food is very good. Loved the chicken piccata. Caesar -- not so much. Kale salad was delicious. Restaurant has a good design, but this is a bar, surrounded by tables. Not a great place for conversation. Loud. What?!!

Sat outside on the patio for dinner. Not as noisy as inside and although it was a hot evening we had a nice breeze. Wife and I split all food selections: Great artichoke appetizer (highly recommend) burrata salad (wife liked it but I wasn’t a fan of the consistency of the cheese) and then pasta bolognese was wonderful. I had the Bracco signature drink which was great and then the Austin Pope cab. Liked them both.