Parigi has been around for over 37 years and somehow I am only now stumbling across this little gem— I guess that’s what happens when you are new in town, but I suppose it might also have something to do with being from New Jersey.
We kids in suburban New Jersey grew up with excellent Italian food in crowded little “mom and pop” owned restaurants. We ate so much Italian food growing up that I remember my Grams cackling with laughter when I told her that I thought we were Italian.
Side note: We’re German and Irish.
My point is, I didn’t know I was eating excellent Italian dishes until I discovered that most “Italian” restaurants (outside of New York and New Jersey) were just… not that great.
Enter Parigi.
Recently, we had friends fly in from India and they demanded the best Italian for lunch before their flight back home. My husband, more acquainted to Dallas than I, booked Parigi and the moment I walked in I knew he had hit the jackpot.
Crowded little tables with starchy white linens, happy chatter amongst its guests, fluffy bread and butter balls and barely enough room to fit all the food you wanted on the table. Yep. Just like home.
The food did not disappoint and the menu was exactly what everyone was looking for.
Parigi means “Paris” in Italian. A fitting name for a menu infused with both Parisian and Italian cuisine.
I ordered the grilled artichoke hearts— which were made to absolute perfection and so beautifully plated that our guests were inspired to order another.
Artichoke hearts are rarely on a menu because they are time consuming to make and hard to master (many restaurants around town will just pan seared canned hearts). Obsessed.
Our guests ordered the Pan Seared North Carolina Trout, which came out beautifully and the Pappardelle seafood pasta— another beauty.
The Dirty martinis were winning too. Wink wink.
What I did not realize (until later) was that Parigi sources much of their produce from local farmers, the seafood is sourced from sustainable and responsible fishermen and the cheeses come from small batch cheese makers.
I was raving about my experience to one of my friends, who has lived in town for over a decade, and she said, “Oh, I’ve never been… I always figured it was the type of place for “ladies that lunch.”
Well, let me tell you… I certainly want to be one of those ladies, then… because they have excellent taste in food.
This place is such a gem. It’s no wonder that it has been here for 37 years.
Basically, I can’t wait to go back for a full course dinner. I have been known to pop in for their artichokes and a beverage.
Check them out on the gram, here to get their latest menu and to stay up to date on their hours.
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