Pickled gulf shrimp with onion, tomato, red pepper and seasoned saltines. Photos by Mark Davis
Heirloom tomato mozzarella salad. Photos by Mark Davis
Walking into Sissy’s feels like coming home — or at least that’s Lisa Garza’s hope for customers. “I want you to come here and feel loved and taken care of,” Garza says. The Memphis-born chef and owner, who grew up watching Julia Child and cooking for her family, is creating a culture through finely crafted, homey details like delicate dishware and in-house canning, which the restaurant plans to start this fall. The restaurant, which opened in late February, may have initially been most famous for its fried chicken, but Sissy’s also showcases its healthy dishes. “Southern food has become this stereotype that it’s not,” says Garza, who wants her restaurant to resonate with Southerners and be a “true reflection of the beauty of the South.” Sissy’s, at heart, is a family restaurant born after the death of Garza’s brother — her “bubba,” the male equivalent of “sissy.” After experience working in high-end cuisine, including a stint as the cook for the Dallas Superbowl’s VIP tent, Garza realized that what people often liked most was simple food. “It clicked for me. It doesn’t have to be so pretentious and really, when you get to that level, it’s not fun anymore,” Garza says. If you can’t decide what to order from Sissy’s menu, Garza says you can’t go wrong with chicken and champagne.
Sissy’s Southern Kitchen and Bar
2929 Henderson
214.827.9900
Ambiance: Warm
Price range: $14-$24
Tip: The new lunch menu features fresh dishes and old favorites.
| More dining spots |
In the spirit of healthy home cooking, the Garden Café grows its own vegetables and aims to join the slow food movement. While its cheese grits and sweet potato pancakes win over taste buds, its poetry dinners and art installations speak to customers’ creativity.
5310 Junius
214.887.8330
2 Chicken House Plus
For hearty fried food, try the Chicken House’s chicken and fries. A local favorite, the mainly drive-through restaurant also features catfish and fried apple pies. It might be the greasy grub you’ve been craving.
909 N. Fitzhugh
214.370.0800
The New Orleans–inspired eatery treats customers to acoustic blues Thursday through Saturday. The Cajun and creole menu includes gumbo, fried catfish and alligator.
9540 Garland, Ste. 362
214.821.6900
