The French Room

Fundamental French cuisine with a modern twist
VERIFIED LUXURY

Standing on the century-old green and white marble floor at the entrance to The French Room, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported back to its early 20th-century heyday. The renowned restaurant at The Adolphus, Autograph Collection received a massive renovation in 2017, the first since the 1980s, restoring the dining room to its glory of yesteryear, adding a chic parlor and a sexy cocktail bar.

Next door to the restaurant, The French Room Salon is an eclectic mixture of fine art pieces, mid-century and global furnishings and Adolphus Busch’s century-old Steinway piano. The French Room Bar, by contrast, is a sultry, intimate space in sapphire blue with sumptuous seating, a fireplace and decorative accents that date back to the hotel’s 1912 opening. The elegant spot hosts tea during the day, and elevated craft cocktails in the evening.

But the crown jewel of the set is The French Room restaurant, a gilded beaux-arts wonder. With wedding-cake-hued walls, vaulted ceilings with gold inlays and twin Murano glass chandeliers, the space is the portrait of opulence. All of this sets the stage for contemporary cuisine rooted in French culinary tradition.

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Our Inspector's Highlights

  • The salon’s lounge-meets-gallery vibe is bolstered by its 42-piece collection of works on display, each by an artist with Texas roots. Drinks and bites from the bar menu are available to enjoy in this creative setting.
  • The 100-year-old Steinway & Sons piano in the salon was originally supposed to board the Titanic with its owner, Benjamin Guggenheim. It was waylaid in transport, missing the ship and becoming available for Adolphus Busch to purchase.
  • Afternoon tea is served on weekends in the bar and features local artisan brews. The custom china may reveal historic hotel icons, such as Reynard the Fox or an Anheuser-Busch eagle.
  • The Dallas restaurant is known for thoughtful tableside services, including a roving cart of fine cheeses.
  • The wooden ornamentation above the fireplace in the bar dates back to the hotel’s opening in 1912, as does the salon’s marble floor. Uncovered during the 2017 renovation, the floor was cleaned, but the scuffs and scratches were left as is to give you a glimpse into the hotel’s glamorous past.

Things to Know

  • Local design firm Swoon the Studio is responsible for overhauling The French Room’s historic main dining room, along with re-envisioning the artistic salon and sleek bar area.
  • The artwork in the salon was curated by Lucia Simek, a Dallas visual artist and author with ties to the Nasher Sculpture Center.
  • Ever the quintessential experience in Dallas luxury, The French Room has been the site of countless marriage proposals over the years. It’s a great spot to pop the question.
  • The French Room menu is seasonal and rotates on a regular basis. Reservations are strongly encouraged to ensure seating.

The Food

  • The French Room cuisine is a modern take on traditional French disciplines. Expect to find escargot, caviar, beef, seafood and well-prepared fowl on the menu with some seasonal flourishes.
  • The best way to experience the storied restaurant is by indulging in its seasonally inspired five-course prix fixe tasting menu. Wine pairings can be added to round out the experience.
  • For the first time ever, The French Room is offering a new a la carte menu, courtesy of executive chef Anthony Dispensa. Look out for an ever-changing selection of dishes, including beet risotto, seared Long Island duck, and dry-aged ribeye with a classic bordelaise sauce. 
  • Extravagant supplements — an array of caviar, fresh oysters with a Meyer lemon mignonette, and selections from the cheese cart — add an elegant flair to your already luxurious meal. 

The Design

  • In 1912, The French Room opened with a grand beaux-arts design that Dallas had never seen before. The space was renovated in the 1980s to feel more Parisian — a rendition that still holds a place in hearts of many — however, the 2017 facelift harkens back to the restaurant’s original splendor.
  • The refreshed dining room is opulent in its simplicity. White Venetian plaster walls allow the ornate gold trim and cotton-candy-colored crystal chandeliers to steal the show.
  • The salon is an inspired space that is heavily influenced by contemporary art. While the ornate chandelier and wood-paneled walls are a hat tip to history, the décor and artwork speak to today’s sensibilities.
  • The bar is a departure from the dark wood paneling. It is a definitively masculine space, wrapped by navy blue walls with marble tables, velvet seating and diamond-cut glassware.

Amenities
Bar
Business casual
Dinner
Reservations recommended
Getting There
1321 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas 75202
TEL214-651-3615
NeighborhoodDowntown
The French Room
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