Dallas has always been an interesting place for food lovers, but in the last few years, the city has been turning up the heat, culinarily speaking. As the U.S. economy has begun to thaw, so too has the temperature risen on the sprawling city's restaurant scene. Renewed interest in old neighborhoods like Oak Lawn and Deep Ellum and a mighty construction boom Downtown and Uptown have inspired local chefs to branch out—while luring talent from other cities to set up their own kitchens. Someone unfamiliar with the choices might pigeonhole Dallas as a place for Tex-Mex, barbecue and beefsteak, but we're here to tell you: The range is awesome. Sure, there are toothsome tacos and juicy brisket and big, fat filets—but there's a whole lot more to explore in the Big D.