Have you been on a diet and now want to reward yourself with some extra calories for all your hard work? Now I'm not talking cheating a little with a piece of chocolate or a few fries. No, I mean do you really, really want to cheat, as in you don't even count the calories? Sound a little extreme? Well, trust me dinner at Sissy's Southern Kitchen is worth it. The menu is filled with items like a layered salad topped with Hellman’s dressing. These dishes are like the ones our Southern grandmothers used to make when butter was a side and cheesy creamy mash potatoes were considered a well-rounded vegetable; the words healthy and diet are no where in sight! And let's not forget dessert, the titles alone sound so delicious, it doesn’t matter how many pieces of fried chicken or biscuits you have had you will want that Better than Sex Chocolate Cake with a side of Sissy's Bourbon Balls (dipped in chocolate and covered in powdered sugar).
Sissy's is authentic down to the decor and even the clothing of the staff, expect checkered shirts with bow ties and suspenders or vintage dresses with aprons. You definitely feel like you have stepped back to a simpler time. Well, that is until you look around and see the stereotypical Dallas patrons, then you quickly remember you live in Dallas. The intricate china that the food is served on and the overall décor makes you feel like you are in grandmother’s kitchen or sun room (if you sit on the closed patio area). However, grandmother’s house is really crowded and at times you feel like you may be as deaf as grandpa, but don’t worry it’s not your hearing! The small open space is not conducive for several dinners all conversing simultaneously, as nothing absorbs the sound. Aside from the fact I felt deaf in one ear for most of the night, it was a really enjoyable experience. Sip an ice cold Arnold Palmer or if you are really adventurous maybe try the Jalapeno Margarita. While Sissy’s may make specialty cocktails, I’m pretty sure my grandmother wouldn’t make this drink. The drink needs to come with an explicit warning that when it says Jalapeno it isn't playing around. Thank goodness I had my glass of water to cool my mouth off. With every sip I was pretty sure I was drinking liquid jalapeno, the floating jalapeno seeds were definitely an indicator of the drink's spice. Wow, I am sure you are just dying to run out and sample one after that description! However, it is definitely worth trying and with each sip as the ice melts, I promise, it does taste better.
Of course, don't forget to order lots of food to accompany your Jalapeno beverage! However, it is important to note that many of the salads are light on the veggies and heavy on dressing and other non-vegetable ingredients. While Sissy's fried chicken with biscuits and gravy is the main draw, during this trip we avoided the chicken to venture out to sample more unique dishes.
I'm not a crawfish lover, but I found the
Spicy Crawfish Salad to be the perfect balance of Crawfish sans mayo, on top of fresh butter lettuce and thinly sliced potatoes. The
Pan Seared Striped Bass & Low Country Rice was another great combination of sea bass, roe, and of course a crab butter sauce. Unfortunately, we didn't sample the 10pc Sissy's Fried Chicken bucket. Sound a little bit like Kentucky Fried Chicken? Well, it is served in a bucket but a more upscale silver pail, after all this is Dallas even our gourmet fried Chicken wouldn't be served in a paper container. While I hear I missed out on the chicken I had to have the
Better than Sex Chocolate Cake. And yes, I did eat it right down to the last bite, but don't worry I restrained from licking the remains off grandma's vintage China plate.
Sissy's Southern Kitchen Entrance
Even after avoiding the many fried, buttery options I still see lots of raw vegetables in my future meals. The looming hot weather is calling me to the pool, and I don't think I can go around telling everyone my swimsuit is tight because I over indulged in a delicious meal at Sissy's Southern Kitchen.
Sissy's Website
