This place is amazing. Food is impeccable and service is wonderful - they treat you like family with tons of treats along the way! We came on a Tuesday night when they have live jazz music by Roger. He's incredible and I was able to sing along the whole time. It was also my husband's 30th birthday and they treated us so nicely. We will definitely come back, feels like home with incredible food and the sweetest people to be around. read more

Urbano Cafe - Jazz music on Tuesday nights with Roger - he's amazing - Italian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

When we walked in to Urbano Cafe, we had high hopes--a cute, cozy neighborhood joint. Unfortunately, the food and bill didn't quite match up to the description "neighborhood joint." The food was OK, but for the fairly high price tag, there are options in Dallas that I would prefer. We opted for 3 courses (appetizers, entree, dessert), and walked out with a $100+ bill, excluding wine, which we brought ourselves (it's BYOB, which is nice but doesn't really cut down on cost that much). The only stand-out was the prosciutto-wrapped figs, which were delicious. The risotto wasn't as creamy as it should have been, and the chocolate cake was dry. The mahi mahi was cooked perfectly though. It is also very noisy, making conversation either tortuous or limited, not what you'd expect from a nice neighborhood bistro. read more

Small family owned Italian restaurant. The food is consistently outstanding and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. The place is BYOB which was a plus for our dining party. read more

I came here on a slow Friday night there was only one table with people on it, the rest the restaurant was empty they asked if we have reservations. We only needed a table for 2. They said they don't have any space available for us and they were booked for the night. So this place sucks, I'm too old and tired to deal with this bullshit. read more

We called this restaurant about an hour before on a Saturday since we had heard they are tough to get into without a reservation, and the hostess was very friendly and offered to save us a table. The restaurant does have beer and wine, but offer BYOB with a $5/person uncorking fee. We arrived with a couple bottles and were seated in the back of the first restaurant room. We ordered a couple appetizers which did take a while to come out, but the meat dish was very tasty. The Caesar salad was fairly standard. We ordered meals both on the regular menu and the specials. The lamb was very good, spaghetti was good as well, and the butternut squash that came as the side with the lamb was fantastic - cooked to almost be gnocchi textured. Overall we had a good experience, and hope to be back again soon. read more

My hubby and I met my Sis-in-law here last Friday 7/16 at 5:45 pm based on searching up BYOB restaurants and other reviews, so thanks Yelpers! They're open 5 pm - 10 pm & you need reservations if you want to come after 5:30pm and get in, so be aware. The Yelper tip was that you have to wait outside in the heat as there's no room in the restaurant, so make sure you're mentally and emotionally prepared. We were going to the Dimitri Martin concert at HOB and were concerned about time, that's why we went so early. We brought our bottles of wine (BTW, really liked the "Intuition" white blend purchased at Whole Foods) and my sis-in-law went around the corner to Jimmy's Food store and bought a so-so Pino Grigio while waiting for us. We were the first in the place because we made 5:45pm reservations and by 6:15 it started to fill up, and by 7:00 all 10 tables were full! Service: First off, our wait staff female was very conscientious of our timing of wanting to get out on time for Dimitri and was timely and had recommendations. Notes: It's a small restaurant and is warm in summer with 100+ degree temperatures outside, as the restaurant faces west and is so small the kitchen heats it up pretty good. You feel for the chefs. It would be even better during cooler months. We paid the check and we left as we had read you'll get the stare down if you try to linger as they need the table. Food: Tasty and some stand outs. For me, the stand outs were 2 items: 1) 1410 salad - YUMMY, and 2) Side of tennis racket shaped pasta (humorous) & watery yet oh-so-flavorful cheese sauce (mac & cheese but with gorgonzola or other flavorful cheese). To me it was a surprise: light versus heavy so I loved that. Also apps of Caprese S'mores (like a tasty grilled cheese w/tomato), Prosciutto wrapped fig bruschetta with Texas honey comb (large figs; tasty & filling). Sis-in-law & hubby shared the Ambazola crusted petite tenderloin over roasted butternut hash with star anise demi (on the side as the Waitress advised since they don't like licorice), and really liked it- I had a bite and it was done medium and flavorful. The anise was an interesting flavor pairing and probably better with the butternut hash. I shared the seared diver scallops over lemon risotto with Dijon cream which was flavorful and had stick-to-your ribs risotto, though a bit heavy for a hot night. We skipped dessert offerings- too full and out of time too. They have a standard menu and specials on the board. Bathroom: Sister in law said you walk through the kitchen, bathroom is so tiny and the toilet is butted up against the wall so you are at an angle to do your business. We'll be back if we can get reservations! read more

Oh my goodness I love this place. I 100% agree with one of the previous reviews - Cafe Urbano is a hidden gem in Dallas. The restaurant is located just north of Deep Ellum on Fitzhugh in a somewhat sketchy area, but don't let that throw you off...I promise, the food is worth it! There should be parking right out front, and if not, you'll have to street park. You definitely need to make reservations, as the restaurant itself is tiny! There are maybe 10 tables total in the main restaurant, and then a tiny kitchen in the back. There a second restaurant a few doors down that I believe is around the same size, but I haven't seen it. We called for Saturday reservations on a Thursday and the first available was 830pm...but again, it's totally worth it. We arrived a few minutes before 830pm and we asked to wait outside until our table was ready - there literally isn't anywhere to wait inside! It was a nice night though so we sat on their bench out front and opened our bottle of wine. Oh did I not mention that yet!? Yes, Urbano is BYOB! And wait, it gets better: the owner himself was the one who greeted us and sat us outside. He was there all night, helping serve dishes and talking to people...it was awesome! Okay, now for the food. Mmmm the food! We started with the Crispy Oysters (with tempura brussel sprouts) and they were delicious! For our main meals, I had a Beef Tenderloin special that came with Gorgonzola mac & cheese. Life does not get much better than that, seriously! The beef tenderloin was perfectly cooked and was amazing. The mac & cheese was made with penne pasta (a bit out of the ordinary) but was soo good. My husband has the Seared Duck Breast (with hearts of palm salad) and it was phenomenal as well. I'm 100% confident that everything on the menu is delicious. We're already planning out next visit back!! read more

This restaurant exceeded expectations and is now one of our favorites. We used to go to a really amazing BYOB Italian place where we used to live, but hadn't found one since moving to Dallas. After reading tons of yelp reviews of different BYOB restaurants, we settled on Urbano Cafe. A little iffy on the outside and parking is sparse but once you go in, it's an intimate (like 9 tables in the main room) setting with extremely friendly staff. Food was delicious too. Highly recommend. Tip: make a reservation before going if it's a weekend/possible busy night. read more

I had wanted a small intimate place to take my boyfriend to dinner for his birthday. This place was it when I googled byob restaurant in Dallas. The food was fantastic. Had us some pan seared crabcakes and risotto balls for appetizers. Definitely get an appetizer or two. The crabcakes were just enough for one cake per person. They both used the same type of aioli and sweet n sour sauce as dressing but I like those kind of sauces so it was fine by me. My boyfriend had the Veal Bolognese and I had an entree off their special menu, the 44 farm short rib risotto with English peas. It was SO good. Even my boyfriend who doesn't like risotto liked it. I had some left to take home and reheated it was still very, very good. We were full but then had the tiramisu and creme brûlée for dessert and the tiramisu was gone within minutes while the creme brûlée was picked at. We had brought our own bottle of wine and enjoyed it and the corking fee was a nice $5 per person. This is a solid place for a dinner with your significant other or even a small family dinner. Definitely coming back here. read more

We had a special bottle of wine we wanted to enjoy, with nice dinner, but was not in the mood to cook. I googled "Best BYOB Dallas" and Urbano was on the list. We took a chance and it was SO WORTH IT. We had an app, two entrees, two sides and two desserts and every bite was perfectly seasoned and satisfying. I would certainly recommend this place, and can't wait to go back. read more

Upfront, we didn't dine here. We DID come for a wine and chocolate pairing event. Another great place tucked into an interesting strip of stores and other eateries. The servers were cool and interactive throughout our event ( same restaurant servers). The side of the restaurant we were on felt small and intimate in a good way. A really nice date place. Several people at our table ate there regularly, and we did see the dinner menu which looks delicious. But we were in our happy place after the wine and chocolates. Reservations are strongly suggested. read more

Don't judge Urbano Cafe by its exterior. The food is DELICIOUS and the BYOB policy with a nominal corkage fee cannot be beat. We enjoyed the mozzarella s'mores and the arancini to start - both outstanding and dishes that I cannot make at home. The watermelon summer salad was light and refreshing and left plenty of room for the chicken parm with pasta. Portions are on the smaller size but that meant we could try more dishes. Prices were incredibly reasonable for the quality. And the service was fantastic. Our new favorite Italian in Dallas. read more

Best restaurant in Dallas. The BYOB makes it affordable and the wine list is too. Pasta, tenderloin, risotto all of it is good. If there is one bad thing I would have to say it would be that everything looks good and you don't have enough room to eat it all. read more

You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu. The specials change frequently giving you a plethora of options every time you come back. The servers are attentive and friendly. Get the Mac and cheese! It's amazing. read more

First visit to Urbano - so, so good! My friend and I split the tiny *but tasty* asparagus & artichoke ravioli. My entree ciappino (pron. CHA-peen-O) was devine: mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari with bucatini pasta and marinara. LOVED all the seafood, but first time to have bucatini - like spaghetti super-sized and hollow. Here's a great description why this pasta is so good: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/bucatini-best-long-pasta The marinara was very flavorful without being to heavy on the stomach. We would have EASILY glossed over the tempura shishito peppers, but thanks to the waiter's recommendation, we accepted the challenge. Funny side note: he listed three other sides that lots of customers like/order, but when I asked, "What do YOU like?" He admitted to the peppers. They were so tasty with the VERY light batter and had a nice creamy paste-like sauce for dipping. The cafe is so small, which makes it quaint and similar to a NYC restaurant, except in NYC, they'd squeeze another 2 or 3 tables in there because there is no personal space/conversation distance in many of those restaurants. My understanding is that reservations are required, but worth it - it definitely seems they are expecting you. And, with such a small number of guests, I am guessing that's why all our dishes came out so quickly. This was a birthday treat to me, and a treat it was! p.s. We had a bottle of Mas Sainte Berthe, too, a nice dry, crisp flavored rosé read more

I have visited CU several times since moving to Dallas and every visit has been great. It's a bit of a drive for my wife and I but we love it. Caprese Tomato salad is a dish you see in just about every Italian restaurant so when my wife ordered it I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. CU pulls it off with a nice twist. The other dishes we ordered included the pork chop and scallops: both were excellent. Actually, I wanted to order another plate of the scallops but wife wife thought it would be a bit much after I just licked my plate. The best part of CU is the byob aspect. At $3 per person corkage you really can have champagne eyes on a beer budget and the food is fantastic. My only criticism would be about CU's stemware: I know that the rusticness (yes just used that word) is part of the charm, but I wish they would invest in some nice stemware. Note to the management; a lot of us would gladly bear a larger corkage fee to offset the cost. read more

Urbano Cafe - The main dinning area gets very cozy with larger groups - Italian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My fav restaurant in Dallas so far!! Not to mention it's also BYOB!! Which makes it even better. I've gone here for date night and have also gone back with a huge group. Both times the food and service both have been excellent. There's a lot of Options for vegetarians if needed. Both veggie and meat dishes are so delicious! I can't wait to go back again. read more

Whoa. I can easily see how this place is packed by 12:15pm for weekday lunch. Their food, service and atmosphere are all so wonderful! Urbano has been in my bookmarks for months, so I finally decided it was time for the Yelp Intern (Miss Tracy R) and I to grab some grub. We arrived at 11:30 and were the second table to sit down. Our waitress was really friendly, bubbly and down to earth. I started with a small Caesar salad (for $2.50 with my sandwich), and the Pulled Pork sandwich with cilantro pepper slaw and hoisin mayo. The caesar wasn't anything special, but the sandwich is probably one of the best I've ever had. The pork was juicy and tender, the slaw was loaded with cilantro and flavor, and the mayo kicked everything up a notch. The juice rolled down my grubby hands and I didn't take a moment to wipe it off until I was done. It was definitely a mess worth making. Our total bill was less than $20 and I walked away full and happy with leftovers. What a steal! Like I said, the place is packed by noon or 12:15, so either get there early or make a reservation. All tables are 4-tops and the place is small, so I wouldn't advise bringing a crowd. read more

I have been excited to try Urbano for awhile, and I was pleased with the entire experience. I placed the order to-go over the phone which was quick and easy. They even accommodated an order from the dinner menu instead of their to-go menu. Curbside pick up was simple. We were happy with how both of the dishes turned out. While the scallops come with only three scallops, they were cooked to perfection; and this is coming from someone who loves and eats scallops regularly. The risotto was rich but not overwhelming. The duck was also cooked perfectly, although it would have been nice to come with more of a side, especially since the menu listed gnocchi that did not accompany the dish ultimately. Although this may be due to my ordering off the set to go menu. The glaze was the best! Overall, this has been my best and favorite to-go coronavirus quarantine dining experience! Looking forward to coming back to dine-in! read more

Urbano Cafe - Crispy Duck Breast (Take-Out plated at home) - Italian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Well.... This place is really unique !!! - good food for the price - servers are adequate - byob is great feature Had dinner there and food was good, Ambiance was below par, noise level very high but worth the trip. But ..... Know you have 2 hours to eat and LEAVE!! Seriously, after 2 hours we were told to leave! $200 meal, 19% tip. Plenty of room, but the OWNER said to haul ass! Then the blonde protege waitress reminded us to leave! Worst customer service I have witnessed! Invested in restaurants and would fire any employee treating a customer in the manner we were treated. They will not have a table of six I was to be included in tomorrow! I will pick up the entire tab not to dine at Urbano This place and there buss boy mentality owner will be long gone. read more

I wish I could post video here so I could show others my Urbano Cafe dining experience last evening. Our two dishes and side dishes were a bit gloppy but that wasn't what made our special occasion dinner a huge disappointment. It was the loud, drunk and self-absorbed table of five I captured on video with my phone. And it was the 45 minutes it took for staff to address the situation. But I got the classless and crass Dallasites on video much to the delight of many Facebook friends. At least it took our minds off the pasty food. Too bad. read more

This place is full of loud and drunk people - and management doesn't care. Ate here before and had a similar experience but it was just one table. This time it was a few different tables and people were literally yelling. I've been to restaurants around the world and have never experienced anything like this. It was actually louder than most clubs in Vegas. It seemed like some sort of joke Right after sitting down I walked up to the manager and said it was really loud and if we could sit next door. He didn't care - so we got up and left. Went to The Grape and had a very nice dinner. Don't waste your time by going here expecting a nice dinner. read more

Urbano is back! And its sexier, fresher, cozier, more romantic and....noisier... Yes, the old Uptown lunch favorite is back with all your favorite paninis, matchstick fries and what have you. They've got a new spot over in Old East Dallas, near Jimmy's. The new digs are charming in a lot of the ways mentioned above, yet with the cheaper rent and more unique locale comes a smaller space with less room to hide the noises of the kitchen fan. They were piping music through an iPod but it was barely discernable over the noisy hum of said fan. Slighty obnoxious... That being said. I have eaten MANY an Urbano panino and the one I had on this visit was the best by far. I ordered my typical Parmesan Chicken with a side salad. It came out piping hot and fresh from the grill. Almost a little too hot. Now, they have made the switch from counter service to table service, upping the classiness level a bit and making the experience more appealing for a dinner jaunt. What they sacrifice is speed. The food came much slower than it typically used to but I always found the paninis lacking in I guess what I would call the freshness department. It always felt that they just had a bunch of them sitting under a warming lamp waiting for the lunch rush. Overall, I was very impressed with the new Urbano. Next time I will have to ask about those delicious cookies they used to make. read more

After putting Urbano on the back burner for so long, my girlfriend and I thought we'd finally give it a shot because of all the solid reviews. After eating here, I've come to the conclusion that there's one thing that the food here is in desperate need of: salt. We got the arancini (risotto balls) to start, and they was just bland. There should have been smoked mozzarella (a very strong flavor normally) in there somewhere, but I couldn't taste it at all. There were two sauces on them: an aioli (that tasted like mostly mayo) and one that tasted like sweet and sour sauce. I'm not sure where the red miso was, but it wouldn't have helped the dish. The poor seasoning was apparent as soon as you bit into an arancino and was unfortunately an indication of how the rest of the dishes would pan out. My girlfriend got the seared scallops and lemon risotto. The scallops were cooked well, but the risotto was in desperate need of seasoning. Starch absolutely screams for salt, and risotto without proper seasoning is like a car without wheels. It just doesn't work. I ordered the seared cod with potato crab cake and sunchoke corn puree. Let's take a second to consider all the components in this dish. Cod is a relatively mild fish that needs to be seasoned somewhat aggressively. Potato crab cake with sunchoke corn puree is a starch bomb when not seasoned. If you don't season it, the entire dish is going to taste like cardboard, which it did. Also, considering all the colors are either white or some shade of brown (except the mustard greens sprinkled over the top), the entire dish looked as flavorful as a bowl of rice. The fish had a decent sear on it, but was overcooked and missing the moisture indicative of well cooked cod. Dessert wasn't really a consideration after seeing one server carbonize the sugar of two creme brulees in a row and serve them to her customers. I wanted to yell, "Stop! It's already dead!", but by then they were beyond saving. Otherwise, the servers are very friendly and are in no way responsible for the negative review. Urbano is a neat little restaurant with friendly staff and cozy atmosphere. If I did my reviews on anything other than food it might have scored higher, but what's missing from the food is what Italian food is famous for: vibrant, fresh, and seasonal flavors. Taking a look at the rest of the menu, it's full of trendy sounding flavors but in concert with all the other components sounds flat and boring. In reflection, Urbano is missing a lot more than salt. It's missing a personality because it's borrowing from too many other cuisines for identity when first and foremost it should be an Italian restaurant. No this isn't a traditional Italian restaurant, and I can respect if the food is more Italian inspired than authentic, but Urbano has strayed so far from its roots that the food tastes more like a caricature of Italian cuisine than an inspiration of its best qualities. read more

They take reservations, and though we had to wait a few minutes for our table of 8 to be seated (the prior party was still there), the transition was smooth and the staff friendly. Urbano is BYOB with a $3 corking fee per person, which is a great way to save a few dollars if your group is definitely going to be having wine with dinner. They also, to our surprise, have a $3 per person cake fee, so be aware of that. Although the space doesn't necessarily read $$$, the food itself does, as does the service. Our waitress said the scallops with lemon risotto was one of the most ordered dishes - and it certainly was in our group. I think at least half the table got that. The mussels were also a popular item, and I can see why they were fantastic. I ordered the cod and the hawaiian salmon poke appetizer. Both were great - the app ended up looking way less appetizing when photographed than it actually was. The fish was fresh and the taro chips were crunchy but supple enough to not shred the bits of salmon and avocado once combined in my mouth. The potato crabcake that came with the seared cod was excellent - reminded me of the 'veggie' medallions they sell at the Ikea restaurant (which I absolutely love). The base of cream corn actually made sense once you combined a little bit of each component of the dish. I will definitely be coming back to Urbano to try other menu items. I should note that they had maybe 5 specials in addition to the regular menu that made my entree choice quite difficult. Parking is limited, so you might want to get dropped off, but there is parking in the neighborhood (heels not recommended as sidewalks are lacking/damaged). read more

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So, this is my first official Yelp review. I found this place using Yelp and decided it was time for me to "pay it forward" as it were. . . My wife and I decided to have a "date night" last Friday night and we invited two friends of ours to join us. They live in Dallas and know the area, but we decided to venture off to a place that neither of us had been before (for them, difficult. . .for them, not so much). I searched well reviewed, highly ranked restaurants near The Fairmont (where we were staying) and this came up "within a short cab ride." Ok. . .let's talk about a short cab right for a minute. We had our car at The Fairmont but my wife doesn't drink and didn't want to drive. I wanted to drink. . .so we decided to opt for a "short cab ride." Let me also preface my remarks by saying that I have taken taxis in NYC, LA, Chicago, Miami, London, Hong Kong, Shanghia. . .you get the point. So we get into the cab and get charged $2.25 to start, $1.50 for fuel and $2.00 for the additional passenger. Really? REALLY? By the time we went 1/9th of a mile, it was already over six dollars and the fare ended up over $15. Yes, all of those surcharges exist all over the world (the starting fare everywhere) but not all of them, all at once. Dallas should really look into this as it could turn off people visiting the city. But this is a review of Urbano Cafe. . . Since I was already in the area that afternoon, I checked out Urbano and immediately called one of our dinner companions. . ."Christoper? Do you like crack? Not sure if you do but in case you want to skip dessert, I think this place is next to a crack den!" Oh, and it is also next to Jimmy's Market, which can be like crack, but the good kind. I made reservations the night before, which I was warned would be difficult. . .we were given only two options. . .six in the main dining room and six thirty in the one "two doors down." We opted for the six thirty based on timing. The main dining room, as it turns out, has the kitchen, is cramped, and has a "Brooklyn" vibe to it. The space, literally two doors down is more spread out, cooler and more quiet. Same food, but much different vibe. You pick what you like. We got there a few minutes early and there were no patrons there yet. We were sat after the room manager on duty ran back to the main restaurant twice to find where we were sitting on the map (there are six tables). But within twenty minutes, the place was full. The waiter asked if he could open our bottle of wine (did I mention that this place is BYOB with no corkage fee? I love this!). He studied the wine and gave us "kudos" on our choices which made me feel a bit like a stud. . .until I asked him for recommendations on what to eat and he said "oh, it's all good" with a Jimmy Buffet kind of laziness. I pressed, I got nothing. Word to waiters, please, when someone asks you for suggestions, please have an opinion! Venturing out on my own, I ordered the mussels to start and the panko crusted salmon with a yuka/turnip mash for my main course. My dinner companions ordered salads which they all loved; my mussels were good, well cooked, not outstanding mind you. . .but very good. The salmon on the other hand, was fantastic! Very well cooked, the sides were tasty and the whole dish very well prepared. My wife had the Chicken Saltimbocca (sp?) which she loved and the other two. . .well they loved what they ordered. At this point, between the interesting surroundings, casual setting, great food and byob, I was impressed! We were invited to try dessert but the offering was surprisingly limited so we opted to pass. Total bill for four? $118 + tip! Score! And my first Yelp review is in the books. YELP OBSERVATION: I have noticed that those in "urban" areas tend to frequent independent restaurants and be more critical of all of the elements of a review. Those in "suburban" restaurants tend to frequent chains and are lavishing in their praise. Seriously. . .this is the only way that Arby's can rank four stars! read more

The meatballs are terrible. I've never eaten cat food, but from the smell and texture of it, I can only hypothesize this is what they would taste like. The service was at the heights of awful...the waitress was really stressed over her three four-tops and took 10 mins to get water to the table (I had to ask for it). Duck...I came here for the duck and these tools run out of it. We'll see how the rest of our meal is, but my hopes are about as high as my belief in mid-east peace. ...Yip...the rest of the meal was awful - tip to the staff - when you bring out two appetizers and you take 3/4 of the food back to the kitchen because 'we're done with it' you should probably ask, 'was there something you didn't like or a way for us to improve.' read more

I never thought I was going to update this review as quickly as I'm doing it now, but as soon as I told my wife about this place, she wanted to try it so, literally, we went to have dinner there that same night. Before I continue with my assessment of the food, I just want to say that, as a food lover, it is pretty refreshing and encouraging to find places like Urbano in Dallas. Places that aren't pretentious, that are real, and that serve simple, tasty food that, although may not be created by a celebrity-chef, is pretty darn good. Now to the food.... I had the mussels (daily special) and the shortribs and my wife had the pork tenderloin. I was very happy with both of my selections. The mussels were really fresh and had a great taste, with lots and lots of garlic, just how I like it. The shortribs, although not the best that I've had, were definitely tasty and tender. I liked the fact that they had a touch of star anise, something that I had never found in any other short rib recipes. My wife's pork tenderloin was perfectly cooked and moisty, with the center still showing some pink color. The marinade added some extra spice to the meat and it was rounded up by the polenta underneath. Again, pretty good. I think it is safe to say that this place has become, in just one day, in one of our favorite joints in Dallas. Not only does it serve good food but also, thanks to its B.Y.O.B. policy, it allows you to enjoy your dinner with the wine that YOU enjoy the most without breaking your wallet. Plus, it's close to home! One final note. I highly recommend that, if you are planning to have dinner here, you call and make a reservation in advance as we saw A LOT of people walking into this place without reservation and none got a table. Remember, this is a 9-table restaurant! read more

What a cute little BYOB in east Dallas. The area looks a little sketchy if you haven't been here before, but it's certainly worth venturing there. I don't fully understand why this is classified as an Italian restaurant ..I would class it as "new American" instead. But whatever..potato Our appetizers were good (nothing outstanding) but the entrees wowed! My beef tenderloin was super tender with a wonderfully tasting seared edge. Hubby ordered the scallops which were cooked to perfection. A friend ordered an interesting risotto dish which basically had all the meat "scraps" cooked into it. Whilst this may not sound delicious, I assure you it was. Hearty and earthy with wild mushrooms and so freaking rich. It's great being able to bring your own wine too, cuts the cost significantly. I saw a few people's reviews that stated no corkage fee but we got charged $2 per person so perhaps this had changed. The decor is very cozy and we were in the original building (there is another dining space 2 doors down). I liked the side we were in just because it had an open kitchen. A slight odd quirk was that the bathroom is through inside the kitchen!? I don't think this restaurant will appeal to everyone. With the entrees ranging from $17-26 it isn't as cheap as the location would have you guess at, but for a cozy BYOB with super friendly service its well worth a visit. I would happily return read more

Intro: A small but cool little spot over on Fitzhugh, behind the venerable Jimmy's Market. You'll find everyone from in-the-know foodies to regulars and neighborhood people. And, it's BYOB! Ups: A small and well presented menu with a blackboard of specials that varies constantly. Well prepared and thoughtful food, not too fussy. Service is attentive but leisurely. BYOB is so much fun!! Downs: Small place with nowhere to wait. Reservations are a must. It's a bit warm, but not too bad. The wine glasses are the standard Libby Glass variety, not fun if you've brought a $45 Pinot and want to really enjoy it. Final thoughts: We really liked this place. The ambiance says neighborhood but the food is much bigger than that. We liked the personality of the waiter (Evan). He knew when to leave us alone and when to be attentive. He knew the menu well and was able to guide us to some nice choices. Everyone in our group, 4 people, had a good food experience but the mussels were the clear winner for the night. We'll certainly be back.... read more

I came here with a friend on a Friday night. Please, please, please make reservations. There are only 9 tables in the restaurant and they all are spaced about 3 feet apart. In other words, it's tiny. The menu changes and is smaller. It's basically gourmet American cuisine. I had the salmon and it was delicious. My friend had the ravioli and ate every bite. Urbana is byob so keep that in mind if you want to drink. They also charge an "uncorking fee", even if you bring the bottle opener and open the bottle yourself. This restaurant is definitely one that requires planning which makes it unique and special. I think the evening could have went a little better if the waitress smiled more. I wouldn't come back here, but I would recommend certain friends to come. read more

I have been back here a few times since my last review and everything was fine but last night was not. After our server ignored us for the first 10 minutes, our salads came out within a minute or 2. 30 minutes later, the entrees came out without the extra sides we ordered. I ordered the salmon and it was pretty much raw on the inside. Our server kept arguing saying that it's medium rare, which I said was fine with me but this was not cooked medium rare. She was making it seem like it was my fault that I didn't like the salmon (I've had it before and it wasn't that rare) and that it was an inconvenience for her to get me another so I just said I was done. Still no sides at this point. A few minutes after everyone was done with entrees, she threw the sides on the table. Not sure if this was just a fluke but our server and the kitchen were both struggling last night. I will not be going back here again. read more

Wow, what a great dining experience! Hipsters and foodies, welcome home! Our kind is so thick you can't swing a cat by its tail without hitting a food snob- so simmer down. Gritty, scrappy, tiny, NY feel. Pork Tenderloin is the bomb! The 1401 Salad was great but the Caesar was bland (dressing and parm were not sharp enough). Every Special of the Day has been perfect. Summer diners note: you're practically eating in the middle of the kitchen and it's pretty damn hot. Always a bonus: BYOB. read more

I had a great time at Cafe Urbano. The food was great, and the atmosphere was relaxed. I made reservations for the night I went in with some friends, and sat down immediately. Someone helped us open our wine within a minute or so. Every dish I tried was flavorful, fresh, and came out quickly. The mussels with Jimmy's sausage were so amazing. Yum! read more

Lunch! I've had dinner here many times and love it but it should be known that Urbano is a great lunch spot. It's never super busy and the food is as good as dinner. They have a large selection of sandwiches, salads, and some main course type dishes. Their soups of the day are always great and every salad I have had has been hearty and delicious. Last time I had the crab cake salad. It had two medium sized crab cakes on top of a lightly tossed salad. Yum! So, grab your bestie and sneak away for lunch! It's a perfect little hiding hole to escape to for an our (or two, with a bottle of wine!). read more

Food is very good here. Service is weak. Our waiter was indifferent at best. But the 2 stars is for the owner. We had a 6:30 reservation. No one told us that we needed to be out by 8. We we're catching up and didn't realize that it was almost 9 and they had another reservation. All the owner had to do was politely ask us to release the table. We get it. We didn't notice the time and didn't even know someone was waiting. A little directness in a polite way would have been well received. But instead the owner was rude and passive aggressive. Our water glasses were empty and hadn't been refilled. We had paid the check and asked for a little water since they had never been refilled-not a glass of wine. The owner rudely said we needed to leave. I approached him and he said he was frustrated because he needed the table. How unprofessional that he couldn't be polite and let us know in a nice direct way that someone needed the table. It would have been well received Too bad. We won't ever return. read more

I cannot say enough about Urbano Cafe. I've had this place on my list of restaurants to try for a while now. I regret that it took me this long to find this little (definitely little, only 9 tables) gem in East Dallas. My girlfriend got a deal through Scoutmob (around $15 off). In hindsight, this place is worth paying full price and maybe even more. We called ahead of time to ensure that they would accommodate to a vegetarian customer. The chef created a beautiful vegetarian platter of lobster mushroom risotto with roasted asparagus. Compliments to the chef for creating a vegetarian alternative! We brought a bottle of cabernet sauvignon as this restaurant is BYOB (small $2 fee per person). Our appetizer of the Caprese S'mores in a balsamic syrup was a great start to this meal. I love cheese and toasty/crunchy food so this hit the spot. The highlight of this dining experience was my entree. I must say this is THE BEST ENTREE I HAVE EVER EATEN. My mouth is now watering as I write this review. I had the tenderloin on mushroom risotto. The only way I can describe this is "ERMAGERD" (Proper English cannot describe this dish) delicious. The steak was cooked to perfection with a lovely pinkish reddish center and a crisp seared outside. It was seasoned so damn well and kept perfectly juicy. The saltiness of the seasoning worked just right with the creamy texture of the risotto. Every bite was a mouthgasm and I did not want it to end. This dish was a gift from the Gods and would be my final meal request if I ever have that option. It was that good. Just get up and try this place. Now. read more

Okay, first off, I disagree with the comments that Urbano is in the hood. Really? On to the stuff that matters: The food is amazing, staff attentive. Probably the best food I've had in Dallas. read more

New restaurant crush!! My dude finally picked up on my not-so-subtle hints of "Gosh I really wanna go there!" every time we drive by the UC. Alas, I am often lazy when it comes to making reservations so he surprised me with a dinner reservation here the other day and it was a wonderful experience. (Only 9 tables in the joint so you definitely need one.) This is one of those restaurants where I feel like I don't have to go into too much detail, because everything was good, from the service, to the cozy atmosphere (ok the sun was a little bright in his eyes for a few minutes there), to the food. Our waitress was a sweetheart and had fabulous recommendations. She recommended the shrimp rather than the crab cake for an appetizer, which was good because it was easy to share and delicious. It's amazing the difference between store bought and grown-next-door greens. For our entrees, we had the pork risotto and I couldn't decide between the beef tenderloin with egg, asparagus, and foie gras and the salmon. She was forthcoming in admitting that the anise glaze that comes with the tenderloin could be pretty strong if you weren't a big fan of the flavor, so I decided to stay light and go with the salmon that evening. It was perfect, especially with the delicate portion of cappellini pasta with fresh olive oil and basil, also from next door. Simple, yet wonderfully executed. That's my favorite kind of meal. We passed on dessert but we had a nice, leisurely meal and of course enjoyed the BYOB policy. It's a little pricey to come every week, but I wish we could!! Will definitely be back soon :) read more

I've been to Urbano a handful of times. Mostly for family get togethers. I love this place. It's small, you feel like you're in a secret club of good food, and the service is amazing. The last time I went was for date night on a Tuesday. "I'll just see if we can get in" I said. Reservations are mostly required. We were able to get in at 5:45. I can eat early. We started with the Mussels which are different than any I've ever had in Dallas, they're in a almost tomato chorizo sauce. I had the seared scallops with risotto. My BF had a lamb shank that was on the special for the evening. Did you know that if you purée carrots and potatoes it tastes like heaven, yeah me either. I'm not usually one to order risotto unless I'm at Urbano. They make it to perfection. So go. As soon as you can get in. Remember it is BYOB so bring your drinks and eat some amazing food! read more