After an extremely disappointing experience at another upscale steakhouse on my birthday evening, my wife and I made the last-minute decision to reroute to a restaurant we had visited once before and loved — Stillwell’s. It was, without question, the best decision we could have made. From the moment we handed our car to valet, every element of the evening reminded us why Stillwell’s stands among the top restaurants in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
Arrival & Ambience
The experience began the moment we stepped through the doors. Bella, at the hostess stand, set the tone with grace, professionalism, and a genuine warmth that is increasingly rare in fine dining. The dining room strikes the perfect balance: refined and sophisticated with just the right blend of low lighting and modern elegance — intimate without ever feeling gloomy. It immediately created the sense that we had stepped into a place where details matter.
Service & Hospitality
The service at Stillwell’s is nothing short of exemplary. Joel, our server for the evening, delivered one of the finest tableside experiences we’ve had anywhere in DFW. He was attentive without hovering, confident without being intrusive, and executed each aspect of service with precision. The entire waitstaff mirrored this standard — coordinated, observant, and genuinely invested in ensuring we had a memorable evening.
A special acknowledgment must be given to Ashton, the sommelier, whose expertise elevated our dinner to another level. His wine selection — paired thoughtfully with our entrées — was spot-on. The bottle he guided us toward ended up being the exact profile we were hoping for, enhancing each dish seamlessly.
Cuisine
The food at Stillwell’s once again reaffirmed its place as one of our top two restaurants in DFW.
• Oysters – Pristinely fresh with a clean, oceanic brine; an excellent start to the meal.
• Caesar Salad – A classic executed with elevated finesse: crisp, chilled greens and a dressing both rich and bright, topped with warm, perfectly seasoned house-made croutons that added a standout, memorable crunch.
• NY Strip - Cooked to absolute perfection and deeply flavorful with an impressive sear. While the blue cheese topper was bold, it leaned a bit heavy for my personal palate; on my next visit, I'll opt to enjoy the steak on its own to fully appreciate the cut's natural richness. The house-made steak sauce, however, was a standout — impressively nuanced and surprisingly excellent, especially for someone who rarely reaches for steak sauce.
• Filet Mignon – My wife’s entrée was tender, buttery, and executed flawlessly — easily one of the best filets in the metroplex.
• Mac & Cheese, Brussels Sprouts, Potato Purée – Each side dish showcased the kitchen’s commitment to quality and technique, particularly the potato purée, which was luxuriously smooth and silky.
• Bread Service – Fresh, warm, and thoughtfully crafted — a detail many steakhouses overlook but Stillwell’s executes with care.
• Cinnamon Bun Bananas Foster – The tableside preparation was as engaging as it was indulgent. The combination of warm cinnamon, caramelized banana, with the entertaining presentation — truly made it the perfect finale — a dessert so good it truly put a delicious ‘spin’ on the cinnamon bun.
Overall
Stillwell’s delivered the birthday experience we were hoping for — and more. While our night began on the wrong foot elsewhere, it ended with exceptional food, impeccable service, and a reminder of what true hospitality looks like. This is a restaurant operating at a level of professionalism, precision, and culinary excellence that rivals any fine-dining establishment in the region.
If you are looking for a place in DFW that delivers on every promise — food, service, ambience, and genuine care — Stillwell’s is simply one of the best.
Highly, highly recommended.
SM
Stephen Mutz
Nov 12, 2025
Overall, a very solid steakhouse, but for the price would have expected slightly better service, presentation, and attention to detail.
The steak was rare, instead of medium rare, but the salad was excellent and the lobster bisque was great and presented very nicely. I really enjoyed the bread as well, the sides were just fine.
The dessert portions were absolutely ridiculous! Not my favorite cheesecake or chocolate cake, so I think there’s room for improvement there.
DT
darlene turner
Nov 10, 2025
Think twice before choosing to spend a lot of money here. Everyone’s experience is different. Unfortunately mine wasn’t very complementary to the establishment.
So much for the owner contacting me. He responded that he wanted to reach out to me and yet nothing.
Mr Derek Frey, yes, I would appreciate you contacting me. Google would not allow me to respond to your response. I do not know how to move forward and connecting with you. Respectfully, Darlene.
We came down to Dallas for a little staycation. We always enjoy finding new steak houses. Unfortunately this one was not a successful adventure. The porterhouse steak was not evenly cooked. The fillet side was medium, and the T-bone side was medium well, which made the steak Less tender. My husband ordered the filet mignon well done, and it came medium. The bread they served is delightful, except for half of the exterior turned hard as rock and was unable to be eaten. Our server whose name began with a J, she was not very attentive. it took forever to get my son‘s whiskey. Just a simple whiskey and a glass took 20 minutes. I was just very disappointed in the whole experience. So much that we didn’t even wanna give dessert a chance. I was afraid I’d spend more money and be more disappointed. Overall, my bill was $430 and the money could’ve been spent elsewhere.