Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen in Uptown Dallas is the holiday party you wanted to know about

There’s a back story to Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen (of course there is), but all you need to know about this Chicago-based smart-casual restaurant, which opened a few months ago in Uptown Dallas, is that you will like it.

The lighting is just right (so there won’t be any Jerry Seinfeld moments), the music is just right (upbeat and crisp, loud enough to feel the groove but soft enough to hear your date) and the service is just right (attentive and friendly without feeling fussy or intrusive).

The food is just right, too, a solid mix of healthy and hearty. You can (and should) begin with Doc B’s “Angry Meatball,” a cue-ball of wagyu beef with spicy tomato sauce and ricotta served with fluffy toasted brioche for dipping. The whole thing could easily double as an entree, but then you wouldn’t order the seared top-grade sushi with sweet mango, the satisfying tower of avocado and fresh crab, the Nashville-style hot fried chicken with roasted carrots or the two-handed burgers, which are so juicy and well-constructed that you’ll need four napkins and a to-go box before you’re through.

When you spot the double cut pork chop on Doc B’s menu, you should probably order that, too. It’s every bit as good as the $14.95 weekly special served across the street at Perry’s, but here it’s a penny less expensive – $14.94. “We only offer that in the Dallas location because we’re across the street from Perry’s,” says Dustin Durrenberger, Doc B’s GM, who will also serve as your amiable host for the evening and who keeps an eagle eye on every little detail.

The food is all made from scratch – and you can tell that the kitchen cares. The cocktails are strong and balanced and creative, just like they should be. And the menu is veto-proof, so whether you’re eating paleo or keto or vegan or GF or just drinking your calories, you’ll find something satisfying here. The place just feels right. Good food, good music, good service, good drinks, good-looking crowd.

Doc’s B’s feels like a good party, minus the air kisses and man hugs.

Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen is located at McKinney & Olive Building at McKinney Avenue and Harwood Street. We visited as invited guests with no expectation of coverage.