abacus

fantastic menu with lots of selections. foie was killer, as was sweet and spicy escolar. sushi selections sound great, bur execution was just ok. well thought out wine list, with discounts sunday - wednesday...trust me, you'll need that the way it is priced!

we started with lobster shooters, which were amazing! the special was bufffalo tenderloin which was good. i say only good because the lamb was one of the best dishes i've ever had, unbelievable! mac'n'cheese was a little too rich. bok choy was tempura fried w/ a terrific sauce. i've been waiting to try this restaurant for a long time ...didnt dissappoint.

went here on a wednesday night for dinner. they have an extensive, but expensive wine list. they were not busy, but it took a very long time before our wine order was taken, and a long time for it to arrive. only then were we given menus. service was slow-paced from then on.

they have an interesting and varied menu of small plates, large plates, sushi, and entrees. their much commented-on lobster shooters were interesting and creative, but not great.

my (deconstructed) caesar salad and hamachi sashimi were excellent. the mac & cheese with short rib and the brussels sprouts were amazing.

were it not for the very slow service and over-priced wine list, i would have ranked this place 5-circles.

tasion. i love abacus. very creative menu that blends texas and asian foods - i.e. tasion. my favorite menu item is the beef tenderloin. divine! great customer service as well. the restaurant cares if you had a good experience in dining.

great service, great food, great wine. i was worried it wouldn't be as good as i remember from years ago. i was wrong! mac n cheese you were worth the stomach ache. i will be back. kudos rathburn!

sorely disappointed. my wife and i recently took our in-laws to abacus for a very special dinner. abacus has always been the standard in dallas cuisine in our opinion. well, i can tell you we will never go back. the food was above average but the service was absolutely horrible. our waiter would not shut up. he wanted to tell us where he was from; his life's story, etc... i couldn't believe it. in fact, me wife commented to our family that the coolest thing about abacus was that the waiters and servers appeard to come out of the walls. the service was always awesome in the past. well that expectation was shattered the other night. our dinner was served exactly 50 minutes after our appetizers which is unacceptable. when you spend the kind of money you spend at abacus you expect a very special experience. i am out on all rathbun restaurants form here on out. i used to take clients to blue plate for lunch once or twice a week but no more. good riddance mr. rathburn.

delicious cuisine, a great take on the modern american dining experience. very beautiful stainglass windows that depict eras in american pop culture such as elvis. the best thing i ate their personally was their fried chicken skins. no pesky chicken getting in the way of that delicious skin, perfect to order for a small group.

great place to sit in the bar for a light dinner and a drink for happy hour! they have one of the best in town! i can fill up on the lobster shooters alone! the buffalo burger is also a must. the staff are always willing to customize drinks and food for you. great central location. laid back atmosphere while still feeling upscale.

we were so happy here it wasn't funny. we were cautious about ordering the lobster shooters- and we adored them. the risotto was the best ever- no exceptions. my lamb was perfect- the steaks were perfect. the recommended wine, scarlett was truly yummy and not as expensive as most on the extensive wine list. we liked the feel of the place- very modern and clubby ( although the people next booth over were too loud). our waiter was knowledgeable and fun to work with. we wanted to come back again in a day but they were closed on sunday. this is a world class restaurant.

outstanding service. great wine list. delicious steaks and pork tenderloin pricey but worth it. sides are great too especially the truffle fries. sushi good but not outstanding. very tight spacing of tables makes it feel loud.

decent meal. not the best i've had in the dallas area but, decently delicious. the staff was great, the drinks weren't really worth it. the entrees could have been much better.

the steak used to be good here but the quality has been somewhat on the decline over the last few years. the place itself needs a bit of a modern spruce up.

abacus has been on my list of restaurants to try for a while and my wife and i finally went saturday evening. we had late reservations and arrived early expecting to wait in the bar until our table was ready. the staff was able to seat us immediately to our surprise. we had a wonderful experience and can see why abacus' service and food is award winning. the lobster shooters were awesome. my wife said her tenderloin was the the best she has ever had at a restaurant. i had the duck and it was very well prepared. the creme brûlée / cinnamon roll desert was outstanding. equally impressive were the drinks and wine list. they have some impressive wines and champagne by the glass and bottle.

we will definitely have abacus on the top of our list when we return to dallas and highly recommend

overall, expect a class operation, smart service, quality "fusion-like" dishes, and an expansive sushi menu. business diners and highland park-ites flock to this pricey, upscale neighborhood staple.

sight: granite bar tops, pressed linens, dark leather couches, this place is texas sophisticate

sound: packed with client dinners, power couples, highland park-ites and the occassional cougars sprinkled in made the bar and restaurant a bustling thursday evening.

touch: clean, upscale, modern.

smell: no open kitchen, no delicious smells wafting from the tables...mainly because the majority where ordering sushi...

taste: 

bread basket- an assortment of fresh baked bread including an herbed focaccia (a little greasy), pretzel bread (doughy), and a cashew cherry bread (dense and doughy)

akaushi beef carpaccio- stunning and delicious! beeman ranch thinly shaved beef with a tart red ruby grapefruit vinaigrette, toasted pinwheels, fresh watercress and herbed oil. a repeat for sure. i was actually lucky than ran out of their himachi on the menu or else i wouldn't have ordered the carpaccio.

shaved brussel sprouts- wok tossed in a blend of sticky soy made these sprouts delicious—click on at whiskandtell.com where i recreate the recipe in my own kitchen.

parsnip soup- creamy, delicious, served tableside enveloping cauliflower bits and wild mushrooms. perfect for a fall evening.

spice cake truffle- complimentary mini chocolate truffles dusted in spice “cake-like” spices (ie cinnamon nutmeg). my first round came with a half bitten truffle (oops), but the waitress apologized profusely and replaced.

we had a great time catching up with friends and enjoying the menu at abacus. i preferred the appetizers and dessert to the entrees, but none of the food was bad. the service was more than adequate and the entire staff was friendly and welcoming. the restaurant has a nice atmosphere that would make it a fun place to dine with friends or a great place for a romantic night with a spouse or significant other.