Gemma

Simply not that impressed. Sampled the streak, had rabbit, and tried the chicken. While you can tell it was good quality, the flavors and textures didn’t seem right. Passed on dessert… none of us were blown away and we all walked away unimpressed. Cool spot, but the food was a little underwhelming!

Our experience was overall good.
Our service was good but felt our server may have been rushed.
Our cocktails were perfect…
bads: Wine was taken away before being asked, pork chop was too salty — along with the Duck.
Goods: Our pasta dishes were perfect as were all the other sides we enjoyed.
The server and staff was super nice about the overly salted meats… and reduced our bill as a result.
The design of the restaurant was nice and hostess a joy!
We will be back.

My experience at Gemma was good but not what I’d been anticipating. My expectations were very high due to reviews I have read an a lot of hype around the restaurant.
The service was very good. We were a table of 4 and apps were good. I had the kampachi tartare which was good and the others at the table also enjoyed their apps but were not wowed. One person had the beef tartare and felt the chop on the beef was too large.
For main I had the duck which was over salted. The leg was a bit burnt and bitter and the seared duck was not rendered enough so it could not be chewed enough to swallow which was a disappointment. When the waiter cleaned our table and asked about how the dish was … he did not seem phased by the comment about the fattiness. We also tried the wild boar pasta which was excellent and the chicken which was very good. The maitake mushroom veg side we ordered was absolutely delicious.
For desert I had the persimmon olive oil cake which was just lovely and went perfectly with the accompaniments. We also tried the chocolate trio which was ok.
I don’t think I will be back as there are other options on the Dallas food scene that are a lot more appealing.

Having now had three separate dishes at Gemma, I’ll be the first to say that I got it wrong with my first 4-​star review: Gemma deserves 5-​stars, and is among the best restaurants in Dallas. Period.
The below review mirrors my initial review in many ways, but with updates to incorporate my other dishes.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
I’ll be honest — this is more often than not a bit of a gimme star, but the service and atmosphere here at Gemma really are among the best in the city. The vibe is very seaside East Coast, with white wood and blue accents nicely setting the stage whether you’re with a date or a larger party. It’s open seating at the bar, but even then there’s often a wait so plan accordingly. While I fully intended to wait a bit for my Rabbit Parpadelle, it came out in no more than 8 or 10 minutes, which was a pleasant surprise. To top it all off, it’s clear that Gemma brings in a nice mix of those who reserve it for a special occasion and a handful of regulars who simply love the food and drinks. Everyone from the managerial folks to the servers and hostesses make a point to get to know these people, which is always a nice touch. No complaints. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Make no mistake, $ 26.75 is a lot of money for a smaller pasta dish (and later dishes were roughly between $ 25.00 and $ 28.00), but Gemma is one of those places where they truly walk the walk in the quality and atmosphere department, and when that’s the case, I’ve no issue adjusting my mental price points. Had this been $ 30 that would have been too much, but what a sensational dish that I was more than happy to pay $ 26.75 for. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
What a truly fantastic dish this is. Rabbit isn’t something I’ve had often, so I was honestly unsure of what to expect, but I don’t think I could have asked for much more. To start, the pasta was clearly homemade, and was perfect, with a nice and thick flat noodle that was coarse enough to pickup the flavors of the broth and butter while being perfectly cooked with just the right amount of firmness. The rabbit itself was shredded and mixed into a fantastic sauce that I can’t quite place, but it brought out just the appropriate game-​y taste, which is something I look for as a distinguishing factor when eating something like rabbit. The whole dish was brought together with finely chopped onions and some other seasoning that truly did have me longing for more. All in all a fantastic pasta dish in its own right, but bonus points for being so unique and uncommon.
A later visit to Gemma had me served up the highly acclaimed homemade pasta with wild boar ragu, which was equally sensational to the previously discussed rabbit dish. Another unique protein with delicious homemade pasta and a real unique flavor to bring it all together.
Of additional note here is the appetizers. I’m not one for fresh oysters, so I opted to get the Turkey Meatballs, which were absolutely incredible.
Dual Stars Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
While I was initially unsure with so many other good options in the city like Abacus and Knife, multiple visits to Gemma has solidified them as one of my favorite dining options in the city, and I’d gladly come here daily as they rotate their seasonal menu. Star Granted.

What a way to start 2016. Reservations at Gemma for New Years Eve. Sometimes NYE can be hit or miss even at the best places. Gemma was fabulous. They had their regular menu with some specials. Five us of split some baked oysters and the baby artichokes. Both tasty, but the oysters were the big hit. Caesar salad was just right, not too much dressing. Between us, we had the striped bass, pork chop, rabbit pappardelle and scallops. My scallops were just right. The sauce did not overpower the scallops and the rabbit was so juicy and tender. The two who ordered the bass couldn’t finish, it had a really rich flavor. The pork chop was good, but just a bit lacking in flavor. We finished with a sampling of the sorbet and ice cream. We paired the meal with a barolo that was not as heavy as some. I can’t remember the cocktails we started with — a couple had the persephone, which they liked. Mine was a rum drink that was excellent! Overall, a great experience with friendly and efficient service. We were well taken care of and look forward to the next dinner there, maybe we can find a benefactor…

I can only hope that all the good press over the last year won’t deter this place from staying true to what makes it so amazing: simple yet exceptional food, no-​muss-​no-​fuss ambiance, and the kind service. I might also add a stellar wine list that includes some off-​the-​radar finds that are well worth noting (a la Seavey). The quality of the food and wine could easily warrant a stuffy and pretentious vibe, especially in Dallas, but there’s a casual air that makes everything so approachable and familiar. Come donning a suit and tie or hipster in a jean jacket — no matter.
Not to be missed are the veal cheek with spätzle and pappardelle. Both outstanding. I’d also give a nod to the DIY beef tartare since it’s always nice to be able to assemble things «to taste».

Last night dinner was soooo delicious. We started with the mussels that came out perfect, shared a cesar salad (it was good, but slightly too acidity for me), rabbit pappardelle pasta that was simply amazing, and we had their special of the night Ribeye. We asked for it to be cooked medium, but it came out medium well. This would usually bother me, but it was too delicious and tender to send back. I would take one star off for that, but it was truly delicious even if it is slightly overcooked. Next time I’ll order medium rare if they are still serving the ribeye, but then again I think I will try the veal next time. I sat there staring at the delicious food I couldn’t finish and was really trying to finish eating everything, but I end up asking them to box it for me even though it was barely anything to take home. I am glad I did, because it made a delicious breakfast and reminded me that last night meal was pretty much perfect.
Btw: service was excellent. They gave us time to enjoy every single aspect of our meal before bringing out the next and never overlapping. I think I will skip the salad next time to try to save some room for dessert. Lol

Gemma is a great little restaurant! The staff is very friendly and helpful. We got an order of the fried Castelvetrano olives. I had never had fried olives that come like this before and they were delicious. They come with toasted pecans. A very unique combination. We split a baby bok choy salad that was terrific. It comes with fennel, pear, pomegranate, and cashews in a very light dressing. Very crisp and fresh! The pappardelle pasta with braised rabbit was excellent!
We also had wine and bourban drinks recommended by our server that were a great fit with the meal. All in all, a very nice evening at Gemma.

Came here during my trip to Dallas, and their food was really good. Service was as expected from a high end restaurant. Definitely a good place for a date.
Loved the décor. They have huge mirrors on the wall, which makes the place look bigger than usual.
Food:
GRILLED STRIPED BASS– This was delicious! It had cauliflower purée, roasted cauliflower, and fried chickpeas. The sauce was great. Nothing too overwhelming and it brings out the flavor of the fish.
PAPPARDELLE– First time trying rabbit. I know I’m usually against this because I’ve had a pet rabbit before, but I was curious and this did not disappoint. Meat just melted in my mouth. Flavoring was perfect. Made me want more.
Overall, had a great experience. Did not have to wait long for the food. I highly recommend this place.

Went here for my birthday dinner and was very happy with the overall experience. We arrived over 30 minutes early for our reservation. They asked us to sit at the bar and then sat us within 10 minutes, which was enough time to order a drink and some oysters. We got the fresh market price oysters and there were 3 options. If you go with friends make sure to order off of each section of the menu. We also got the steak tartare, which had great flavor and served with house made chips. I’m not a huge meatball fan, but their turkey meatballs were so good. They were served in a tomato sauce with cheese melted on top and a side of bread. I definitely recommend them. Since we went on my birthday they gave us complimentary fried olives with texas pecans. I don’t really like olives but the pecans toned down the briny flavor of olives. For our main course we got the we got the rabbit pasta. Do not skip this item! The rabbit was tender and the pasta is made in house. They were nice enough to split the entrée for us and I could have licked the bowl. We also got the fried onion rings which are pretty standard. Very friendly wait staff. Make it a date night stop if you get the chance.

I love everything about Gemma! No wonder this place is booked every Friday and Saturday night! They always have late openings though. I came in on a Sunday for dinner to celebrate my graduation from graduate school. Hard earned degree had to be celebrated with a good meal! I knew I picked the right place when I walked in with a congratulation notecard on the table. What a classy touch! Made it personalized for me! I felt so welcomed!
My friend and I shared the calamari with lamb. It was cooked perfectly. The calamari was not chewy and different to your usual fried calamari. I’ve never had calamari with lamb together before so it was different. Must get that appetizer. For entrée we shared rabbit pappardelle and the braised veal cheek. The veal cheek was better out of the two but they were both very yummy!!! the veal was so tender and flavorful. For dessert, we had the olive oil cake. I’ve never had olive oil cake before. I like that they incorporate different flavor into different type of food. I would have never thought to make cake out of olive oil. It was so moist and paired with vanilla ice cream. Perfect combination!
oh and also, service was top notch!!!

I’d normally take off a star (or 2) for the negative aspects such as lack of bar space, limited and pricey wines-​by-​the-​glass options, but no. Their hospitality and delicate, delicious and oh so fresh menu items far surpass anything that might have bummed you out (temporarily).
Having said that though, prepare to wait if you don’t have a reservation. They will however sell cocktails while you await your seat:)!
I love the veggie dishes and whatever fresh crudo/​ceviche they are serving… You can’t go wrong with anything though. Cheers

My friends and I arrived at 5:45 on a Saturday evening with reservations. It was not busy when we got there, but the place filled up real quick after we settled down. It was a cute little place, with simple and classic décor. Sadly, all of us were underwhelmed with the food and agreed that the complimentary bread given in the beginning was the best part of our meal. My friends ordered the Duck Breast and Confit Leg and Pappardelle. They both said they would not get the same dishes if they were to return. I got the Baked Oysters and Turkey Meatballs. I liked the oysters, but they were tiny. Flavor-​wise, they could not compete with ones I have had in New Orleans. There was nothing special about the meatballs. Having tried the ones at Neighborhood Services, my standards are higher now.

I was far underwhelmed by this place after hearing the buzz around it shortly after its opening.
The atmosphere, interior, food, and service was all below my expectations, but maybe I just had really high expectations.
With that said, things that stood out:
— the fig scone/​bread and the oat bread (yes, all their breads served at the beginning of the meal were wonderful!)
— fried olives/​warm pecans
— oysters
— meatballs
— shaved asparagus
Note, the place is pronounced Jemma, which is Latin for previous gem.
Nice location, but I don’t think I’ll be back.

First time gave me some good wow fActor. Second time, it was just okay. Porkchop was dried. Drinks are excellent BTW. Service was short. Forgot my oyster. Forgot the promised bread. Gem-​nah!

QUICK HIT (Must Go vs. Consider Checking It Out vs. Pass/Don’t Bother): Consider Checking It Out
Let me say at the outset that my two dining experiences at Gemma were both decent. Maybe my underwhelming dinners at Gemma were caused by high expectations set by local food critics or Unilocal elitists, or perhaps by the fact that I ate at two true Napa institutions (The French Laundry and Terra) 1.5 months prior to my last visit… regardless, I just wasn’t overly impressed with Gemma, and nor were my guests.
Gemma is located on Henderson road near Lower Greenville area. Valet parking, although complimentary, is required. Both times I have had reservations, and Gemma has been prompt in seating me upon arrival at those times. The restaurant itself is nice. The tables are quite close together, however I never felt «cramped» nor felt that my conversation could easily be heard by other diners. The restaurant volume is moderate, but not loud enough to prevent good conversation.
The drink menu is quite extensive (beer, wine, cocktails). Good variety of offerings. Bread service comes frequently (the in-​house made breads are fantastic). At both visits, I tried several appetizers, salads, shareable plates, and a few of my guests entrees. I do enjoy the menu at Gemma — approachable menu without being too extensive, unique items, creative. A few of the items on the menu read better than they actually tasted. Some recent items were flavorless (Crudo), while others were incredibly oversalted (ribeye special). Some items were table hits (artichokes, turkey meatballs, ricotta cavatelli, duck breast). Overall, mixed reviews on taste from my dining guests.
The servers have always been incredibly personable, charismatic, and friendly each time. I think the service could be a bit more polished for this caliber of dining — (three different waiters came to our table asking for our drinks unknowing that they had already been taken, water was mistakenly poured into my wine glass… yes seriously, but they did replace the wine). Regardless, the dinner service was like clock-​work. Very little wait time between dishes. I enjoyed the ordering of served dishes as dictated by the kitchen. Water was quickly filled when low. Drink orders were requested when appropriate.
Overall, Gemma was an «A-​OK» dining experience (per Unilocal stratification).

The rave reviews are accurate! From all of the magazines to food critics to you Unilocalers, this really was a magnificent meal!
The ambiance is very intimate and romantic, but saw a few large parties there too. It can accommodate whatever your needs. The lighting is low and the volume of the crowd is a medium, so good for any occasion.
Started off with drinks: a Manhattan and a rhubarb spritzer. Both good. Refreshing for the spritzer and strong for the Manhattan.
The appetizer we chose was a raw carpaccio which was quite delightful, but the fish was so thin and slimy, it didn’t even feel like we were eating fish. Not sure about that one, but the flavors were good.
I had the grilled striper bass and the boy had the special which was a spaghetti with pork and pesto. He likes his a lot and mine was delightful — the fish was cooked perfectly and the flavors of the vegetables below it were a perfect complement to the fish. Light and refreshing and just the right portion.
We wanted dessert, but it was getting a bit late, so we opted to forgo this time. Overall, a pleasant meal… If you can get a table…

An absolute divine experience with great recipes! Best to ha e reservations days in advance if you want to eat anytime after 6. Complimentary valet is available, which I would recommend because parking and roads there are very limited and shady.
Service is very friendly and if your celebrating an occasion everyone is nice enough to congratulate you. They’ll even greet with you with a card at your reserved table.
There are two breads initially served, which one is sweet and the other is fluffy to be served with butter, which were warm and tasty.
The menu is season and change quarterly. The turkey meatballs were moist but lacked a by more seasoning, but the tomato sauce was very tasty.
The baked oysters were succulent, buttery and the cheese on top was nicely crisped.
The braised rabbit was perfectly seasoned and blended well with the soft and buttery noodles (my son says they’re as good as alphabet soup :/​)
The peach buckle dessert was AMAZING!
Dinner was definitely worth every penny and we can’t wait to try the next menu selection.

Finally got a chance to try out Gemma 2014 Restaurant of the year. Would it live up to expectations?
CRISPY VEAL SWEETBREADS whole grain mustard, frisée
Tastes just like chicken nuggets. They were decent and fun to try every once in awhile.
TURKEY MEATBALLS tomato sugo, grilled crostini
They were good but nothing beats the meatballs at neighborhood services.
BAKED OYSTERS leeks, guanciale, jalapeño, gruyère
I don’t normally eat oysters but I liked them but maybe I was just buying into all the hype and making myself think everything here is good?
BRAISED VEAL CHEEKS
Tokyo turnips, baby carrots, cipollini onions, bacon, black pepper spätzle
Super tender and very tasty — one of the highlights of the night.
WILD KING SALMON
spring pea and mint purée, cardoons, English pees, pea tendrils
I didn’t taste it since I don’t like Salmon but my friend made a happy clean plate.
RICOTTA CAVATELLI
braised lamb, dandelion, shimeji mushrooms
I love pasta and I don’t think it can be done better. The lamb played second fiddle.
PAPPARDELLE
braised rabbit, pancetta, Swiss chard, thyme
Once again I LOVE pasta and the rabbit plays second fiddle.
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PINENUT TART
toasted marshmallows, vanilla bean ice cream
My favorite dessert of the night. Love chocolate and marshmallows.
CREAM CHEESE CRÊPES
huckleberry compote, graham cracker, Meyer lemon ice cream
They were good but better saved for breakfast
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SEMIFREDDO
prosecco sabayon, ricotta cake croutons
I’m a big strawberry fan so this was pretty good in my book.
Verdict
Although I wasn’t blown away by any dish, I consider Gemma one of Dallas best restaurants and would definitely be back to try new dishes from the chef.

5yrs being Unilocal Elite… I can honestly say this is arguably my favorite restaurant in Texas. Stellar service, romantic yet invigorating décor, and most importantly phenomenal food!
Everything, every single item from cocktails to appetizers to entrees and sides blew my mind. The first two cocktails I got were the old fashioned of course and the BLOOD ORANGE MARGARITA. What the heck, it was spectacular. It was so hard to decide but I had to get another blood orange, I would drink that cocktail with every dinner if I could. The OYSTERS were extremely fresh from both the west coast and east coast. (TIP: They have a late night menus after 10pm with $ 2 oysters) The ARTIC CHAR TARTARE is a refreshing new spin to the classic tuna tartare. Served paired with their homemade chips. The SWEETBREADS were so delicious. I mean how many restaurants have you been to in Texas that serves sweetbreads? The CHARCUTERIE plate had the best prosciutto I’ve ever had, along with pickled vegetables, homemade raisin infused toast, a pâté, and a rabbit mouse.
For entrée, the GRILLED STRIPED BASS, a flaky white fish so fresh it melts in your mouth. Juicy and flavorful because the chef knows his stuff, letting the freshness speak by itself. And as a side, I must must rave about the MAITAKE MUSHROOMS! omg… what an experience. I will order 2 orders of these mushrooms next time. Slightly more crunchy texture and has a lighter, less pungent flavor than shiitake or any other mushrooms. I’ve never had anything like it.
Since it was our anniversary, they offered complimentary rose champagne. Such a wonderful experience in and out. Will make this a tradition every time I go to Dallas!

Excelente restaurante, la comida super rica, les recomiendo las almejas y el Ribeye. Un detalles es que los meseros un poco lentos.