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Café 43, Dallas, TX

Café 43

4.9
4.9
1535 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
  • Great for brunch
Café 43, located at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, is a contemporary American restaurant which features a locally sourced, organic, seasonal and sustainable menu for weekday lunch and weekend brunch. It is one of the most preferred venues in the city for private events in the evening for groups of up to 150 because of its stunning design, flexibility, private entrance and breezy terrace. Admission to the Center is not required as Café 43 has its own entrance.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (214) 200-4302
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    John Maas
  • Catering
    Upscale American cuisine focused on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
  • Private party facilities
    Cafe 43 is available evenings for seated dinners of up to 120 guests and cocktail receptions for up to 150 guests. There are other private event spaces located throughout the Center.
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    Bush Avenue
  • Parking details
    There are several nearby parking garages on the SMU campus.
  • Public transit
    From the Dart Mockingbord Station take the Mustang Express bus route 768.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,535 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.8Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Dallas

    Best Value

  • Dallas

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Café 43 offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food" and "fantastic service." Located on SMU's campus, it features a beautiful setting, perfect for a business lunch or casual meal. While parking isn't validated, the "reasonable prices" and "delicious menu" make it a "hidden gem" worth visiting.

1,535 Reviews
  1. Gray

    Dallas

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food in a great setting. Nice open decor. Good menu choices.

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  2. Matt

    Orlando

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Corn soup was spectacular along with crab salad and salmon. Cowboy cookies to die for. Fantastic experience with great food and service.

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  3. Ray

    VIP

    Dallas

    47 reviews

    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely girlfriends brunch. The omelet from the lunch menu was excellent with a generous serving of fruit and salad. The avocado toast was yummy, with a layer of sauteed spinach and two perfectly poached eggs plus a lovely salad and fruit. The holiday atmosphere was festive with families and friends of all ages.

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  4. Ray

    VIP

    Dallas

    47 reviews

    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a group of 10 ladies, friends since high-school 60 years ago. Cafe 43 accommodated our group at a great table, centered in the elegant dining room. The menu is terrific for a wide range of tastes. The lump crab salad is my favorite, but the omelet looked scrumptious with a tasty green salad and fruit compote generously filling a large plate. The corned beef sandwich looked like the best reuben I've ever seen, and the service was exemplary. It was a delightful Christmas luncheon before we headed over to the Meadows Museum for a tour of Legacy of Vesuvius, the temporary exhibition departing on January 5th.

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  5. Eileen

    VIP

    Dallas

    24 reviews

    4.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    lovely place to have lunch, very good food , and good value .

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  6. Cam

    Hawaii

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a wonderful experience each time we eat here! The cafe is first class but not fancy...everyone I take there enjoys it! The staff is very friendly, and the food is delicious! It is such a treat to eat at Cafe 43...and then you can enjoy both the Bush Museum and the SMU Campus! Thank you to the genius who decided this needed to be included in this wonderful complex representing America!!!!!! LOVE IT!

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  7. Stephen

    Dallas

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good and attractively presented. Waiter was not hostile, but seemed less than friendly.

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  8. Katy

    Dallas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always excellent service and food here. Today was a special plus as Mrs Bush was dining there too. It is a casually elegant place with beautiful views.

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  9. Chris

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you live in the area and have not tried this place you are missing out as anyone passing through the area or visiting SMU or the Bush Center or Dallas it’s a destination, hidden gem.

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  10. Lee

    Dallas

    108 reviews

    5.0

    108 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another great visit. Brian runs a great restaurant.

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FAQs

Café 43 is rated 4.9 stars by 1535 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Google Map for Café 43

2943 SMU Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Bush Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm Brunch Sat 11:00 am–2:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    There are several nearby parking garages on the SMU campus.
  • Public transit
    From the Dart Mockingbord Station take the Mustang Express bus route 768.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    John Maas
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (214) 200-4302
  • Catering
    Upscale American cuisine focused on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
  • Private party facilities
    Cafe 43 is available evenings for seated dinners of up to 120 guests and cocktail receptions for up to 150 guests. There are other private event spaces located throughout the Center.
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