After the Round – Dee’s Table Burgers & More

Hailing from a small town in Louisiana, Dee Lincoln, who boasts the nickname “The Queen of Steaks,” has long been one of the most successful restauranters in the Metroplex. One of the original founders of Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, the 40-year veteran of the restaurant biz continues to innovate and focus energy on great food and great hospitality. 

Del Frisco’s is now a distant memory for Lincoln, who sold it years ago, but that doesn’t mean the Queen has hung up her crown. Tapping into a decades-long relationship with Jerry Jones and the Jones’ family, Lincoln opened Dee Lincoln Prime at The Star in Frisco. Prime has been met with exceptional reviews and overwhelming success, as it is often the spot for upscale dinners among executives, not only for the Dallas Cowboys, but other major corporations based in and around The Star. 

Now, Lincoln has a new concept. Dee’s Table Burgers & More sits a Dak Prescott deep ball away from Dee Lincoln’s Prime and offers a great casual sports bar atmosphere with simple, yet delicious, food, as well as some of Lincoln’s Louisiana flair sprinkled throughout the décor and on the menu.

This casual concept offers a great horseshoe-shaped bar which is perfect to relax, catch a game and a cold beverage as you check out the Dallas Cowboys’ memorabilia on the walls. As I entered, both the server for the bar tables and the bartender greeted me with a friendly “Welcome in!” There is also a separate seating area away from the bar, if you are just popping in for a quick lunch or business meeting with associates. A patio outside is a great spot for the spring months, with a nice open-air look at all the Cowboys’ monuments leading just up the street to the Ford Center. 

As with most spots you can go to catch a ballgame and a burger, Dee’s Table offers a great cocktail program, which includes craft drinks like the cherry sour, which is Nue Vodka, lemon juice, luxardo syrup, grenadine, fee foam and bitters. This one is perfect if you plan to chill on the patio and enjoy a refreshing drink on a gorgeous spring afternoon or evening. 

A trio of martinis are available on the signature list, like the Key Lime, a flaming S’MORE, or the ever-popular espresso version. But, if you’re more the James Bond martini type, any of the bartenders at Dee’s will shake one up in a more classic style. 

In addition to the great drinks, Dee’s Table offers any number of beers, like a Revolver Blood & Honey, Voodoo IPA Ranger or a Manhattan Project Half Life, all on draft. There are also plenty of wines by the glass or by the bottle so share. 

The food at Dee’s Table is elevated bar food with a twist of Dee’s Louisiana roots. The appetizer menu offers some great sharable or light bite options, like hushpuppy shrimp, crispy chicken bites, a rib-sticking Frito pie with chorizo chili, and bacon mac & cheese balls. I chose the cheesesteak egg rolls, which came out piping hot and are packed with tender steak, cheese and come with a drizzle of honey mustard and sweet Thai chili sauce. The crispy egg roll wrappers hold up well to the melty, cheesy goodness inside, and the combo of the honey mustard drizzle and sweet Thai chili really compliment the richness of the steak and cheese well. They’re a must if you want a great app to enjoy with an icy cold beer. 

If you are in the mood for a great handheld, Dee’s Table has got you covered. There is a delicious chicken club with cheddar, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and a chipotle mayo with just the right amount of bite. There is also a turkey burger, if you are looking for something a little lighter or are avoiding red meat. But the real star of the handheld show are the burgers. There are more traditional options, like the classic or the double smash, but if you want to up the flavor ante, go for one of the locally sourced cowboy Wagyu burgers. These come cooked a perfect medium, but with that great char-grilled flavor that will remind you of when dad used to man the backyard grill at family gatherings. 

The Cowboy burger comes with one of those juicy Wagyu patties, crispy onion straws for some texture, pepper jack cheese and a chipotle BBQ glaze. Be sure you have your napkin ready for this one, as this burger is messy, delicious and hits all the flavor notes. The Wagyu patty is next level, with just enough fat content to keep the patty moist, while still offering a great charred crust that can’t be beat. 

If you prefer a Tex-Mex flair, go for the South of the Border burger, with avocado, pickled red onion, queso fresco, chorizo chili and some tomatillo salsa. This is another multi-napkin rib-sticker that will satisfy even the biggest appetites. If you are craving something that offers some Cajun favor profiles, then go for The Lincoln burger. This is without a doubt one of the most unique burgers anywhere in DFW, with a Wagyu patty, topped with a shrimp peppercorn fondue, and topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and chipotle mayo. This burger/po’ boy hybrid is unlike any other burger you have ever tried. It’s truly one-of-a-kind and really showcases Dee’s Louisiana roots, all in delicious burger form. If you need a tasty sidecar to your burger, I recommend the parmesan fries, onion rings or the fried corn ribs. 

It isn’t just called Dee’s Table Burgers, it’s Dee’s Table Burgers & MORE. On that more portion of the menu, you really see those Louisiana roots on full display, with options like fried catfish, a traditional shrimp po’ boy, or a juicy oven-roasted chicken. 

If you are in the mood for a real Cajun delight, then might I focus your attention on the New Orleans Style Pastalaya. This rich, delectable combination of penne pasta, chicken, Andouille sausage and shrimp is coated in a silky, creamy Creole sauce that is packed with the essence of NOLA. The Andouille offers a salty, spicy note, while the chicken adds some texture that pairs perfectly with the delicate shrimp. It is all the great zest of Rue Bourbon in pasta form. If you have a shellfish allergy, no problem, as the staff was happy to accommodate by subbing extra chicken and removing the shrimp. It also comes with some toasted bread to sop up some of that sauce. While I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the burgers, for my money, the Pastalaya is, as the youngsters would say, an absolute banger. 

Since there are a lot of young execs in the area, Dee’s Table also offers some options that aren’t quite as heavy as burgers, po’ boys or Pastalaya. There are six salads on the menu, including a simple garden, a classic Caesar or a blue cheese wedge. If you want to mix in some protein, try the pulled chicken salad, or go for the tenderloin salad with arugula, crispy Brussels sprouts, red onion, blue cheese crumbles and a bacon vinaigrette. 

A great bananas foster bread pudding with rum sauce or a chocolate brownie a la mode are also on the menu, if you need a little something sweet to complete your meal. 

Dee’s Table Burger’s & More is just as advertised. It is elevated bar food with some twists and turns along the way. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive; food came out as ordered and piping hot. Although my visit was mid-day, I can only imagine the buzz at the bar during a Stars’ playoff game or during a Cowboys game in the fall. The whole vibe was solid, the drinks were cold and tasty, and the Pastalaya alone is worth the trip.

If you are headed to the Ford Center for a game or to take a tour of The Star, I can’t recommend it enough for a great quick meal or your next gameday spot.