Cuban in Dallas

Au Troisieme, or AT Bistro, is neighborhood bistro in the heart of University Park (Preston Center). The concept is new American cuisine with a global influence — actually not French. There are a few French dishes on the menu (like fish Provencal), but then there's also a kimchi Reuben.  Start with the tuna and avocado appetizer with a generous portion of tuna poke, avocado, wonton crisps and a sharp kimchi emulsion, perfect to share between two people.  The Texas Gumbo is filled with andouille sausage, Gulf shrimp and okra and served with their house fermented hot sauce that is fermented for six months — just like a sourdough starter — and is more about the flavor than the heat. It added a nice, pickled contrast to the gumbo. Ça c'est bon. Another stand out dish is the the New Style Cuban sandwich, which features Hawaiian-style kalua pig, house ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and mojo au jus. The bread is buttery and toasted but what sends this sandwich over the edge is their mojo au jus. We combined the Cuban with a side of their Parmesan fries, which has a hint of truffle. Dip these in the au jus to unlock a new level of french-fry euphoria. 

The Cubano sandwich at the little Oak Cliff hut is fantastic. The roast pork is shredded to strings and fatty and juicy. The ham is sliced thick, the cheese is melty and those pickles tag-team the taste buds with a healthy dose of mustard for a much needed punch of acid. Despite it's Caribbean flavor, this stand also offers a grand take on the hamburger: beef and chorizo patty, spiced ketchup, diced onion, potato strings (crispy and thin!), pepperjack cheese -- all on a soft Cuban roll. Whatever you order, don't forget the yucca fries dusted with chili salt.