3701 N. Buckner Blvd. Dallas, Texas (214) 327-4140
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
“Looks like somebody had themselves some pie.” The cashier was perusing our bill as we paid for our BLT, tortilla soup and chocolate meringue. “Oh, yeah,” we answered enthusiastically. “Always!” “Some people just know how to live,” she responded dryly. It’s good to be back in the South, where everyone is your friend and feels free to comment on your lunch choices. Yes, our pie search upon moving to Big D from New Jersey is starting out a success. We discovered that El Fenix produces an excellent if unlikely lemon ice box pie, served very cold and perfect after heavy enchiladas, and that Highland Park Cafeteria offers a presentable line of cafeteria-style desserts  But we hit the jackpot at the Circle Grill, a little-known East Dallas local that brought a warm, fuzzy feeling and a slice of silky chocolate pie, with the meringue ever-so-lightly browned and with ever-so-delicate chocolate sprinkling on top.
On a return trip, the lemon chiffon (pictured, above the counter nameplates) spoke to us in a bold, three-layer accent and another slice of chocolate meringue, with a rich and thick top layer, came up to us friendlylike and made itself at home on our table. As we finished up, a woman customer came back from the cash register to give the bus girl a tip and a hug. Suddenly, we felt like hugging the pie baker. That’s just the kind of place the Circle Grill is, where you’re going to feel like hugging someone, and you may want to come back and get the same thing you had last time. In our case, the pie list is long, and we’ve got a lot of flavors to work through, including coconut or chocolate in a cream variety; coconut meringue; apple or cherry, both in a sugar-free version; and numerous others.
But you can get the same flavor every time if you like. (You’ve heard of the Tea Party. Well, we’re here to promote the Pie Party, and one of our major tenets is that you can have your slice of pie however you like it: same flavor as
 The Circle has been compared to the fictitious Mel’s Diner with its sassy waitresses. Name plaques on the front edge of the counter indicate home base for some of the Circle’s regulars (Jeff, Brad, Bobby and Jess are fortunate souls). The menu is long, heavy on fried stuff and Southern specialties like steaks, Mexican food, roast beef and turkey sandwiches, burgers (including the Heart Attack, a jalapeno cheeseburger – why do people joke about that?) and breakfast, which includes grits, Belgian waffles, burritos and freshly baked biscuits.
Prices are reasonable. The pie is delightful. The coffee is good and fresh. Try the Circle. |
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