Restaurant Via Real 4020 N. MacArthur Blvd. Felipe Gaytan, formerly sous-chef at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, hasn't significantly changed the menu since he took over as executive chef in August 1999. But his specials, such as grilled shrimp with goat cheese and a daily grilled fresh fish served with wild rice and black-bean relish, definitely qualify as nouvelle Southwestern cuisine.
More seafood dishes grace the menu than in the past.
And there are fewer traditional Tex-Mex dishes and more flavors from Mexico's interior and coastal regions. The complimentary crisp, hot tortilla chips and fresh-tasting salsa laced with cilantro are good enough by themselves, but it's a shame to skip the appetizers. Diced mangos added sweetness to the shrimp, scallops, jalapenos and chopped tomatoes presented in a shell instead of a bowl. Swirled with cooked spinach leaves and chopped tomatoes, the creamy mixture was satisfying, but not too heavy. We were glad to see some of our favorites from years past still on the menu.