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Cool River Cafe ~ national chain :


Mar 31, 2022 update: Well this is weird. So it appeared that the Cool River Cafe chain was on its last legs. The remaining Dallas area location (near Love Field) has exceptionally low ratings. The Las Colinas restaurant - which always seemed very popular to me - was the last one to close. They had many other restaurants prior that are now gone, including nearby Denver. Now all of a sudden - out of nowhere - they plan to open up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in the summer of 2022. Go figure that one out.

Latest visit: Sep 2017 (Las Colinas, TX)

First visit: Jan 2006 (Las Colinas, TX)

Cool River is clearly geared towards the male business traveler. And on this business visit last week, the four of us dudes fell in lockstep. We started at the bar for cocktails, frozen margaritas, beer (nice selection of craft) and wine. Then we headed over to the billiards room and shot a few games of stick. Then off to dine where we feasted on large mounds of red meat. And finally a trip to the cigar bar to puff on some stogies, while being served drinks by cute girls in slinky cocktail dresses. Now on this later point, the RJG doesn't smoke, but having grown up with it, I have no objection to sitting in the room and polishing off a Chimay (Rouge) while they smoke away.

Personally I think their steaks are some of the finest in the area. And the sides are excellent as well (I tried the basmati rice this time). I've seen low ratings for Cool River in the past. Most of the gripes seem to stem from the high prices, but it's not near as expensive as some of Dallas' finest steakhouses as you will find on the North Tollway. And it's somewhat a given that you come here on an expense account - and it's location on MacArthur in Las Colinas only underscores that point. Definitely not a fun-for-the-whole-family kinda place!

The RJG first visited Cool River in Denver (on business) sometime around 2001 or so. After that, all the visits have been at their Las Colinas location, starting in 2005. We had an office nearby, and this was a popular place to take clients, vendors, partners, etc...

Simply put: A great place to meet or host clients.

1/10/06; 1/23/12 (new entry); 6/19/14; 9/14/17
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