Cafe 43 — Restaurant in University Park

My sister and I took her boys to the George W. Bush museum on the last day of our trip to Dallas from Shreveport, LA. Her oldest son, who is on the autism spectrum, was not doing well. He was on the verge of a meltdown. I offered to take him out of the museum to the cafe to get something to eat and drink. We walked across the courtyard to the Cafe 43 and the very friendly hostess took our name and seated us in a few minutes. The cafe is upscale and the menu looked delicious but I wasn't eating...my nephew was. They immediately filled the stem glassware with water and brought bread to the table. Looking around, the clientele consisted of men in 3 piece suits, ladies who lunch and some visitors from the museum. The dining room was comfortable with lovely views from the large windows. I ordered us both drinks but knew the menu would not accommodate my nephew so I asked for a kid's menu...they had one! I know this is not some fast food joint so when the waiter returned I explained that my nephew was not doing well in the museum, that we were there to get him something to eat and give my sister and her other son time in the museum. The waiter seemed confused or annoyed, maybe both. He wasn't rude or anything, he was prompt in service, just seemed a little put out. Anyway, the kid's menu had something my very picky eater would like...a grilled cheese! Ordered it hoping it would not have any gourmet twists to it, and asked the waiter to have the chef leave off any garnishments. When the food came out, it was a straight up, classic grilled cheese and fries...perfect. My nephew inhaled it. When he finished he said "W sure makes a good grilled cheese!" It satiated him and saved the day...no meltdown and my sister and other nephew were able to finish the museum and met us at the cafe. I did feel bad that a table meant for four was serving only one kid's meal when a waiter depends on tips most calculate from the total bill. I tipped about 80%as a way to say thanks for saving the day but also to show that kind, friendly service is rewarding no matter who is being served. Thank you W for the great grilled cheese and the comfortable cafe. Hopefully, I will be able to return to finish my tour of the museum and enjoy a lovely lunch...

The seasonal menu offered at the President George W. Bush library is wonderful! My friend ordered the Butternut squash soup as a starter, and the Avocado toast with eggs and greens with fresh fruit. Both dishes were visually appealing and flavorful. I preferred the corn soup which was spicy and delicious and the corned beef sandwich, which was very similar to a Reuben. The only difference is that it is served with Russian dressing vs. Thousand Island dressing. ( I prefer Thousand Island as Russian gives the Sandwich an extra level of sweetness.) The sandwich is served with marbled rye which again makes it special. The accompanying French fries were fresh and hot. I do wish that the cheese had been melted to better integrate the sandwich’s flavor. Manny, our server, offer quick, attentive service. I plan to visit again in Spring to see what new...

Our family of four enjoyed a delicious lunch at Cafe 43, located next to George W. Bush's presidential library in Dallas, Texas. The restaurant's modern and bright ambiance made for a pleasant dining experience. As vegetarians, we appreciated the vegan and vegetarian-friendly menu options. I chose black beans with eggs, my son had squash spaghetti, my wife enjoyed fried avocado, and my daughter tried a unique dish with cream cheese-like base topped with a few vegetables. For dessert, we indulged in key lime pie and cheesecake with fresh berries and mango.

The service was prompt, and the locally sourced ingredients made each dish authentic and flavorful. It was convenient to have a meal at the restaurant before heading back into the library. We also observed a painting by George W. Bush featuring cacti. Overall, our visit to Cafe 43 was enjoyable...