Daddy Jack’s Wood Grill

Crusadergal72, says:

• Food:

  4/5

• Vibe:

  3/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  4/5

We have eaten at Daddy Jack's for several years now, and continue to be satisfied with the service, versatility of the menu, and taste of the cuisine. Chef Salvatore is quite creative, especially when given the chance to serve one of his chef's meals. Every time we have indulged in one of these creations by Chef Salvatore, we have been both delighted and surprised. The wine selections for both chef dinners and the regular menu are quite good.

ramsey, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

I have dined at all four Daddy Jacks in the metroplex. I have always had a great experience. My family and friends have enjoyed birthdays, holiday dinners, pre-symphony or musical dinners at Daddy Jacks on Elm, Greenville, Ft. Worth and Coppell. I have met all the chefs while dining, because it's not uncommon for the owners to come to your table to see if you had an enjoyable meal, give you a comment card and ask for your email address. What should be in question is not the "shilling" but if the restaurant is of quality.

The seafood is fresh, the lobsters are tasty, the cioppino is better than any I've had in Dallas. The crab cakes are full of crab meat and not loaded with breading fluff like many places. The wood grill salad is unique to Daddy Jacks and the apple smoked bacon and aged blue cheese make it a tasty delight. The Caesar salad dressing is classic. The filet mignon is like slicing into butter. The clam chowder receipe from Jack Chaplan reminds me of my childhood in Boston.

Daddy Jacks has been around for years and has many foodie followers. With a web site like this where anyone can write a review, I would think it not uncommon for someone to see a dismal review for a favorite restaurant and get their friends to post a favorable one. I could email this site to 10 of my friends today and atleast four of them would be willing to provide Daddy Jack's with a wonderful review within two days. Let go of the animosity and "shilling" conspiracy and go have an enjoyable meal. Decide for yourself.

Scott, says:

Obvious shillery. Five first-time (and only-time) posters appear within two days--with the first three appearing within two hours of each other--leaving unqualified praise with suspicious similarities. Hmm.

What do I mean by suspiciously similar? Oh, how about:

(1) Promotional tone, rather than descriptive. If you spend much time reading customer reviews of restaurants, you know that most customers describe their experience. In some cases, they may recommend a place based on their experience. But hardly ever do they fall into exhortatory, evangelical hyping like four of the five shill reviews (i.e., JenSuzChi, DLee75214, NeNe, and FoxAmerica).

(2) Four of the five shill reviews specifically encourage readers to sign up for the restaurant's e-mail list--something I've never seen in a legitimate customer review (let alone 4 in a row). "I definitely recommend getting on the email list so you can attend the wine tastings, specialty dinners or other events." "Do get on the email list as they have wine tastings and special wine dinners often." "You must get on the mailing list and find out everything that is going on." "Get on the mailing list today!!!"

(3) Over-use of exclamation points. In keeping with the "go, now" promotional feel, four of the five shill posts are loaded with excited exclamation points. (Five in JenSuzChi's; double exclamation points and all caps at the end of DLee's; six in NeNe's; triple exclamation points at the end of FoxAmerica's). Spend some time reading legit customer reviews and I think you'll find that exclamation points are extremely rare. And, when they do appear, they're rarely in a promotional context, as they are here. "After one meal at Daddy Jack's, I guarantee you will become a 'regular' like so many others!" "So make your way to Daddy Jack’s Wood Grill right away! Hope to see you there!" "Get on the mailing list today!!!"

(4) Four of the five shill reviews mention the chef by name. It's extremely rare for a customer review to mention a restaurant's chef by name, unless you're dealing with an at-least-local celebrity chef (almost always in a fine dining setting). That's not at all the case here. (Two of the four shill reviews also mention that he's a "master chef," which is more than a little bit goofy.)

(5) Three of the five mention the special events and wine tastings. (That wouldn't be suspicious if one supposed customer mentioned it. But three in a row?)

An IP address can be spoofed. An e-mail address can be created for purposes of re-registering. Employees, friends, and family members can be recruited to shill. But one's style is what it is. And at least four of the five shill reviews have the same person's fingerprints on them. Most of them would be transparent shilling, taken individually. But combined together like this? Obvious as can be.

kirk, says:

I think you hit the nail on the head, DC. Recommendation to Peagsus crew: There ought to be some sort of icon to show when a "review" is posted by a suspected shill. Or as in this case five suspected shills.

DC, says:

Hmm, methinks this straight set of raves smells a little fishy...and it's not the cioppino

JenSuzChi, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

Love this versatile venue! The dimly lit room(s), the sounds of smoothe jazz and the smell of the warm, wood grill make for a perfect date venue or just for a relaxing dinner with friends or family. I've also been fortunate enough to attend and/or witness some parties there where the vibe was anything other than quiet and calm. The energy was high, the music was louder and the crowd was hoppin'. I guess it all depends on what the events of the day are. Either way, the food NEVER waivers. Daddy Jack's has some of the best steaks and seafood I've ever enjoyed. I love the diverse and creative daily specials. The food is easily some of the best in Dallas! The wine selection is superb as well! And the staff there is always very friendly and knowledgable. It's an overall wonderful experience each time I go there! I definitely recommend getting on the email list so you can attend the wine tastings, specialty dinners or other events. After one meal at Daddy Jack's, I guarantee you will become a "regular" like so many others!

admiralgeorge, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

The best kept secret for wonderful food, great atmosphere and a place you can not resist going back to again and again. Chef Salvatore is magic in the kitchen whether it is at noon or eve meal or one of his monthly special food and wine pairings. He makes holidays special with an adventurous prix fixe menu that really shows off his gourmet talent. Often the chef even mingles with the dining guests. A very special place for casual dining or for a special occasion.

DLee75214, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

If you haven’t been to Daddy Jacks in Deep Ellum you are really missing a Major treat. While they do have the traditional Daddy Jack’s menu that we all love-IT gets even better at this location. The Chef/Owner, Salvatore Gisellu, from Sardinia, is a well decorated Master Chef. Do get on the email list as they have wine tastings and special wine dinners often. The courses for the wine dinners are Italian style–primo-secondo-again and again and again-For the main course, at the last wine dinner (a seasonal fresh mushroom dinner; served after several mushroom appetizers, mushroom soup, duck confit and fresh porcini ravioli) the menu said lamb shanks etc-I thought we would get a medium serving from the shank, but noo—it was the whole thing atop cannellini beans floating in Mama’s tomato sauce. We of course concluded this event with Port and dessert. MERAVIGLIOSO!!

NeNe, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

From the moment you walk into Daddy Jack's you get a great feel! Plus the wood grill smell makes you feel at home and comfortable. The staff greets you with open arms and it is always a plus to watch Salvatore Gisuello, Chef/Proprietor, in the kitchen making up yet another fabulous meal. Once finished there, he will come sit with your group and of course fits right in! Not only does this restaurant have some of the best tasting, highest quality food in town but the restaurant makes you feel like home away from home. There are many Daddy Jack's groupies and we all know each other by name or by faces and that makes you feel good to walk into the place. Daddy Jack’s hold many tastings and specialty dinners to keep the atmosphere rich and happening! You must get on the mailing list and find out everything that is going on. Live music too on certain nights or certain events. Easy to park too! So make your way to Daddy Jack’s Wood Grill right away! Hope to see you there!

foxamerica, says:

• Food:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  5/5

• Overall:

  5/5

One of Dallas most consistently excellent but little known restaurants. In addition to the regular menu, superb Sardinian and other creations of master chef Salvatore Giesulu change out with such regularity that Dadddy Jack's Wood Grill should be on everyone's planner at least once a month if not every week. Exceptional wood grilled seafood, superb regional pastas and risottos, and best of all, some outstanding invitation only super value dinners. Get on the mailing list today!!!

DC, says:

• Food:

  4/5

• Vibe:

  3/5

• Service:

  2/5

• Value:

  3/5

• Overall:

  3/5

It's cold. A wood grill sounds warm. We go.

About three other people are in the place, not including the staff. The aroma is excellent. The room is inviting.

The menu appears interesting with several daily specials. Cioppino and sandwich en route. 45 minutes pass. Drinks ordered. Never arrive.

Plates presented. No concerns with the cuisine. Cioppino has requesite ingredients. Sandwich reasonable. Pass on dessert as time keeps ticking along into the future.

Manager invites to interesting event.

Will return despite service for second look. Stay posted.