​Officially, yesterday was National Boss Day. But for most of the working world, any day this week would work for excessive, strategic ass-kissing. If you forgot to get your boss that bottle of liquor, don't sweat it. We've got you covered. Here, our five best ideas for a lunch worthy of any boss.

(Lauren -- great idea for a story, but it's always better to be specific. Instead of "bottle of liquor," let's change to "giant bottle of Jameson." -- Thanks, Joe)

5. SpeedZone. The Parmesan garlic fries at the SpeedZone Café & Bar are the gift that keeps on giving. Follow that up with a few laps on the Slick Trax during which you prove you can dominate more than just a spreadsheet.

(Well, yeah -- it's nice to know your employee can win, but don't you think he should let the boss win? Not that the boss can't win on his own, but, you know. Just to be safe?)

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Abacus

​It's Fashion Week, which means lots of impractical clothes clothes on impractically shaped people.

But designers aren't alone in their ability to turn something as functional as clothes into high art. Chefs often do the same with food, as demonstrated by the above dish -- a salad from Abacus -- and the four that follow.

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Photo by Elaine Liner

Dallas Theater Center patrons still fondly remember post-show sweets by former Craft pastry chef Shannon Swindle. This was after a show in 2009. No more goodies in the new Wyly Theatre.

​What actor doesn't love a free meal? But it never hurts to give theatergoers a nibble on opening nights, too. In theaters around here, there are some really toothsome reasons to buy tickets (for as little as $10 or $15, depending on the theater) for a production's first performance. Some playhouses ply patrons with huge buffets and glasses of Champagne included in the price of admission. Here's a round-up of upcoming openings and the how the theaters perform the fine art of free eats.

Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, The Blue Moon Dancing, opening August 20. CTD, with its little café tables and straight-back chairs, feels clubby, so it's only natural that owner and leading lady Sue Loncar would throw a good bash on opening night. The typical spread here can include deli trays, hot crab cakes with remoulade sauce, hot bread pudding, layer cakes, cookies, cheeses and chips. Wine and Champagne are poured freely, and when the cast emerges from backstage to join the fun, it suddenly feels like opening night at Sardi's.

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Photo by Akisha Rundquist

Stage West's Dana Schultes and daughter Matilda running the theater's busy bar

​Actors tend to know the ins and outs of food service. Table-waiting pays the bills for many a young thesp until that big break comes along. Edie Falco waited tables at a Manhattan steak joint even after making her film debut playing a waitress in Hal Hartley's directorial debut The Unbelievable Truth in 1989.

Fort Worth actor-director Dana Schultes chalked up a bunch of years as a "wactress," as she puts it. Now she draws on that restaurant experience as the menu creator, manager and server at Stage West's charming little Ol' Vic Café.

The 64-seat restaurant in the art-filled lobby of the theater on West Vickery Boulevard served its first dinners when the space opened on Thanksgiving weekend 2007. With kitchen equipment bought from auctions, the Ol' Vic, which still doesn't have an oven, serves light fare, mostly sandwiches, salads and made-from-scratch soups created by Schultes. Dinner service starts at 6:30 p.m., 90 minutes before curtain time on show nights, with a full brunch starting at 1:30 p.m. before the Sunday matinees. There's a hot entrée offered on Thursday nights.

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​ Dallas has a reputation for being a little pretentious. Sorry to step on any toes here, but the city really appreciates fine dining, lavish shopping and upscale living. Most of the time, the ultra-chic lifestyle comes with a high price tag, but if you want to socialize like high society on a middle-class budget, Dish in the eco-friendly Ilume complex on Cedar Springs Road is your new haven.

So does the premium menu match the milieu? In terms of price, no way. But that's the objective of this concept. The ingredients are fresh and simple, reflecting the "green" theme by using local farms and gardens when possible. Rich dishes, like steak and eggs and Harris Ranch 8-ounce burger, don't seem to match the relatively low prices -- with all items priced from $4 to $21.

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Sara Kerens

​While some Midwestern cuisine--like Cincinnati chili--may make a Dallasite gasp, other portions of it, like the chicken pot pie, we've adopted as our own. The same can be said for an Upper Midwestern concept called the supper club--a concept Ocean Prime in Uptown has ripped from its retro recesses and renovated with modern flair.

At first, it sounds like a bunch of old farts chomping on Salisbury steak and playing gin rummy--but that couldn't be further from the truth. "Back in the day, a supper club was the place to be," says Brandon Davis, Ocean Prime general manager. "The vibe was hip, the food was amazing and everyone had the time of their lives."More >>

Courtesy of Bolla

​If you've ever been intrigued by the quirky styling of Art Deco design or the mish-mashed patterns of reclaimed design, this place ought to tickle your fancy. Bold, bright and stylish, Bolla in the Stoneleigh Hotel and Spa is a gleaming example of eclectic construction.

The restaurant keeps tempo with the hotel's Art Deco design -- bright colors and sweeping curves mix with sheer draperies.

At first, it was difficult to make a connection between this opulent surroundings and the Italian-inspired cuisine. How do braised beef short ribs pair with a design style popularized by the Roaring Twenties? Well, at the heart of this dining experience is Bolla's executive chef, David Bull, and he ties it all together. He isn't just the mastermind behind the food, he's the namesake as well -- Bolla is Italian for bull.

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Courtesy of Vino 100

​Tired of going to wine bars? Think the trend has been spent?

We might agree if it wasn't for wine bars such as Vino 100, an unpretentious little place (OK, so they describe themselves as "swanky and chic") in Uptown that carries 100 bottles of wine at $25 or under per bottle. But these aren't the kind of run-of-the-mill wines you can find at any big box store. They're purchased at boutique, small production wineries.

Sure, they've got your limited production varieties for the sommeliers out there, the "Captain's Wall" offers a nice selection of bottles generally priced over $35, but overall--this spot is ideal for the novice indulger. "Drinking wine and being around wine doesn't have to be pretentious at all," said Clint Brookshire, co-owner. "There's no reason why everyone shouldn't be able to do it."

The company has about 40 franchises around the country, and this particular locale, open since 2005, leaves the big city attitude at the door. You won't find the cheesy wall murals or ultra-contemporary gimmicks offered at other wine bars. In fact, it's a textbook example of "tranquil design," with its warm yellow walls, rich woods, comfortable seating, twinkling candles and inviting fireplace. The schema evokes that I-think-I've-been-here-before feeling, making guests immediately comfortable.

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Courtesy of Media Grill + Bar

​The Hilton Anatole recently ditched the seedy, carpeted den that was the Crocodile Disco--the once notorious dance spot that had its heyday in the late 70's--and welcomes a truly state-of-the-art nightspot. Located near the hotel atrium's main entrance, the glitz of the Media Grill + Bar is sure to catch the eye of out-of-towners and locals alike.

The contemporary American bistro cuisine, prepared by executive chef Thomas Welther, is refined and delicious, and wasn't created to compete with the flashy $5 million atmosphere. What food could? Instead, the menu stands on its own and stays away from glitzy tricks and trends, offering tasty basics like a crab cake sandwich with green apple slaw, braised local short ribs with root vegetable puree and a white chocolate semi-fredo with poached fruits.More >>