My name is Caitlin and I’m a reality show addict.

One of my favorite shows this season is Bravo’s Emmy nominated Top Chef: Miami. My very favorite chef on the show is Dallas’ own Tre Wilcox, who is the Executive Chef at Abacus restaurant.

Monday night, I took my best friend Michelle to Abacus for her birthday. I booked the reservation online using a service the restaurant uses called OpenTable, which was remarkably easy to use but has one glitch – it has a tendency to change the date of the reservation from what was entered to the next available without making it readily apparent to the user. When we showed up and found out our reservation was made for next Monday, the staff was very helpful and rushed to find us a prime spot at the bar. We proceeded to make the best of the situation and sample the wide selection of Martinis (I highly suggest the Melontini).

The restaurant had a special menu for KRLD’s restaurant week, and we indulged in three courses each of some amazing food. I think the crab cake might have changed my life.

After some bonding with the bartender (thanks to our close proximity), I nonchalantly asked him if they have had a boost in sales since Top Chef, to which he chuckled and responded “Tre’s here, do you want to meet him?” A flustered yet adamant “YES” and we were like giddy schoolgirls meeting a teen idol.

The most exciting thing was how laid back and genuine Tre was. We had a good 5-10 minute conversation about the show and the restaurant and he took pictures and even signed Michelle’s birthday card. He was very appreciative that we were so thrilled to talk to him.

Top Chef filming was finished in May and as is usually the case, all results are very hush hush. It was great to see the staff behind him; even the bartender had an opinion on who should go home next.

I highly recommend Abacus for the food, the service, and the overall experience. And if you get a chance to mingle with the man behind the menu, be sure to take advantage. I’m rooting for Tre, and will definitely be tuning in to watch what happens.