Gallo Nero’s bar offers a wide variety of spirits and cocktails, and the ambiance is as inviting as the age-old Italian dishes, and the vast menu makes choosing what to order all the more fun. Starting the meal with classics like Fried Calamari (bottom left)and bruschetta (bottom right) is the perfect way to start off a girl’s lunch, business dinner, or date night. FEBRUARY 2026 51No portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
ing something earthy without getting in the way. The Alfredo sauce was the surprise - creamy and rich, sure, but it never felt heavy. We could actually taste the butter and parmesan instead of drowning in cream. Good sauce should enhance what’s around it, not smother it, and this one did exactly that. The Margherita half reminded me why classics become classics. Fresh mozzarella melted into creamy pools, and the basil smelled incredible. The tomato sauce actually tasted like tomatoes without too much seasoning.As we finished the pizza, Ashley looked over the menu again to decide on an entree. I went with the Lobster Ravioli - a personal favorite that I’m always curious how different restaurants handle. After a few minutes, she settled on the Chicken Rigatoni Vodka. We held off on ordering until the last bite of pizza was gone, then turned our attention to choosing our next cocktails.I considered the Raspberry Lemon Drop again, but our goal is to never order the same thing twice. We tried the New York Sour and Gallo Paloma, both beautifully presented and aggressively spirit-forward. The New York Sour is a classic – bourbon and lemon with a red wine float that creates a layered look. Here the Pinot Noir barely softened the Bulleit's edge. The Gallo Paloma was similar in strength. The Teremana Blanco cut straight through the grapefruit juice, cranberry, lime, and soda water. Both cocktails were well-made, but clearly meant for people who want to taste their liquor. Our first round was definitely more to my taste.The Lobster Ravioli arrived with a shrimp placed on top of each ravioli, all coated in a creamy vodka sauce. I hadn’t noticed the shrimp mentioned on the menu when ordering, so this was an unexpected surprise. The ravioli were tender, and the lobster filling had a delicate sweetness that came through even with the richness of the vodka sauce. Ashley’s Chicken Rigatoni Vodka was equally impressive. In addition to sauteed spinach, there was plenty of chicken, which meant she wouldn’t leave feeling weighed down by pasta alone. The rigatoni had good texture without being overcooked, while the vodka sauce brought everything together with creamy richness. Vodka sauce is clearly a specialty at Gallo Nero, appearing throughout the menu for good reason – it balances fla52 FRISCOSTYLE.COMNo portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
vors and helps the kitchen deliver consistent results.I was thrilled to see Turtle Cheesecake on the menu. This combination seems to work every time. The cheesecake itself was dense and creamy without being heavy, topped with chocolate, caramel, and pecans, with extra chocolate drizzled across the plate. The combination of rich chocolate, buttery caramel, and smooth cheesecake was exactly as indulgent as it should be.We also ordered the Tiramisu. Ashley and I haven’t had tiramisu recently, so when Ash mentioned it was one of their best desserts, we couldn’t resist. It tasted homemade in the best way – coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa powder. It wasn’t overly sweet – simply straightforward and well-executed. We could tell they didn’t cut corners.As we prepared to leave, Ashley perfectly captured what we’d both been thinking all afternoon: “How is everything so good? How?” Service can make or break a meal, and Ash made ours complete. From the moment we sat down, she made hospitality feel effortless. We’d been there nearly three hours, and even as dinner service was beginning, we never felt rushed. Beyond service, parking was convenient and the noise level remained comfortable throughout – we never had to raise our voices to hear each other.Gallo Nero delivers on what it promises – quality Italian cuisine. The service feels genuine, and the atmosphere works whether you’re celebrating or grabbing lunch on a Friday afternoon. It’s a place that makes you understand why Italian restaurants remain such beloved staples in every community, and why Frisco is fortunate to have yet another great one.The restuarant's hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.214.494.22304851 Legacy Dr., Friscogallonerotx.comWhile many classic Italian dishes have a reputation for leaving diners feeling incredibly full from the heaviness of the ingredients, Gallo Nero manages to find a perfect balance in their creamy, rich, yet not heavy sauces that accompany many of their dishes. The Chicken Rigatoni Vodka balances textures between perfectly cooked pasta and that renowned vodka sauce, while the Lobster Ravioli boasts a tender pocket of lobster filling, also set against the luxurious vodka sauce. No Italian meal is complete without Tiramisu and Turtle Cheesecake, both of which hit the spot without being too sweet, but with the perfect amount of indulgence.FEBRUARY 2026 53No portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
inspiration54 FRISCOSTYLE.COMNo portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
how toMaking a Difference in Your City Is Easier than You Thinkast year, we did something counterintuitive. Gateway Church, where I serve as lead pastor, took what we called the “Love My City” offering. We encouraged everyone at the church to pray about what they should give, then we gave every dollar of it to organizations in our communities that care for families, fight food insecurity, support local churches, serve the vulnerable, and meet needs that often go unseen. The total amount came out to almost two million dollars.The amount that was donated is not the important part. The most important element is the incredible generosity of individual people who gave to this unique offering. They rallied around an idea to love our communities in a tangible way, and they contributed above and beyond what my team and I expected. This offering helped military veterans dealing with suicide, public schools in need of resources, a homeless shelter struggling to expand to help more people, and so much more.Some in our community may have wondered, ‘Pastor, have you read the headlines? Are you sure it’s a good time to do this?’ Yes, it was! In fact, Proverbs 19:17 says, Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.By DANIEL FLOYD, LEAD PASTOR, GATEWAY CHURCHLOVE YOUR CITYL Generosity isn’t about me. It’s not even about our church. It’s about what God wants to do through us. And if we can love our city during a time of uncertainty and difficulty, I believe you can too.So, what are the benefits of loving your city? To answer this question, I think we need to first understand that loving our community is a top priority to God. In fact, in Matthew 22:37–39, Jesus talks about the greatest commandment of all. He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”If pleasing God is something you’re interested in doing, one of the best things you can do is love your neighbors. You may think, ‘Pastor, what if my neighbor has different political or religious beliefs?’In the famous parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), Jesus tells the story of a traveler who was beaten up, robbed, and left for dead. After several people passed by, the only person to help the traveler was a Samaritan. The plot twist is that the traveler was from a group of people who despised the Samaritans. But when Jesus told the parable, He called the Samaritan a “neighbor” and, in doing so, He illustrated that we may not always like everyone, but we are commanded to love everyone.I don’t know about you, but when I look around, I see people divided over a lot of different things. I think FEBRUARY 2026 55No portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
Jesus’ message on loving our neighbors is extremely relevant for this time in our culture.Loving your community has practical benefits too. Studies show that close-knit communities tend to see improved levels of mental and physical health, lower stress levels, and lower crime rates. If you’re wondering how you can love your community, there are opportunities all around you. Here are a few thoughts on ways you can get more involved.BE GENEROUSUsually, when a pastor talks about generosity, dollar signs immediately appear in people’s minds. But we have so many other resources we can give to our communities: time, energy, expertise, care. Just like you might create a budget for your finances, make one for your time and energy and commit to giving it away.FIND AN ORGANIZATIONDo you like to build with a hammer and nails? There are organizations that help build affordable housing for people in need. Do you like to knit? There’s probably a club or group near you that knits blankets to keep homeless people warm during the winter months. Are you good with budgets and finances? There are charities that help people get their finances in order. And here’s a little secret for you. Many churches in our area do all these things. I recommend you find a church and give your time and talent there.KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOODThere’s a friend of mine who lives across the street from a widow in her 80s. He knocked on the door one day and noticed the lights were turned off. It turns out all her lightbulbs had burnt out, but she couldn’t reach them. So, he and his teenage sons spent about 15 minutes one day changing all her lightbulbs. Though it was a small act of service, think of the difference it made in her life. But he wouldn’t have known about this need if he hadn’t knocked on them door. Do you know your neighbors? Making a difference in your community starts right across the street.JOIN A GROUPYou might be reading this and thinking, Pastor, I’m willing to help but I’m not sure exactly what to do. I want to encourage you to find an organization near you that focuses on reaching the community. We have small groups who go to homeless shelters to serve food and fill drinks. How simple is that? No special skills are required. I know many local churches here in DFW do the same.During a time when people all around us are hurting and divided, we can be a source of light in the darkness and love during dark times. You have what it takes to make a difference! I hope this message resonates with you, and you’ll join me and the many people committed to loving our city together.For more information on Gateway Church, visit gatewaypeople.com56 FRISCOSTYLE.COMNo portion of this article may be reproduced without express written permission of Style Creative Media, LLC. © 2026 • All rights reserved.
60 FRISCOSTYLE.COM