More Fort Worth Food

I love Fort Worth, Texas. It is my hometown, my base of travel operations, and my planned retirement location. I want all who visit to enjoy the visit. In order to do so, food is a major issue. I continue to list my favorite, tried-and-true restaurants in all price ranges, from pocket change up to the big- budget places. Y'all come visit!

Quick Tips:

Spring and fall are the best times to come to Fort Worth. The weather is mild, and you won't have to worry about crowds of tourists at the major attractions. Well, you hardly have to worry about crowds in this part of North Texas. This is where the west really begins. We have lodging choices in nearly all price ranges and plenty of things to do inside and out. Museums--we have some of the best in the world. Cowboys and cowgirls--we have the real people. This isn't Disneyland. This is our life, and you are welcome to it.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is some public transportation, but you really need to drive or be driven. Short of getting around on a horse, something with at least four wheels is essential. Not to fret. In the few places that charge for parking, it's cheap and plentiful. We'll keep the light on for you.

I've spent so much time at this hotel over the years that I am pleased to report that this old (25+ years) landmark at the BIG airport is getting an entire US$53 million upgrade and remodel. About time! Not only do I have many multi-night meetings that are held at this hotel, but I often stay there when I have a too early morning flight out. If you know the way through the parking lots you can walk over to one of the American Airline terminals. In any case there is a shuttle 3 times an hour that will get you over to the business side of the airport.

Designed extremely well, although it is in the midst of the runways, I've never heard airplane noises while in the hotel. Soon to be joined by the Grand Hyatt now under construction, this older hotel is having the redo to compete with its new sibling. No doubt about that. With nearly 900 rooms under one roof, it can be a very busy place. The elevators can be painfully slow, but I know my way up and down the stairs.

Gone are the days when you could stay one night at this hotel and leave your car in the garage for a month long trip at no charge. Sorry about that, but try that now and you will find parking charges of at least $13 per day.

A major reason to stay at this hotel is location. No more than 20 minutes from the check in counter of any airline at DFW airport. I've attended many meetings held at this hotel due to the convenience of not having to leave the airport if you fly in. There is an outdoor pool and very limited work out facilities. Jogging around the airport is discouraged. You will have problems if you want to take a morning run. Food (see Jacob's Spring Grille write up) is way above average at this Hyatt. Even in banquet situations with 1200 people dining, the food is remarkably good.

If there is a weak detail at this hotel, it is the ’70s era bathrooms with very poor lighting. Some of this disappointment is being addressed in the remodeling, but major walls can't be moved and we will continue to have the basic design. Most of the rooms have tiny (I really mean tiny) balconies. On the odd chance that you want to breathe J-4, you can open your door for ventilation. Who would?

Room rates vary widely so shop around the various booking methods. During my recently completely stay the hotel ran out of $99 rooms for our group, but when pressed admitted it had some $79 ones available. The walk up rate is upwards of $150.

The hotel does have special rates for passengers in distress and is always full during weather emergencies. For the special rate, have your airline telephone the hotel for your booking.

Literally a stone's throw from the new Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, this restaurant is nearly salvation for those of us who have a taste for real New York style sandwiches and side dishes. The corn beef is real and extremely tasty. The sandwiches are huge. It was all I could do to get through half (took home the other half) and a serving of fresh, home made coleslaw.

There table service here, with a full bar and tavern environment. You order sitting down in comfort and service is fast. Smoking is allowed at all tables.

This is very close to what you would find in a family run neighborhood tavern in the big cities of the northeast. There’s friendly service in a low light atmosphere with no questions asked if you want a double whiskey at 11am. There are three TVs going on three separate cable news channels (sound off) with the stock tickers running on a business day. You can watch sports on weekends and at night.

Also, on weekend nights you’ve got the bonus of Saloui's piano bar with live music. As this location is 10 minutes from downtown, it is a very busy stop off for a lot of folks on their way home.

On nice days, you can have your sandwich on the mini patio. There’s some parking. On busy nights, you will need to find a spot down the side street. Close by is Sardine's Italian Restaurant, so look for that sign as Saloui's is set back from University Drive. A real gem of a place!!!!

Where do we drive through to eat when we want a great burger, have a small budget and are short on time? BurgerStreet! Two 1/3 pound burgers, two drinks and three orders of curly fries comes to less than $15. The curly fries are great. Two orders aren't enough for us. The drinks come in Styrofoam cups so they stay cold in the Texas summer heat. The large size drinks are small swimming pools of refreshment. The 'chili pie' is a 14-ounce serving of chili with a bag of Fritos and a serving of fresh, cropped onions and hot peppers.

My favorite drink is the cherry limeade in winter and the frozen lemonade in summer. My husband enjoys the freshly made milkshakes.

As for directions: if you've been around Fort Worth for a long time, you will know the street as Old Highway 80--the Weatherford Highway. If you are new to town, the West Camp Bowie address will mean more to you. I'm an 'Old Highway 80' person myself. This street goes east to west crossing state highway 183, just south of I-30. Or about 20 minutes west of downtown Fort Worth.

There is a tiny dining room for eating in, but in fine weather we prefer to get our food via the drive-thru (their spelling) and park to enjoy our meal. The food is served very hot. I can make a 10-minute drive back to my office and have a hot burger and fries. I also have been known to use the chili as a base for pasta sauce. Enjoy!

Lucille's is in a historic building on the bricks of Camp Bowie Blvd. This old building was an old 'dime' store in days long past. Parking is limited at the door, but a large lot is on the next block over. A really nice place for a fast meal (but not fast food) when you are in the Cultural District, visiting museums a few blocks away. Specializing in fish dishes, there are also a few sandwiches and salads on the menu. They also use an open fire for baking pizza.

This restaurant isn't as busy as it used to be due to a downturn in the local economy, but it is a good idea to make reservations for Friday and Saturday nights and holidays. Yes, they will be open on Easter Sunday. The bar area has been expanded and handles a large trade after office hours.

Although they call the restaurant a 'stateside bistro' you won’t find anything French about the menu. Most of the European-inspired dishes are pastas and pizza. Avoid the Greek salad. You can get a much better one elsewhere. However, I really enjoyed a salad with freshly grilled salmon (about $10). Most dishes can be prepared for takeout. Check my photos for a look at my secretary's Southwestern taco salad. Huge! It looks like a small building.

This is a reliable restaurant that will neither thrill you or disappoint. A good value for money for most dishes (Greek salad excepted!)

No reservations needed but for major holidays. Updated menu and decore with a greater emphasis on opportunities to have Atkins type food items as well as the high calorie old favorites. This restaurant is extremely popular after church and on major shopping Saturdays. Located in a shopping center on Bryant-Irvin Road (you can see it from I-20), it is easier to find if you look for the Lowe's and the CompUSA.

We nearly always choose the Chinese chicken salad, petite size order for me and the heavy duty turkey dinner with French onion soup for husband. With one glass of wine but no dessert the tab comes to about $27 for the 2 of us. The salad comes with a choice of muffin (usually blueberry, carrot and honey bran) and the dinner comes with a basket of hard rolls and sliced date nut bread. So much bread that we always take some home.

The soups are excellent, but for me it is always a matter of making a choice as the potions are very large. Soup and 1/2 salad is an alternative for me. I can't get around one of the dinners. Really man-sized portions.

Rumor is that the dessert are very good, but we will have to have dessert first in order to try them. Too much food!

Very good family choice of a restaurant.

Ronnie's is a seller of wine, beef and spirits with the spectacular bonus of the best bakery of bread in North Texas. Speciality sandwiches available by telephone order during noon-ish times and gourmet carry-out dining and snack items. Well, if you are willing to call caviar a snack! The wine selections offer everything from the very basic table wines to the Wine Room high dollar special items. Staff on hand to help with selections and they won't let you go wrong. Picnic equipment and gift baskets for sale; so you can load up for a romantic situation with class.

Without doubt, the most popular items for sale at Ronnie's come out of the bakery. See my photo for a sample of the breads available on a Friday. Twisted challa ($4.75), cinnamon raisin ($5.00), French baguette ($2.75) and ciabatta ($3.75). Breads on offer vary by the day, and when they sell out, well that's it. Arrive too late and walk away disappointed, but they will reserve your breads by telephone. Watch for the tiny 'fresh bread' sign out by the street.

The numbering system on Hulen isn't logical. Ronnie's is just south of the big bridge between I-30 and I-20. Very limited seating available at lunchtime in the open-air patio. At least you are out of the sun!

Home of the singing waiters. Live music and singing every night. Really good pianists. Singers vary. Very nice main dishes, fantastic desserts (cannelloni for sure!) and variety of wines in all prices rangers from cheap to very nice.

So why seek out this old place that was founded in the '60s and climb down the steep stairs to its basement location? Well, if the truth be known, it's a great deal of fun. You can sit either at a private booth with doors that close for privacy or at a table in the open. Reservations necessary for those booths on date nights. The walls are covered with the graffiti love messages of several generations of Fort Worth couples. All the waiters sing and many play the piano. We've heard some very talented people in this place. Sometimes diners stand up and join the singing, but only if they are good enough!

We ordered a 14" pizza which included two trips to the antipasto/salad/soup bar (all items very fresh) for $16.95. You could also order the usual run of Italian restaurant entrees from chicken, fish to pasta and shrimp. We wanted the pizza.

Not handicapped accessible due to the stairs. Climbing back up after plenty wine is no easy job. Families welcome, but ideal for couples.

What a pleasure it is to report that the former coffee shop at the Hyatt-DFW Hotel has been completely reborn as the fantastic, attractive, and tasty Jacob's Spring Grille. The Jacob's Spring part of the name refers to the early invention of an airplane in Texas. Well, you don't need to worry about the name. The food is extremely good, well-prepared, and attractively presented. Bravo Hyatt!

Could this be in part due to the competition of the Grand Hyatt Hotel -DFW Airport that is due to open in the next year or so? Yes! So enjoy the results. The atmosphere is lovely and very up to date. The ceilings have been lowered, which cuts out most of the noise from the nearby bar and lobby area. Also the very smokey bar, once nearby, has completely vanished.

Upon being seated we were offered the option of a $14.95 buffet, but after a long hard work day, I want my food served to me. We ordered off the menu. Not a huge menu, but very nice (with a very nice wine list). Having seen the menu for the very upscale Mr. G's premium steakhouse in the same area of the hotel (steaks $52 and way up), I was very relieved to see a Texas sirloin on the menu for slightly less than $20. We each ordered steaks--I ordered a salad and he ordered a grilled shrimp something or other that was very pretty (but very short on shrimp). The steaks were very good, and were served with lightly cooked vegetables and a Mexican-style pasta dish alongside hot rolls and a fine glass of red wine. This all resulted in a very fine dinner situation. The dessert presented as the prettiest and tastiest flan I've had in a long time.

This hotel features Starbuck's coffee in all restaurants. Very strong stuff! Unless you like that brand and method of brewing coffee, stick to something else with dinner. As it was coming up on 9pm, I settled for ice water. I would drive out to the BIG airport to enjoy this fine restaurant just for the pleasure of it. The restaurant will validate your DFW airport parking ticket. Don't forget that or you will have a stunning surprise.

In the new town of Southlake not far on the Fort Worth side of the huge DFW Airport, this cheerful and tasty restaurant is worth finding. Want a really fresh salad or sandwich? Head for Camille's Sidewalk Cafe in Southlake. The staff is very friendly and cheerful. The food is properly prepared and served in an attractive manner. For not much more than a Big Mac you can have a really nice sandwich.

The husband ordered a Habanero sandwich ($6.50), which was turkey on focaccia bread with cheddar cheese, roast red Habanero peppers, red onions and mango-habanero dressing. It was a bit on the hot side of spicy, but very tasty as it was served with fresh blue corn chips.

I ordered an apple walnut tuna salad ($5.50). I wanted something fresh and tasty and wasn't disappointed. This salad has a very small serving of tuna. If you want more than a couple ounces of fish, see if you can order an extra scoop.

The drinks are the usual sort with both China black iced tea and a very fruity ice tea blend that may not have been herbal. The desserts are fresh and lean heavily on cookies and cakes.

The decor is extremely cheerful and attractive. There are a few sidewalk tables, but perhaps that is more to go along with the pseudo-French decor. There are very few days of the year in Texas that are mellow enough for outside dining. Also, I don't care to dine inches from a hot SUV! Eat inside and enjoy, or order carry out and take the food back to your home or office.

Blue Mesa Grill serves a delightful selection of Mexican and American Southwest dishes that are lighter in fat and calories and richer in taste than the usual for this cuisine. Our very recent meal there was wonderful and very reasonable in price for a sit down dinner in a very nice restaurant. Reservations needed for busy weekend nights.

Extremely popular bar with buffet goodies during happy hour and big sporting events.

The fellow with me ordered a serving of quesadillas called 'Shrimp, Mango and Roasted Pepper'. One of three quesadilla selections on offer. The presentation was attractive, the flavors fresh and distinct and the price great at $8.50 for an appetizer that he had for his entire meal. It is very easy to fill up here as every meal includes a basket of fresh fried variety corn and yam chips with two freshly made fire-roasted salsas.. Neither sauce is extremely hot. This is not 'kill you' hot salsa territory. The flavors are good, not destructive.

After a long and hard workday, I ordered a fabulous bowl of soups. Yes, two soups in one bowl: the Painted Desert Soups, which are black bean and corn chili chowder. At $3.95 for this large portion, it is a real bargain in these days of rising prices.

This restaurant (and others by the same name all over north Texas) is a real find. It is near the Fort Worth Zoo and the Museum District.

It is very hard in Fort Worth to find a restaurant with a pleasant view. The Pegasus has a very nice view through large windows of a garden and creek area to the rear of the restaurant. Outside dining and drinks available in fine weather. Not far from Texas Christian University, this restaurant is popular with folks who enjoy fine wines and well prepared and presented foods with a heritage from Italy, Spain, and Greece.

Of all things, I ordered a cheese sandwich. Well a very fancy cheese melt sandwich made with fresh mozzarella, grilled portobello mushroom, artichoke hearts, tomato and basil pesto.($8 lunch only) My friend ordered a small grilled salmon fillet with champagne dijon sauce, potato cake, and sauteed spinach (lunch portion $10). She also had a glass of house red wine ($8). We both enjoyed our food, but although the restaurant was far from full, the service was slow and spotty. The explanation was only one cook on duty at lunch. That shouldn't be our problem! We skipped dessert due to a lack of time.

This restaurant asks patrons not to use cellphones and other electronic devices in the dining room.

Not far from Texas Christian University with free parking at the door.

Dinners are much, much more expensive. Fair warning!

Summer 2005: new location, same great food! Chef Lanny Lancarte II, literally grew up working in his family's world famous Joe T. Garcia's Restaurant (more than 50 years pleasing folks on the North side of Fort Worth). When Lanny graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York City about a year ago, he intended to open a restaurant in a big city back east. His family convinced him to come home to Fort Worth and create his own kitchen and dining room within the vast estate of the family restaurant. Joe T's can seat over 1000 people in various party rooms and on outdoor patios and is famous to the ends of the earth.

Guarded by Our Lady of Guadaloupe, the dining room is a festival of pleasure. Now with some outdoor dining space, Lanny selects his own menu, plans the shopping, ordering and even grows of some of the vegetables. Reservations are completely required and far in advance at that. His mother Jody keeps a firm hand on the reservation book.

Far ahead my husband and I with a group of 13 very good friends booked Lanny's kitchen for the first Sunday evening in May. We arrived at Joe T's to find the usual line snaking out the front door and down the street. Our reservation with Lanny gave us a cut of the line (don't think the other folks stared at us rather unhappily!)

Each of the seven courses was served in turn with appropriate dishes and a complete change of silverware. The elements of the food service were very Japanese in quality and art form. Our menu included the following served tapas-style (little bites): Ahi tuna ceviche with guacamole and jimama salsa, pepita crusted sea bass with key lime beurre blac, home raised lettuces, garlic crostini with goat cheese. . . take a breath to enjoy!

Continuing with quail napal cactus and morel risotto, seared lamb chops with cilantro mint chumichurri and asparagus, and three desserts. Yes, three desserts: chocolate cake served with a kahlua and cappuccino milk shake, Mexican wedding cookies, churros, and dulce de leche and then coffee. Perhaps that's five desserts. We also had coffee. Several people ordered a selection of wines to go with each course.

The result: an amazing meal of unrivaled quality, atmosphere, service and hospitality. An experience of a lifetime that we will be fortunate to be able to enjoy more than once. Lucky us! Lucky Fort Worth that Lanny has come home.

With wines and coffee, cost per couple of about $220 tip included and worth every penny. This is the top of the market for Fort Worth, but worth every penny. It is more than dinner. It is a long evening of education in foods, pleasure in the company of good friends with good wine and a fine gentleman host/chef.

Central Market is the second biggest tourist attraction in Fort Worth, outpacing the museums and just behind the Texas Motor Speedway. What is it about this vast food store and cafe? It is the quality and variety of the foods on offer. Just about any sort you can think of that can be legally sold. Want fresh steamed lobster? Buy it in the market and they will steam it for you in the cafe! Want 19 kinds of olives or more cheese than the state of Wisconsin? Visit Central Market.

When you enter the store, the first items on offer are a world of fresh vegetables and fruits. You follow a mostly one-way aisle system through all the grocery and wine departments and end up in the Cafe. Choose what you like, pay and then eat either inside or outside on the patio. This place can be very, very busy. Don't let that put you off having a wonderful meal in the Cafe. It's crowded because it is so high in quality and fair in price. Are you a foodie? Well, this is your new home. Foodies are those folk very devoted to Central Market. www.centralmarket.com.

I buy wine with thousands of bottles to choose from. You can sign up for cooking classes and learn from the experts. You can order your food entirely as you like it in the market and the cafe. Our favorites include (after the wines) olives, breads, cheeses, fresh fish of all sorts, tea from all over the world, exotic coffee and the best apples for sale in Fort Worth. Everything is clearly labeled. You bag, weigh and price your own produce.

Central Market is set back from the highway a fair bit. Follow Hulen Street about 500 feet to the south for the turn in. The parking lot is always full any time the store is open. Don't let that put you off, as there is room for all. A nice meal with wine and dessert can be had for $25 to $30 for two. That's hard to beat. This is a major stop for tour buses. Tour buses! It's that popular a place. Look for daily specials on takeaway meals that include a meat/pasta, veg and dessert. Have a question? The staff is very well trained to help you out. Don't hesitate to ask. Amazed by it all? So am I!

Several years ago, a tornado destroyed Reata's perch on top of a high-rise office building. Worried Fort Worth folk begged the owners to relocate in the Sundance Square area of downtown. The new location is on the main floor and roof of the old Caravan of Dreams nightclub. All the jazz is gone and the restaurant decor is very heavy on cowboy chic. So is the menu. www.reata.net.

Much of the art from the old location was preserved and is now in the new one. As much of it is valuable and even historic, we are so glad.

You have two choices for dining and drinks locations: the main floor of the building and up on the roof. Arrive very early for the rooftop locations during fine weather. The furniture is ranch house style, heavy on quality leather and old wood. Plenty of western saddles and boots on display. Would I call this a restaurant for the family? Sure, if the children are old enough to enjoy the decor.

Let's talk about the food.

The portions are huge. We split entrées, as we couldn't face a chicken-fried steak that could easily feed the whole family for Sunday dinner. The salads are wonderful. Possibly the best salad dressings I've ever had. Couldn't waste a drop of the Reata Wedge Salad with pico vinaigrette ($6.95). Dipped up the last of the dressing with fresh bread from the iron basket on our table.

For four adults, we ordered two entrées (had the desserts in mind). Be prepared for a 20% extra charge for splitting. The manager waived that charge for us, as we ordered so many other things, including a large plate of calf fries in cream gravy ($8.95). If I have to explain what they are, you really don't want to know.

Our second entrée was a chicken dish. Well, it was supposed to be chicken, but turned out to be another beef dish. On a busy night, this can happen. We didn't complain, but perhaps should have.

Desserts and coffee finished off the meal, with the bread pudding and apple crisp with ice cream being the clear winners.

A generally wonderful evening enjoyed by all four of us. Don't miss those salads!

Southlake is an attractive planned community between Fort Worth and the BIG DFW airport complex. Clean, tidy and organized, the town felt too new to everyone; so the developers determined to take a page out of Texas history and copy the design of the courthouse squares of our numbers county seats. If squeaky clean and too new, the concept is still attractive. The Tarrant County subcourthouse is at one end and the gazebo is at the other. Plenty of parking is surround by dozens of stores of the Crate and Barrel and Chico's variety with a Post Office and other stores on a nearby street.

I counted at least 5 restaurants so that you can rest a bit while shopping. There are also apartments above many of the shops and much housing walking distance away, a concept alien to most Texas cities and towns. A relatively easy commute to both Fort Worth and Dallas, Southlake is a very nice place to shop and live.

A center of activity for holiday events and concerts, the Southlake Square is really a very nice idea. My favorite store after Chico's (famous for travel clothing) has to be the Container Store, the place to find all sorts of clever storage ideas and gift-wrapping supplies. They have 19 different kinds of hangers!

Parking at the shop door is an idea whose time has returned. This convenience (and security) is one reason The Square is so successful.

About 10 minutes south of downtown Fort Worth at the corner of Hemphill and Magnolia, this is the outlet store for Longhorn Western Wear. The wise shoppers of this very high quality Western-style brand make this a destination in Fort Worth. Enter on the south side of the factory building at the door under the red arrow. Parking at the door. Open weekdays and Saturday mornings. This is the real, high-quality Western wear that sells for many times more money at the shops in Aspen and Scottsdale. Merchandise changes all the time. You need to stop by often to check out the $15 and 50% off racks. Some new season merchandise and some one-of-a-kind items that were made to show to the salesmen.

Toma Lama and Justin leather belts with heavy silver trimmings and silver belts for ladies. Excellent service in this shop!

A new feature is fabric by the yard. The fabric that is used to make the superior-quality Western vests is now for sale in the shop. While it lasts; so don't be poky about getting over to buy some.

Another limited-availability item is suede and leather jackets for both men and women. They are there now, but perhaps not for long.

A real Fort Worth shopping secret! Telephone 817/924-4299 Call for hours, as they vary with the seasons. gus@niverww.com