Dining and Nightlife

When it's 80 degrees out in the City of Cowboys and Culture, and there's a nice cool breeze floating through the air, there's no better place than a good patio. When in Fort Worth, anything better than a good patio is a great rooftop spot where you can take in the sights and sounds of our buzzing city. Whether you're looking for a beautiful bird's eye view of Sundance Square, TCU or the Stockyards, there's plenty of options!

Live Oak This Near Southside rooftop bar and patio on Magnolia Ave. has a fabulous view of the downtown Fort Worth skyline, 50 beers on tap, and an inventive menu of burgers, sandwiches and entrée salads that far exceeds the usual “bar food.” If you're looking for a change of pace, head downstairs for a sit-down dinner or casual concert hall which showcases marquee-name touring acts in a 500-seat superbly engineered auditorium. 

Dutch's Named after legendary TCU coach Leo “Dutch” Meyer, Dutch’s is a lively TCU-area hangout known for its all-natural, juicy-not-greasy burgers. Whether you're looking for a spot to pre-game or a casual weeknight dinner with family or friends, Dutch's patio is the place to be. Be sure to check out their weekly specials, (including 1/2 price Dutch Burger on Tuesdays) here.

Love Shack Iron Chef winner and owner Tim Love has created a gourmet burger joint featuring outdoor seating, live music, and a menu that will have you coming back for more! Love Shack has two locations, the Stockyards and the University area, but the Love Shack Stockyards offers an unforgettable view of the world-famous Exchange Avenue in the Stockyards National Historic District! Grab a beer, and get a spot for the twice-daily Cattle Drive (11:30a, 4p)!

Reata Restaurant is not just famous for their down-home cowboy cuisine, but their living-room type ambiance downstairs mixed with the cocktail-party atmosphere upstairs, makes this place perfect for any occasion. Overlooking Sundance Square (and the new plaza this fall), the Reata Rooftop is one of the top Fort Worth spots to take in the city sights and enjoy cocktails with friends! Be sure to share the starter sampler for a true taste of Texas! 

Capital Bar With the additions of the Backyard and the Back House, Capital Bar is one of the top music venues in DFW in addition to having an incredible rooftop bar that offers a spectacular view of the downtown skyline on one side and the park-like Fort Worth Cultural District on the other. Before you go, check out their Summer Music Series on Wednesday nights presented by 95.9 the Ranch! 

“You’ve never had the Black Forest Cake at Swiss Pastry Shop?” my friend asked in disbelief, as we were driving around last week searching for a lunch spot.

And before I could even protest that I’m not a huge chocolate fan (and that I really don't think chocolate mixes well with cherries), he pointed his car towards Vickery Blvd.

The Swiss Pastry Shop  is a longstanding institution on the Fort Worth dining scene, opened in 1973. It serves up breakfast and lunch diner staples, with a strong German slant. (Think lots of bratwurst, knackwurst, and Polish sausage.) But what usually compels locals to make the detour there is the bakery and pastry counter at the front, and especially the famous Black Forest Macaron cake, which the owners dub "The UnCake."

And, as it turns out, my weird chocolate-and-cherries phobia was entirely misplaced. The traditional Black Forest Cake has layers of chocolate cake separated by some sort of whipped cream, frosting and cherries concoction, with still more cherries on top – it usually looks like this. The Swiss Pastry Shop version ($2.50 per slice), however, has no cherries at all, and the cake layers are actually a crispy, impossible light meringue. The layers are divided by whipped cream and a generous portion of thin chocolate shavings, which also goes on top.

It isn’t at all heavy or cloyingly sweet – before I could finish one bite, I was determined to have another. My friend has a tradition of ordering a full cake every year for his birthday (prices range from $17.25 to $100.25, depending on size). Now that I’ve been belatedly turned on this local culinary wonder, I will likely be following his routine.

Meanwhile, the whole experience got me thinking about how dessert can often be the best part of any meal – and wondering about other Fort Worth restaurants that have stand-out offerings. A few other favorites leaped to mind:

Reata offers dessert tacos with bananas and chocolate "gravy" – an ingenious twist on the Tex-Mex classic.

The late Nora Ephron, who had a famous policy of ordering multiple desserts ("You should always have at least four desserts that are kind of fighting with each other"), would have especially liked Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana, where I can never decide between the key lime goat cheesecake and the gourmet twist on churros. 

And, of course, there's the inimitable, innumerable pies by Paris Coffee Shop – my favorite is the coconut cream.

Use the comments field below to tell us about your favorite desserts. Because as much as great desserts should be relished, they should also be shared. 

The Swiss Pastry Shop is open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 7:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Full cakes should be ordered in advance. 

We showed you how to discover the Cultural District on a budget, and now it's time for some Sundance Square savings tips and how to visit downtown Fort Worth on a dime. When looking for free attractions in Downtown and Sundance Square, it is almost harder to find an attraction that does charge. This family-friendly Fort Worth area has plenty of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered by you and your family. Don’t forget to stop in our Downtown Visitor Center in Sundance Square for more savings: iFortWorth, located at 508 Main St.

Attractions:

• Bass Hall – Free tour on Saturdays at 10:30am
• Sid Richardson Museum – Free
• Fire Station #1 – Free
• Fort Worth Water Gardens – Free
• JFK Tribute – Free
• Heritage Trails – Free
• Sundance Square is always free to visit but check out their website and sign up for “Inside the Square” newsletter for additional discounts to be delivered straight to your email.

Most people eat something small for lunch and then consider dinner to be the larger meal of the day. Why not switch it up? Lunch menus often offer the same items but at a discounted price. Then check out a Happy Hour for dinner. Next time your in downtown Fort Worth, consider these dinner Happy Hours:

Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria

• Monday-Friday 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., which includes Half-price Appetizers & Pizza /Well Drinks, Draught Beer, Bellini, House Red & White Wine $3.00 (Available in the bar and lounge)
• Wednesday Night-Enjoy 1/2 price bottles of wine with items off our regular menu or specials board (4:00 - 10:00)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• Happy Hour Sizzle, Swizzle, Swirl – The best of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse food and drinks for $7 Monday-Friday.

T and P Tavern

• Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4:00-7:00 and all day on Sunday.

Frankies Sports Bar & Grill

• Happy Hour 11:00AM-7:00PM week days
• Check out their website for daily specials!

Looking for a free way to get around? Molly the Trolley runs seven days a week from 10am-10pm. Check out Molly’s routes here! Don’t forget about Fort Worth’s brand new Bike Sharing too – there are several bike stations all over downtown for easy access! Check our out Deals & Discounts for more ways to save in Downtown!

Drop me in any foreign country, and radar takes over: It won't take me long at all to find the fancy cheese shop.

Sharp or creamy, blue or brie, sheep's milk or cow's or goat's -- I'm hard-pressed to find a cheese I don't like (though as my sometimes-empty wallet can attest, some I like much better than others). There's something especially tantalizingly about buying cheese at an off-the-beaten track fromagerie, where the proprietor takes particular care sourcing the cheeses, and has a long list of suggestions and samples for you to try.

Until recently, though, I've mostly had to do my cheese shopping at some of the Fort Worth gourmet grocery stores and shops, like Central Market or Oliver's Fine Foods -- not that I'm complaining, but those places lacks that intimate personal touch that you can find at a specialty artisan shop. Needless to say, then, I was very excited when Magnolia Cheese Company opened its doors earlier last December on bustling Magnolia Avenue. 

Who needs to jet off to Paris or Brussels when you have a charming little neighborhood spot like this one in the Near Southside and cheeses so good that you'll have an impossible time picking just one or two to take home? 

Magnolia Cheese Company actually doubles as a cafe, where you can order from the blackboard menu such sandwich options as the Gouda and Pork (which features gouda cheese, proscuitto, smoked bacon, sweet chili saw and pickled red onion) and the Fraiche Fish (which features horseradish creme fraiche, house-cured salmon lox and avocado), as well as salads, soups and a regularly changing line-up of daily specials. If you're looking to sample some of the shops cheeses, you can also opt for a five-cheese tasting plank ($16). 

On our recent visits, though, we were searching for a couple cheeses that we might take home and enjoy before dinner. After sampling a couple of different blue cheeses, we settled on the Point Reyes blue, made in California, an exceptionally creamy cheese that also has a nice tangy bite to it ($10/ per half pound); and since you can't just stop at one, we also purchased a wedge of the Alta Langa Cravanzina, a soft-ripened cheese from the Piedmont region of Italy, made from a mixture of sheep's and cow's milk. It has a soft rind, a creamy center, and a lingering hint of earthiness ($15.45 per half-pound). 

Magnolia Cheese Company also has a nice selection of wines -- you get a $15 discount on bottles if you're purchasing to take away. We opted for an Italian red, which paired nicely with both cheeses – so nicely, in fact, that when we got home, we skipped dinner altogether and just gobbled up our cheeses. Here's hoping this is just the start of a cheese shop boom in Fort Worth.

Magnolia Cheese Company is open: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.,  Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday

Top Left Photo: Sample Catering Platter from Magnolia Cheese Co.

In my opinion, there's no better gift than that of an sharing an amazing meal at one of Fort Worth's hottest brunch spots with someone you love. If you're looking for something a little less traditional to do with your mom in Fort Worth on her special day, we've come up with a few ideas for you. Nothing says Cowboys and Culture like a horseback ride along the Trinity Trails and afterwards, perusing any of the five world-class museums—all within walking distance—within Fort Worth's park-like setting of the Cultural District. Maybe your mom is an animal lover, and in that case, adopting an animal in her name from the Fort Worth Zoo, is sure to make a memorable gift. There are few moms who don't enjoy a good find, let alone in an incredible antique mall, so check out Montgomery Street Antique Mall and enjoy lunch in the Secret Garden Tearoom. If your mom just prefers (and deserves) to be pampered, you can't go wrong with a gift certificate to the Mokara Spa at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. 

If you're with me, and agree that brunch offers the best of both lunch and breakfast worlds, check out our top ten picks for Best Mother's Day Brunch in Fort Worth. Whether you choose brunch in Downtown, Near Southside or the Cultural District, there's plenty to see and do this Mother's Day! Call ahead for reservations. 

Downtown / Sundance Square 

Cantina Laredo - Mother's Day Brunch; 11a-3p.

Cast Iron - Mother's Day Brunch at the Omni Hotel; 10a-2:30

Grace - Mother's Day Brunch and Lunch; 11:30a–1:30p.

Reata Restaurant - Sunday Mother's Day Brunch; 11a-2:30p.

Near Southside

Brewed Fort Worth - Mother's Day Brunch with Free mimosas for mom; 9:30a-2:30p.

Cat City Grill - Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-12:30p

Ellerbe Fine Foods -  Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-2:00p. 

Cultural District 

Café Modern - Brunch at the Modern Art Museum;10a-3p.

Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana - Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-2p.

The Gardens Restaurant - Mother's Day Brunch at the Botanical Gardens; 10a-3p.

When gourmet food trucks started popping up a few years ago on the Fort Worth dining scene, a few of us were skeptical: Could a trend birthed in such hipster cities as Austin, Los Angeles and Portland really catch on in a meat-and-potatoes city like ours?

These days, I find myself eating my words – as well as whatever new offerings are being served up on four wheels. Fort Worth now hosts dozens of food trucks, and four parks devoted to these trucks. 

Opened in 2011, The Fort Worth Food Park, located off White Settlement Road, was the first of these parks and continues to draw impressive crowds. Last summer, Cowtown Chow Down opened near the Stockyards. More recently, the Clearfork Food Park started operation; it offers an inviting respite along the Trinity River for those looking to take a meal break from biking or running.

And on May 1, Food Park at Thistle Hill opened its gates. The park, located on the grounds of the historic Thistle Hill mansion, plans to host four trucks each weekday. The trucks will rotate regularly, providing a multiplicity of new dining options to a mostly under-serviced culinary corner of the Fort Worth Hospital District. The outdoor setting is so lovely -- the Georgian Revival-style Thistle Hill was built in 1903 -- that the terrific food almost seems like a gilding of the lily. 

On the day we visited, the trucks on site included First Bite Gourmet and the Latin-themed What’s Cook-N-Chef, though we opted for Salsa Limon – one of the very first food trucks to arrive on the Fort Worth scene in 2010.

The barbacoa taco was rich and smoky, and the veggie taco made for an appealing lighter option. We topped both with Salsa Limon’s  fiery red salsa -- not something recommended for spice amateurs, but for everyone else essential. Along with a couple of bottles of water, the bill for two came to just $12. For dessert, we wandered over to another truck on the property that day, Red Jett Sweets, and split the Nuts for Kentucky ($3) a bourbon cake cupcake topped with caramel butter cream and candied pecans. If – like us -- you have a weak spot for all things sugary, this is the one to try.

Texas weather being as unpredictable as it is, temperatures were at record lows when we visited – and the modest lunchtime crowd was all huddled inside the Thistle Hill carriage house, where inclement weather seating is available. Once the weather warms up, though, this newest addition to the food truck scene seems like a sure-fire hit. Indeed, the only problem with all these meals-on-wheels, is that there aren’t enough meals in the day to eat them all.

Food Park at Thistle Hill is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the Website to see which food trucks are there each day.

Fort Worth native, Jamey Ice, guitarist for Green River Ordinance, is proud to say he grew up in the City of Cowboys and Culture. For the last seven years, he has traveled the country with GRO—playing every major city in America, but any time he’s asked what his favorite city is, he is quick to respond, “Fort Worth...it's my favorite city in the country”. Jamey recently opened up BREWED, a restaurant/ pub / coffeehouse on Magnolia Ave., the main street on one of Fort Worth’s emerging districts, the Near Southside. The vision behind BREWED was to create a “local living room” – a place where people can come to feel at home, be inspired and enjoy great hand-crafted food and drinks. Jamey said, “It was fun because I got to bring a lot of ideas that I have seen in other parts of the country back here to Fort Worth.”

Hometown: The greatest city in America…Fort Worth, Texas!

Occupation: Guitar player in Green River Ordinance & owner of BREWED. 

Favorite Fort Worth District: The Near Southside. It's a ton of fun. I love it because it is a community that supports and embraces local things. There are so many local artists and artisans here, dreamers and thinkers, awesome one-of-a-kind local businesses, and incredible local eateries. It's also a very community-driven area, with vibrant people who are passionate and active about supporting local goods. People are always outside: riding their bikes, working in the community gardens, or walking their dogs. My wife and I live in Fairmount and we are crazy about our neighborhood and the big front porches are a true reflection of  that everyone is always outside hanging out. I literally see my neighbors every day. I cant think of another neighborhood in town that has the community and camaraderie among the neighbors as Fairmount. 

Favorite Fort Worth Restaurant: BREWED?!? Fort Worth has so many killer places to eat, it is so hard to pick. But if I had to pick the one restaurant that I frequent most and has a special place in my heart, it would have to be Benito’s on Magnolia. It is the real deal authentic Mexican food, not the tex-mex stuff (not that there is anything wrong with good tex mex!). They have great authentic menudo, ceviche, chile rellenos, mole, and my favorite dish, queso flameado (a flaming cheese queso)! It's my dad’s favorite restaurant, so we grew up going there every Sunday and has become a weekly staple ever since. 

Describe your ideal day in Fort Worth. I am obsessed with my city, so it's hard for me to pick just a one-day itinerary. I love Fort Worth in the summertime when the weather is warm. My ideal day would have to include walking around Magnolia, some Fairmount front porch hanging out with my neighbors, sipping margaritas at Joe T's, exploring the Modern, riding my bike around the Trinity River, and maybe catching some awesome music and fireworks during the summer concert series at the Botanic Gardens.

Where are your favorite places to listen to live music in Fort Worth? Green River Ordinance literally got our start at The Aardvark on Berry Street. We started playing there in high school and continued through our TCU days, and I still love catching bands there. The new Live Oak Music Lounge is also a great new spot that is bringing in some awesome music. Of course, it doesn’t get much better than seeing someone play at Bass Performance Hall; that place is unreal. It doesn’t matter who is playing because any show at Bass Hall is sure to be amazing!

If you had to describe Fort Worth in a song title/create a song title for Fort Worth, what would it be? Oh man that’s a hard one. There are some good songs about Fort Worth. Steve Earl has the famous “Fort Worth Blues” song. For some reason Pat Greens music always reminds me of home. With GRO, we have spent so much time writing and recording our music here in town that it's hard not to associate Fort Worth with our songs. “West Wind” and “Dancing Shoes” both loosely about our City. 

If you could play a live show anywhere in Fort Worth, somewhere out of the norm, where would that be? We are playing at the Concerts in the Garden this summer. That is literally one of my favorite things to go to every year, so I am pretty pumped for that. Definitely a “Bucket List” show. But something out of the norm....hmmm. It would be fun to do a show on the roof of the 7^th street parking garage. It has a killer view of all of downtown, so that would be pretty fun! 

Your favorite place to get inspired in Fort Worth: The Kimbell Art Museum lawn (before they started construction on the Renzo Piano expansion). I can’t tell you how many Green River Ordinance songs were written right in front of the Kimbell or by the giant vortex statue at the Modern. Whenever we would get writer’s block, we would always grab our guitars and go down to Fort Worth Cultural District. 

Looking for affordable lunch and dinner options in the Fort Worth Cultural District? Try one of the two fantastic food truck parks in the area – Clearfork Park Food Park and Fort Worth Food Park. Both parks offer a casual atmosphere with affordable food options for even the pickiest eaters. Looking for more? Check out these Nightlife & Happy Hour Specials:

Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge

• Sunday is “Service Industry Night” – Complimentary bowling and shoe rental with a valid service industry pay stub from 9pm-Midnight.
• Tuesday is “Bottomless Bowling” – $9.99 All-You-Can-Bowl from 10pm-Midnight.
• Wednesday “Margarita Night” - $1.50 Margaritas and complimentary chips and salsa from 9pm-Midnight.
• Thursday “College night” – Complimentary bowling and shoes with valid college ID from 9pm-Midnight.
• Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4-7pm.

Bar Louie

• Happy Hour – Monday-Friday from 4pm-7pm, this also features some Half Price appetizers.

Tillman’s Roadhouse

• Happy Hour – Monday-Friday from 4pm-5:30pm.

Fred’s Texas Café

• Happy Hour - Monday-Friday from 3pm-6pm.

Do you have a favorite Happy Hour in the Cultural Distict? Let us know about a great deal you found by commenting below!

People who know me are all too aware of my longstanding culinary obsession with the annual Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival. It’s more than just the fact that so many of the foods served up there inspire fond memories of the street fairs and block parties with which I grew up in New York.

It’s that so much of the food at Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival is so good – a welcome reminder that you don’t need to spend $40 a plate to have a distinct dining experience in Fort Worth.

In my more ambitious years, I would actually visit the four-day festival every day, and usually ended up eating six or seven meals there over the course of the weekend. These days, I usually visit just a few times – fair food may be delicious, but my cholesterol can only take so many spikes.

This year’s festival begins at 10 a.m.. on Thursday (did someone say “late breakfast?”) and continues through Sunday at 8 p.m. (dessert!). Here are my picks for dishes that no arts festival weekend is complete without, based on the last thirteen years of festival food experience:

1. The Bahama Mama, from the stupendous Schmidt’s in Columbus Ohio, is for me an annual renewal of my faith in humanity – a plump, spicy bratwurst much too large for its bun, which I slather in Gulden’s spicy brown mustard and top with sauerkraut. Make it a meal for a few extra coupons, and you can enjoy a side of Schmidt’s marvelously tangy potato salad. (The giant cream puff ain't too shabby, either, but it should not be approached on an even half-full stomach.)  

2. Tenderloin Tamales, from Reata. Who says festival food can’t be sophisticated? Tucked into steaming corn husks and topped with a nicely piquant pecan sauce, these beauties can be found on the regular Reata dinner menu – but they taste even better when you can enjoy live music and people watching at the same time. 

3. Smoked Turkey Legs. Yes, you will look like a cannibal while chowing down on one of these greasy, gristly wonders; and, indeed, I can speak from personal experience that it will send your blood pressure about 20 points higher. You can thank me later.

4. Funnel Cakes. Fried dough + powder sugar =  the perfect capper to any evening spent at the festival. That said, my advice is to get in line before the nightly funnel cake rush commences, usually around 7 p.m. (And, no, I'm not making that up. One year I spent forty minutes in line.) 

Of course, if none of these options appeal to you, there are plenty more vendors to choose from, including Texas Skillet (the grilled steak sandwich gets my vote); Fletcher’s (corny dog!), and many others. Most of these venues surround either the Sundance Square stage or the Bank of Texas Stage. You can check out a festival map here.

Finally, you can wash all of this down with a white wine margarita, or this year you can visit the Craft Brew Pavilion hosted by Flying Saucer, which will feature a half-dozens beers on draught.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go purchase some coupons.

“It almost feels like we’re in Austin.”

That was an observation made by my partner a couple of Friday evenings ago, as we stepped onto the outdoor patio of Rodeo Goat Icehouse, a gourmet burger-and-beer joint located near the Fort Worth Cultural District. On this warm evening, the wooden picnic tables were virtually all filled with a mix of college kids, young professionals winding down from the work week, and older grownups out for a date night. (Right now, there are chimeneas and a wood-burning stove on the patio for colder nights; and presumably come summer, the misters will be going full blast.)

Inside – which is divided between a bar at the front; casual, first-come-first-served seating with long, cocktail-height tables; and a more traditional dining area that’s open for private parties or when the place gets busy – things were just as hectic.

I could see my partner’s point: Austin has long been known for its funky, unpretentious establishments that seem to attract all stripes. Rodeo Goat, which opened last December, is one of a handful of places new to the Fort Worth dining scene that strive to capture a similar spirit.

We were big fans of the “Nanny Goat” burger, perfectly cooked to a juicy medium, and topped with herb goat cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic mayo. And though it seems almost criminal to do such a thing in Cowtown, we also tried the “Neil Young” – a veggie burger with creamy avocado and a pleasantly spicy sauce. Wash it all down with a brew from one of Rodeo Goat’s expansive beer menu – it includes more than 100 options – and you have yourself a low-key, affordable night out.

And if you’re looking to sustain the hipster vibe, you can head a few miles southeast to Magnolia Avenue: Avoca Coffee, which opened in 2011, offers a sprawl of comfortable couches and leather chairs; locally roasted coffee; and handmade treats from Dude, Sweet Chocolate. Further down Magnolia is Brewed, a coffehouse / bar / restaurant  that also where at one table you'll see a group of friends knocking back beers, and at another a tortured writer quietly tapping away on his novel. 

Pehaps the best news of all: Unlike our compatriots in Austin, here in Fort Worth we don’t have to deal with chock-a-block traffic, and all those annoying people trying way too hard to be weird.

Rodeo Goat: 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday to Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Thursday to Saturday

Avoca: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday; 7 am to 5 p.m., Sunday

Brewed: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesday to Wednesday; 8 a.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday; closed Mondays

Try the spicy Caca Oaxaca Burger.

In the constellation of Fort Worth's celebrity chefs, Jon Bonnell doesn't have the boisterous, megawatt personality of someone like Grady Spears -- the cowboy cuisine pioneer who seems like he was born to be a guest on Good Morning America. Nor is Bonnell's empire as expansive as, say, that of Tim Love, the chef-owner of The Woodshed Smokehouse and Lonesome Dove, who seems to open a new venture every third week.

Instead, Bonnell -- the owner of Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine, which opened in 2001 -- is more of the journeyman star of the Fort Worth dining scene: The chef who got famous by virtue of being terrific, year in, year out.

Now Bonnell's star is about to shine even brighter. Last Saturday, the chef opened, Waters, the newest eatery in the ever-expanding West 7th development in the  Fort Worth Cultural District. At the opening night party, Bonnell showed off the new digs to a few hundred friends, foodies and media folks.

Bonnell is best known for game and heartier fare: If you haven't tried his Pepper-Crusted Buffalo Tenderloin, you're culinary life experience is not complete. With Waters, though, he turns his attention to seafood, albeit with a quintessential Texas twist: Among the menu items we sampled on Saturday night were fried and BBQ oysters; an impossibly buttery and tender red snapper; and (my personal favorite) yellowfin tacos (Bonnell pairs the tuna with a spicy wasabi-lime creme fraiche and a wonderfully crunchy tortilla).

Seafood-phobes need not despair: There are also more traditional Bonnell creations, like the bone-in ribeye and chicken fried rabbit loin, on offer.

Located in the space previously occupied by Bailey’s Prime Plus, Waters carries the seafood theme into the interior design: In the front lounge area, there’s an eye-popping, bar-length chandelier constructed from oyster shells. The main dining room also features a raw bar -- a nice alternative for those looking for a more casual eating experience.

If you're looking for something fun to do in Fort Worth when the sun goes down, all roads lead to West 7th. The West 7th nightlife offers something for everyone including a dine-in movie theater, bowling alley bar and lounge and tons of restaurants and bars offering a multitude of food and drink specials. Plan ahead, and make sure to grab a bite to eat before you hit the town. New restaurants opening soon like Waters, Bonnell's Coastal Cuisine and Kona Grill are sure to be big hits with your taste buds. In addition to a full-service restaurant and upscale sushi lounge, Kona Grill, will also include an energetic bar and lounge-a great addition to the nightlife scene atWest 7th. Looking for great happy hour specials? Check out Bar Louie and Brownstone both offering incredible specials day or night!

Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2013 Brewfest on Crockett for April 13th from 5-10pm. Save the date, and get ready for some brews, live music and West 7th fun! 

What are you doing this weekend? Come enjoy a 2.5 to 3 hour delightful tour of some of Fort Worth's best restaurants! Texas Foodie Tours offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 1:30pm. Each tour consists of 5 or 6 locally-owned restaurants, wineries, pubs, and bakeries to sample their delicious food and drinks! Some of these might include favorites like J and J Oyster Bar, T and P Tavern, La Bella Cupcakes, Dos Gringos, Los Vaqueros, or  Times Ten Cellars. You will hear about local lore, learn about historic events, and experience the current culinary scene. Sit back and savor the sights on a climate-controlled bus as you travel to diverse areas of Fort Worth -- both historical and contemporary.

Check out their website for a complete list of tour dates. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Limit of 16 people per tour and ages 12 and up are welcome on these tours. For a limited time get 35% off your tour. Offer good now through May 31st, 2013 - get your coupon on our Deals & Discounts page!

The best part, no two tours are the same! You will experience new restaurants on each tour, so you can keep coming back! Check out www.FortWorth.com to learn more about Tours and Foodie Tours!

It's no secret that we’re not all barbeque and Tex-Mex in Fort Worth. In addition to succulent steaks, righteous ribs, farm-to-table dining, and mouth-watering Mexican fare, you’ll find world-class flavors from around the globe, including sophisticated Italian dining and exotic Asian cuisine. In fact, some of the greatest culinary artists, Jon Bonnell, Tim Love and Lanny Lancarte call the City of Cowboys and Culture home. As the culinary scene in Fort Worth continues to rise, there's no better time to share Fort Worth's finest and no better way to celebrate the thriving culinary scene than Fort Worth's first annual Food + Wine Festival next spring: March 27-30, 2014!

Be sure to save the date, as you don't want to miss this celebration of the Fort Worth food culture!

My sister and her husband were here from Iowa recently. We had dinner at Simply Fondue Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth on their last night in town. When our waiter asked if we were celebrating anything my sister answered "Sisterhood." My husband and I had been to Simply Fondue a few times before, but my sister said it was thirty years since she had been to one. The food and wine were so good. We had all had the three courses and I don't even know which we liked the best...I love the cheese with veggies and bread to dip. Each of us had a choice of three types of meat and that was great. The teriyaki chicken was wonderful! The hard part of the dessert fondue is having to decide on which one! My husband is a peanut butter fan and I love the dark chocolate. We had such a nice time. What a fun place when the food is the entertainment. The service was wonderful, as was the food. This is such a fun restaurant! We will not be waiting for relatives to be in town to go back!

Step back in time in a newly restored rail station tavern, and experience a piece of Fort Worth history. The T & P Tavern was originally built as a diner and adjoining newsstand in the 1930's in the Historic T & P Railway Station in Downtown Fort Worth. This station has played a big part in American and Fort Worth history. As the main southern hub of transport, many World War II veterans left and/or returned from this station.  The diner may have very well been the last "home-cooked" meal before departing for unknown part for many a soldier.

Over eighty years later, the Tavern is still very similar to its original glory. There have been extensive renovations throughout the years but the art-deco architecture is still intact. The station is still functioning today and serves as the last west-bound stop on the TRE (Trinity Rail Express) that connects to the DART system in Dallas.

The T&P Tavern features an extensive menu of sandwiches,snacks, breakfast items, and features a bar with Rahr on tap. A huge covered, pet-friendly patio and plasma TVs makes T&P a great place to hang out while waiting to board the TRE to Dallas or shuttle to Cowboys Stadium. The Tavern does not allow smoking inside but it is allowed on their covered patio. This is the perfect place to relax with friends!

Look out Fort Worth, the newest taco revolution has landed! Torchy's Tacos has recently set up shop in the Near SouthSide at 928 Northton Street. This menu is full of options that you have never seen before like this months ‘Taco of the Month’ the Double Wide. This taco features hand-battered chicken fried steak with chopped bacon, then topped with green chile queso, cotija and pico de gallo. You won’t want to miss their one of a kind Green Chile Queso & Chips. This features Torchys’s homemade chips with delicious green chile queso topped off with guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro & diablo sauce. Chef Mike Rypka has created an exciting menu that will keep you guessing and coming back for more.

Torchy’s started when Chef Michael Ryka left his executive chef job to follow his dreams. The first Torchy’s was in a food truck in Austin. Mike literally drove around on his scoter and handed out free chips and salsa to bring in the customers. Hard worked paid off and today Torchy’s operates several stores and trailer parks.

This is a great place to meet up with friends for a drink or casual meal. Check out other great Near SouthSide Restaurants or Nightlife locations for more Things To Do in Fort Worth!

Photo Credit: Aimee Wenske

There's no doubt, Fort Worth has romance in the air. Just take a walk through Downtown Sundance Square and the tree lit sidewalks mixed with the historic atmosphere, will create the perfect setting for your Valentine's date night. Fort Worth offers plenty of Downtown dining options where you can dress it up at Mercury Chophouse, Del Frisco's or Ruth Chris and dress it down at Riscky's or Frankie's Sports Bar. 

If you're looking for an ideal Valentine's date night in Downtown Fort Worth, we recommend appetizers and drinks at Reata Restaurant in Sundance Square. If it's a nice evening, try to get a spot on the recently renovated rooftop patio. Walk down Main Street for a dining experience like no other at Grace Restaurant where award-winning Chef Blaine Staniford creates Modern American Classics like bacon wrapped scallops.

The highlight of your evening will take place at one of the most romantic spots in Downtown, Bass Performance Hall where Performing Arts Fort Worth presents Broadway at the Bass: Memphis (February 12-17, 2013). Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Memphis is a show-stopping, thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love with explosive dancing and irresistible songs. After the show, indulge in a gourmet cupcake at The Cupcakery or step into Scat Jazz Lounge, for live music and a nightcap.

Share your Fort Worth love this Valentine's Day, and you could win two tickets to see Memphis on February 14 plus a $20 gift card to Grace Restaurant! To enter, upload a photo of something you love about Fort Worth or a loved one, using the tag #LoveFortWorth. For more contest info, visit FortWorth.com/Love. One winner will be chosen at random and announced on Instagram and Facebook on Monday February 11 at 2pm. 

Fort Worth offers plenty of options for 2013 Super Bowl watching-parties to cheer on your favorite team! Here's our Top 3 picks for Sunday, February 3:

Frankie's Sports Bar in Sundance Square is making things easy with an all-inclusive Super Party. Guests will receive an unlimited food from a select menu, six drinks, and a "swag bag" full of party favors and gifts for $50/person. Plus, there will be chances to win more prizes with a raffle each quarter.

Reservoir, just off of Seventh Street, is one of the newest hangouts in Fort Worth and offers a non-traditional sports bar atmosphere but includes all the sports amenities a fan could need: drink specials, 38 HD screens and a projection TV on Super Bowl Sunday. Try some of their specialties on the menu including chicken and waffles or slow-roasted pork ribs.

BoomerJack's Grill & Bar located in Montgomery Plaza is known for accommodating big game specials, and for the 2013 Super Bowl, they do not disappoint.  Each location in the metroplex is offering 59-cent wings and $3 You Call It (Crown and Down) this Sunday.

If football isn't your thing, check out the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo this Sunday where you can catch everything from the "World's Original Indoor Rodeo™" to the Regional Red Angus Cattle Show and enjoy tons of carnival rides at the Midway!

While walking along Magnolia Avenue to one of my favorite Near Southside eateries, I had the most wonderful surprise of stumbling across the new Magnolia Cheese Company. I decided it was fate that I was to eat lunch there instead of my usual spot.This open and inviting space is home to a cut-to-order artisan cheese shop, boutique market and cafe with a full menu of sandwhiches and salads, fresh to order for lunch or dinner. You can try local and regional cheeses to take home or enjoy with a glass of wine with friends. They're open Tuesday - Thursday: 11am-9pm; Friday - Saturday: 11am-10pm and Sunday: 11am-6pm. With friendly service and cozy atmosphere of mismatched antique furniture and hues of blue and yellow, Magnolia Cheese Co. is the perfect addition to Magnolia Avenue and we look forward to coming back again and again. 

What we tried: the Veggie Love Sandwhich: hummus de jour, avocado, cukes, sherry glazed mushrooms and sprouts on a 5 grain bread. It is fresh deliciousness. And this hardly needs to be said, but don't skip on the cheesecake!