![\"Classic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fa94b893fb28aa0e45a1a78a95573650.jpeg\"\/)
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Classic spaghetti and meatballs at Margies Italian Gardens. | Photo courtesy of Westland Hospitality Group<\/p>\n
With every bobsled run, hockey goal, and triple-Salchow jump we\u2019re watching at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, we\u2019re feeling extreme Italian FOMO. We’re even more jealous of the spectators stuffing themselves with Italian pizza and pasta between the events.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, this roundup of Fort Worth restaurant news includes several tidbits about local Italian restaurants and menus. There’s also some barbecue news, a sushi closure, new desserts, and two restaurants that have closed due to fires.<\/p>\n
Here’s what’s happening on the dining scene lately:<\/p>\n
Margie\u2019s Italian Gardens<\/a>, the longtime west Fort Worth eatery recently revived by Westland Hospitality, has begun offering lunch exclusively by reservation for private groups. Though not normally open for lunch, the classic Italian restaurant will now allow groups to reserve the dining room as their own during weekday hours, 11 am-2 pm Monday-Friday. Groups of 12 to 80 guests can gather for business meetings, luncheons, birthday celebrations, showers, and more, and custom menus will be available. Book directly on their website<\/a> or call 817-244-4301.<\/p>\n Smoke & Bone BBQ<\/a>, an acclaimed local barbecue spot at now-closed<\/a> Panther Island Brewing, has moved to the former Brix BBQ location at 218 S. Bryan St., in Near Southside Fort Worth. According to their Facebook page, they’re open 4-7 pm Wednesday and 12-7:30 pm Thursday-Sunday or until sell-out. Look for a special “817” lunch special priced at $8.17.<\/p>\n Lil JJ\u2019s Smoke House<\/a>has closed its doors in north Fort Worth, but hope is not lost. In a Facebook post in late January, the owners said, “It\u2019s With Sadness That I post the Temporary Closing Of Lil JJ\u2019s Smoke House In Alliance N. Fort Worth. We appreciate The Love and Support We have received in this Area And At this time Looking To open a different Location Soon. In the meantime You can Catch our Food Truck In The Dallas Area I\u2019ll be posting The Address Each day! Thank you all for your Love and Support.” They’re still available for catering and food truck events.<\/p>\n Ninja Sushi<\/a>, at 4714 SW Loop 820, has permanently closed. The owners announced the closure on Facebook on February 9, saying, “We\u2019ve officially closed our doors for good. To every one of our Fort Worth friends and family, we thank you. Thank you for choosing us for lunch breaks, dinner dates, late-night cravings, celebrations, and all the random ‘let\u2019s grab sushi’ moments in between. It\u2019s been an honor serving this community, and we\u2019re truly grateful for the love and support you showed us over the years.”<\/p>\n The Beacon Cafe<\/a> and Fresco’s Cocina Mexicana<\/a> have teamed up under one roof. They’re both now operating out of Fresco’s restaurant at 7432 Denton Hwy., in Watauga. Customers can dine on Beacon Cafe’s pancake stack for breakfast, then Fresco’s Tex-Mex dishes for lunch and dinner. Beacon Cafe’s hours are 7 am-2 pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday). Fresco’s hours are 4-8:30 pm Monday, 11 am-8:30 pm Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday, and 11 am-9:30 pm Friday-Saturday.<\/p>\n Blue Goose Cantina’<\/a>s new North Richland Hills location<\/a> suffered a fire that has shut down the restaurant for six to eight weeks. The location had just opened on January 21 at 9005 N. Tarrant Parkway, when fire broke out about 10 days later. A spokesperson says there’s no update on a reopening yet; they’ll have a better idea in a couple weeks, they say.<\/p>\n Pizza Verde<\/a>, the acclaimed Fort Worth vegan pizza spot on Camp Bowie Boulevard, also suffered damage from a roof fire that was started by an electrical issue just before Valentine’s Day, the owners posted<\/a> February 13. The restaurant remains closed for now.<\/p>\n Hat Creek Burger Company<\/a> has introduced a limited-time Ultimate Pizza Burger, available through March 9 for $9.99. Developed with Dallas food influencer Jack Spiritas (@foodguyjack<\/a>), the burger features all-natural beef patties topped with pepperoni, Michaels of Brooklyn Pizza Sauce, shredded mozzarella, Italian seasoning, and garlic butter on a pretzel bun.<\/p>\n Hopdoddy Burger Bar<\/a> has brought back the Big Parma<\/a> as its Burger of the Month, offered through March 3. The sandwich features a grilled chicken Parmesan patty topped with pomodoro sauce, mozzarella, and basil pesto mayo, with an optional Hot Parma version made with a crispy chicken patty dipped in hot chili oil. Also, in honor of the Winter Olympics, they’re offering free samples of a Winter Marg (cucumber lime) and a Summer Marg (jalape\u00f1o pineapple) and letting guests vote for their favorite, with the winning margarita featured on the menu for $5 from February 23-March 1.<\/p>\n Gong cha<\/a>, the Taiwan-based bubble tea chain, is introducing its first-ever food to the menu. Participating locations are adding two limited-time, tea-infused soups for $3 each: Tom Yum Soup infused with Oolong tea, and Mushroom Truffle Soup infused with black tea.<\/p>\n The Sicilian Butcher<\/a> has launched \u201cFesta di Pranzo,\u201d a two-course lunch special, for $18. The menu includes a choice of antipasti such as mixed greens salad, lobster bisque, or two bruschetta; entr\u00e9es including chicken Parmigiana, Fig & Pig ciabatta sandwich, salads, or build-your-own pasta; with mini gelato or sorbetto available for an additional $2. Offered daily from 11 am-3 pm.<\/p>\n Silver Fox<\/a> steakhouse is shaking up its cocktail menu with a limited, top-shelf \u201cShaken or Stirred\u201d collection. The “Always in Fashion” lineup includes the Fig Manhattan with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon and Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth; the Southern Socialite with Garrison Brothers HoneyDew Bourbon, Aperol, strawberry and Prosecco; and a Tito\u2019s Handmade Martini with olive juice and bacon and blue cheese-stuffed olives. Available through May 11.<\/p>\n Cinnaholic cinnamon roll | Mimosa Mocktail Roll at Cinnaholic. | Photo courtesy of Cinnaholic<\/p>\n Cinnaholic<\/a> is featuring a winter limited-time “Mimosa Mocktail Roll.” The brunch-inspired cinnamon roll (which is dairy-, egg-, and animal-product-free) is topped with mimosa frosting, fresh strawberries, and a citrus drizzle, and is available online and in-store through March.<\/p>\n Snooze, an A.M. Eatery<\/a>has a decadent February Pancake of the Moment, the Chocolate Biscuit Crumble Pancake, available through March 3. The restaurant has also launched new winter menu items including a French Toast Latte, grilled three-cheese with fire-roasted tomato soup, a winter whipped cottage cheese bowl, and the return of Sweet Potato Pancakes topped with caramel, candied pecans, and ginger butter.<\/p>\n![\"Cinnaholic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4afffe1b23878709f35dfa0014f76fc3.jpeg\"\/)
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