The holidays have arrived \u2014 and soon the relatives will, too. They’ll bring their appetites (along with presents, we hope) and you can\u2019t be behind the stove the entire time.<\/p>\n
That brings us to Where to Eat, our monthly column with recommendations on restaurants around Fort Worth. For the December edition, we’ve assembled a list of places to consult for all your entertaining needs. Whether you\u2019re looking for a festive dinner, a big breakfast, or a grown-ups-only night on the town, these Fort Worth spots will help you show off the city and keep everyone well fed.<\/p>\n
Here’s where to eat in Fort Worth right now:<\/p>\n
For barbecue lovers: Angelo\u2019s BBQ<\/a> For celebrity spotters: Cattlemen\u2019s Steakhouse<\/a> For early risers: Vickery Cafe<\/a> For showing off the hot new spot: Ichiro Izakaya<\/a> For vegans: Pizza Verde<\/a> For Tex-Mex: Dos Molina\u2019s<\/a>
Fort Worth has tons of BBQ options right now but for many Fort Worthians, barbecue still begins and ends at this 60-year-old-plus, barn-size joint, whose outdoor smokers perfume the air for blocks. Angelo\u2019s is an unapologetically old-school spot, revered for its simple yet terrific chopped beef sandwiches, excellent pork ribs and beer served in ice cold goblets. Diners work their way through a cafeteria-style line, watching meat-cutters slice and assemble their sandwiches and plates of brisket, ribs, sausage, and turkey in seconds – a mesmerizing sight that never gets old. The frozen in time dining room is a major timewarp: all wood paneling and taxidermy. A true Fort Worth institution, it remains a must-visit for locals and newcomers alike. <\/p>\n
We can’t make any promises but maybe, just maybe, you\u2019ll spot one of the stars of Landman eating\/drinking\/hanging at this long-running steakhouse in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The show filmed there a lot this season, judging by the first few episodes, and now that Landman creator Taylor Sheridan is part-owner of the nearly 80-year-old restaurant, odds of spotting someone from the show lean in your favor. It\u2019s a good time to visit anyway: At Sheridan\u2019s behest, the restaurant recently went through a multimillion dollar renovation, including the addition of a new members-only social club called Cattlemen\u2019s Club. Executive chef Theodore Tom, formerly of SW Steakhouse at the Wynn Las Vegas, recently updated the menu, showcasing beef sourced directly from Sheridan\u2019s Four Sixes and Bosque Ranches.<\/p>\n
For many families, a big breakfast out during the holidays is a tradition, and this colorful breakfast and lunch diner is a great place to keep it going. Moved from its original home on Vickery Avenue, it\u2019s now located on West 7th Street, just west of downtown, in a sleek space once occupied by Max\u2019s Wine Dive. The change of scenery has helped the restaurant find a new following, who pile in for huge breakfast platters of eggs, bacon, pancakes, home fries, and biscuits and gravy, all freshly made. There are also unique specialty dishes, such as a breakfast quesadilla stuffed with scrambled eggs, sausage and pico; a Cajun-spiced pork chop served over cheddar cheese grits and topped with andouille gravy; and a New Orleans-inspired benedict featuring house-brined smoked tasso ham and poached eggs on jalapeno corn cakes.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a big year for new restaurants in Fort Worth and this Japanese izakaya in the Near Southside is one of the standouts. With both roomy booths and cozy tables, it\u2019s good for parties both large and small, and the shareable menu creates a lively, communal vibe. Charcoal-cooked skewers of proteins and veggies, from sirloin to blistered tomatoes to duck breast, are one of the restaurant\u2019s focal points – fun dishes to mix, match and share. Entrees go above the norm, with dishes such as fried rice with kimchi and bacon, and salt-cured yellowtail collar with housemade miso. <\/p>\n
These days, the odds of having a non-meat-eater at any family gathering have climbed \u2014 but this tiny pizza spot on the city\u2019s west side has such superb pizza that it’s easy for everyone to love. The pizzeria has a heroic comeback story: When sales lagged, owners Landon and Jennifer Cabarubio closed temporarily during the summer, until loyal customers stepped in, becoming investors and giving the shop a second life. Their crust is as good as any in town: Both chewy and crisp, it gets topped with upscale ingredients that go beyond the canned black olives you find at a chain. Their Calabrese pizza topped with house-made meatballs and Calabrian chilis is a sweet-salty revelation, and their fried mozzarella bites with marinara sauce stretches just like the real thing.<\/p>\n
Along with barbecue and steaks, Tex-Mex is one of Fort Worth\u2019s favorite cuisines and no out-of-towner should leave without trying it. One of the city\u2019s best Tex-Mex spots is this family-run, 30-year-old staple of Fort Worth\u2019s north side. Housed next to a residential area just west of the Fort Worth Stockyards, the restaurant serves straightforward but nonetheless delicious renditions of Tex-Mex staples, from nachos coated in cheese and refried beans to killer chile con carne-topped enchiladas to fajitas served with stunningly good housemade flour tortillas. It\u2019s a festive, colorful environment, punctuated with chatty servers and, on weekends, live mariachi music.<\/p>\n