This batch of Fort Worth restaurant news is filled with upbeat tales of new restaurants opening around town, serving pizza, more pizza, pancakes, toast, and breakfast.

Here's what's happening in Fort Worth dining news:

Zoli's Pizza, the Italian-American themed restaurant and brawny sibling to the Cane Rosso pizza chain, has opened its long anticipated location in Fort Worth. Zoli's started out as a slice spot in Dallas' Oak Cliff before moving to a beefier location in Addison in 2017. The basis for its greatness lies in vision of owner Jay Jerrier and the culinary genius of chef Lee Hunzinger. Over the past two years, its menu has expanded to include not only Italian-American classics such as chicken parm and meatball subs but also hefty burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Jerrier never scrimps on creating a great space, using local artisans to outfit his restaurants with commissioned art, and the Fort Worth restaurant, with its gorgeously landscaped patio and eye-catching quonset-hut-style curved aluminum roof, is no exception.

Neighbor's House Grocery is a new urban grocery that opened on October 22 at 500 W. 7th St., on the ground floor of the First on 7th redevelopment project (originally the First National Bank of Fort Worth). Owners are Kyle and Ashlee Cowan, who have brought a combination grocery, wine bar, and bistro with food to eat in or take out, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kyle was most recently executive chef at Water Grill in Dallas. Along with regular household items, they're stocking locally sourced items and specialty products such as baked goods from La Casita Bakeshop. They're open Monday-Saturday 7 am-7 pm, making them a lunch option for downtown workers as well as a quick-stop for grocery needs and early happy hour.

Strumolo's is a new Italian restaurant that opened in August in Roanoke, at 310 S. Oak St., #108, in the space previously occupied by The Wharf Steak & Seafood. Owner Vinnie Strumolo has worked as a counselor, but grew up in New Jersey and has a strong Italian heritage which he shares in Strumolo's food. The menu features a make-your-own combo where you choose your pasta and sauce, from options such as fettuccine, rigatoni, angel hair, and linguine, along with typical Dallas Italian items such as chicken marsala and chicken piccata. Desserts include New York-style cheesecake and cannoli.

Pie Five Pizza has brought its customizable pizza experience back to University of Texas at Arlington campus where it reopened at 501 Spaniolo Dr. in the College Park District on September 30. The restaurant closed in February after seven years in that location, but has reopened under the ownership of new franchisees Mo and Sheila Afzal, who own and operate seven other Pie Five locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, so they know what they're doing. The fast-casual concept is customizable from start to finish, with 30-plus toppings, six sauces, and five crust choices. Choose from an 11-inch pizza or large 14-inch, along with calzones, salads, and dessert. This is the 13th location in the DFW area and the 14th in Texas.

Toasted Coffee + Kitchen the restaurant that bravely dedicates itself to toasts, has opened its Fort Worth location in Crockett Row at 2972 Crockett St. in the former CD Ski & Sports Shop, which moved. The concept was founded in Dallas by Bob Sinnott, who opened the first location off Greenville Avenue in 2016. The restaurant specializes in over-the-top toasts, coffee, salads, healthy entrees, specialty sandwiches, and brunch.

Cafe Republic is a new breakfast and lunch restaurant that opened on October 14 at 8640 N. Beach St., Fort Worth. The restaurant is owned by two Fort Worth police officers who've been partners on the beat: E.K. Halim and Jimmy Pollozani, who comes from a family that has owned restaurants. (Pollozani also starred in a recruitment ad that made national news.) Their food is wholesome and scratch made, with eggs, omelets, French toast, Belgian waffles, pancakes, crepes, sandwiches, salads, paninis, and burgers made from black Angus beef.

Kajunville Kitchen, a small Cajun-themed restaurant on Alta Mesa Boulevard, closed on October 15. Owner Krystal Jefferson posted the closure on Facebook, apologizing for the abruptness of her decision, but said she was dealing with unforeseen circumstances regarding her health. The restaurant had a following for its shrimp po'boys, spicy chicken sandwiches, and maple bacon chicken wings. Jefferson said she'll still cater from time to time.

Rabbit Hole Brewing, a brewery based in Justin, closed in September after six years. The owners said that the business was no longer able to support itself.

Pressed Juicery has introduced five new plant-based items at its locations in Uptown Dallas and Southlake: Oat Milk, Vanilla Oat Milk, Matcha Oat Milk, Pumpkin Oat Milk, and Pumpkin Freeze. The Plain and Vanilla Oat Milk can be added to coffee and baked goods. Pumpkin Freeze is a plant-based soft serve made from water, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, almonds, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Matcha Oat Milk is comprised of four ingredients: oat milk, monk fruit, vanilla and matcha. Pumpkin Oat Milk includes seven ingredients: oat milk, maple syrup, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill has a new seasonal fall menu with braised pork belly ramen, blackened rib eye, shrimp & butternut squash risotto, lamb burger, maple butternut squash, and arugula salad. It's available at both DFW locations at the Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas and Glade Park Town Center in Euless.

Bartaco, the upscale taqueria concept with locations at Dallas' Preston Center and Fort Worth's Clearfork, has four new menu items: carne asada taco; crispy Brussels sprouts taco with crispy honey chipotle glazed brussels sprouts, spicy curry carrot puree, candied pepitas, and pickled onions; miso cod taco with miso-marinated cod, sesame aioli, and pickled cucumber; and pork posole, a rich, spiced pork stew with hominy, roasted chiles, and a cabbage garnish.

BoomerJack’s Grill & Bar is opening a location at Fairview Town Center in November. The menu includes chicken wings, smoked brisket nachos, Nashville hot sandwich, and the Triple B Burger with beef, bacon, brisket, and onion strings on a pretzel roll. Their beers are served at 29 degrees utilizing a state-of-the-art, glycol-cooling system. It'll have wall-to-wall TVs and an outdoor bar made of a recycled shipping container, a roll-up garage door bar, oversized fans, heaters, and a fire pit. This is the 14th location of BoomerJack’s Grill & Bar by North Texas restaurateur Brent Tipps.

Genghis Grill, the build-your-own stir-fry chain, is opening its first location in Grand Prairie. This will be the first new design that Genghis Grill has opened in Dallas-Fort Worth in five years. It will open on December 16 in Epic Central Grand Prairie, located at 3138 Hwy. 161, #420. This is Genghis Grill’s 15th restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth and 57th systemwide. Genghis Grill began remodeling its DFW locations in June 2018, with plans to update all restaurants systemwide by the end of 2021.

Mi Cocina, the big chain, has added several new menu items "including vegan and vegetarian friendly" dishes. There's black bean dip, black bean enchiladas, shrimp ceviche, salmon tacos, spicy shrimp Tex-Mex tacos, and "guacamole" tacos. Sounds like Mi Cocina needs help on its vegan menu conceptualization.

Pinstack, the fun restaurant with bowling, has new seasonal cocktails: Crown apple strike, cranberry spritz, cherry mezcal mule, Irish martini, and white cranberry margarita. They're available at all three locations in Plano, Allen, and Las Colinas.

Aspen Creek Grill in Irving has three new "campfire cocktails" featuring blood orange, pumpkin, and apple flavors, available through November 5. There's a blood orange margarita with 1800 Tequila, Cointreau, and house-made blood orange sweet and sour; Harvest Smash with Maker’s Mark, spiced pear liqueur, and pumpkin puree; and an apple mule with Vanilla Vodka, sour apple Schnapps, and ginger beer.