Warning, warning: Danger ahead for dieters. Our first Fort Worth restaurant news roundup of the new year is a gut-buster. It packs in every single food you swore off January 1: Tex-Mex, burgers & fries, pizza, brunch, booze, pastries, chocolate, chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and even movie-theater popcorn.
But wait, it gets worse for the waistline, because salad restaurants are closing.
Oh well, fill up your 40-ounce Stanley with electrolyte-water and dig in:
Blue Goose Cantina is opening its much-anticipated location in North Richland Hills on Wednesday, January 21 at 9005 N. Tarrant Pkwy, near Precinct Line Road and Davis Boulevard, in a space that was most recently Enchiladas Ole. It will bring its famous fajitas, margaritas, and festive energy to the location that spans 5,486 square feet with seating for 250, plus a climatized patio with room for more than 100. Inside, the space will feature an expansive bar, plus signatures such as its trademark wood fire grill and a tortilla factory. Special celebratory cocktails include a watermelon margarita ($12), El Jefe Margarita ($12), Mango Chili Mojito ($13), and TX Margarita made with TX Whiskey ($13).
Tinie’s Mexican Cuisine, the South Main Street contemporary upscale Mexican restaurant opened by Taco Heads founder Sarah Castillo, has a new cook in the kitchen. Now with a new partnership with restaurateur Adrian Burciaga, formerly of Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, the restaurant is being refreshed to harken the flavors of Mexico City. Burciaga has brought on Top Chef Mexico finalist Ix-Chel Ornelas from Oaxaca to do just that. The refreshed menu features dishes like Roasted Berkshire Pork Chop marinated in pastor adobo, topped with green pico, and served with roasted pineapple and warm corn tortillas - "rooted in the childhood memories of Tinie, Sarah’s Castillo mother ... a flavor carried through time, now recreated with heart and craft by Chef Ornelas," they say.
Tinie's Roasted Berkshire Pork Chop.Facebook/Tinie's
The Mont, the swanky new restaurant in the Montserrat neighborhood, has launched a weekend brunch. Served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am-3 pm, the menu features brunch classics, seasonal dishes, and more. Highlights include monkey bread, quiches and kolaches for the table; entrees such as a goat cheese omelet, eggs Benedict on a corn muffin, duck leg chilaquiles, Wagyu burger, and "Cluck on Toast" - fried chicken on French toast. Reservations can be made through the website.
NADC Burger, a burger chain with semi-celebrity ties — it's a partnership between Austin chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder and Fort Worth entrepreneur Neen Williams — is known for having a menu with just two items: Wagyu cheeseburger and fries. They've just introduced what they're calling a Happy Hour, offering a burger & fries combo for $18 from 3-5 pm and 9-11 pm. The price is regularly $21, so it's not much of a discount, but $3 off is $3 off. The Fort Worth restaurant is inside Big Laugh Comedy Club, a venue at 604 Main St. #100.
Snappy Salads closed its location at 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd. in late November, leaving Fort Worth with only one location of the Dallas-based salad chain at 3004 Cullen St. (There are still eight locations in the Dallas area.) It puts Fort Worth in a salad chain crisis: Seven Salad and Go locations in Tarrant County were closed after the chain shut down its operation in Texas in early January; and the Salata by TCU closed in 2025, leaving locations at Sundance Square, Alliance, Arlington, Coppell, Denton, and Euless.
Bella Italia, the neighborhood restaurant which serves Italian classics and exotic game dishes such as elk and antelope, has closed its location at Camp Bowie Boulevard and Merrick Street, where it resided since 1988. This District staple will reopen in the spring in the Village at Camp Bowie, taking over the space that was previously The Fitzgerald. According to a Facebook post, the property was acquired by a new owner who is planning a new development.
Lucile's A Stateside Bistro, the venerable Camp Bowie classic, has added a stick-to-your-ribs item to the menu: Wagyu French Onion Meatloaf featuring a meatloaf made with Wagyu beef topped with caramelized onion and melted Gruyere cheese on top of mashed potatoes, topped with French onion soup ladled on like gravy, then garnished with fried onion straws. Other recent menu additions include a Cajun guacamole with crawfish pico de gallo, and veggie "spaghetti" arrabbiata featuring zucchini, squash, & carrot "spaghetti" tossed in spicy arrabbiata sauce with spinach, Kalamata olives, and mushrooms.
Lucille's new Wagyu French Onion Meatloaf made with Wagyu beef on top of mashed potatoes. Facebook/Lucilles
Brooklyn’s, which just opened in early January in the former Tre Mogli space at 401 S. Main St., has launched a Weekly Special, a multi-course set meal for $55 whose dishes will rotate. Their debut offering features their fluffy, focaccia-like Raven Bread, a Caprese salad, shrimp scampi, and for dessert, Becca’s Cascading Tiramisu, with a glass of Paladin Pinot Grigio.
The Chumley House, Duro Hospitality’s European-inspired steakhouse with British elan in the Cultural District, is introducing a Proper Sunday Roast for Two. The sharable feast features a 36-hour slow-cooked prime short rib, communal Yorkshire pudding, crispy marble potatoes with onion-herb butter and labneh, harissa-glazed carrots, and mushroom Madeira gravy. Available during dinner service, 4:30-9:30 pm Sundays only; $150 for two.
CRÚ Wine Bar & Bistro introduced new dinner and brunch menus on January 5. They're showcasing Italian-inspired dishes and shareables designed for wine pairing. Developed with Dallas restaurant veteran Mark Brezinski, the menu includes Barolo-braised short rib over butternut squash risotto; Wagyu picanha steak with papas bravas and chimichurri; jumbo scallops atop spinach parmesan risotto; Roman-style pinsa pizzas; and indulgent desserts including chocolate fondue for two. Brunch offers Wagyu steak and eggs, short rib eggs Benedict, brioche French toast, and a smoked salmon board.
Loft 22 Cakes, whose owner Tareka Lofton won Pastry Chef of the Year in the 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, is moving from its South Main Street storefront. In a Facebook post, they say, "While we finalize details on our new location, there’s no need to panic — we’ll be operating from a local commercial kitchen in the meantime to ensure uninterrupted service and the same quality you love. Orders are still open and being fulfilled as normal! Place orders online: www.loft22cakes.com, loft22cakes@gmail.com, or call or text 972-504-4477." They will share new location details when they’re finalized."
Wing It Cafe on the Hicks Airfield landing strip suddenly shuttered. On January 5, they posted to Facebook, "Thank you to everyone who supported us along the way — we couldn’t have done it without you." Regular customers were caught off guard and lamented the loss of their beloved little family-owned spot for chicken fried steak and more.
Con Azucar, a California-based coffee shop that specializes in Mexican drinks, sweets and pastries - including their claim-to-fame, viral "Giant Concha" - has made its DFW debut on Fort Worth's Northside. The new shop, at 1216 N Main St, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, January 17 with live music, Ballet Folklorico performances, and a 1 pm ribbon cutting ceremony.
Con Azucar's viral Giant Concha.Facebook/Con Azucar
Sweet Stacks, a cozy new Asian restaurant, has opened at 1515 Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth, taking over the former Vice Burgers space. The star of the menu are souffle-style Japanese pancakes; there's also matcha drinks and a mix of Thai, Laotian, Japanese, and Chinese dishes, including potstickers, pad Thai, fried rice, and house-made Laotian sausage.
Hungry Howie’s, a pizza chain known for its flavored crusts that has quietly been operating a delivery-and-pickup-only location inside a gas station at 3301 E. Berry St. since October, will mark its grand opening January 16-25 with events and discounts, including a free medium one-topping pizza certificate for the first 50 customers on Monday, January 19.
Malai Kitchen is marking its 15th year in both Southlake and Uptown Dallas with a special Legacy Menu on Saturday, January 31 at both locations. The menu will feature 15 favorite dishes from the restaurant’s early days, priced at $15 each. Here are those 15: Large Thai Coconut Soup, Large Lemongrass Soup, Large Beef Viet Noodle Soup, Large Chk Viet Noodle Soup, Malai Favorite Sampler, Lemongrass Mussels, Chicken Pad Thai, Shrimp Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, Iron Pot Green Chicken Curry, Panang Curry with Beef, Red Curry Icelandic Cod, Chilean Seabass, Vermicelli Salad with Chicken, and Vermicelli Salad with Meatballs.
Fred's Texas Cafe, the iconic burger restaurant, is set to open a long-anticipated new location in Crowley on Tuesday, January 27. It will be Fred's first outpost outside Fort Worth in its 48-year history. The new restaurant, at 101 N Magnolia St., Crowley, will open with fanfare including a ribbon cutting with city officials at 12 noon.
Cinemark is celebrating National Popcorn Day on January 18 and 19 by letting moviegoers bring their own container to theaters to fill with popcorn for just $5. BYOB fillable containers can bring anything from a bucket to a cooler, up to 400 ounces, or even a Lowe’s 5-gallon bucket. Find out more about it here.
Barrel & Bones, a barbecue and craft bar chain, has opened its first Tarrant County outpost in North Richland Hills, at 9143 Grapevine Hwy. In addition to smokehouse staples like smoked brisket and sausage, they're serving creative dishes such as Chicken Tinga Tacos and Spicy Pastrami Brisket Sandwiches. They also offer weekend brunch and keep late-night bar hours - open until 2 am nightly.
Perry’s Steakhouse has launched Mini Martini Trios, including a zero-proof option. The Free-Spirited Mini Martini Trio ($15) features nonalcoholic cocktails such as the Clean Kick made with Seedlip Spice 94. January’s Mini Martini Trio of the Month includes three spirited drinks, including the "Straight" Paloma made with George Strait's Código 1530 Blanco tequila. The steakhouse is also offering off-menu dishes for a limited time, including escargot, turtle gumbo, beef Wellington, roasted wild red snapper, and white chocolate cheesecake.
Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe has been acquired by M Crowd Restaurant Group, parent company of Mi Cocina and The Mercury. M Crowd says it will focus on "strengthening Razzoo’s culinary identity, celebrating its handcrafted Cajun dishes, and elevating the guest experience." Early priorities, they say, "include optimizing heritage dishes, such as the Seafood Combo Platter and seasonal Crawfish boil, and refreshing the beverage program to complement the brand’s energetic atmosphere." Seven DFW locations of Razzoo's will remain open.
Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation's annual collaborative fundraising dinner, this year called Metamorphosis, is returning with an all-new theme and a first-time lineup of chefs from some of the cities most notable culinary concepts: The Chumley House, Dos Mares, The Mont Fort Worth, and The Fort Worth Club. The four-course dinner takes place Thursday, February 19 at The Fort Worth Club. Tickets are $250 per individual or $2,500 per table of eight and are available for purchase at fwfwf.org.
The Syndicate Smokedown & Music Festival is looking for its next winning pitmasters. Public registration has opened for competitors in the Smokedown, the festival’s annual IBCA State Championship-sanctioned competition, which takes place April 18 in the Fort Worth Stockyards. After hosting more than 65 competitors in 2025, organizers are inviting pitmasters from across Texas and around the country to apply, aiming to welcome the largest field in the event’s history, they say.
Point Blank Tequila, a new, 100 percent additive-free tequila that just hit North Texas liquor stores — recently took top honors at the 2025 PR%F Awards in Las Vegas, one of the beverage industry’s premier competitions. All three expressions, Añejo, Blanco, and Reposado, won medals for both taste and bottle design. Point Blank's co-founder lives in Aledo and the tequilas are crafted from mountain-grown Blue Weber agave in San Juanito de Escobedo, Jalisco, the birthplace of tequila, a release says.
House of Dorchester, a British chocolate maker founded in 1963, is returning to the U.S. and offering select products in Barnes & Noble stores in time for Valentine's Day. Based in Dorchester, England and known for traditional chocolate-making techniques and elegant designs, the brand's Barnes & Noble offerings include Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles — truffles with a Marc de Champagne and strawberry center dusted with delicate icing sugar ($10.99 for four pieces).
Fort Worth-based American Airlines is adding Pecan Lodge, the acclaimed BBQ restaurant in Dallas' Deep Ellum, to the menu on select flights. The partnership begins in February for passengers in first class on flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The offering will consist of a barbecue platter with brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, coleslaw, pickles, onions, and BBQ sauce.
Torchy’s Tacos has started its 20th anniversary year with a new "Double Feature" deal: a complete meal for two for $20, featuring six street tacos, classic sides, and drinks. The January lineup also includes the return of the fan-favorite Tokyo Drifter Taco and a new Red Bull Strawberry Limeade mocktail.
BJ's Brewhouse has teamed up with Butterfinger for a limited-time Butterfinger Pizookie dessert ($8.99). It combines BJ's freshly baked chocolate cookie with vanilla bean ice cream, a smooth, crackable chocolate shell, and generous Butterfinger pieces.
Chick-fil-A is treating guests to a breakfast giveaway throughout January. Through January 30, customers can can open the Chick-fil-A App weekly to redeem a new breakfast offer, with the schedule as follows: Jan. 12-16: Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit or Spicy Chicken Biscuit; Jan. 19-23: Bacon or Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit; Jan. 26-30: four-piece Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis.
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Teresa Gubbins and Celestina Blok contributed to this report.