One of Fort Worth's favorite bars has a new food program from an acclaimed local chef. The Down N' Out Bar, which describes itself as "just a regular bar in the heart of Fort Worth," has partnered with chef Victor Villarreal, who is servicing a permanent food trailer on-site with a menu of chef-driven bar bites.
Villarreal is the award-winning chef and former owner of Latin restaurant La Onda, which garnered praise from publications such as Bon Appetit magazine, and who has cooked in top kitchens in Dallas-Fort Worth such as the Mansion on Turtle Creek, Clay Pigeon, Sera, and Grace.
The trailer is serving Wednesday-Saturday from 5 pm-2 am, featuring what some are saying are the best bar bites in DFW. The menu looks like typical bar food but with Villarreal's chef twist. That includes their signature burger — topped with bologna, American cheese, spicy ranch, and pickles from Fort Worth's own Best Maid.
Other sandwiches include fried chicken with spicy ranch, and an American cheese with chili, grilled onions, jalapenos, and bacon.
Non-sandwich bites include:
- fried chicken nuggets with waffle sticks, drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey
- fried nuggets and fried pickles, with spicy ranch
- Frito pie, with chili, queso, and jalapenos in a Frito bag
- nachos, using Tostitos, with queso and jalapenos, in a Tostitos bag
The menu names have an amusing Road House theme, such as The Dalton, The Wade Garrett, and a Fist Full of Nachos.
Down N'Out co-founder Eric Vickers says that they've been on the hunt for a permanent arrangement.
Food spread from Down N' OutDown N' Out
"Our goal has been to create a welcoming atmosphere, but food has always been the missing ingredient," he says. "We hosted little pop-ups with multiple vendors, but we could never find a consistent situation."
The trailer is by Southern Hospitality Group, founded by Fort Worth nightlife veterans Drew Boatman and Chas Taipale, who hired Villarreal and his wife, Misty, after La Onda closed, to revamp the menu at the Star Cafe in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
"We all go back a long time," Villarreal says. "I've known Drew for years. He saw something in us, he saw our potential. And they took a chance on me when I needed someone to take a chance on me. I was in somewhat of a dark place for a while. But the thing about this business is, there's always a new opportunity around the corner."
Since it opened at 150 W. Rosedale St. in 2022, The Down N' Out has carved out a spot as a cozy neighborhood bar with a laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff led by general manager Nick Snow — in short time winning awards for its karaoke, and most recently, nominated for Bar of the Year in the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.
"Our thing is to be a place for all walks of life," Vickers says. "To be that neighborhood bar where you leave your worries at the door, have a friendly conversation, and leave in a better mood." Now you can add, a place to get a good bite, too.
"We've traditionally been a late-night place, but we've been wanting to have a happy hour scene, and having a great happy hour menu will make it better," Vickers says.
Cowtown Comfort by Celestina BlokReedy Press
Author and Fort Worth native Celestina Blok.
Photo courtesy of Celestina Blok.
