This roundup of restaurant news around Fort Worth includes a couple of openings and a couple of closings — and a whole lot of new dishes and menus for fall. There's tacos, burgers, and beer cheese fondue.
Here's what's happening in Fort Worth restaurant news:
Tacos Azteca, a small family-owned chain serving tortas, shrimp cocktail, and diverse tacos with vibrant salsas and generous portions, is opening a new location in Roanoke, at 1224 N. US Hwy. 377 #101 on October 3. "No fancy description here, we sell the best tacos, gorditas, tortas menudo posole, enchiladas suizas, and quesadilla de masa," they say. Fans testify to their decades-long consistency with delicious, authentic, and affordable food, plus service that's quick and accommodating. They have two other locations in Cedar Hill and Grand Prairie.
Effin Egg, a small chain founded in Florida with delectable breakfast sandwiches, tacos, pancakes, chicken sandwiches, and coffee, has closed its location in Fort Worth, at 1305 W. Magnolia Ave. The restaurant was opened in June 2023 by husband-and-wife Nick and Ana Valdez, who were fulfilling a dream to have their own restaurant and loved the idea of being available as a breakfast option for medical professionals who worked in the area. The couple stated that It was "with a heavy heart" that they were ceasing operations, thanking family, friends, and customers and asking that diners support any small family business.
D'Lites Shoppe, an ice cream shop at 6305 Precinct Line Rd. in North Richland Hills, closed in mid-September. Part of a chain based in Florida, they had a cool twist on ice cream: a low-calorie, low-carb, lowfat, low-sugar soft-serve with flavors like lemon pound cake and root beer float, not to mention cherry pineapple Dole Whip, and they did cool specials like Italian sodas. Owner Patty Thornton Manning posted an SOS during the summer, stating that she was getting hit hard by the economy, and saw a wave of business — but not enough to stay afloat. She posted that "the struggle was real…I did everything I could to keep our doors open, but we just can’t do it any longer."
Waters Restaurant, the seafood-centric restaurant in Sundance Square from chef Jon Bonnell, is opening for lunch service starting Monday, October 6, Monday-Friday 11 am-2 pm. The menu includes sandwiches, soups, and salads, including a Wagyu burger, a Creole chicken sandwich, a crawfish roll — a clever twist on a lobster roll — crab cake BLT, Caesar, crab-avocado salad, and Bonnell's seafood gumbo. Dinner will still be 7 days a week and they'll also do a daily happy hour from 4-6 pm.
Jon's Grille, the burger restaurant from chef Jon Bonnell, has an Oktoberfest burger of the month. It's smothered with house-made Shiner beer cheese and served on a soft pretzel bun.
Oktoberfest burger from Jon's Grille.Facebook
Eatzi’s Market & Bakery is offering specials for Rosh Hashanah including pistachio crusted snapper; tzimmes, a blend of roasted carrots, apples, and sweet potato in a honey ginger glaze; and caramel apple empanadas, apple caramel filling fried in a crispy empanada shell. Available from October 2-4 at all locations.
Melting Pot has an Oktober FondueFest menu featuring Bavarian beer cheese fondue paired with premium dippers, such as pretzels, bratwurst, braised short rib, and summer sausage, along with a choice of fresh salad and Black Forest chocolate fondue. The three-course Oktober FondueFest experience is $47 and available through October 31.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has a new Pumpkin Pie Flavorite combining pumpkin pie Italian ice and vanilla ice cream with a cookie butter crumble. Guests can order a Pumpkin Pie Flavorite in any size, from Tadpole Mini to large. The new Flavorite is available now through November 30 in all Jeremiah’s Dallas locations.
Taziki’s Mediterranean Café has a new $10 street gyro, featuring shaved beef and lamb gyro meat wrapped in a griddled pita topped with tomato, red onion, and Taziki sauce. The gyro comes with choice of side from a selection that includes Taziki's pasta salad, fruit, basmati rice, or tomato-cucumber salad. Available through the end of October.
La Madeleine has new seasonal treats available through December 4, including caramel apple crumble cheesecake, an individual cheesecake with apple compote and brown sugar streusel, drizzled with caramel for $4.79; apple turnover — a cinnamon apple filling, folded into a puff pastry shell and topped with sugar glaze for $4; and pumpkin streusel muffin, a pumpkin muffin topped with streusel for $3.
Sweetgreen has new three new limited-time fall menu items: $14 autumn harvest bowl, $14.75 maple glazed brussel sprouts + chicken protein plate, and the $4.45 maple glazed brussel sprouts + sweet potatoes side.
Dairy Queen will debut the new Jammin' Bacon Hungr-Buster, a quarter-pound burger with bacon jam, bacon, and onion rings, topped with jalapeño ranch and pepper jack cheese available through November 24.
Malai Kitchen has launched their in-house seasonal beers for the Oktoberfest Tap Takeover happening through October 6 at all locations: a traditional Marzen version of Oktoberfest beer, an amber colored lager that is semi sweet with a crisp finish; a Helles Lager, rounder and fuller bodied than a typical light lager or pilsner; and Hefeweizen - a German unfiltered wheat ale with a yeast-forward flavor that derives its clove and fruit-like aromas from the fermentation process.
Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand, has collaborated with music star Post Malone for a custom can of soda. Called Posty’s Soda, the 12-ounce can is in Posty’s favorite flavor, wild berry, and available exclusively at Kroger for $2.49.
HTeaO, the iced tea franchise, announced the return of the sweet peach cobbler iced tea. This limited-time beverage will be added to the current fall lineup, which includes Dirty Chai Apple Crisp and Mocha Butter Pecan latte. It's available through November 30.
Whataburger is introducing a new Bacon Blaze Jalapeño Double on October 1. The burger includes two beef patties layered in Jalapeño Ranch, topped with bacon, cheddar, and jalapeño slices. The Bacon Blaze Jalapeño Double can also be ordered in a Whataburger Jr. size in-store, at the drive-thru, and online.
Yogurtland has two new flavors and a new topping. Cranberry Orange Tart is filled with real cranberries and oranges, available while supplies last; Plant-Based Brown Sugar Vanilla milk is a frozen yogurt with real vanilla, brown sugar flavor, and oat milk; and Cookies & Cream Yummy Chow is a topping combining the crunch of cookies with creamy chocolate.
Creamistry Fort Worth has a new fall creation, Brown Butter Salted Caramel!
Checkers and Rally's has a new T-Pain For Real Meal for $5, which includes choice of Classic Checker/Rallyburger or the new BBQ spicy chicken sandwich; small fry; 16-ounce soft drink; and new 8-piece BBQ chicken bites, dusted with BBQ seasoning. The meal is available through November 17.
Lipton Hard Iced Tea is now available in Fort Worth. It features five flavors in either a variety pack, 12-pack, or single can, including: Lemon, Peach, Strawberry, Half & Half, and Citrus Green Tea. Lemon, Peach, Strawberry and Half & Half Lipton Hard Iced Tea are available in 12-can variety packs and Lemon packs ranging from $17- $20 per 12-pack. Single-serve 24-ounce cans of Lemon, Peach, and Citrus Green Tea are $3- $4 per can.
Hai Hospitality has removed foie gras from the menu at all its Asian fusion restaurants across the U.S., including Uchi Dallas, following protests from PETA supporters. According to PETA, ducks used for foie gras are force-fed until their livers bloat and are then slaughtered.
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Raven Jordan and Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.