Feelgood Food

Keith Lee favorite Taste Project restaurant opens in Arlington

Taste Project

A restaurant with a charitable mission and good food is coming in Arlington: Taste Project, which takes an innovative approach to restaurants, is opening a "Taste Community Restaurant" at 200 N. Cooper St., where it will make its debut on March 5.

At Taste Community Restaurant, the idea is that you pay-what-you-can. The concept was founded by executive director and chef Jeff Williams, who wanted to create a space to feed the hungry or those going through a tough time. He opened the first in Fort Worth in 2017, but in February 2024, it got a big boost when viral TikToker-food critic Keith Lee paid a visit and donated $4,000 to their cause.

The menu has no prices, giving customers the opportunity to pay what they can or pay for another diner in need. It will offer a selection of items that change frequently, similar to the Fort Worth location, including a Korean beef bowl, short rib bao, bacon burger, jollof rice, and red lentil soup.

“Our menu changes as often as the seasons,” says Williams in a statement. “Our menu will change for spring shortly after we open. Our spring menu will be filled with fresh peas, pea shoots, and asparagus.”

Located in a former city water department and library building near the University of Texas at Arlington, it has seating for 82 inside, 46 outside, and a private dining space for up to 30 — more spacious than the Fort Worth original, and more color-saturated to attract a younger crowd of college students.

“The Arlington location has a modern design with a mix of natural wood tones and contemporary elements," Williams says. "Most importantly, it feels like home.”

Other community-centric projects they do include a community garden and a a tuition-free culinary training program certified by the American Culinary Federation, which places graduates at jobs paying an average of $15 an hour. According to Williams, Arlington will have twice the capacity as Fort Worth, which will triple the total size of the program.— all designed to end hunger one community at a time.

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This week in gluttony

Tiki drinks top the 8 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Omni Hotels

The Tropical Tease at Tiki Social, Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

Frito pie ice cream sundaes are on the menu this week with the Fort Worth debut of an Oregon-based chain with a cult following. It's also "Dallas Tiki Week," with three notable Tarrant County tiki bars playing host to many of the island-inspired activities. (A summer-long tiki pop-up at a hotel pool bar begins this week, too.) A garden spritz soiree, class on curries, and backyard party with neon rodeo-themed cocktails round out the week.

Tuesday, May 19

Tiki Tuesday at Tarantula Tiki Lounge
Rum lovers unite. Dallas Tiki Week – an annual DFW-wide event highlighting tiki education, classes, cocktails, and more – will host a steel drum set at Tarantula Tiki Lounge (117 S. Main St.) for an evening of island-inspired sips and sounds starting at 7 pm. There’s also a tiki bar bus tour happening Thursday, May 21 that starts and ends in Dallas, but includes stops at Arlington’s 4 Kahunas, Fort Worth’s Shipwreck, and Tarantula Tiki Lounge. Tickets are $85 and the tour starts at 6 pm.

Curry, Curry, at Hao's Grocery & Café
Explore the fragrant world of curries, from Japanese to Indian, during this hands-on cooking class at chef Hao Tran's popular Hao’s Grocery & Café in the Near Southside. Class is $55 and will run from 6-8 pm.

Wednesday, May 20

Spring Spritz Garden Party at Ellerbe Fine Foods
It’s officially spritz season and Ellerbe is celebrating with a party in their bright Garden Room. The $25 ticket includes two spritz cocktails, with choices of Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz, Pomegranate Campari Spritz, and Garden Spritz. Recipe cards included, as well as light bites. The party will run from 6-7:30 pm.

Friday, May 22

Salt & Straw Grand Opening
Portland-based artisan ice cream chain Salt & Straw will make its Fort Worth debut this weekend with grand opening festivities Friday and Saturday. Located at 1305 W. Magnolia Ave., the scoop shop known for its wild, unexpected flavor combinations will open at 11 Friday and will give the first 50 guests surprise gift cards in varying amounts. On Saturday, kids get a free scoop with the purchase of a single scoop all day, and face painting will take place 11 am-2 pm. They'll also debut two Texas-inspired, limited-time offerings: a Fritos Pie Sundae topped with candied Fritos; and new ice cream flavors including Cream Cheese Jalapeno Jelly and Paloma Sherbet.

Saturday, May 23

Bar Method x Hotel Vin
Start your Saturday with an outdoor barre class paired with brunch at Grapevine’s Hotel Vin. The Bar Method Southlake will visit the downtown signature hotel for a pop-up class and complimentary post-class gin cocktail. Participants get 20 percent off brunch to follow in Bacchus Kitchen + Bar. Class is $30 and begins at 9:30 am. Mats are provided but bring your own small weights if desired.

Neon Rodeo – The Backyard Unplugged at Hotel Drover
Hotel Drover will kick off its annual outdoor live music series in The Backyard with themed nights and themed cocktails to match. A "Neon Rodeo" themed event takes place 7-10 pm featuring country tunes, a pop-up shop, and a special drink menu from the outdoor Pour Horse bar. Highlights include the Painted Desert, made with vodka, hibiscus, pineapple juice, cactus water, and a splash of red wine; and the Sunset Glow, made with blanco tequila, coconut, strawberry, and lime. The Backyard live music series will run every Friday and Saturday night through September and is open to the public.

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day Brunch at Whiskey Cake
The Alliance hotspot for weekend brunch will offer a special Monday brunch service in honor of Memorial Day. The menu will include chicken and waffles, steak and egg hash, lump crab Benedict, mimosa flights, Aperol brunch punch, and more. The brunch will be offered from 11 am-3 pm.

Tiki Social at Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Tiki Social returns to the Omni Fort Worth Hotel’s Water Horse Pool Bar for a summer-long immersive experience. The pop-up is a collaboration between the Omni hotel brand and renowned restauranteur and author Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, owner of Latitude 29 in New Orleans. Berry helped create a menu of tiki cocktails including a new one this year, the Omni Zombie, made with three kinds of rum, and the Kona coffee-infused Kona Coasting. Pair with bites like sugar can shrimp skewers and pork bao buns. Tiki Social – which runs through Labor Day weekend – is open to hotel guests and day pass holders through Resort Pass.

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