Richard Rodriguez
Paris 7th
Fort Worth’s top fine dining restaurants offer unparalleled cuisine and ambiance, proving our city is a true destination for gastronomic excellence.
61 Osteria
Cuisine: Italian
Opened two years ago on the western tip of downtown, on the ground floor of the First on 7th building, 61 Osteria comes from the same culinary team behind Grace: owner Adam Jones and executive chef Blaine Staniford. 61 Osteria is their love letter to Italian cuisine. Dishes such as octopus carpaccio and lobster gnocchi are made with seasonal ingredients, often sourced from local farmers. The restaurant itself is a visual masterwork, with its architectural elements etched from handsome red oak paneling and rainforest green marble. Above the dining room hangs a remarkable rectilinear sculpture, fashioned from anodized aluminum chain fabric imported from Spain — quite the sight.
What to order: Pastas are made in-house and best exemplify the talents of Staniford and his team. The unique serpente—ricotta—stuffed pasta coiled like a snake — is our go-to.
Good to know: A happy hour menu consisting of snacks, glasses of wine, and craft cocktails is available every day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
500 W. 7th St. | 61osteria.com
Caterina’s
Cuisine: Italian
Your phone will be put in a pouch, and, guys, you gotta wear a jacket. Such are the rules at this classy Italian spot owned by Fort Worth chef Tim Love. Some may say the rules are silly, but any time we can hark back to a world before iPhones, dress up nice, and enjoy a dynamite meal is just fine with us. And you will dine well on dishes such as poached veal with capers and a plate-engulfing two-bone pork chop. The romantic atmos makes it a good choice for date night, whether it’s your first or 50th.
What to order: The simple yet delicious spaghetti with pancetta.
Good to know: Jackets aren’t required at lunch.
128 E. Exchange Ave. | caterinasftx.com
Grace
Cuisine: New American
Adam Jones helped bring fine dining downtown, and Grace, the first of three restaurants he has opened in the area, is a master class in the form. From the exquisitely decorated dining room to the top-notch service to executive chef Blaine Staniford’s dizzyingly good cuisine, Grace is a first-class experience from beginning to end. What will strike you the most is the service, which seems modeled after Jones himself: warm, personable, and very, very Fort Worth. We need more Adam Joneses in the world.
What to order: Colorado rack of lamb, whose decadence is illustrated by artful presentation, with one upright bone of succulent meat resting on another. The scallops are a must, too. Yes, you can have scallops anywhere, but here they’re draped in a vehemently decadent caviar butter sauce.
Good to know: Maybe the best wine list in town.
777 Main St. | gracefortworth.com
Maiden
Cuisine: Vegan
Those who think vegan food lacks a certain culinary pow have yet to dine at Maiden, one of the few fine dining vegan restaurants in the country. Within a posh, understated atmosphere, the food’s exquisite flavors are matched only by their presentation, with ingredients artfully arranged, like tiny paintings. There are several ways to dine at Maiden: There are two tasting menus, a five-course and an eight-course, an a la carte menu, weekend brunch, and a separate bar menu.
What to order: Maiden is not at all what many think it is; there aren’t dishes made up solely of tomatoes and cauliflower. Rather, the restaurant serves vegan renditions of American classics, like steak frites, salmon, pastas, and eggs Benedict, all made with seasonal ingredients and meat and dairy-free products.
Good to know: On the last Saturday of every month, Maiden hosts its version of afternoon tea, with towers of sweet and savory scones, pastries, and finger sandwiches. Reservations are required.
1216 Sixth Ave. | maidenvegan.com
Paris 7th
Cuisine: French
One of the city’s best restaurants, Paris 7th offers an authentic French dining experience that seamlessly blends classic elegance with modern sophistication. Under the culinary baton of chef Mark Hitri and the attentive eyes of front of house master of ceremonies Chris Salvador, the restaurant has become a haven for those seeking refined French cuisine in a charming, lively atmosphere. From delicate amuse-bouches to expertly crafted main courses like dover sole, each dish reflects a dedication to traditional techniques done with a contemporary flair.
What to order: The restaurant’s signature dish is duck two ways: duck confit and magret duck breast. It’s a stunner.
Good to know: Those who prefer to drink their desserts will swoon over the Brandy Ice, comprised of housemade vanilla ice cream blended with brandy and creme de cacao.
3324 W. 7th St. | paris7th.com
The Blue Room at Emilia’s
Cuisine: Mediterranean/American
Perhaps the most luxurious dining experience in Fort Worth happen within the blue-imbued walls of The Blue Room, the restaurant-within-a-restaurant at Emilia’s, The Crescent Hotel’s on-site restaurant. While it’s not exactly private dining, it’s pretty close: Accessible only through a speakeasy-inspired entrance, the dining room is independent of Emilia’s, and executive chef Preston Paine curates a multicourse tasting menu also separate from that of the mothership restaurant. Servers dote, wiping away crumbs, providing vivid explanations of the food; somms roam, promoting top-grade wines; and Paine himself often makes an appearance — a nice touch that adds to the premium vibe.
What to order: As is often the case with tasting menus, Blue Room’s multicourse menu changes often. Some recent dishes have included roasted duck in a mole sauce; Navajo fry bread served with smoked white fish and baba ganoush; and Gulf grouper with blue crab remoulade.
Good to know: For the summer, The Blue Room is open only Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.
3300 Camp Bowie Blvd. | emiliasfortworth.com/blue-room
The Capital Grille
Mike Gluckman
Cuisine: Steak house
One of several high-end steakhouses in downtown, The Capital Grille stands out for its classy vibe, expertly prepared steaks and attentive service. A sleek atmos — African mahogany paneling and deco chandeliers — sets the stage for a memorable meal, whether you’re meeting with business associates to plan your next company downsize, celebrating a special occasion, or simply enjoying a lux night out.
What to order: You’d be remiss not to order a dry-aged steak, one of the chain’s specialities.
Good to know: There is a dress code. No athletic shorts, leggings or sweatpants, nothing revealing. Men’s shirts must have sleeves.
800 Main St. | thecapitalgrille.com
The Chumley House
Cuisine: European
Fort Worth sometimes doesn’t take too kindly to Dallas-based restaurants invading our turf, but FW has wholeheartedly embraced this Dallas-born, European-inspired restaurant, whose handsome decor, bend-over-backward service and outstanding, globe-spanning food is transportive dining at its absolute finest. You’ll swear you’re somewhere else — anywhere else — as you dine on blue crab pot pie, tenderloin stroganoff, tallow popovers, lamb tandoori, and other dishes you don’t normally see in Fort Worth. Nor is the atmos the same ol’. Old World charm abounds amid rich mahogany woods, custom fireplaces, Scottish plaid rugs, and luxurious banquettes; you’ll want to stay forever.
What to order: The beef Wellington, a puff pastry filled with tenderloin, tasso ham, and duxelles, a savory paste made from chopped mushrooms, herbs and shallots. It’s big enough for two.
Good to know: Save room for the excellent sticky toffee pudding laced with a rum caramel sauce.
3230 Camp Bowie Blvd. | thechumleyhouse.com
Other Opulent Dishes
Decadent dishes you can enjoy outside of velvet ropes and fine dining rooms.
Courtesy B&B Butcher
Kobe ribeye at B&B Butchers & Restaurant
Kobe ribeye, a highly prized and luxurious steak from Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture region, is celebrated for its incredible marbling, rich flavor, and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, all stemming from the specialized raising of Tajima-gyu Wagyu cattle. A four-ounce serving of it here costs $230.
Codorniz en Mole Poblano at Don Artemio
Quail’s not difficult to come by in these parts, but upscale Mexican restaurant Don Artemio gives it a unique twist, stuffing it with pecan-almond rice, a rich, housemade mole poblano sauce, oven roasted potatoes, queso fresco and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Broken Arrow Ranch Antelope at 97 West Kitchen & Bar
Antelope is given the high-end treatment here, sliced into small bites, a la steak frites, and drizzled with elderberry marmalade punched up with balsamic vinegar. Comes with a side of goat cheese grits dotted with tasso ham.
Tomahawk ribeye at Toro Toro
There are tomahawks and then there’s this 52-ounce monster. A “mini” version weighs in at 32 ounces.
Seafood tower at Walloons
Stacked with poached shrimp, a dozen oysters, tuna crudo, and chef’s choice of other fresh seafood bites from the restaurant’s raw bar.
After-Dinner Cocktails
Post-dinner sips and suds served in swank atmos.
The Usual
The Bar at Bowie House
Amid a backdrop of Fort Worth movers and shakers, see and be-seeners, The Bar at the Bowie House hotel offers a vast selection of exceptional whiskeys, expertly crafted martinis, and late-night snacks, in a ranch-meets-the-Ritz setting.
3700 Camp Bowie Blvd. | aubergeresorts.com/bowiehouse
Thompson’s Bookstore
Outlined in warm woods and shelves full of books (a nod to its bookstore bones), and outfitted with antique-style furniture, Thompson’s offers a quiet, classy, sit-and-sip atmosphere. It’s the ideal setting for nursing the bar’s signature cocktail, the Grapes of Wrath, a unique drink that blends Chateau St. Michelle Syrah red wine, egg white, house-made simple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and TX Whiskey.
900 Houston St. | thompsons-bookstore.com
The Usual
Pioneering mixology bar The Usual opened in 2009 as Fort Worth’s first craft cocktail bar. Against an attractively designed, rustic-mod backdrop, bartenders spend copious amounts of time developing new drinks and tweaking classics based on Prohibition-era recipes.
1408 W. Magnolia Ave. | theusual.bar
The Veranda Bar at Hotel Drover
If you’re hanging in the Stockyards, sooner or later you’ll wind up at the Drover’s swank inside/outside bar, replete with cush seating and ringside views of the live entertainment on the Drover’s Backyard stage.
200 Mule Alley | hoteldrover.com
Stewart’s
Luxury for the masses
Stewart's
Martini cart at Stewart's
Fort Worth restaurateur Tim Love recently introduced his 14th concept, Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails, setting a new standard for luxury dining in Fort Worth. Named in honor of his father, Stewart’s is designed to evoke the fanciest of the fanciest country clubs, blending a Great Gatsby vibe with upscale eats in a way only Love could dream up. The menu is a testament to his vision, as it features caviar, including 5G Black and 5G Platinum, zucchini carpaccio, a lavish lobster roll and a photo-worthy skirt steak frites. The star of the show may be the martini cart, in which bartenders craft your martini tableside. Choose from premium vodkas and gins, dry vermouth, and a selection of six custom bitters, all finished with your preference of a twist or olives. While the intimate indoor space accommodates a select 28 diners, fostering an air of I’m-on-the-list exclusivity, the sprawling 15,000-square-foot outdoor lawn offers a unique recreational indulgence: croquet, a bygone sport — consisting of knocking wooden balls through hoops using oversized mallets — that Love played as a kid with his pop.
4424 White Settlement Road | stewartscocktailclub.com
The Luxe Guide
Shopping | Wellness | Fine Dining | Private Clubs | The VIP Scene
