• Home
  • Blog
    • Archives
  • About
  • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy

Family Rambling

not all destinations can be found on a map

  • Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Adults Only
  • Exploring the Midwest
  • Explore the USA
  • Ireland Travel
  • Blogging Biz
This site generates income via partnerships with carefully selected travel brands and/ or purchases made through links to them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See why this is important.
You are here: Home / Travel / USA / Cuisinious Fort Worth Dining

Cuisinious Fort Worth Dining

By Jody Halsted November 7, 2011

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pocket
  • Print

Cuisinious: Food that looks, smells and tastes delectable. (Urban Dictionary)

Fort Worth is filled with fabulous restaurants. Truly. A quick Google search yields nearly 350 highly recommended restaurants. Too many for me to choose from!  So I turned to the pros on all things Fort Worth: the Fort Worth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, who recommended two restaurants that “wowed” us with ambiance, customer service and delectable food.

Joe T. Garcia’s, Where Fort Worth Goes for Mexican

From the front Joe T. Garcia’s appears to be an intimate restaurant, not flashy nor overly large.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Poolside Dining at Joe T Garcia's, Fort Worth

Poolside Dining at Joe T Garcia's

While the interior of the restaurant may be all those things, the incredible patio- stretching a city block- is, in a word, phenomenal. As we meandered through tables filled with lunch time diners Brenna took my hand and said, “Mom, it’s like we’re eating in a castle.”

Patio Path at Joe T Garcia's, Fort Worth

Wandering the gardens at Joe T Garcia's

The high stone walls surrounding the patio look like a match for the Missions in San Antonio. Fountains, cabanas and pools wait around every turn of the path, twisting walkways lead you through an oasis of flora, seemingly never-ending. Though the patio can seat well over 500 people, the garden setting feels incredibly intimate, almost secluded in spots.

The mixed scents of flowers and Mexican dishes is intoxicating. Over freshly made tortilla chips and salsa made in-house we took out eyes off the surroundings long enough to choose our meal. The menu, perfected over 70 years of business, isn’t large but has enough offerings to please everyone- even the kids.

Lunch at Joe T Garcia's, Fort Worth

Beef Fajitas and Chicken Flautas

Everything at Joe T. Garcia’s is handmade. You can tell from the first bite. And, while you can’t go wrong with anything you order, allow me to highly recommend the Chicken Flautas. Trust me.

Know before you go:
Open at 11am daily.
Monday- Thursday the restaurant closes at 2:30pm, opening again for dinner at 5pm.
Credit cards are not accepted. Average entree $10; $

Upscale Southwestern at Romantic Reata

When initially entering Reata in downtown Fort Worth the vibe is very Texas. Leather, dark woods, comfy chairs in the lounge. As you walk through it begins to feel more luxurious, romantic and special.

From the beginning we knew dinner would be memorable. As she led us to our table our hostess chatted with my little cowgirls about their new cowgirl hats. A birthday card, signed by the staff, was waiting at the table for Doug. And our server, Ashley, was the epitome of Texas charm.

Dinner at Reata, Fort Worth

Tender filet and grilled shrimp; Elk

The menu had so many choices, each sounding more delicious than the last. We ended up ordering our entrees from the nightly specials; I enjoyed a beautifully prepared filet with shrimp while Doug tried the game special: Elk. The girls split some incredible Macaroni and Cheese- agreeing to share because they had spied the dessert tray as we entered.

Desserts at Reata, Fort Worth

Apple Cobbler, Bread Pudding Tamale, Banana Pudding and Dessert Tacos

While dinner at Reata is outstanding, I would go just for the desserts. They all looked so good that we each ended up ordering our own! Doug and my little cowgirls’ dessert plates may have arrived with special chocolate designs, but my Bread Pudding Tamale (seasonal) stole the show for presentation.

Before waddling out of Reata we took the elevator to the 4th floor and wandered around the incredible rooftop patio. The next time we are in the area I predict the girls will spend an evening with their grandparents while Doug and I enjoy a romantic date.

Know before you go:
Dining on a weekend or during an event? Make a reservation- especially for the rooftop patio.
Valet parking is free!
Entrees average $27; $$$

 

Fort Worth Vacations

 

Disclosure:  The Fort Worth CVB made our reservations for these dining experiences and the expenses were covered.  We did, however, tip our servers handsomely as they were fabulous!  Photos and thoughts are my own.

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pocket
  • Print

Related

«
»

5 Comments · Filed Under: USA · Tagged With: Food and Restaurants, Texas

About Jody Halsted

Jody Halsted is an award winning writer and podcaster specializing in travel, Ireland, camping, and RVing.
Based in the Midwest, Jody is a rambling soul who would love nothing more than to split her time between her RV and Ireland, but until then she ‘lives the dream’ in Iowa with her husband, two daughters, and a small menagerie of furry friends.

Award Winning Writer & Podcaster • Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • Pinterest

Trackbacks

  1. Must See Fort Worth: Visiting the Historic Stockyards District says:
    November 18, 2011 at 10:02 am

    […] cupcake shop, Tex-Mex and barbeque. For a memorable dining experience head up Commerce Street to the incredible Joe T. Garcia’s- it’s where Fort Worth goes for […]

    Reply
  2. Family Tips for Visiting Fort Worth says:
    November 28, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    […] Tex-Mex and barbecue here, as well as a lovely cupcake shop.  Not far up the road is the fabulous Joe T Garcia’s; my girls said it was like eating in a […]

    Reply
  3. Family Things to Do in Fort Worth says:
    December 5, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    […] have to make your reservations in advance if you want to dine on the rooftop at the fabulous Reata in downtown Fort Worth but the view of downtown, lit at night, is beautiful. Add to that the delicious food and incredible […]

    Reply
  4. 6 Spring Break Getaways for Your Family - Family Travel Tips How to Travel with Kids Family Rambling says:
    April 14, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    […] on the patio at Joe T Garcia’s.  It’s like eating in a castle garden…  that serves authentic Mexican […]

    Reply
  5. Paris Coffee Shop - Fort Worth Comfort Food - Family Travel Tips How to Travel with Kids Family Rambling says:
    September 17, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    […] Worth is filled with incredible restaurants. You can find Texas sized steaks, succulent Tex-Mex, pit smoked BBQ, and fresh seafood. But when […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Where do you want to go?

Welcome!!!

Hi! I am so glad you’re here! My name is Jody Halsted and you’ve found my little home on the web.
Want to know a bit more about me? It's all right here....

Subscribe to Podcast

Google PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherBlubrryby EmailRSSMore Subscribe Options

Shopping Online?

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

Trusted Travel Gear

Family Travel Deals

Generic_250x250

Flat $15* off on Flights with our Columbus Day Deals! Book Now!

Proud to be Featured at

Top 20 Family Blogger award
Alltop, all the cool kids (and me) 25 Best Travel Blogs
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Design by Design Chicky

Copyright © 2021 · Sprinkle Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.