My Fort Worth roots go back generations on both sides, so I have treasured memories of family gatherings in restaurants all around town. Grandaddy Messer always bought me a sugary pecan praline on our exit from the old El Rancho Grande on North Main but pretended every time that he wasn’t going to do it: “Maybe next time.” We’ve celebrated countless family birthdays at La Playa Maya on Hemphill and many milestone anniversaries at Reata downtown. 

These memories came back this week as I gathered restaurant news rich in Fort Worth-area history. If you’re looking to make new family memories this week, you’ve got some great options here.

Going, Going … Coming Back!

Pulido’s Mexican Restaurant announced in October 2023 that it was closing all five of its Fort Worth-area locations after 57 years in business, but the local Westland Restaurant Group could not bear to see this beloved family business disappear. Westland partners Gigi Howell and Bourke Harvey stepped in to save Pulido’s, adding the acquisition to a small but growing group of iconic Fort Worth restaurants they are rescuing or reviving. 

Harvey told the Fort Worth Report that “structural challenges” at the Pulido’s locations in Benbrook and Cleburne will prevent those restaurants from reopening. He expects the original Fort Worth location at 2900 Pulido St. to be open for business June 22, followed by the Hurst location in early July and the Eastland location in August. 

Two other Fort Worth favorites are moving locations. Reata announced plans to close its 312 S. Houston St. location on June 30 but looks to reopen mid-July at 500 Throckmorton St., in the downtown restaurant space previously occupied by Cantina Laredo. 

Los Vaqueros also is closing June 30 and is moving from its historic Stockyards location at 2629 N. Main St. to new digs down the road at 2513 Rodeo Plaza in mid-July. 

Station 330

It’s a shame that the descriptions “live music” and “family friendly” don’t often overlap in restaurants. Station 330 in Burleson has a take that looks like a win for all, with a scratch-made menu and live music acts that go on at 7 p.m. 

The goal, according to the restaurant’s website, is to “provide a family friendly environment that includes outdoor live entertainment, an open kitchen design and a vintage piece of railroad history!” The restaurant has a nostalgic design that pays homage to the Interurban Express Railcar 330 that ran through Burleson in the early 1900s. Find a full schedule of its live music here. 210 S. Main St., Burleson; 817-330-6511

Saddlerock Wine + Beer Co.

Saddlerock Wine + Beer Co. sits at the crossroads of history and modern development in Fort Worth. The beautifully restored, historic home at 731 Samuels Ave., known as the David Chapman Bennett House, is now home to a tasting room featuring wines from a California winery and craft beers from the DFW area. 

The 1.5-acre Victorian estate is nestled in a heavily treed lot that runs down to the Trinity River at the back and is flanked by new upscale apartment buildings. The setting combines the luxurious feel of an afternoon at a Napa Valley vineyard with the casual Texas friendliness of cornhole on the lawn. 

The drinks menu features wines from Semler Malibu Estate Vineyards, a California winery with a Fort Worth connection. The mother of owner Ron Semler grew up in Cowtown. General Manager Francesca Lawrence told us that when Ron’s youngest daughter moved to Fort Worth, he fell in love with the city for good. Extending the family business from Malibu to Fort Worth was a perfect full-circle opportunity. 

Guests can enjoy mellow live music and food trucks on the weekends or opt to bring their own food at any time. Note: Guests must be 21 or older, per TABC guidelines; closed Monday and Tuesday, with street parking only. 731 Samuels Ave., Fort Worth; 817-772-8281

We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to thedish@fortworthreport.org.

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The Dish: Savoring Fort Worth’s rich history with restaurant reinventions and revivals

by Amy Burgess, Fort Worth Report
June 12, 2024

<h1>The Dish: Savoring Fort Worth’s rich history with restaurant reinventions and revivals</h1> <p class="byline">by Amy Burgess, Fort Worth Report <br />June 12, 2024</p> <p>My Fort Worth roots go back generations on both sides, so I have treasured memories of family gatherings in restaurants all around town. Grandaddy Messer always bought me a sugary pecan praline on our exit from the old El Rancho Grande on North Main but pretended every time that he wasn’t going to do it: “Maybe next time.” We’ve celebrated countless family birthdays at La Playa Maya on Hemphill and many milestone anniversaries at Reata downtown.&nbsp;</p> <p>These memories came back this week as I gathered restaurant news rich in Fort Worth-area history. If you’re looking to make new family memories this week, you’ve got some great options here.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Going, Going … Coming Back!</h2> <p><strong>Pulido’s Mexican Restaurant</strong> announced in October 2023 that it was closing all five of its Fort Worth-area locations after 57 years in business, but the local Westland Restaurant Group could not bear to see this beloved family business disappear. Westland partners Gigi Howell and Bourke Harvey stepped in to save Pulido’s, adding the acquisition to a small but growing group of iconic Fort Worth restaurants <a href="https://fortworthreport.org/2023/08/19/westland-restaurant-group-has-plenty-on-its-plate/">they are rescuing or reviving</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Harvey told the Fort Worth Report that “structural challenges” at the Pulido’s locations in Benbrook and Cleburne will prevent those restaurants from reopening. He expects the original Fort Worth location at 2900 Pulido St. to be open for business June 22, followed by the Hurst location in early July and the Eastland location in August.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PULIDOS-1-1024x769.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-135376" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The renovated Pulido's Mexican Restaurant located at 2900 Pulido St. pictured on June 12, 2024, is reopening under new ownership on June 22. (Alberto Silva Fernandez | Fort Worth Report)</figcaption></figure> <p>Two other Fort Worth favorites are moving locations. <a href="https://reata.net/"><strong>Reata</strong></a> announced plans to <a href="https://fortworthreport.org/2023/10/18/reata-restaurant-announces-plan-for-moving-from-sundance-square/">close its 312 S. Houston St. location</a> on June 30 but looks to reopen mid-July at 500 Throckmorton St., in the downtown restaurant space previously occupied by Cantina Laredo.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://losvaqueros.com/"><strong>Los Vaqueros</strong></a> also is <a href="https://fortworthreport.org/2024/05/14/los-vaqueros-to-sell-building-open-in-new-location-in-stockyards/">closing June 30</a> and is moving from its historic Stockyards location at 2629 N. Main St. to new digs down the road at 2513 Rodeo Plaza in mid-July.&nbsp;</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://station330.com/">Station 330</a></h2> <p>It’s a shame that the descriptions “live music” and “family friendly” don’t often overlap in restaurants. Station 330 in Burleson has a take that looks like a win for all, with a scratch-made menu and live music acts that go on at 7 p.m.&nbsp;</p> <p>The goal, according to the restaurant’s website, is to “provide a family friendly environment that includes outdoor live entertainment, an open kitchen design and a vintage piece of railroad history!” The restaurant has a nostalgic design that pays homage to the Interurban Express Railcar 330 that ran through Burleson in the early 1900s. Find a full schedule of its live music <a href="http://station330.com/events/">here</a>. <strong>210 S. Main St., Burleson; 817-330-6511</strong></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://station330.com/"></a><a href="https://www.drinksaddlerock.com/">Saddlerock Wine + Beer Co.</a></h2> <p>Saddlerock Wine + Beer Co. sits at the crossroads of history and modern development in Fort Worth. The beautifully restored, historic home at 731 Samuels Ave., known as the David Chapman Bennett House, is now home to a tasting room featuring wines from a California winery and craft beers from the DFW area.&nbsp;</p> <p>The 1.5-acre Victorian estate is nestled in a heavily treed lot that runs down to the Trinity River at the back and is flanked by new upscale apartment buildings. The setting combines the luxurious feel of an afternoon at a Napa Valley vineyard with the casual Texas friendliness of cornhole on the lawn.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="wp-block-video alignleft"><video controls src="https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Dish-Quick-Video.mp4"></video></figure> <p>The drinks menu features wines from <a href="https://www.smevwines.com/">Semler Malibu Estate Vineyards</a>, a California winery with a Fort Worth connection. The mother of owner Ron Semler grew up in Cowtown. General Manager Francesca Lawrence told us that when Ron’s youngest daughter moved to Fort Worth, he fell in love with the city for good. Extending the family business from Malibu to Fort Worth was a perfect full-circle opportunity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Guests can enjoy mellow live music and food trucks on the weekends or opt to bring their own food at any time. Note: Guests must be 21 or older, per TABC guidelines; closed Monday and Tuesday, with street parking only. <strong>731 Samuels Ave., Fort Worth; 817-772-8281</strong></p> <p>We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to <a href="mailto:thedish@fortworthreport.org">thedish@fortworthreport.org</a>.</p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org/2024/06/12/savoring-fort-worths-rich-history-with-restaurant-reinventions-and-revivals/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://fortworthreport.org">Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://fortworthreport.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=135501" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p> Copy to Clipboard

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