When the winners of World’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced on June 5 at a glitzy gala event in Las Vegas, one thing was clear: Spain is the center of the culinary universe in 2024. Three of the top four restaurants in the world this year are located in Spain. Two more made the list further down, making Spain the big winner overall. Looking around the Fort Worth area, you would almost think we saw that coming. With two eagerly anticipated Spanish restaurants joining Tim Love’s Barcelona-inspired rooftop concept, Fort Worth foodies can get their tapas and paella fixes without a passport this summer.
Si Tapas
If you want to experience Spanish food so authentic that it will transport you to Spain, Si Tapas is the place. “The whole idea is that when you come through the doors, you are in Madrid. You left Fort Worth, and now you are in Madrid,” said Ildefonso Jimenez, owner of Si Tapas in Dallas — and now, Fort Worth.
The restaurant serves some 35 types of Spanish tapas, ranging from traditional favorites to dishes with a modern flair. “None of the dishes are Americanized,” said Jimenez, but there is one offering that gives a tip of the cowboy hat to Texas: Okra Frita con Sal de Mar y Curry. You might not find this okra dish on a menu in Madrid, but we suspect fried okra with sea salt and curry will be a good fit in Fort Worth.
Si Tapas opened in March, one of several new restaurants scheduled to open in 2024 in the newly branded Artisan Circle in the West 7th area. 2949 Crockett St., Fort Worth; 817-615-9977
Cafe Americana
The outside of the building might not look all that promising, but wait until you open the door. This new restaurant is a delightful surprise from the moment you walk in, with vibrant green walls and pops of bright red, an open-concept kitchen next to the bar, and plants everywhere. Liesl Best, who co-owns Cafe Americana with her business and life partner, Mouhssine Benhamacht, said people always comment on the decor and then the food, but what they ultimately notice — and what they keep coming back for — is “the human element.” The staff is “a collective of friends,” who create an atmosphere that brings people together, she said.
The “globally inspired” menu leads with a strong Spanish influence, designed around small plates, or tapas, with 3 to 4 servings of an item plated with an eye toward aesthetics. The menu offers guests the opportunity to build their own charcuterie board from an impressive list of Spanish cheeses, meats and accompaniments. Small plate specialties include items such as Gambas al Aijillo — shrimp with garlic — or Croquetas de Pollo — chicken croquettes — and family-style dishes offer three types of steak served with chimichurri sauce or salmon with pineapple glaze. Three kinds of paella are on the menu, as well as flaky empanadas, and — of course — sangria. 403 E. Main St., Arlington; 682-270-0041
Ático
From Madrid, we travel to Barcelona, courtesy of chef Tim Love. Ático is the rooftop restaurant, bar and event space that “embodies the essence of chef Tim Love’s culinary adventures in Barcelona,” according to Love’s publicist. Sitting atop the SpringHill Suites Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, guests can sip Spanish-centric wines and cocktails while enjoying views of the Stockyards below and the skyline of Fort Worth in the distance.
The Spanish tapas menu includes a rotating seasonal menu, as well as perennial favorites including Spanish Braised Short Ribs by chef de cuisine Zach Lewis and Dayboat Scallops with Serrano Chili Green Curry and Pistachios. Ático is a concept restaurant by Tim Love that is owned by Marriott and managed by Love Management. 2315 N. Main St., Fort Worth; 682-255-5112
Coming Soon: La Coqueta
Loyal fans of Magdalena’s Supper Club and Magdalena’s Food Truck, this one’s for you. Juan and Paige Rodriguez, owners of Magdalena’s Catering and Events, will open their first — and long-anticipated — brick-and-mortar restaurant by the end of summer or early fall. According to the website, the Spanish/Mexican menu will feature “small dishes designed to share with friends and family and passion-filled sips.” More tapas? Yes, please. 1216 N. Main St., Fort Worth; 817-740-8085
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