By June Naylor
Photos by Ralph Lauer
Press Cafe adds a stylish dining room that’s definitely a room with a view.
It’s a lot easier to snag a table at the always-busy restaurant at the Clearfork Trailhead on the Trinity River now that Press Cafe Upstairs is open. Owner Felipe Armenta Jr. essentially doubled the seating space with the upper dining room, converted from a former meeting space. And while we love the earthy patio (especially those succulent planters) and downstairs dining room at Press, we really like the sophisticated, but comfortable vibe of the new space. Opposite the huge windows overlooking the riverside green space is a long wall covered in the artfully charred Japanese wood panels called shou-sugi-ban, crafted by Delta Millworks in Austin. The panels serve as a backdrop for three huge, colorful artworks in resin and acrylic by North Texas artist and fashion designer Alana Kay. The works brighten the room with a force equal to the citron-hued upholstered chairs at tables throughout the space. Ralph Lauren light fixtures hang from the ceiling, bathing the space in a warm glow during the evening. The upstairs dining venue, open whenever the restaurant is serving, is attached to the rooftop patio, which remains one of the primo places in town to enjoy drinks and food in nice weather. Also new, Press Cafe now accepts reservations through its website and Facebook page. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and weekend brunch at 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Suite 105, Fort Worth,
817-570-6002, presscafeftworth.com.
Contemporary and colorful resin paintings contrast with the custom wood panels artfully burned for texture and color.