By Meda Kessler and June Naylor
OPENINGS
Brisket with spicy bark and tasty sides draw crowds to Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, Saturdays at Lola’s.
Photo by Meda Kessler
Dayne’s Craft Barbecue gets a home Pitmaster and newlywed Dayne Weaver and wife Ashley are now fixtures at Lola’s Trailer Park in Fort Worth every Saturday, from noon until they sell out. We like the moist Black Angus brisket with crunchy, seasoned bark, sliced turkey and handmade sausage, especially the blueberry-gouda. Sides are no afterthought, either, be it the chunky potato salad or flavorful beans. And for dessert, caramel pecan bars arrive courtesy of Three Danes Baking Company, based in Fort Worth’s Near Southside. Get it to go or enjoy Lola’s indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar and live music in a dog- and family-friendly setting. 2735 W. 5th St., Fort Worth, 682-472-0181, daynescraftbarbecue.com
Flores Barbecue transitions to Campo Smokehouse
In a surprise move last month, pitmaster Michael Wyont changed his mind about opening a Flores Barbecue in Fort Worth and announced he would be taking a break from the smoker. The much-lauded Flores is rebranding to Campo Smokehouse under the guidance of chef Lou Lambert, who was working with Wyont on the menu for a brick-and-mortar location at the Trailhead at Clearfork, near where the food truck and smokers stand now. The restaurant, with its Tex-Mex barbecue concept, is in the works and expected to open sometime in 2020. In the meantime, you can still get quality barbecue and sides Thursday through Sunday with Chris Reale running the show. The location is behind Mellow Johnny’s and Press Cafe.
4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Fort Worth
HG Sply Co.
Trophy Club’s version of the popular paleo-centric restaurant is big and busy. Expect a line for HG’s signature health-conscious dishes and additional carnivorous offerings such as the Remedy burger and a 14-ounce Angus strip steak. Gluten- and dairy-free preparations are still an option, as are cocktails, wine and beer.
2980 State Highway 114, 817-755-0111, Trophy Club, hgsplyco.com
AT YOUR SERVICE
Southlake Central Market shoppers finally get curbside service, with the opening celebration scheduled Oct. 2. How it works: Make your shopping list first and read the FAQs second. The latter will answer all your questions, from out-of-stock issues to order changes. Then go to Centralmarket.com/shop and pick your location. There’s no minimum order amount, and the pickup fee is $4.95 plus a 3 percent personal shopping fee. Orders can be placed anytime and scheduled up to seven days in advance. Once you arrive, you don’t even have to get out of your vehicle — perfect for shoppers with kids or pets in the car. The pickup fee for your first four deliveries will be waived. The curbside area is on the west side of the store.
Central Market, Shops of Southlake, 1425 E. Southlake Blvd.
Photo courtesy of Central Market
IN THE WORKS
Check in for the room, stay for the food While hotel restaurants typically fly below our radar, big things are happening in downtown Fort Worth. Celebrity chef Richard Sandoval is opening Toro Toro Pan-Latin Steakhouse and Lounge in the former Vidalias space at The Worthington Renaissance in November. The Mexico City native made a big splash at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston in 2017 with Bayou & Bottle. Sandoval — whose restaurants are found across the U.S., in Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia and the Middle East — plans to give Cowtown his take on Latin American live-fire cooking. A glimpse at Toro Toro menus in Miami and Washington, D.C., tells us he’s fond of ceviches, empanadas, tiraditos, skewered meats, tacos and more. His cocktail program, based on our samples in Houston, is fresh and sophisticated, with combinations of vegetable and fruit purees, housemade bitters and boutique spirits. The restaurant’s makeover continues the decor theme of The Worthington’s new look. Bay Area-based design firm Wilson Ishihara is employing metal, stone, tooled leather, relief sculptures featuring fire and horns, and color schemes using red, charcoal and amber.
Sundance Square, 200 Main St., Fort Worth, richardsandoval.com/restaurants
• Also scheduled to open in November in The Sinclair, Autograph Collection hotel is the Wicked Butcher restaurant, a modern steakhouse from the same group behind Dallas Chop House, Dallas Fish Market and other dining concepts. Located in the dramatically remodeled basement in The Sinclair, the Wicked Butcher will offer dry-aged and premium cuts of beef along with poultry and game. Seafood includes a raw bar and sushi bar. The glassed-in wine cellar is visible to diners.
Sundance Square, 512 Main St., 682-231-8214, Fort Worth, thesinclairhotel.com
Chef Richard Sandoval’s menu features saltado, short rib tacos and more at Toro Toro, his pan-Latin steakhouse opening at The Worthington Renaissance in Fort Worth.
Photo courtesy of Toro Toro