Fort Worth Restaurant Menus: A Century of Cowtown
Five restaurants show how differently Fort Worth eats: a Magnolia Avenue diner, a Northside Tex-Mex institution, downtown Southwestern dining, Texas game and seafood, and a destination barbecue stop. Use the menu links to compare dishes, then check the practical differences below before choosing a day and neighborhood.
Meet the FiveLast updated:
From a 1926 Pie Counter to a No. 1 Smokehouse
Compare five restaurants by their history, setting and the practical details that affect your visit. The opening years are historical; the visit information has been checked for this update.
Paris Coffee Shop
Paris Coffee Shop traces its history to 1926. The Smith family took over in 1930; Mike Smith succeeded his father in 1965, and the café moved to its present Magnolia and Hemphill corner in 1974. Breakfast, comfort-food lunches and homemade pies are the draw. Pick this for a daytime meal rather than building an evening itinerary around it.
Joe T. Garcia’s
The family restaurant dates to 1935 and is known for its garden setting and a deliberately short all-day selection built around the family-style dinner and fajitas. Bring cash: the restaurant’s own menu says cash only. Monday–Thursday has a break between 2:30 and 5 p.m., an important detail if you are visiting after the Stockyards. Ask the restaurant about group and event arrangements rather than assuming every party follows the same process.
Illustrative steak image; not a verified Reata dish photograph.
Reata Restaurant
Reata returned to The Tower at 530 Throckmorton Street in July 2024. Use that address rather than its former Houston Street premises when planning a downtown meal. Tenderloin tamales and Southwestern cooking remain the point of the visit; compare the current menu and reserve around a Bass Performance Hall outing.
Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine
Bonnell’s opened in 2001 and serves dinner centered on regional Texas cooking, wild game and Gulf seafood. Its own site highlights dishes including elk backstrap, buffalo filet and pecan-crusted redfish. Seasonal ingredients and preparation make this a different choice from a conventional steakhouse; check the menu before choosing your main dish.
Goldee’s Barbecue
Goldee’s ranked No. 1 in Texas Monthly’s 2021 barbecue list and No. 3 in 2025. Its current visit page lists Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. or sellout, so Thursday is now an option. Earlier arrival improves menu choice; a later arrival may mean a shorter line but fewer cuts. It is a separate drive from downtown, not a quick Stockyards detour.
Tap a Year, Meet the Restaurant
Choose an opening year to see how each restaurant fits into Fort Worth’s dining history and today’s meal planning.
Paris Coffee Shop
Paris Coffee Shop traces its history to 1926. The Smith family took over in 1930; Mike Smith succeeded his father in 1965, and the café moved to its present Magnolia and Hemphill corner in 1974. Breakfast, comfort-food lunches and homemade pies are the draw. Pick this for a daytime meal rather than building an evening itinerary around it.
See the Menu →How to Actually Eat at Each One
The practical intel that reviews bury — what each place is best for, the one move to make, and the thing worth knowing before you show up.
Best for: a diner breakfast or lunch.
The move: compare the breakfast plates and ask what pie is available that day.
Know before: use 704 W. Magnolia Avenue and confirm the day’s service before visiting.
Best for: a Northside Tex-Mex meal and garden setting.
The move: bring cash and choose between the all-day classics; check lunch or brunch menus separately.
Know before: Monday–Thursday closes between 2:30 and 5 p.m. Contact the restaurant for group or event arrangements.
Best for: a downtown meal before a performance or celebration.
The move: compare tenderloin tamales and the current Southwestern dishes before reserving.
Know before: Reata is now at 530 Throckmorton Street, not the former Houston Street location.
Best for: a dinner focused on Texas game and Gulf seafood.
The move: compare the redfish and game dishes instead of assuming the same proteins are always available.
Know before: this is a dinner destination in southwest Fort Worth, separate from downtown and the Stockyards.
Best for: a dedicated barbecue outing.
The move: decide whether cut selection or a later, potentially shorter queue matters more to you.
Know before: Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. or sellout. Check the official visit and preorder information before driving out.
Fort Worth Restaurant FAQs
When is Goldee’s Barbecue open?
The current published schedule is Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. or sellout, at 4645 Dick Price Road. Check the restaurant’s visit page for special closures. It ranked No. 1 on Texas Monthly’s 2021 list and No. 3 in 2025.
Is Joe T. Garcia’s cash only?
Yes. The official menu states cash only. Bring cash, and ask the restaurant directly about your group’s seating or event arrangements. Monday–Thursday service pauses from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
Where is Reata in Fort Worth now?
Reata returned to 530 Throckmorton Street at The Tower in July 2024. Use this address when arranging parking, a ride or a downtown theater-night meal.
What is Paris Coffee Shop known for?
The diner traces its history to 1926 and is known for breakfast, comfort-food lunches and homemade pies. The present address is 704 W. Magnolia Avenue; its history includes a move in 1974.
Which restaurant fits a special occasion?
Compare Reata for downtown Southwestern dining with Bonnell’s for Texas game and seafood in southwest Fort Worth. Their locations and menus differ, so choose the meal first and then confirm the table and service hours.
About this guide and its checks
These five are arranged by the year they opened, not by a score. They span different parts of Fort Worth: choose one area per meal, and allow a separate trip for Goldee’s. Menu pages combine the restaurant information collected for each listing; the linked references below support this city guide’s current planning details.
Planning references: Paris Coffee Shop history · Joe T. Garcia’s menu and cash policy · Joe T. Garcia’s contact and hours · Reata’s current location · Bonnell’s dining information · Goldee’s visit guide