A heaping helping of news & reviews from DFW’s dining scene.
Grace is one of ten spots our dining guru recommends for Valentine's Day dinner.
People who eat for a living are fond of saying that dining out on Valentine's Day is for amateurs. We're rude like that, sometimes. We think we know the lay of the land better than those who only go out three times a year: on February 14, Mother's Day and New Year's Eve. Usually such annoyance comes about just because we can't be assured of getting the tables we want, when we want them.
But then we look around and see that there are some mighty good things being offered on V-Day this year, especially at places that aren't otherwise open on Sunday evening. So we're reconsidering, since these restaurants are going to such trouble to open their doors on what's usually their day of rest.
Here, then, are 10 reasons to go out on Valentine's Day.
1. Zambrano, 910 Houston St., Fort Worth, 850-9463, Just by showing up you get a rose and a glass of champagne. Three courses, including choices such as Greek salad, prime rib and chocolate cheesecake, will be $55 or $75 with wine pairings, plus tax and tip.
2. Bonnell's Restaurant, 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd., Fort Worth, 817-738-5489. Start with a shellfish sampler, continue with beef tenderloin in cognac-peppercorn sauce with exotic mushrooms and finish with a chocolate sampler. $90, plus tax and tip.
3. Ruffino’s Ruffinos Restaurant, 2455 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-923-0522. All month, chef Asdren Albanese Azemi is working foods thought to have aphrodisiacal powers into his menus with dishes such as asparagus flan, fig-and-beet salad and bing cherry pie with roasted cocoa nibs. On Sunday evening, his three-course menu will include a glass of wine for $70, plus tax and tip.
4. Lili’s Bistro, 1310 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth, 817-877-0700. Lili's offers its V-Day menu on Saturday and Sunday, with special seating times by reservation. The menu will be $42, not including dessert, wine, tax or tip. Menu selections include duck egg rolls, stuffed avocado, Greek wedge salad, chicken Oscar, beef Wellington and brie and lamb on the vine.
5. Grace, 777 Main St., Fort Worth, 817-877-3388. The usual menu of elegant American offerings will be presented, along with some special features. Reservations are available between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.
6. Saint-Emilion, 3617 West Seventh St. Fort Worth, 817-737-2781. The country French landmark will offer a five-course affair, with an amuse bouche and entrée selections to include roasted veal, arctic char, striped bass, rack of lamb and beef tenderloin. A glass of champagne and a rose are included for the $79.50 tab (plus tax and tip). The deal is good Saturday night, too.
7. Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana, 3405 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth 817-850-9996. A $95, five-course menu includes an amuse bouche, tapas choices such as lobster chilpachole or rabbit loin in serrano ham, and entrée picks such a prime bone-in rib eye or sea bass.
8. Grady’s, 2443 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-922-9980. Grady’s will serve its regular menu of fancy cowboy food.
9. Cacharel, 2221 E. Lamar Blvd. in Arlington, 817-640-9981. Located atop an office building with good views of Six Flags and the two stadiums, Cacharel does a number of classic French dishes. The special Valentine’s menu offered on Sunday night will include four courses for $65.
10. JR's, 5400 Texas 121, Colleyville, 817-355-1414. A handsome place with plenty of stone and leather (for those who go for that sort of thing), JR's promises on its Facebook page to post the special Valentine’s Day menu by the beginning of next week. Note that the V-Day menu is available also on Saturday night.
