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What Fort Worth needs is -- another prime steakhouse?
Bailey's Prime Plus just opened.
Coming soon: Ray's Steakhouse & Seafood.
"Ray" isn't a stranger. Raif "Ray" Jumera owns one of the busiest restaurants in west Fort Worth, the popular and bargain-priced Fortuna Italian Restaurant in a low-profile shopping center on Camp Bowie Boulevard.
Fortuna has a reputation for steaks and grilled seafood, along with simple pastas and pizza by the slice.
So Jumera will expand the steak-and-seafood menu to the new steakhouse, replacing the familiar Aventino two blocks away on Winthrop Avenue.
He already has had fine-dining experience as the original owner of La Bistro in Hurst and Cafe Portobello in Coppell and Colleyville.
"I know there are a lot of steak restaurants in Fort Worth, but they are all downtown or on Seventh [Street] -- there is nothing here for Ridglea or Camp Bowie," Jumera said this week during a typical Fortuna lunch rush.
Some of the new restaurants feel "too cold," he said, saying that Ray's decor will feel warmer than the stark Aventino.
Ray's Steakhouse & Seafood will open in about six weeks at 3206 Winthrop Ave., near Fortuna at 5837 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-737-4469.
Across Camp Bowie Boulevard, one of Jumera's nephews will open Allstar Sports Bar & Grill in the former Cafe Aspen.
And a former music club next door will be replaced by Ridglea Jazz Cafe, owned by Stan Hatcher of the first-rate Hatch's Corner home-cooking restaurant family in Forest Hill.
Buffalo Gap Steakhouse & Cantina , the latest from chef Paul Willis, is open in Granbury.
The menu includes Angus rib-eyes and prime rib, plus home-style items such as Cheddar biscuits with ham or fried chicken and waffles.
Willis helped create H3 Ranch and Fuzzy's Taco Shop.
Buffalo Gap is in a former barbecue cafe at 1470 U.S. 377 E; www.buffalogapsteakhouse.com.
The Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival is also a food fest.
Eleven downtown restaurants will serve at street booths, led by Reata's tenderloin tamales, and tacos and tortas from Cantina Laredo and Embargo, the Cuban restaurant and nightclub.
New at Main St. this year: Kincaid's Hamburgers, serving near Fourth Street and the Sundance Square stage.
Also new is Genghis Grill, serving Mongolian barbecue, and Cast Iron from the Omni hotel, serving chipotle chicken and dumplings and baby-back ribs.
Of course, most festivalgoers will hunt for the Schmidt's Sausage Haus cream puffs from Ohio. They're in Sundance Square; www.schmidthaus.com.
Don't forget new downtown restaurants, such as Cowtown Diner, which is serving till 2 a.m. with half-price appetizers. 305 Main St., 817-332-9555, www.thecowtowndiner.com.
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