Even East Rosedale Street has a new sports cantina and taco shop.
If you never thought you'd see a modern restaurant open on the east side, go look at Picante Sports Cantina.
Restaurateur Manuel Garcia of south-side La Playita teamed up with Polytechnic High School alumnus Ramon Romero to turn an old salvage yard on U.S. 287 into a flashy sports grill.
But the biggest surprise is the menu: chicken enchiladas in a creamy poblano sauce, brisket tacos, and appetizers with a choice of sauces including an allergy-relieving mango-habanero.
"This is turning into a Hispanic neighborhood, and there was no really good restaurant around here," Garcia said, showing off the choice of four fresh sauces with more to come, including an even hotter habanero.
"We started out to do a taco shop, because that's what you see everywhere these days. But as we went along, we decided to do a nicer sports bar like you would see on Seventh [Street]."
Garcia started as a teenager washing dishes at the original Acapulco Restaurant in north Fort Worth. He grew up in taquerias, but started going with college friends to restaurants like Fuzzy's Taco Shop or Chimy's Cerveceria.
Picante feels like the best of both, with fish tacos and an updated queso but also with traditional tacos and burritos, tres leches cake, and big bottles of Salsa Valentina.
Picante is open daily for lunch and dinner, and serves food until midnight weeknights and 2 a.m. weekends.
It's at 2108 E. Rosedale St.; 817-536-7422, facebook.com/PicanteSportsCantina.
(Romero is running for city council. He faces Kelly Allen Gray in a June 23 runoff. Yes, if she had a new restaurant, I'd write about it, too.)
Finally, Cooper's Old-Time Pit Bar-B-Que is settling into the Stockyards.
After experimenting with specials, Cooper's decided on an $8.99 weekday combo and a $10.50 buffet Sundays.
Cooper's arrived with all the flavor of its original Hill Country location, but also with all the expectations. North Texans were surprised by the per-pound pricing.
Cooper's daily platters include a brisket-and-sausage plate Mondays or pork ribs Tuesdays, both with beans, another side dish and a drink for $8.99.
Fridays and Saturday nights, Cooper's serves a rib-eye and potato for $24.99.
It's open daily for lunch and dinner at 301 Stockyards Blvd.; 817-626-6464, www.coopersbbq.com.
On the heels of Ruth's Chris Steak House's new $7-till-7 p.m. menu and drinks, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House has announced its summer special.
Del Frisco's offers a filet mignon-and-crab cake combo plus a salad and dessert for two for $99 through Labor Day.
That overlaps the annual KRLD Restaurant Week promotion Aug. 13-19, and Del Frisco's often extends that special.
Del Frisco's is open nightly; 812 Main St., 817-877-3999, delfriscos.com.
Bud Kennedy's Eats Beat appears Wednesdays in Life & Arts and Fridays in DFW.com Weekend. 817-390-7538
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