Just when you think you're in the middle of nowhere, you're at Circle S Catfish Grill.
The simple family grill is north of Saginaw near U.S. 287.
If you stopped for catfish, weren't impressed and didn't go back -- stop again.
Circle S's surprises are away from the fish menu, including a full grill menu, smoked-bacon burgers and a 16-ounce, bone-in rib-eye.
For menu help, the Shipp family had a reliable consultant: Son Nicholas Shipp is a chef at a modern Southern restaurant in Santa Monica, Calif.
Don't expect any California cooking. After all, this is Saginaw.
But Circle S does have one dish that rises among the catfish-cafe setting: Nick's 'Oh My Gosh' bread pudding.
It's almost a shortcake dish, with bread pudding topped with caramel sauce and strawberries. Other desserts include chocolate or pecan cobbler.
The $8 and $9 lunch specials are served weekdays or weekends, including a Fort Worth Philly cheesesteak with chipotle sauce or salads such as a blackened-chicken Caesar.
The steak menu includes a tenderloin or a baseball sirloin, and the menu also includes a Texas Twister, butterflied grilled chicken breast with avocado, white cheese and onion strings.
Side dishes include house-made potato chips.
Circle S is open daily for lunch and dinner at 12721 N. Saginaw Blvd. (Business U.S. 287) in far northwest Fort Worth, 817-439-4745; www.circlescatfish.com.
(Sorry. It's not open July 4.)
Temaki Sushi in south Fort Worth will expand its menu Thursday, adding sushi items and full table service.
Temaki had been a fast-casual concept, but the Magnolia Avenue dining crowd wanted more. It's open Tuesdays through Saturdays for lunch and dinner; 1504 W. Magnolia Ave., 817-810-0438, sushionmagnolia.com.
July is the big month at Curly's Frozen Custard: both National Hot Dog Month and Parker County peach season.
The peach Curly's frozen custard is ready.
Wednesday, Curly's hosts its annual July 4 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The contest starts with registration at 10 a.m., a high-school division at 11 and then the grand masters open division at 11:30. Curly's is at 4017 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; 817-763-8700.
(The Parker County Peach Festival is July 14.)
Fort Worth and Arlington restaurants won plenty of holiday attention.
Chef Tim Love was back on the Today show Tuesday, this time promoting his new Woodshed Smokehouse and dishing up a holiday meal of skirt steak, confit potato salad and the Woodshed's oak-smoked cauliflower with chile arbol.
The Woodshed is open July Fourth at 7 a.m. as usual for coffee and pastries, with lunch starting at 11; woodshedsmokehouse.com.
Chef Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's was a guest on Martha Stewart's satellite show Tuesday morning.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' episode Monday featured the Taste of Europe, an Eastern European cafe and market in Arlington with goulash, blintzes, borscht, schnitzel, potato pancakes and pirogues.
It's open July Fourth, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and Tuesdays through Saturdays for lunch and dinner plus lunch Sundays; 1901 W. Pioneer Parkway (Spur 303), 817-275-5530, tasteofeuropetx.com
Bud Kennedy's Eats Beat appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538
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