Where should we eat?

It has been a very long time since my last post, but after eating at Ray's Prime Steak House and Seafood last night, I was inspired to write about our wonderful experience. Ray's is located on Winthrop, which is just off Camp Bowie near the intersection of Bryant Irvin, in the space formerly occupied by Aventino's.

When I walked into the dining room, I loved the warm, yet chic, atmosphere. It felt like an upscale steak house, yet with a modern twist. Caramel colored leather covered each dining room chair and the soft, yet not dark light, perfectly matched the volume of the music. I preferred the decor at Ray's over other steak houses in town such as Silver Fox. *Footnote: Our server formerly worked at Silver Fox for years.

To start our meal, we tried the Baked Crab Stuffed Portobello Mushroom ($7), which was wonderful and a bargain at only $7. The appetizer was one portobello mushroom topped with a generous portion of delicious crab meat. I liked this appetizer better than most crab cakes and would easily order it again.

Next, we enjoyed a salad. I had the Caesar ($5) and FWJoey had the Chopped ($6) which consisted of tomato, red onion, bacon, tobacco onions, and creamy blue cheese. Both salads were above average and both dressing were winners.

I forgot to mention that prior to receiving our appetizer and salads, we were served warm, delicious sourdough bread with whipped butter. It was hard to stop eating it.

After being so impressed with the food we had tried thus far, I was excited to try our entrees. I ordered the Sea Sea Scallops served atop corn risotto ($22) and could not have been happier. The entree came with four huge scallops perfectly blackened sitting on top of a heavenly portion of corn risotto. I loved the presentation, the flavor, the price, everything! FWJoey and ARMichael seemed equally pleased with their 6oz filet mignons ($22) which were served with garlic-rosemary whipped potatoes. Both steaks were cooked to the temperature requested.

We went to Ray's on a Tuesday night (Fat Tuesday) and it was not very busy. Hopefully, the word will spread about how delicious the food is and how reasonable the prices are (you pay more for a 6 oz filet at Lucille's) and the traffic will pick up. I highly recommend giving Ray's a try.

Rays Prime Steak House & Seafood
3206 Winthrop Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76116
(817) 732-1614
www.raysprimesteakandfood.com

If you don't have Grace on your Restaurant Week list, then you need to make some modifications or else miss out on the best Restaurant Week meal FWJoey and I have ever had. I recently wrote that our dinner at Bailey's Prime was the best Restaurant Week experience we have had, but Grace has now taken that title from Bailey's.

For our first course, I had the roasted pepper soup and FWJoey had the baby back ribs. I actually liked the Asian flavor of the ribs a little better than my soup, however, I was still pleased with the soup because it was a nice, light way to begin the meal. The second course was the Central Market course consisting of a beautiful Maine diver scallop and Berkshire pork on a bed of al dente black eyed peas. This "Surf and Turf" course should not be missed. It was one of the highlights of the night.

FWJoey and I next enjoyed the petite filet served alongside polenta and a sweet corn succotash. The filet was well seasoned and delicious. For dessert, FWJoey ordered the peach cobbler and I tried the red velvet cake (even though I am not a huge cake fan). We preferred the peach cobbler, but FWWhitney gave high marks to the red velvet cake.

Restaurant week menu is $35 for all four fabulous courses (assuming you have the vouchers from Central Market for the Surf and Turf). For an additional $20, you can have a perfectly paired wine with each course. I recommend the wine pairing without any reservation as each wine we tried was great.

Grace is offering its Restaurant Week menu through August 4th so it isn't too late to make your reservations.

Grace
777 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 877-3388
www.gracefortworth.com

Bailey's Prime Plus was hopping last night as Restaurant Week, benefiting the Lena Pope Home, kicked off. If you are looking to take full advantage of the $35, three course menu (four courses if you have your Central Market voucher) offered during Restaurant Week, I recommend Bailey's.

Here's the breakdown of the Restaurant Week menu (You can add wine pairings with each course for $15 per person):

1. Central Market "4th" Course (served as our starter) - Crispy Fried Calamari with two dipping sauces. I was impressed by the preparation of the calamari. It's light batter appeared to be handmade and it had a nice flavor. Cherry peppers and capers were tossed with it which added a nice touch. One of the two dipping sauces had a spicy pepper kick and the other was more like a tartar sauce. The portions were enough to share so we ordered one calamari per couple (which meant we only had to use 3 of our 6 Central Market vouchers). This above-average calamari was a pleasant way to start the meal.

2. Soup/Salad Course - Choice of Lobster Bisque or a Salad consisting of baby greens, brandied Michigan cherries, blue cheese and candied pistachios tossed in a maple vinaigrette. FWJoey and I selected the Lobster Bisque while others dining with us tried the salad. The bisque was good, but unfortunately we had eaten the bisque at Lucille's earlier in the week so we couldn't help but to compare the two. We agreed that Lucille's would win this battle of the bisques; however, Bailey's was enjoyable. The salad received positive comments as well. Bailey's also serves delicious fresh baked bread. It may well be some of the best in town.

3. Entrée Course - Filet Mignon Medallions with Garlic Potato Croquettes and red wine demi glace or Cilantro Lime Marinated Salmon with Roasted Corn Mashed Potatoes & Avocado-Tomatillo Sauce. Once again, FWJoey and I made the same choice which was the filet medallions. This entree was heavenly. I was pleased that the red wine demi glace was such an appropriate accompaniment to the filet mignon since sometimes a red wine glace can be overwhelming and can take away from the flavor of the meat. Not in this case. The meat had wonderful flavor and was perfectly cooked medium rare. Each of the four medallions weighed in at 2 ounces which, when you do the math, means you get 8 ounces of filet mignon on this dish. And let's not forget the tasty potato croquettes served in between each medallion. Imagine a large hush puppy stuffed with creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Simply wonderful. Some who ordered the salmon seemed to regret not ordering the filet medallions, while another, FWJohn, said he would order the salmon again and again. The mashed potatoes served along side the salmon also received rave reviews.

4. Dessert Course - Choice of Peach Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Streusel Topping or Brownie Sundae served with Coffee Ice Cream topped with English Toffee, Candied Almonds and Hot Fudge Sauce. My sweet tooth was craving chocolate so I ordered the Brownie Sundae. I found myself enjoying the coffee ice cream and those yummy toppings more than the brownie. FWJoey tried the Peach Crisp and thought it was a refreshing way to end the meal. It was light and summery. Others in our party thought the peach crisp should have been served warm, which seems like a valid point.

This was our first time to go to Bailey's for dinner. The atmosphere was opulent and sophisticated. Despite being a full house, the restaurant did not get too loud so we were capable of having nice conversations with our friends. The service was slow at times, but overall acceptable in light of the delicious food.

Bailey's is offering its Restaurant Week menu August 13 - 29.

Bailey's Prime Plus
2901 Crockett Street, Fort Worth, TX, 76147
(817) 870-1100
www.baileysprimeplus.com

Pho Que Huong is a new Asian bistro located in the Chapel Hill complex near Central Market in the space that previously housed Texadelphia and Crescent City Beignets. I have seen several restaurants fail in this location, but based on the meal FWJoey and I had there last week, I think Pho Que Huong has staying power. Pho's menu is huge and offers several noodle soups, stir fried noodles, vermicelli dishes and fried rice. They even have a couple of sandwiches (which are both $3.95) and a few salads (priced at $5.95).

FWJoey and I started with the Vietnamese egg rolls (2 for $2.95) and the shrimp spring rolls (2 for $3.50). Both were good, but the Vietnamese egg rolls were excellent! I enjoyed them so much that I got a second order to go to eat with my leftovers. The shrimp spring rolls were not as good as those that can be found down the street at Edohana sushi, but they were still quite enjoyable.

For my entree, I ordered the chicken pad thai flat noodle ($7.95) and it was delicious. I took home over half of it and enjoyed it just as much the next day. FWJoey's sauteed black pepper beef with steamed rice ($8.50) was also delicious. The beef was delightfully tender and juicy and exceeded expectations. The only disappointment was that the menu indicated the beef dish was spicy and it was not spicy at all (FWJoey likes the burn of a spicy dish).

If you are on the fence about trying this place, check out its website and I think you'll be convinced that trying it is a good idea (the pictures are very appetizing). If FWJoey weren't already planning to cook tonight, I'd be going back to Pho.

Pho Que Huong
4601 West Freeway
Fort Worth, TX 76107-5496
(817) 737-3111
http://www.phoquehuong.com/

There are a lot of things to like about Tillman's. I mean where else are you greeted with complimentary popcorn and peanuts drizzled with truffle oil? All of the appetizers sounded great but our group settled on the trio of fries ($9) and the fried pickle cup ($7). Both were fantastic! The fries would be too much for FWJoey and I to eat alone, but they were great for a group of 4-6. As for the pickles, I think I could have eaten the whole order myself. They are that good. The brown mustard served with the pickles elevate the wonderfulness of the dish.

My taste buds didn't get as excited about the entree selections as they did about the appetizers mainly because most of them sounded a little heavy. With the exception of the salmon, the choices were very masculine (think pork chops, beef tenderloin, ribeye, chicken fried steak, chili pie and ribs).

I decided to try the BBQ Pork Spareribs served on white cheddar mac and cheese ($23). The rub on the ribs was good, but verged on being too sweet and the mac and cheese was solid. Overall, I thought the dish was good, but because it was so heavy, I will try something else on our next visit. FWJoey wasn't too impressed with his chicken fried hangar steak ($24).

I have heard good things about the salmon entree so I look forward to trying it. I have also tried the pork and brisket quesadillas ($10) which I thought were good. They seemed like an appetizer that could be ordered as an entree for those wanting something less filling.

Getting something less filling is key if you are at Tillman's with a group because you will want to have room for dessert. The table side s'mores ($14) are unique and fun. I was told that the chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers are made in house which is impressive to me. Each order comes with marshmallows in three flavors that change (our flavors were maple, orange and coffee). Delicious!

Tillman's Roadhouse
2933 Crockett Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107-2908
(817) 850-9255
www.tillmansroadhouse.com

A great addition to the West 7th development's restaurants is Terra Mediterranean Grill. Terra offers tasty treats such as smooth hummus, warm pita bread, fresh tabouli, tzatziki, falafel, roasted vegetables (which includes great mushrooms), various kababs (beef, lamb, chicken, shrimp), gyros and moussaka. If all these choices sound overwhelming to choose from, I suggest going to Terra at lunch to enjoy its buffet (which is not offered at dinner). The buffet runs about $12 which I think includes your beverage, and is a great way to sample many of the delicious offerings.

Terra's atmosphere is more casual than other West 7th restaurants and it has some inexpensive, snack like options if you don't want a full blown meal. One example is the zattar bread ($6) which is baked pita bread topped with a mixture of olive oil, mediterranean spices (think garlic) and lemon.

There is an indoor/outdoor bar that may be nice once this summer heat has subsided.

Terra Mediterranean Grill
2973 Crockett Street
Fort Worth, Texas
(817) 744-7485
www.terramedgrill.com

As a general rule, I like to give a restaurant a few months before trying it out. With Brownstone, however, I didn't follow my general rule because there was so much buzz about it that I just couldn't say no when another couple invited FWJoey and I to join them on opening night. I was prepared for slow service (which was a good thing since our server forgot to put in our entree orders), but I wasn't prepared to be so disappointed with the food.

When reviewing the Southern inspired menu, it was challenging to find an appetizer that I really wanted to try. It wasn't that the choices sounded bad, they just didn't sound like what I wanted to eat at a chic, new restaurant on a Friday night. Selections included biscuits with venison sausage, chicken pot pie, crispy chicken livers, a beet and chickpea puree, and pork riblets. We ended up trying the biscuits with venison sausage ($13) and the crispy chicken livers ($9). Both were okay, but I would not order either of them again. Next time I would likely try the chicken pot pie ($3.50 each) if it isn't sold out.

Upon the recommendation of our server, I tried the chicken stuffed chicken ($22) for my entree. I am not sure what the roasted chicken was stuffed with because all I could taste was an overwhelming herb (which I think was thyme) that affected the entire dish. I did not like it. FWJoey tried the braised kobe cheeks ($24) which was topped with a sweet cherry red wine sauce. One bite of this dish was enough for me. Not only was the sauce too sweet, the texture of the braised meat seemed mushy rather than tender. Perhaps that is just the texture of kobe cheeks (I wouldn't know since this was my first time to try them) rather than a flawed cooking technique, but either way, I found it to be off putting.

I thought the best dish we tried was the Texas Quail Breast appetizer which was a pasta stuffed with quail in a tomato butter sauce. This dish was ordered by our friend, FWCB, as his entree and I wish I had done the same thing. Since our dinner at Brownstone, I have suggested to friends that he/she should order the quail pasta appetizer as an entree. Well, I guess others thought that was a good idea too because the Texas Quail Breast is no longer offered as an appetizer. Instead, it has been transformed into a $21 entree. Smart move on Brownstone's part.

On a positive note, I enjoyed the atmosphere at Brownstone and the drinks were unique and yummy. The Tequila Berry Cobbler ($11) was a winner and so was the Dark and Sour (if you like rum).

Brownstone definitely has potential. Despite my unimpressive first meal, I intend to give it another try after a few more months of being open. I am confident the kinks will be worked out in a matter of time. Sometimes when you have a not so great experience at a restaurant, you leave thinking "I'll never be back." That wasn't how I felt about Brownstone. When leaving I thought, "I really want this place to succeed and will be back to give it a second chance."

Brownstone
840 Currie Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107-2940
(817) 332-1555
www.Brownstonerestaurants.com

On the outside, Patrizio looks like your average, run of the mill, casual Italian eatery. The inside, however, feels anything but casual. Both the bar area and the restaurant areas have a posh feel with bold colors on the walls and luxe fabrics adorning the seats. Although the interior was not at all what I expected, I loved it and found myself excited to try the food.

OKCynthia and I started our meal with a refreshing French Martini ($10)... A perfect first course for any girlie weekend lunch (special thanks to Drew for the suggestion). Next, we tried the Crispy Goat Cheese appetizer ($8.08) which was served with a mixed green salad topped with pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and a balsamic drizzle. We would have enjoyed the goat cheese much more if it had been served with crostinis. Next time, I will choose the bruschetta ($3.41) as my appetizer because we saw it served at several tables around us and agreed that it looked great.

One of the entrees we enjoyed was the Open Face Ravioli ($9.38) which consisted of one, large square of pasta stuffed with sautéed artichokes, mushrooms, roasted peppers, asparagus and garlic. All of these ingredients were tossed in a roasted garlic cream sauce and then the pasta sheet was topped with tomatoes and pesto. The dish was tasty, but beware of the large chunks of garlic. I found four cloves in mine.

We also tried Grilled Vegetable Plate which came with an assortment of asparagus, tomatoes, summer vegetables (zucchini and squash), carrots, onions and polenta. We both enjoyed this dish and would order it again. It is a nice option for something a little lighter. For dessert, we could not resist having a baby peach bellini ($3.88).

The prices at Patrizio are extremely reasonable especially since the restaurant's atmosphere is so high end. There is no doubt that it is going to be one of Fort Worth's newest hot spots. Go check it out and get ready to be impressed!

Patrizio
2932 Crockett Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 698-0003
www.patrizios.net

FWJoey and I checked out Cat City Grill last weekend with TXJohn and TXBrit. Our dining experience was fine, but nothing to rave about. We started with the Lobster Bites ($12) which just tasted like something fried. The remoulade sauce was really good, but that was the highlight of the dish. For the price, I expected the lobster portion of the dish to steal the show and it didn't.

Next, I had the Mimosa Shrimp and Scallops ($24). The shrimp and scallops were good but the dish was a little bland. The bok choy and asparagus were surprisingly nice with the mild sauce. FWJoey tried the chicken fried rack of lamb ($25) and it was okay, but it tasted like a "chicken fried something with gravy on it." The whipped potatoes that were served with the rack of lamb were the tastiest part of the dish.

On a previous lunch visit, I tried the quiche with the layered spinach salad ($12). The quiche was a generous serving and it was good. The spinach salad had some tasty components such as mandarin oranges, dried cherries, bacon, gorgonzola crumbles and a plum vinaigrette, but it didn't impress me as much as I expected it to.

Overall, Cat City Grill is okay, but it doesn't have a "Wow" factor.

Cat City Grill
www.catcitygrill.com
1208 W Magnolia Ave
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
(817) 916-5333

Ellerbe Fine Foods is the most upscale, sophisticated restaurant on Magnolia. It's been open less than a year and appears to be doing well based on a recent Friday night visit when both the indoor and outdoor dining areas were filled with happy diners. FWJoey and I went to decided to try Ellerbe with OUVernon and OUShelby because it is one of OUShelby's favorite places to go in Fort Worth. She promised me I wouldn't be disappointed and she was right!

Our server told us that many of Ellerbe's selections incorporate local ingredients so I decided to try the Brazos Valley Cheddar Tart ($9) as my starter instead of a salad. The tart arrived sitting next to some candied apples which complimented the cheddar nicely. The tart's consistency was similar to quiche. I enjoyed the tart and would probably order it again. Although the serving size was small, it was perfect to wet my appetite and still save plenty of room for an entree.

FWJoey was impressed with the Scott Farm Creamy Tomato Soup ($7) that he had for a starter. He gave me a sample and I'll have a hard time choosing between this soup and the tart on our next visit.

Moving on the the entrees...Based on the server's recommendation, I ordered the Louisiana Breakfast ($19). This was a surprising choice for me because I had every intention of ordering fish or scallops. However, I was intrigued by the Louisiana Breakfast which consisted of a large link of quail sausage, a fried egg, some collard greens and couche couche. I had never heard of couche couche, but knew I had to try it once the server told me it was basically fried cornbread. The entire entree was drizzled with a light sugar cane syrup that was delicious but not overwhelming. The day after eating at Ellerbe, I found myself craving this dish.

FWJoey tried the Chef's Choice Steak ($31) which was a baseball cut filet. I think FWJoey was drawn to the steak because he saw the words bacon and bleu cheese in the description, but the bacon and bleu cheese were actually a topping on the small green salad that was served alongside the steak rather than being on the steak itself. It wasn't exactly what FWJoey had in mind, but it was still good nonetheless. The steak was prepared medium rare and came out sliced in medallions. Although the steak's flavor was good, FWJoey thinks he'll explore another menu item on our next visit. We also tried the Texas Bay Shrimp & Louisiana Maque Choux ($9) which was a big hit at the table. I don't know everything that was in this unique side dish, but some of the ingredients were shrimp, corn, bell peppers, garlic, onions, cajun spices and something that made the sauce creamy. It was an unexpected treat suggested by our server.

For dessert, FWJoey and I shared the chocolate tartlet ($7) served with a tangy gelato that was perfect. OUVernon and OUShelby tried the bread pudding ($7) which received high marks because it was flaky instead of soggy.

Our dining experience at Ellerbe was nothing but enjoyable. We are told the menu changes frequently due to the use of local, seasonal ingredients so I am looking forward to seeing what the chef comes up with next.

Reservations strongly recommended.

Ellerbe Fine Foods
1501 W Magnolia Avenue
Ft Worth, Texas 76104
817-926-3663
http://www.ellerbefinefoods.com

For those who grew up in Fort Worth, George's Specialty Foods is no hidden secret. It has been a family run business since 1951. But for folks like FWJoey and me, we had no idea how much of a treat we were in for when we ventured to George's last Saturday. I had noticed George's advertisements in FWWeekly over the past few weeks and remember reading a review praising its Greek food items so we thought we would give it a try. After all, ever since the Parthenon closed, we haven't found a place to eat Greek food other than the annual Greek festival at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.

We started with a couple of generous sized dolmas ($1.50 each) which are grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground meat. These were delicious and did not have the overly pickled taste that those sold at Central Market have. These dolmas were the perfect way to wet our appetites.

FWJoey and I each ordered the gyro ($5.79) as our main entree. If I had to guess, I would say there was about a pound of lamb meat stuffed in the perfectly warm pita bread topped with a refreshing tsatsiki. The tsatsiki, which is a mixture of yogurt, cucumbers and garlic, is one of my favortite parts of any greek meal and this one did not disappoint.

FWJoey and I also shared an order of the spanakopita ($4.50) which is a phyllo pastry
stuffed with a filling of chopped spinach, feta cheese, onions and other spices. We thoroughly enjoyed the spanakopita, but certainly did not need it since the gyro was so filling. Next time, I will probably skip it.

Another food item I'll probably skip on my next visit is the baklava ($1.75). I thought it left an unusual after taste. Skipping this dessert is fine by me since my belly will be full of dolmas, gyros and tsatsiki!

For those who don't care for lamb meat, rumor has it that the Submarine sandwich is killer. One of my friends who grew up in Fort Worth said he thinks he has eaten at George's over 2,000 times and the Submarine is his favorite. Also said to be yummy is the Greek turkey sandwich.

Lots of choices and lots to love at George's. If you need a Greek food companion, call me!

George's Specialty Foods
4424 White Settlement Rd (just west of Tres Joses)
Fort Worth, TX 76114-3801
(817) 737-0414
Open Tuesdays thru Saturday from 10a.m. - 4p.m.