A little less than a year after I moved back to Chicago, my parents began to get tired of empty nesting in Central Arkansas - who could blame them - and started to sniff out some new land to stake their claim.  After an exploratory road trip through the Southwest, up the West Coast and back, they called me, excited to tell me where I’d be spending the Christmases of the future…

They chose a town between Dallas and Fort Worth, a little hiccup next to Arlington called Grand Prairie, Texas.  My brother and I were skeptical.  Five hours immediately west of where they live now and still south of the Mason-Dixon?  Yeah.  Big change.

As is the case very very rarely, we were both wrong.  They’re in a great location to take advantage of both Dallas and Fort Worth’s strikingly diverse flavors - Dallas has more airs of a big city; Fort Worth is still quintessentially a good ole boy big town.  Urban cowboys.  Great entertainment.

Lately, a surprising number of my friends have found reason to visit the Dallas/Fort Worth area and have asked for good food recommendations.  After several visits over the past two years, with many thanks to my awesome cousins who live in Fort Worth, I’ve been able to establish my favorite spots, which I’ve recommended to so many of my friends lately that I thought it’d only make sense to share with all the Eat Feats readers as well.

1. Joe T. Garcia’s.  A James Beard award winner, Joe T.’s was started as a family business in 1935 that experienced escalating success, becoming one of the most popular restaurants in Fort Worth by 1970.  It retains this popularity today - with reported seating capacity of over 1000, there is still a line out the door and a rat race to find parking on any given day.  With reservations, large groups can be accommodated here, and much of the seating is on a huge, beautiful outdoor patio wrapped around a pool.  It’s a great spot for Texas people-watching. Oh, and Joe T.’s is cash only.

2. Railhead Smokehouse BBQ. I really don’t think you can go wrong with BBQ anywhere in this area, but this is the place my cousin Vanessa chose when we met for lunch, and I just remember forcibly resisting the urge to lick my plate.  Give it a shot, let me know what you think.

3. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.  I don’t even know where to begin with this place.  I wouldn’t know downtown Fort Worth without it.  This is the kind of place where “succulent” can be put to good use as a legitimate description of the quality of food - without getting smirked at…at least not a lot.  I had a Sesame Seared Tuna with soy ginger glaze here that changed my life.  My brother met The Rock here, and it changed his life.  Top notch surf and turf, top notch celebrity sightings.

4. Grace. This elegant newish spot, the brain child of a Del Frisco’s alum, has something to satisfy both the meat-and-potatoes cowboy and the sophisticated urban eater alike.  Huge wine list and really striking display wine cellars are placed at focal points through the dining room.  The menu, elegant American classics was crafted by Executive Chef Blaine Staniford, who at 19 was one of the youngest graduates of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY.  Notably, he has studied under San Francisco chef Michael Mina (shameless pitch, my good friend Jason is currently studying under Mina).  Great people watching too - we were seated next to a table of 40-something year old women who collectively had enough plastic on their persons to craft a formidable Barbie army.  Sexy, can I?

5. Zambrano Wine Cellar. I’ve only had the wine and desserts at this place, but it’s been enough to draw me back in almost every time I find myself in downtown Fort Worth.  Owner Cef Zambrano is another illustrious Del Frisco’s alum and is one of the most reliable wine sources throughout Dallas/Fort Worth.

6.  Sonic. Happy Hour.  Seriously.

And there you have it.  May these places find a spot in your heart and stomachs as well.  Anyone have any other Fort Worth (or Dallas, since I didn’t even touch that) favorites as well?