Fort Worth Weekly - News, Entertainment, Restaurants, Music

Top Five Steaks

1. The steak by which all others are judged: gorgeously seared, simply seasoned, exquisite to the last bite. Del Frisco's 16-oz prime rib-eye. 817 Main St, FW.

2. Bonnell's melt-in-the-mouth 8-oz buffalo tenderloin with rye whiskey cream sauce. 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd, FW.

3. King of the ranch: Lambert's 12-oz New York strip with mushroom gravy. 2731 White Settlement Rd, FW.

4. Eddie V's impeccable 22-oz prime bone-in rib-eye. 3100 W 7th St, FW.

5. The lunch-salad umami fest: thick slices of New York strip layered with grilled tomatoes and Roquefort cheese. Dino's Steak & Claw House, 342 S Main St, Grapevine.

Top Five Taquerias

1. Ernesto's Taqueria is the joint to which all others must compare themselves. The fresh pastor and crispy chicharon are must-tries. The staff is gringo-friendly and always pleasant. 4050 Hemphill St, FW.

2. The food is always fresh at Juanito's Taqueria, and the place is seemingly always open. 4150 Hemphill St, FW.

3. Taqueria Melis is a walk-up, cash-only operation that looks like an out-of-control lemonade stand. There's no inside seating, but the food is worth standing and waiting for. 4304 W Vickery Blvd, FW.

4. Taqueria San Luis now has four locations, and it's easy to see why. The pastor tortas are Mexican-grandmother good.

5. Taqueria San Antonio serves up great tacos and some of the best tamales in town. 7299 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW.

Top Five Burgers

1. Is it the combo tenderloin-brisket patty that makes this burger the best of the best? The crunchy bacon, the crisp fixings, the tangy Love Sauce? The cute  fried quail egg capper? Yes to all. Dirty Love Burger at the Love Shack, 108 E Exchange Av and 817 Matisse Dr, FW.

2. Nationally famous and shooting for global stardom: Fred's Diablo Burger, whose fiery chipotles and cool Swiss cheese dance a hot and creamy tango until everyone's ready for a nap. 915 Currie St, FW.

3.  Lowering the heat a notch, but piling on the flavor: M&O Station Grill's Tijuana Burger needs two patties to support poblano chiles, cream cheese, freshmade guac, grilled onions, a swipe of chipotle mayo, and that magic "hamburger sauce." 200 Carroll St, FW.

4. Even the thick sweet bun, heap o' chewy bacon, and blanket of blue cheese can't overpower the flawlessly seasoned beefy center of Dutch's bacon-and-blue-cheese burger. 3009 S University Av, FW.

5. Sometimes you just want a plain ol' extra-thick, super-juicy, heart-of-America Snuffer's cheeseburger. Go for the half-pounder with American, Swiss, or aged cheddar at 431 Grand Av E, Southlake.

Breakfast

Readers' choice: Ol' South Pancake House, 1509 S University Dr, FW

Critic's choice: Mimi's Café, 5858 SW Loop 820, FW

You can stick with bacon and eggs if you like, but Mimi's opens up a world of freshly prepared breakfast choices, from omelets - try the crab and avocado special - to crepes stuffed with brie, quiche with fruit, croissants filled with ham and scrambled eggs, and eggs Florentine. There's also an array of griddle goodies, including pancakes, waffles, and  French toast stuffed with cream cheese and orange marmalade, as well as Mexican-inspired combos hot off the stove - all priced under $9.

Barbecue

Readers' choice: Railhead Smokehouse

Critic's choice: Smokey's BBQ

There's been a Smokey's BBQ off and on in East Fort Worth for decades. Now it's open again under new ownership but with many workers from the former regime, and if you haven't been back you need to go. Slow down when you get close, because the sign goes by in a flash. The place is plain-Jane in appearance, but that's practically a requirement in barbecue circles, and the food more than makes up for it: sweetly smoky chicken, peppery sausage, excellent sauce, great beans, and some of the best creamy potato salad this side of a church picnic.

Coffeehouse

Readers' choice: Starbucks, 2600 W 7th St, FW

Critic's choice: Gallery Art Café, 609 S Jennings Av, FW

First thing first: coffee. It's fair trade, locally roasted (by the Crabbs, see above), and  single origin. Choose from the Café Allegro (a breakfast blend with a touch of cinnamon), Nutty Blonde (light bean, medium roast), or Black Flag Pirate Blend - of course that's dark bean, dark roast. Food's fantastic too, and now they're open for breakfast. This comfy little place has been through five owners, and the current incarnation is almost two years old. Owner Doris Sawey thinks locally, not only with her coffee, but with art and music. Art exhibits change every six weeks, and local musicians play inside or on the patio.

Brunch

Readers' Choice: Blue Mesa, 1600 S University Dr,  Ste 609, FW

Critic's choice: Lambert's Steaks, Seafood & Whiskey, 2731 White Settlement Rd, FW

Lambert's Sunday brunch sets it apart from the herd. No limp salad or rubbery scrambled eggs behind sneeze guards here. Diners can sample items from the buffet line, including fruit salad, eggs, and homemade sausage, giant planks of salmon from the smoker, and prime rib. If that doesn't fill you up, you can order off the menu, which features eggs Benedict done three different ways, French toast, and any number of other cooked-to-order goodies. All for the same price! If you have room, select one (or all three) of Lambert's homemade desserts to finish the meal. For $4 more, add bottomless mimosas and plan on having someone else roll you out to the car and drive you home.

Coffee

Critic's choice: Aduro Bean, 6745 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW

Rupert and Nancy Crabb roast their own beans - single origin, fair trade, and organic - at their micro-roaster shop on Fort Worth's West Side, and they have the system down to perfection. This is not a sit-down coffee shop, just a place to pick up a pound or three of their expertly roasted beans and take 'em home for a luscious cup o' joe brewed to your own taste. The dark (really dark) roast is a favorite, but for those who didn't grow up on coffee boiled on the back of a wood cookstove, there are lighter blends, all equally rich, smooth, and caffeine-potent. On Wednesdays and Saturdays through the summer, you can find the Crabbs and their beans between the cantaloupes and tomatoes at the farmer's market on the Weatherford traffic circle.

Lunch Bargain

Critic's choice: Hysen's Nizza Pizza Pasta & Subs, 401 University Dr, FW; 7807 S Cooper St, Ste 123, Arl

Hysen Lushaj has been doing great pizza and pasta in Arlington for about a decade, but us Weeklyteers didn't know much about his fare until he opened a new restaurant in the Cultural District - and we were duly amazed: 20 different pasta dishes for $5.95, piled high in big bowls. Two slices of one-topping pizza plus a large drink for just $4.50. A huge salad, slice of pizza, and a drink for $5.25. And don't forget the stuffed pizzas: We loved the ones with spinach, mushrooms, and onions, just $4.25 each.