It’s no secret that Fort Worth is one of our favorite quick getaway spots for a long weekend (check out this downtown Fort Worth hotel we stayed at). The more we go,we love Fort Worth. And it always surprises us that it’s a short thirty minute drive from Dallas. The burgeoning restaurant scene leaves us yearning for the next visit. To make the most of our getaway, we sandwich in a brunch and an early dinner with a trip to a museum. Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly eateries in Fort Worth:
Tim Love having lunch with me was like a lunch-with-Tim-Love accident. My friend is a very important radio host who seems to think inviting me to radio tapings is the right thing to do. He almost always includes me during chef interviews in Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Please be excited because even though I didn’t have cash to pay the forced valet guy out front, this interview was worth the agony of wondering if I’d ever get out of forced valet that day.
If you want Sunday brunch, get there early. They stop serving it at "10:45ish" according to the waiter we had...should be called breakfast instead
Coming from Oklahoma, I know barbecue when I see it, and this is it! Such a cool venue of outdoor seating and games. Good place to entertain friends without actually having to do all the work!
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I really like Woodshed. I give the ambiance and atmosphere a five and the food a three. The tin building does look a bit like a large shed. All of the cooking happens inside that building. Two large plate glass windows let you see the cooking in action. A full hog was turning on the spit while we were there.
Seating can be broken down into three different areas all of it outdoors. Two of the three have covered roofs to keep the sun and rain off the patrons. The other is exposed to the elements. They have done a fantastic job of setting up spray mists and fans to keep it cool even in 100 degree heat. Heating elements are used for cold weather days. The first area of seating is the bar. It's very active with young twenty somethings gathering and having a good time with a drink in hand. The second area is the main dinning under the cover. The third area is open air with gravel on the ground and full view of the river. A live band plays in this area, but you can hear it everywhere. I can't say enough for the wonderful set up and atmosphere.
The food names, offerings and exotic nature build a huge anticipation especially with the ambiance, but it falls short on taste. We tried the market sausage which was rattlesnake/rabbit. It was a bit dry and light on spices. The brisket was slightly dry and very little smoke or bark flavor. The baby back ribs were pretty good, but dry. The best dishes of the night were the crispy potatoes with smoked garlic aioli and borracho beans. A close second place was the Mexican Corn (on the cob). As you can see the featured meat items were not as good as the sides. Still, I would come back in a heartbeat to enjoy the atmosphere.
I live up the street from Woodshed and it's truly my neighborhood restaurant. Woodshed also allows dogs, so our Lucy has been as well. This visit, I had the meat of the day in a taco ... Which was goat! I always have the borracha beans and Mexican corn too.
My favorite part about Woodshed is the atmosphere. It's extremely open and it's fun going there on a nice night and sitting outside to enjoy the weather. I always get the burger and a side of corn. If you're into live music, woodshed is the place to go. They have regularly scheduled love music during dinner and later at night.
$25, with tip, for an unforgettable meal; I'd say that's reasonable. Got the bulgogi tacos, Mexican corn (best corn I ever ate in my life) and a tea. Delicious all around and a cool vibe too. How can this place get 65%? Glad I ignored it and went with the local's recommendation.
It's a destination for us .... My wife and I very much enjoy both the food and the atmosphere. Yes, it's pricey for BBQ and sometimes the seasoning is a little 'over the top' but we flat-out love the place enough to make the drive from McKinney a few times a year.
Bottom line: frankly, it's a real treat to be able both to access quality 'que without having to wait salivating in a tiresome line and then to be able to savor it in a delightful ambiance.
Great flavors, nice atmosphere.. I had the bulgogi tacos with kim chi - a big pile of smoked brisket with spicy korean-style kim chi on top, and three thick fresh corn tortillas.
the individual chocolate pie was cute and delicious. Rich and chocolatey, but not overly sweet.
Nice open-air atmosphere.
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Not Bad but think I need to try to eat here again. Came to visit this place for a going away luncheon for a co-worker. They were able to accomodate 7 of us no problem.
First ordered was one of their apps which was the smoked hummus with pit master fat, tortilla chips, and camp bread. It was very good, good size portion, and the smokey flavor was present throughout each dip of the chip.
Another app that was ordered was the crispy potatoes.....another excellent app with a great tasting dipping sauce.
I ordered their butcher's sandwich-comes with brisket, pulled pork, and today's sauage (I think it was elk). The sandwich was tastey but mine came mostly with pulled pork, I didnt see or taste the brisket, and I only got two thin slices of the sausage.. House made chips were decent but I prefer fries (which they dont offer).
Co-worker ordered the bulgogi beef tacos and I got to try the meat and it was tender and delicious. Pretty decent portion too.
all in all, a great experience, the food came out fast but still tasted good. I wish their draft beer was just a litte colder. The set up of the place is cool and well designed with free valet service. Wait staff very attentive and it got packed quickly.
Will recommend and will go again in near future.
9.5 out of 10. The best BBQ ever - we can't wait to go back! We had the stuffed peppers as an appetizer and I had the butcher's sandwich - all VERY good. Great lamb brisket; tender, juicy meat; perfect toasted bun; fast service; wonderful atmosphere - plus, you can bring your dog. My only complaint was the kettle chips - they were very stale (bleh). Also, they ran out of straws (??) Overall, one of our favorite places to eat.
Surprised. I saw some bad reviews on here, but was still curious. My sister wanted to go for her birthday so we we went last night. Gotta say, I was very impressed with the food. Not a fan of country music or eating outside. Especially in Texas. It was way hot. The table was too small for our party. The Singer/guitarist was way to loud to enjoy a meal or the sound of the voice right next to you. But the food was way worth it. Plus, there were hot women everywhere.
Located on the banks of the Trinity River, Woodshed has a great patio dining area. Pork ribs were a little over cooked but tasty. Really likes the Mexican corn served on a stick and coated with cojita cheese and chili powder. Burger was also good, but not as good as Fred's Texas Cafe.
Brandi Ash Bissonnette
+4.5
I really like this place. I recommend the loaded baked potato. The menu is small so not a lot to choose from, but I think places with small menus take more care in their food. Every time I go to Fort Worth I eat here.
Like!. Tim Love has managed to produce a unique BBQ experience without trying to turn Texas BBQ into something it isn't (i.e. hip, trendy and with ostentatious presentations). This place has great atmosphere and an energetic vibe, but the food stays true to its roots: simple, bold flavors, no frills. Plating and presentation are simple without being careless...the emphasis is on what you eat, sans frivolous garnishes. The BBQ beef ribs were 100% legit. Borracho beans were the best pintos I've had in a while. Smoked potatoes with aioli are a "must-try" item. Prices are reasonable. The place does get crowded, but the servers are pleasant and we didn't mind the wait. Once we ordered the food, it came out quickly.
Dang Good Place. This is one of our newest favorites places to chow down. Best hummus and the artichoke app is incredible. Open your mind as the meats of the night change every time we've gone but yet to have a bad meal. Cool relaxed setting on the river. Great selection of micro brews. Don't miss out on the excellent Tim Love's addition.
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Had a blast!. This outdoorsy restaurant is awesome. Cool vibe on the patio - live music, chairs, couches, tables make this casual hangout by the trinity river a great place for just about any occasion. People bring their dogs along too. I had the Redfish en Papillote. It was wonderful. It comes in a package pipping hot. Piled with about a cup and a half of broccoli, bell peppers, jalapeno, onion, and garlic. So tasty but not too greasy. Fish was moist and tender, cooked perfectly. I ate the whole thing! Meant to take a picture and post it but I completley forgot when they sat the plate in front of me haha. Portions are perfectly sized so you can snack on an appetizer with a friend then order your own entree. All the other dishes my friends ordered looked very appetizing as well. I'm pretty sure everyone cleaned their plate! The whitefish dip was incredible. Asked the waiter what was in it - he said just a simple mix of whitefish and sour cream with seasoning. Brilliant! I'll be back for sure! Service was excellent. It was pretyt busy but our table was helped in a timely manner.
I like woodshed for the atmosphere, music and drinks.......the food is bad.
Melanie Carruth Carr
+4.5
Excellent, amazing and fabulous!!!! The atmosphere is perfect, the food is amazing, especially the bugogli tacos!!!! The chocolate pie is exquisite!!!! Mr. Love you've done a fabulous job!!!!!
Woodshed Smokehouse. Excelent food
My Daughter had the ribs, which I tried, great tasting ribs, little overcooked, beans have a great smokey flavor as well.
I had the Woodshed Burger and it was cooked perfect and the sausage they add is great.
Bulgogi Beef & Kimchi tacos that my wife ordered stoled the show, I tried it and wish i would have ordered it, it had just the right spice and perfectly cooked/flavored beef.
Nice outdoor area to eat or hang out, great live music, We got rained out and they quickly accomedated everyone from outside to in.
Didn't leave i bite of food on any plate!
Fantastic. Have eaten here multiple times...food is always excellent.
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Good Food, Incredible Service. My wife and I have dined at Love's Woodshed 8 times, and I finally felt compelled to say something. I have to say that as a BBQ junkie, my first couple times I just stuck with the basics... ribs (pork ribs are freaking fantastic), baked potato (a manager recommended I try it with pulled pork on top... DAMN! Thanks Justin!), beans, etc. But after several visits of getting my usuals, the "boss" told me I had to try something different. I got the bird of the day, which was a quail, and my oh my, it did not disappoint. The meat was juicy and had a ton of flavor, the spelt was great as well (and I really didn't think I was going to like it), and it came with some of those awesome smoked artichoke hearts too. Great dish, Tim!
Aside from the food always being spot on, I will say that the hostesses need a bit of work... it's kind of hit or miss at that host stand, as they seem to be either very friendly and helpful, or borderline rude and dismissive.... that seems to be the one weakness this dive has right now (apart from long waits, but that's a good problem to have I suppose!)
I've got to say that the service has been damn near impeccable every single visit. The wife and I are foodies, so we love going out to different spots around town, and IMO, the 'Shed has some of the best servers I've seen in Fort Worth... they have all been extremely knowledgable, friendly, and attentive to all our needs. I generally try to remember names if I've had either above and beyond great, or absolutely terrible service. The couple names that stuck in my head for the remarkable way they took care of us would be Breanna, Daniel, Amber, and Noah. The managers at this place are top-notch as well... very outgoing and friendly. Most restaurants we go to, you can't even find a manager if you ask for one. At the Woodshed (and the Lonesome Dove too), they always seem to be out on the front lines talking to customers, even laughing and joking with them. Justin, Phillip, and the new lady manager (haven't caught her name yet) have all approached us during our visits and given us a good laugh and friendly thank you.
Kudos to Tim Love for the great food and great people!!!!!!
Great idea!! Fun experience.. I liked the slightly fried crunchy artichoke hearts and amazing chocolate pie... Lovely combo with a glass of wine in a plastic cup... My husband had the fish.. Very nice flavor .. A bit pricey... But happy we went!!
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Great Food/Greater Service!!!. Loved the food here. Several friends had gone earlier in the month to take some visiting Australians out for something different and they loved it! So one of my friends brought me out.
I have to say that the food was great!!! We ordered the whitefish dip to start and for the meal, I ordered bahn mi tacos. They were great.
But what really impressed me was our waitress, Amanda. I asked her several questions about how some of dishes were cooked and ingredients in them and she was very knowledgable about all of them! The one question she was unable to answer was what kind of mushrooms were in a dish that said "wild mushrooms". However, she told me she did not know and promptly went and returned to the table with the answer! I have eaten at a lot of finer establishments and Amanda was by far the best waitperson I have ever had in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. To me, this and the quality of the food, speaks to the thought and efforts put into the restaurant by the chef and management!
Now the seating was crowded when we got there but hey, this place is still trending "new" and is very popular. It is a BBQ place basically but its also much more. You do need to be aware that it is open air and as such, it can be warm if you are not dressed to be sitting outside. However, I found the atmosphere to be great. We were told it would be about a 45-50 minute wait but I think we were only waiting around 30 minutes.
If you enjoy good food or just BBQ, try this place with an open mind. I think people will be surprised by how great it is...just come prepared for the outdoor feel of the place and that it is still a very popular place to go. I look forward to going back, I am dying to try the beef shin!
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Sooo...gooood!!!!. So, I come to Fort Worth once a year for a few weeks. I love Lonesome Dove and really like The Love Shack. Imagine my joy when the Woodshed was being built last year whle I was in town. This year I was finally able to attend, and I was not disappointed. iF YOU ARE ORDERING THE bbq YOU ARE REALLY MISSING THE BEST DISHES! There is really great BBQ all around this town, but a great unique dish is something else.
Tried the smoked olives, game of the day, sausage of the day, and the mushrooms dish. ALL crazy good. The sausage of the day was elk and pork. Nice game flavor and not to heavy on the spices. The game was smoke quail (with a nice smoke ring) w/ crispy smoke artichoke over splet served like bbq beans ,really great. The best dish was the forged mushrooms and chiles over polenta with a runny egg on top. AWESOME! THe beer list has too many TX beers, I've yet to find any great southern beers. But still a good overall list, albiet small.
WOodshed really is a must try. Great vibe, chill, relaxed and al fresco.
When it comes to woodshed it is hands down the best patio dining in ft. Worth. I've been hearing the bitching about how hot it is and how long it takes, but when you hand make everything and get the kind of traffic this place gets, what do you expect? I got the animal of the day (pig) tacos with lime and these amazing home made salsas. I highly recommend them. It's really great and fun. Prepare to wait a while and pay a lot for food that's totally worth it
Pork ribs were great. Quail had good flavor but breasts were dry. Duck sausage was good. Broccolini salad was badass artichoke was great. Apple jalapeño fried pie was badass. Server had me on the fence of whether or no to 'like it,' and i'll tell you why.....our salad, sausage, ribs and quail were brought out all at once, after I ordered them coursed seperately. Most of the food was cold by the time we got around to eating it. 7/10 for taste and value and 2/10 for service. Woodshed does have an overtly casual atmosphere, but Damn, we do need our meal coursed correctly.
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People Chill. Ok, if you have a problem with a restaurant this is a great forum to rant...look at my posts, I rail on restaurants all the time. This is a BBQ joint, it's impossible to make endless amounts of meat, things are going to run out. The most popular BBQ in the nation has a waiting line for 2 hours and there is no guarantee you're getting to eat....thats just how popular BBQ joints go. I know it sucks to drink nice wine out of plastic cups but do you think the woodshed designed it this way or maybe it's an issue with the city being next to the river and the trail? You're going to write a negative rant because a valet that isn't employed by the woodshed tells you something regarding seating? If you hate the food that's fine, rail away, if you hate Tim Love and the sweetheart deal he got with Streams and Valleys, that's fine, if you had bad service this is your forum but don't complain about things they have no control over. It's a new restaurant that is a bigger hit than anyone could have ever imagined...you can go here or pay 1/4 of the price and enjoy your Spring Creek BBQ.
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Great flavors, but lacking in some departments. There seems to be a bit of a rave going on about the Woodshed Smokehouse, and it certainly isn't all unjustified.
This Tuesday was beautiful, and the evening was warm, so the Woodshed was quite packed.
Thanks to dining alone, I was able to sit at the big community table close to the bar area and I didn't have to wait at all. The wait staff told me that it would be about 35 minutes wait if I wanted to get a table of my own.
But hey, it's more fun with meeting new people.
And had a craving going on for corn all day, so I thought I'd go with the mexican corn to start off. I switched out the aioli for butter (which in retrospect I perhaps shouldn't have, but I felt right at the time of order). The corn came nicely charred and was served with grated cheese and chili powder.
Some sections were a little bit too dry for me, and the smoked flavor really didn't come through all that much. A decent corn on the cob, but nothing to write home about (the variety at the country fair is far superior).
For entree I picked the Smoked red fish enpapillote, and I was expecting a whole fish in parchment to arrive at the table. However, it was a very clean cut filet, served with what I believe was some excellent broccolini, fennel and celery that had steamed along in the parchment. Sadly though, the enpaillote was open when it reached me, so I didn't get the burst of flavorful steam that I had hoped for.
The fish was cooked to perfection and packed quite a punch, and definitely saved the Woodshed Smokehouse for me. Do try it!
Atmosphere is awesome. Disappointed that they were out of ribs at 8pm. Ordered lamb tacos. Very good. Our vegetatian friend loved the mushroom/polenta and egg dish. The whitefish dip is delicious. Not a fan of the the wine coming in plastic cups though. The band was great. I see a this as a dependable meeting place with friends from now on.
Best Ribs. Chef Love has done it again. After eating at the Lonesome Dove a few times, we tried The Woodshed Saturday night and the place was packed. After drinking a few beers at the bar, from the great beer selection, we were seated at our table. The waiter was friendly and attentive and checked in on us often enough without being annoying. We ate family style and ordered a little of everything. Every dish was good but what stood out was the pork ribs. These aren't just any baby backs, They were the best I ever had! The sauce was good on the side but the ribs stand up on their own. Perfectly smoked, with a good bark and almost falling off the bone. These are competition style ribs! The place is really cool. It has an open dinning room (it was perfect weather for eating outside) with live music. Definitely worth a visit.
Dinner Last Night. I loved the smoked olives!!!! 3 girls at the front desk were rude and acted superior-come on you work as a hostess! Waiter named Scooby was superior! Salads and whitefish dip perfect for a non meat eater in our party. Thought the redfish serving was small. Wine on tap the best. Will return only before it gets blazing hot, hot air conditioned. Very Austin feel, sitting by Trinity and listening to band after dinner a real treat. Apple pie with peppers was a treat for dessert.
Rabbit and rattle snake sausage was amazing. Beef ribs were the most flavorful ribs I have ever had. Cornish game hen was moist and tasty. The only negative thing was that the wine was served in a plastic cup. The server was extremely knowledgable and helpful. Was about $70 for two people. I would definitely return.
Excellent food, good prices considering the preparation, solid service from a well trained staffer, nice beverage selection, parking wasn't even a problem. Best of all was the atmosphere...one of the most comfortable, casual digs in the Fort.
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Mixed Experience. Ate here for lunch on Feb 14, service was fantastic and the burger was extraordinary. Decided to bring my wife later for valentines. We ordered burgers and stuffed peppers. 15 minutes later our peppers arrived, but the waitress never brought our waters or extra plate. 30 minutes later she came by and asked how things were going. I informed her that they would be going better with food. The manager comped us our meal and drinks. I got the sense that the waitress received 'a talkin to'. There were empty tables so I don't believe it was too busy for good service. When they apologized and brought out the food one of the burgers was too raw, but I didn't feel like prolonging the experience so I ate that one and gave my wife the one that was better cooked. At this point in these situations you don't know what a cook or wait staff will do to the food if it is sent back. I like the scenery and being able to eat while looking at the river. The fires are nice to sit next to while dining on a cool evening. I'll probably return.
Went here last night with my girlfriend and another couple. The service was good. Beer selection is fantasic. I really enjoyed the open kitchen, though I would warn any vegetarians or hardcore animal lovers to not look. The animal of the day roasts on a spit before your very eyes. I thought it was awesome, but I could see why others might not. We had the sausage of the day, which was elk. It was smoky and sweet and came with a sharp whole-grain mustard for dipping. The star of the meal was the Paella for four. Chef Love served it himself, and it was truly delicious. My favorite part was the rabbit-rattlesnake sausage. The jalapeño laced fried apple pies were also delicious. We will definitely be back and are thrilled to have such a great, vibrant restaurant on the river. Hopefully, the rest of the development will follow suit.
Great Experience!. I have been a couple of times now. I have always had friendly service and delicious food. It always takes a little while for everybody (waitstaff and customers) to adjust to everything, because this is MORE than a standard restaurant. It is a restaurant, a bar, a backyard, a breakfast stop for some...it is aiming to be a cool place to hangout period...and I totally will.
The menu IS unique which I love. The ramen was so delicious. I have been able to sample at least half the menu by sharing with friends which I highly recommend. I can't wait to go back!
Beautiful restaurant in both atmosphere and food. Every time we come the menu has changed a bit. Be advised a lot of the seating does not have backs. The food is flavorful and does not disappoint. The service however could improve. Our waitress rarely checked on us for drinks or other needs. We asked for an additional sauce when we did see her and did not receive it until we were finished eating and then found on the bill there was an extra charge for it. So that was disappointing. Salmon tacos were our favorite entree and the apple pie empanadas were not to be missed, primarily because of the ice cream that came with them.
Stopped in for breakfast while in from out of town. Ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon. Bacon was super thick pork belly, not very impressed. Biscuits were very good, and the gravy was decent. Had a sweet flavor to it that I wasn't really excited about. Would of much preferred the classic taste and look of both the biscuits and gravy with bacon. That being said, I'll go 4 stars since it was my first time there. Awesome atmosphere though.
Excellent experience all around. We went as a large group and had no wait to get seated. Great service. I highly recommend the beef shin if you have 5 to 6 adults. Definitely get the chips, cheese dip, and guacamole. They also do ranch water the right way!
Very cool place along a river, with very friendly staff. The food was amazing and it didn't break the bank either. Fantastic spot for us to stop on our trip, will recommend to friends and family!
The pulled pork brisket sandwich and crispy potatoes were amazing, as well as the potato salad and borracho beans. 10/10 experience
Great environment outside by the river with live music, They have a good selection of draft beer. The rabbit and rattlesnake sausage is definitely a must try here!
Great little location right off the trinity. Breakfast food was great I recommend the chicken and waffles as hey were pretty good. They have different types of sausage which was pretty interesting. The day I went it was blueberry venison sausage which I was a bit apprehensive about but turned out to be delicious. Would definitely go here again and I’m sure the evening or weekend atmosphere would be nice. Be prepared your dining right of the river so there will be wildlife around.
Great atmosphere and service! The frozen margaritas are so good! The food was excellent for the most part. My fiance had the one beef rib, and it was excellent!! I had the brisket and au gratin potatoes. I was slightly disappointed with the regular brisket, as some of the slices were still cold and it was a little dry for my taste. The hickory smoke was on the heavy side. Tge potatoesxwere great!! I would definitely eat here again and try something different.
Freaking delicious. Love the outside atmosphere. Right by the river. Access to the river path. Live music. Loved this place. Mexican corn wasn't great but not bad. Potatoe salad was amazing. Brisket and ribs were awesome. Love this place.
We had a great experience this afternoon! All 6 of us enjoyed our food! Large sandwiches, tasty tender brisket and excellent corn on the cob and sides! Good service and a beautiful afternoon to eat outside.
Great for small group gathering and events. Food is great, staff is polite and helpful and service is laid back. Parking is generally available on location.
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