Maria's Mexican Kitchen

I wasn't aware that you could fall in love with a chef until in my late 30's, my husband and I began consistently eating over and over at the same group of restaurants.  Sunday brunch at the bar of Pacific Table, Friday evening drinks and appetizers with friends on the patio of Press Café (btw great location to allow kids to run around outdoors), and an obsession with the dip duo at The Tavern.  Many might not be aware that all of these (plus a currently shuttered FW Cork & Pig location) are the brain-child of Chef Felipe Armenta.  Should I mention I've even graced the Midland/Odessa Cork & Pig location with my presence - why stay exclusive to Fort Worth?

Transforming the shuttered Fort Worth Hoffbrau Steak & Grill House location into a true Mexican experience, Maria's atmosphere alone is worth the price of admission.  It's almost deceiving to believe that for 38 years the building housed a staple steak restaurant for the Fort Worth community.  

The first visit was in November 2021 on a whim while out and about in town.  It was packed - which lead to immediate running to the bar where we snagged two seats and immediately settled in for a lovely meal.  The fresh made salsa and tortilla chips are out of this world - like could eat a meal out of this good.  

My second visit was my "going away" party for work in December 2021.  This was a large group of over 10 people - several of them from all over the United States.  We had a wonderful time trying new drinks, sharing appetizers, and it was so fun to see what everyone ordered off the menu.  

I know! You want to know what I ordered!  Unfortunately, this specific dish is no longer on the menu in the form I ordered - Baby Rock Shrimp Enchiladas.  However, it has been replaced by a close relative in the Seafood Enchiladas.  Let's just say the plating of three enchiladas with three sauces is amazing.  The three sauces are unique on their own, but together created a balance from sweet to hot that I have yet to find elsewhere in Mexican dining.  

Our most recent visit was for my birthday in April (I know I've been working on this post for a few months).  I went for something lighter knowing I would dessert it up later in evening.  The Los Cabos Seafood Salad (pictured) was fresh, crisp, with just the right hint of spice.  While our food is always amazing, the service on this visit left us a little wanting...  Our daughter remembers the wait for our food more than the experience and food which bummed me out.

Nevertheless, we will return.

If you're looking for something with vegan or vegetarian options - they haven't quite hit the mark yet.  There are several great pescatarian options - and I'm sure they would give you the "you can order a salad without the meat".  It appears they have some options veg style for brunch, but we've not gone for brunch so I can't speak to that menu specifically.  However, if it's like any of his other restaurants brunch - I'm sure it is amazing.  

Holy Smokes - 10 Years and Where Have You Gone?

 This is one of those strange posts where you look back and think gosh "where did I loose track of time?", "how did I have so much time before and now I don't?", or some other question of your choosing.

I opened some of my old posts as I was thinking through what I'd like to do with my life and thought "this is one of those times where I've enjoyed the permanence of the internet".  It's sad to see some of my favorite places no longer in business, and I giggled as I read through pre-child outings (oh freedom where are you?!?!).  But then I think of all the new places that have opened and I've kept them all to myself.  

Fast forward 10 years - my husband and I have an 11-year old, have moved twice, have seen three very old pets pass away (dog, cat, and fish), have added two new cats and an adolescent dog to our family, and I have recently left my job of 7+ years.  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing with my life - I could keep a counselor in business for years dissecting my workaholic tendencies and trauma from my last job.  In the meantime I'm coming back to therapy that I enjoy - food, crazy pets, and writing for fun!

For those that keep up or randomly find these posts - I've updated a few of my lists (since it's been a bit).  I'll work on providing a well needed recommendation shortly - can anyone say Maria's Mexican Kitchen.   

Paco and John Mexican Diner

Have you met Paco? I have. And he's now one of my favorite restauranteurs.

I am writing this review again after several more visits to what has become our second favorite place to eat in Fort Worth. I don't know how anyone could have doubted our choice, since our favorite is John's restaurant of Paco & John... St. Emilion.

Last weekend Hambre Esposo & his wife joined Foodie and hubby at Paco & John for what turned out to be the most exciting visit to date. Side note: We have gone to eat brunch just about every weekend for the past month - see future posting on the brunch options. Back to the surprise - the dinner menu has been updated!! Not that the menu was bad before, but for all your veg eaters out there you have more than one option.

Here are a few of the newest additions to the dinner menu - the street taco's are available, vegetable enchiladas, spinach & cheese enchiladas, and I think there are a few more - I was so excited I forgot to write them all down.

Of course I had a hard time deciding since I thought I was just going to have to have the Chile Reino again. But, I finally nailed it down to the vegetarian enchilada plate (served with a side of rice, no beans). The plate included two of their sauteed vegetable enchiladas with a spinach & cheese enchilada in the middle. What a feast. The vegetable enchiladas are fantastic. It's the same mix of veggies that they use in their vegetable & sweet potato breakfast burrito - roasted peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onion. They are all seasoned perfectly and cooked just right to be in an enchilada. The spinach & cheese was okay - but next time I will order all veggie...

Of course the same starters are available - complimentary chips & their great salsa, quesos (crab, chirizo, and a new one with roasted peppers/onion), guacamole.

If you have not had a chance to try this new jewel in the Southside - don't waste another day. Remember for now BYOB and they are closed on Monday's.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

La Familia Mexican Restaurant

So it has probably been 3 months since we actually at La Familia. Don't mean any disrespect, but you know things come up.

This is probably one of the best "finds" for us with the help of "Hambre Esposo" and his wife (neighbor buddy & wife, also guest blogger). This was a late Friday night dinner after a neighborhood get together. For those of you that have never ventured in and out of the new development on 7th - there are several great little "hole-in-the-walls" (those restaurants that didn't sell out to the man).

Who needs to say more than Margarita on Fire! In a frozen mug comes the closet thing to a Norman, OK great at The Mont - a swirl of frozen margarita and sangria, topped with a sugar cube that has been soaked in tequila and then set ablaze. This tasty drink quenched our thirst and is well worth the visit alone.

For all the "veggies" out there I know you are so tired of going to Mexican restaurants only to be let down by the fact that they cook with lard - lard in everything including the refried beans. La Familia prides itself on using only natural ingredients and NO LARD in anything!!! This is probably one of the first Mexican joints that I have been free to eat the beans. So silly you say - oh no! - who goes to a Mexican restaurant and doesn't want the beans?

There are many veg options on the menu - from enchiladas to quesadillas and probably a few options in between. I chose the vegetarian enchiladas - stuffed with squash, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms and onions - topped with a small amount of cheese and tasty tomatillo sauce. This dish had just the right amount of veggies and a nice spicy kick.

Don't ask me about the salsa and chips - that was several months ago. I can tell you that all entrees come with bean & ham soup or a chicken tortilla soup - a nice little touch. So you ask will you go back? Of course! What a sweet find.

Ranking: 4 Carrots

Paco and John Mexican Diner

For those of you that don't know, this fantastic "quaint" joint has opened almost directly on the corner of 8th & Rosedale. The owners none other than proprietor of St. Emilion's & his long time friend and chef. Am I personally excited - yes!! Why you ask? Well, reason #1 none other than my favorite restaurant of all times is St. Emilion's; #2 they took a dump of an old convenient store and transformed it into a great place to get some fantastic food.

The restaurant has been open for lunches for several weeks now, but just recently they have started a dinner flight. So, on the second Friday of dinner being served, Foodie, Foodie's husband and two other couples joined in on the trek to confirm the greatness that is Paco & John.

The prices are great, and it's BYOB (for now) - so we tried a little bit of everything. The queso - with yes both crab & chorizo - was ordered. I ordered some guacamole, salsa and chips are complimentary. Oh my gosh the feast began. The table devoured the queso - and the quac - I couldn't share. It was creamy and had a great kick!

I think we literally ordered one of everything on the menu (which is not posted on the website at this time) - fresh steamed mussels, fajitas, shrimp tacos, stuffed chicken, and two chile reino's. I don't normal do a ton of cheese, but this chile reino was fantastic. Slightly breaded, covered in a red sauce with a side of roasted veggies and rice. I couldn't stop eating!! Every plate on the table was cleaned.

One bust is the limited amount of veggie items offered at dinner. For lunch there are several items, but I don't think they have down their dinner menu just quite yet.

So following our face stuffing meal, we took home their daily made brownies, topped it with some vanilla ice cream and chilled on our back porch. What an end to a great meal.

Ranking: 3 Carrots (still getting it together and the veg option was minimal)