Fort Worth, September 22, 2025
News Summary
Fort Worth is transforming its culinary landscape, showcasing a blend of new upscale dining options, closures of long-standing restaurants, and innovative specialty products. Recent openings include The Mont and Polanco, while the closure of Cat City Grill underscores the pressures in the market. A surge in diverse dining choices reflects the city’s rich heritage and aims to cater to its growing population.
Fort Worth — Fort Worth is elevating its culinary scene, stepping out of Dallas’s shadow, with a wave of new and established restaurants, closures, and specialty products reshaping the city’s dining landscape. The changes include the opening of new fine-dining and upscale concepts, the arrival of specialty products for home preparation, and the announced closure of a long-standing steakhouse.
Key developments and immediate details
The Mont, a newly opened New American restaurant, brings a mid-century-inspired design and a diverse menu to downtown Fort Worth, including a 42-ounce Irodori Wagyu tomahawk steak. The Mont is the first Fine dining venture for co-owners of Cousin’s Barbecue and features private dining rooms and a lively bar scene with designer drinks. Another recent entry, Polanco, is a new upscale Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth focusing on innovative dishes and high-end dining experience.
Cat City Grill, a long-standing steakhouse, will close on September 28 due to changing market conditions and rising costs. The closure highlights broader pressures in the local market even as new concepts aim to attract residents and visitors.
A new convenience in the city’s food scene is the recent launch of Vietnamese coffee pouches, which makes it easier to prepare Vietnamese coffee at home for residents who want that specialty beverage without visiting a cafe.
Notable restaurants and dining options
The city offers a variety of dining options, including authentic Tex-Mex, barbecue, and Japanese cuisine. Longstanding and popular establishments reflect the variety and depth of Fort Worth’s culinary identity:
- Longhorn Saloon is a historic bar with over a century of history, known for its lively atmosphere and food options like Frito pie and house-smoked sandwiches.
- The Liberty Lounge is recognized for its craft beer scene, long happy hours, trivia nights, and a resident food truck serving various dishes.
- CURFEW, a late-night spot downtown, serves cocktails and pizza, and is known for its speakeasy vibe.
- Goldee’s Barbecue is a popular BBQ joint famous for brisket, links, ribs, and turkey, with long lines typically forming early in the morning.
- Tinie’s specializes in modern Mexican cuisine and offers dishes like duck carnitas enchiladas and mezcal cocktails.
- Reata focuses on southwestern fare, providing brunch favorites and unique cocktails.
- Joe T. Garcia’s offers a casual outdoor dining experience with beloved staples like Chile con queso and fajitas.
- Hokkaido Sushi & Ramen serves fresh sushi and ramen amidst a casual atmosphere, with a loyal customer base.
Emerging trends
Upcoming restaurants in Fort Worth reflect a growing diverse culinary scene catering to new residents from various backgrounds. The Mont’s launch by co-owners of a barbecue concept signals a shift in culinary concepts toward higher-end and experimental dining. New upscale and innovative Mexican dining with venues like Polanco also indicate a move toward elevated ethnic cuisine.
Supporting context and visitor attractions
Fort Worth has a rich history of cattle-raising and ranching culture. The city is home to over one million residents. Notable attractions in Fort Worth include the stockyards, water gardens, and Kimbell Art Museum. These cultural and historic assets continue to draw visitors and support a hospitality and dining economy that is adapting to changing demographics and tastes.
Why the changes matter
The mix of openings, specialty product launches, and a high-profile closure demonstrates a dynamic local market. New ventures aim to capture demand created by population growth and by residents seeking varied and higher-end dining experiences. At the same time, established businesses that face rising operational costs are reassessing viability, as illustrated by the announced Cat City Grill closure.
What to expect next
Observers can expect further diversification across cuisines and service models, with more private dining, late-night concepts, craft-focused bars, and specialty product availability for at-home preparation. The culinary landscape in Fort Worth appears poised to expand while remaining anchored to its historical and cultural identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recent development in Fort Worth’s culinary scene?
Fort Worth is elevating its culinary scene, stepping out of Dallas’s shadow.
What is the status of Cat City Grill?
Cat City Grill, a long-standing steakhouse, will close on September 28 due to changing market conditions and rising costs.
What is notable about The Mont?
The Mont, a newly opened New American restaurant, features a mid-century-inspired design and a diverse menu that includes a 42-ounce Irodori Wagyu tomahawk steak.
What long-running establishments are mentioned?
Longhorn Saloon is a historic bar with over a century of history, known for its lively atmosphere and food options like Frito pie and house-smoked sandwiches.
What new product was launched for home preparation?
The recent launch of Vietnamese coffee pouches makes it easier to prepare Vietnamese coffee at home.
What attractions are noted in Fort Worth?
Notable attractions in Fort Worth include the stockyards, water gardens, and Kimbell Art Museum.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| City population | The city is home to over one million residents. |
| Historical context | Fort Worth has a rich history of cattle-raising and ranching culture. |
| New fine dining | The Mont, a newly opened New American restaurant, features a 42-ounce Irodori Wagyu tomahawk steak. |
| Notable closures | Cat City Grill, a long-standing steakhouse, will close on September 28 due to changing market conditions and rising costs. |
| Specialty product | The recent launch of Vietnamese coffee pouches makes it easier to prepare Vietnamese coffee at home. |
| Popular cuisines | The city offers a variety of dining options, including authentic Tex-Mex, barbecue, and Japanese cuisine. |
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Additional Resources
- The Manual: Where to Eat in Fort Worth
- Wikipedia: Fort Worth
- FWTX: Polanco Offers Next-Level Mexican Cuisine
- Google Search: Fort Worth restaurants
- FW Today: New Coming Soon Restaurants in Fort Worth
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fort Worth Food Culture
- Culture Map: Notable Food Events in Fort Worth
- Google News: Fort Worth Food Scene
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
