American$$$cultural-districtTue-Fri 11:00-14:30, Fri 17:00-20:00, Sat 11:00-14:30, Sun 10:00-15:00
Cafe Modern in Fort Worth is the elegant restaurant inside the Modern Art Museum, serving creative Texas-sourced menus led by Executive Chef Jett Mora.
Order: Seasonal tasting plate, Texas cheese board, Cafe Modern burger at weekend brunch.
Tip: Museum admission is not required to dine. Friday evening seatings are intimate and include views of the Tadao Ando building at dusk.
Texas Bbq$$near-northsideFri-Sun 11:00-15:00
Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth is a Michelin-recognised pitmaster destination open only Friday through Sunday, and sells out early most days.
Order: Brisket, pork ribs, house-made sausage links, banana pudding.
Tip: Arrive at opening or call ahead. They sell out most Fridays by 13:00 and do not restock once the pit is empty.
Texas Bbq$$south-mainWed-Sun 11:00-20:00
Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth is a Michelin-listed neighbourhood smokehouse celebrated for its creative brisket tacos and sausage programme.
Order: Smoked brisket tacos, chorizo sausage, peach cobbler.
Tip: The bar stays open until midnight Wednesday through Sunday. Try the smoked beef tallow fries alongside the brisket.
Smokehouse$$cultural-districtMon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri 11:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-23:00
Woodshed Smokehouse by Tim Love in Fort Worth sits on the Trinity River, blending live-fire cooking techniques with a lively outdoor riverside patio.
Order: Beef brisket, smoked chicken, wood-roasted oysters, house-made sausage.
Tip: Weekend brunch begins at 08:00 with wood-smoked eggs and cocktails. The riverside patio is best on weekday evenings.
American$$west-7thMon-Fri 08:00-21:00, Sat 09:00-21:00, Sun 09:00-15:00
Righteous Foods on W 7th St in Fort Worth is a clean-eating all-day cafe near the Cultural District serving wholesome grain bowls and avocado toast.
Order: Grain bowls, avocado toast with farm egg, house-pressed cold juices.
Tip: Sunday brunch ends at 15:00 and fills quickly. The grain bowls are fully customisable and a favourite with the museum district crowd.
Mexican$$$west-7thMon-Thu 11:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 10:00-20:00
Don Artemio in Fort Worth brings refined northern Mexican cuisine to W 7th St, a 2023 James Beard finalist celebrating heritage dishes of northern Mexico.
Order: Birria de res, chiles en nogada, traditional mole negro with duck.
Tip: Sunday brunch 10:00-15:00 is the most relaxed seating. The mole negro takes three days to prepare and is not always available.