The former heart of the state’s ranching industry, Fort Worth is ‘Cowtown,’ celebrating cowboy culture with a twice-daily cattle drive through the stockyards. Beef is king, and the city is home to steakhouses that display the mixture of southern, western, and uniquely-Texan heritage that pervades Fort Worth. Here are the top restaurants to get a Texan-sized portion of beef.
For over-the-top decor and portions, visit Cattlemen’s in the stockyards. Filled with photographs of prize-winning cows, mounted cow heads and western murals, Cattlemen’s is geared towards those looking for the cowboy days of old. A 24-ounce porterhouse served with baked potato, salad and an 18-ounce goblet of beer stands to satisfy any hunger. Steakhouse fans will appreciate the familiar dark wooden interior, red leather seating and checkered table-clothes, while the charcoal broilers in the dining room introduce a uniquely-Texan twist. Diners can watch their steaks seared while living their cowboy dreams.
Another huge steakhouse in the stockyards, popular with locals, is H3 Ranch. Guests will be greeted by familiar cow art, but this restaurant crafts their steaks using a hickory-wood grill, creating a unique smokey flavor that has earned H3 a nod as one of the best steakhouses in Dallas-Fort Worth. Also available at this locale is spit-roasted pig, cooked over a rotisserie and providing a solid second option to the array of porterhouse, ribeye and sirloin steaks. Sit at the bar on one of the saddle-topped barstools, enjoy the house Buffalo Butt beer, and carve through a steak cooked to your liking. On weekends, H3 also serves breakfast, making for a delicious steak and eggs.
With a popular location on TCU’s campus, this Texas steakhouse provides the best-value steaks in the city. Their daily lunch specials include Monday Sirloin Tips and Friday Fried Catfish, all served with either mash or fries, salad and bread, creating a taste of Texas affordable on a budget. While steak fans will find the familiar baked potato and hash brown sides, Hoffbrau’s also serves excellent roasted Texan sweet corn when it is in season, which is worth a visit in itself. For thick, juicy cuts of beef, Hoffbrau’s is a Texas institution.
Celebrity chef Tim Love has been an ambassador for Texan cuisine all his working life, introducing a ‘modern take on cowboy cuisine’ at his first flagship restaurant the Lonesome Dove in Fortworth in 2000. Today, Love owns and operates four more restaurants across Texas, but the original and the best remains Lonesome Dove, serving some of Fort Worth’s best steaks alongside Rocky Mountain elk and wild boar. A three-course option is available, making for a memorable tour of wild game, Texas beef, and unbelievable side dishes – including the white truffle mac ‘n cheese. Lonesome Dove celebrates Fort Worth’s western cuisine while also creating refined Texan cooking, evident from the Wagyu Tomahawk ribeye. The American version of the famous Japanese Kobe beef is marbled and tender, melting in your mouth upon the first bite. It is one of the most decadent steaks in Fort Worth and well worth a visit to Lonesome Dove.
Bar, Restaurant, American, Steakhouse, Contemporary, $$$
Grace prides itself on being one of the best restaurants in Fort Worth, introducing ‘modern American classics’ with local ingredients. As a fine-dining establishment, their options are impressive, but their steaks are also some of the best in Fort Worth. Alongside tartare and oysters lies a 20-ounce dry-aged bone-in ribeye. Incredible on its own, it can also be topped with butter-poached Maine lobster or black truffle butter. With an impressive and delectable range of sauces and toppings to create perfect pairings of juicy meat and fresh flavors, Grace presents luxury steak well worth the splurge. For a great bar experience, order a craft cocktail and a hamburger, which is ground specially from the house tenderloin.
