The Love Shack opens a new location today (July 31) nestled in the new So7 development on Fort Worth’s westside. Via Twitter I found out that Chef Tim Love was doing a soft opening Monday through Wednesday and best of all food was discounted 50% while they worked out the menu and operations before opening day. I brought along my 2 boys, my mom and my sister so we could all check things out. Since The Love Shack hadn’t officially opened on our visit consider this more of a recap than a review.
The space differs from the original Stockyards location in that it is a little more urban than cowboy but there are still down home touches that keep things casual. There is a covered interior area which is great because the original location is all open air. I love the steel Bertoia style chairs that surround the bar area – which looks like an ideal spot to enjoy a quick lunch with a nice view of all the action on the patio area.
Orders are taken at the counter by the friendly staff. They also accept credit cards unlike the cash only Stockyards location. The day I went all the gals working were wearing flowers behind the ears and I thought it made for a sweet and chic look. The guys wore cheeky RecessISon T-shirts.
The outdoor tables were comfortable with bright red umbrellas to shield from the July sun. I enjoyed the family friendly atmosphere and on the day we visited saw other families with kids in tow. Chef Love pointed out that there was chalk for the kids to use to draw on the sidewalk. There is also a games area set up for a bean bag toss and a game of washers.
All the tried and true Love Shack favorites were on the menu along with a few new additions. We ordered Dirty Love Burgers, Lobster Rolls (new on the menu), fries, and the Chile Parmesan Chips. If you’ve never tried a Dirty Love Burger you’re in for a treat. The burger has lettuce, tomato, bacon, Dirty Love sauce, and a fried quail egg to top it all off. The perfectly prepared patties of the Dirty Love Burger had a nice caramelization and were full of that deep, hearty flavor I look for in a burger. The bacon provided a prominent and welcome crispy texture and well you can’t go wrong with bacon on a burger. Altogether the burger was delicious. My mom and my sister also walked away as fans of The Dirty Love Burger.
We enjoyed the Lobster Rolls (aka Sea of Love) but they are the priciest item on the menu so we are sticking to the Dirty Love burgers.
The Chile Parmesan Chips were addicting and we were scrambling for the last tasty crumby bits.
On a selfish note I appreciate the fact that The Love Shack provides a hip spot for families with kid friendly touches. The burgers, lemonade, and milkshakes were right up my kids alley and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Next time I might even treat them to the kid versions of the adult cocktails that are offered.
The Love Shack is a great addition to all the development going on along 7th street. Live music, creative cocktails, and late night weekend hours paired with delicious and affordable food will surely make this a lively nighttime spot. I’m sure I’ll enjoy The Love Shack all the better next time when I kick back and listen to some live music while sipping on a Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita.
The Love Shack So7
817 Matisse Ste. 445
Fort Worth 76107
817.348.9655
Hours
Monday – Thursday 11AM – midnight
Friday and Saturday 11AM – 2AM
Sunday 11AM – 11PM
Review of the original Stockyards Love Shack.
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Nice recap,,,congrats to Tim for keep reasonable hours, i.e. later than 9pm! Can’t wait to break it in!
Overall, I really dug this hip, little pocket of yum. Chef Love should be proud. The dirty love burger is some great food porn, and the portion is just right. The Chili Parmesan Chips are ridiculously good. But, I do have to say it’s the lack of flavor, not the price, that would keep me from having the lobster roll again. It could definitely use some spice, more lobster, and less bread. My lobster and bread loving mom also concurred, and ended up ordering the dirty love burger after a couple of disappointing bites. Hopefully Tim will eventually give this creation some cajones, cause right now it is a big womp womp.
we went for lunch today and had a blast. Be careful, those jalepeno cucumber margaritas are strong!
We went to the Lamb Throwdown yesterday and had a blast. After the throwdown, we tried an array of food including: the Dirty Love Burger, Lobster Roll and Chicken Nachos. The nachos and burger were delicious but the lobster roll was really disappointing- no flavor and overpriced. The staff was really friendly except one cashier who was abruptly rude…maybe she was having a bad day. I will definitely return soon.
Didn’t feel the love at the Love Shack So7! Went on Saturday afternoon around 3pm – 15 or fewer diners there. They lost our order and weren’t apologetic about it. The couple who ordered in line before us received their order and were finished eating by the time we received our meal. One member of our party ordered the Lobster roll and received a “mini sandwich” – one piece of Texas toast folded in half with a few pieces of lobster and no sauce. They had to add mustard and mayo for flavor. I would expect a little more than that for a $15 sandwich. Burgers o.k. – not the best in Fort Worth. Won’t return.
Not so Happy Birthday! I decided to invite a group of friends to try the Love Shack So7 for my Birthday and I am deeply sorry to my friends! The Dirty Love burger from the menu seemed great but when it was delivered on a plain old bun, I was like, ok maybe Chef Love was trying “to keep it real”. The onion rings are NOT Onion Rings. They were more like soggy onions dipped in grease wrapped in a paper cone topped with a spoonful of more grease. The cold beers were the only thing that was right. I was truly disappointed as we were leaving, Chef Love him self couldn’t bother to say, “Thanks Ya’ll!” Well, NO THANKS, Chef Love! I cannot recommend your not so LOVE SHACK.
It is nice to see Fort Worth join the food world with comforts found in other city venues, i.e. Chicago, New York, Kanasa City, etc.. In all these cities you can find street food ventors all serving what many northerners miss while living in the south. Tim Love has closed the gap bewteen what the northern (yankee) imagrants miss. However you have to have a colder climate surrounding you when it comes to serving Italain beef and charcoal grilled sauage combo sandwiches on a french toasted bun, with sweet peppers and onions grilled, wet or dry ! Wet or Dry indicates whether you want the “succo”, an Italian reference to the juice from the beef poured over your combo. Or try an Italain ICE and not that shaved stuff they serve here, and enjoy parts of real lemon peel in a soft snow type ice consistance. I recommend you go and experience these ethnic oriented foods to discover what great food tastes like !
Thank you Tim for injecting this into the Fort Worth culinary experience and culture. Now if I could only find a raw clam bar……..I’d feel like I’m home.