Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10

Musicarte
10AM – 11PM Free

This Festival takes place in Sundance Square and celebrates Latin culture through its music, dance, art, and food. Performance schedules can be found on the website.The Mercado de las Americas features artists from around the world, so visit the booths of this juried fine arts and crafts exhibition.

The Pueblo de las America’s promises to be a gastronomical feast featuring food from Ocho Rios Jamaican and Caribean Grill, embargo, Qdoba Grill, and Cantina Laredo Mexican Grill. The menus include jerk seasoned meats, empanadas, carnitas, tacos al pastor, and tortas cubanas. Beer will also be available to accompany the festival food. Bring the kids and stop by the Fiesta Kids Zone for arts, crafts, and games. Also join local artist Jo Dufo in painting a collaborative mural.

Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10

Bistro Lightcatcher Restaurant Round-up
Bistro Lightcatcher Winery showcases Texas ingredients to pair with their Texan wine made on site with Texas grapes. The menu features Texas ingredients such as Texas 1015 onions, gulf shrimp and oysters, check out the website for all the details. Restaurant Round-up is sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture and part of the proceeds of this event benefit The Tarrant Area Food Bank. 6925 Confederate Park Rd/FM 1886
Fort Worth, Texas 76108

Friday October 9, Saturday October 10, and Sunday October 11

Mid-Cities Greek Festival
11AM – 10PM, 11AM – 4PM Sunday
Opa! Fall means it’s time for the annual Mid-Cities Greek Festival. The pastoral grounds of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless make the perfect backdrop for enjoying delicious Greek food and cultural performances.

Check out the website for all the menu details. I’m craving the comforting goodness of Pastitsio and Moussaka but spanokopita, gyros and other Greek favorites are on the menu as well. The food is plentiful and you will NOT leave hungry. 303 Cullum Drive, Euless TX.

The downtown fine dining restaurant Grace held its opening party this past Friday.  The ground floor of the Carter Burgess Plaza on Main Street serves as what will ultimately be a popular dining spot.  The slated opening date of November 11th has been moved back to November 17th (so I hear from an unverified source).  In the meantime, here’s a sneak peak.

The elegantly named “Grace” is reflected in the design of the restaurant.  Designed by Firm 817, the restaurant exudes rich and quiet sophistication with soft subtle lines and an interesting mix of materials that include granite, wood, and stone.

With only banquette seating in place in the dining room, this presented a good opportunity to appreciate the space.  It will be interesting to see how tables and their placement change the look of the dining room.  A large see through glass wine case that also serves as a partition makes a great focal point in the dining room.  The design accomplishes it’s goal of reinforcing the “modern American classic” concept of the restaurant.  The inviting street level terrace is also destined to become a see and be seen location.

Now, onto the food.  Several samples of what’s to come on the menu were being passed around and of course I shamelessly grabbed whatever I could get my hands on.  Crostini topped with pastrami cured tuna, chopped egg, red onion, chives and capers left me wanting more of this delicious combination.  Rich chocolate truffles also made an appearance. My new favorite though is the Ricotta Dumplings.  Unlike the Gnudi (also ricotta dumplings/gnocchi) from the former Duce, these were light and airy with the right combination of spices.

Adam Jones, the owner, is a rock star in the world of fine dining.  Formerly the manager of Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, the guy probably learned a few things about beef over the years.  This is clearly shown in the beef heavy menu that includes strips of Akaushi Wagyu Texas Kobe and of course many beef options that range from an 8 oz. filet ($29) to a 40 oz. Prime Porterhouse for two ($79).

Chef Blaine Staniford brings us his version of modern American classics in the rest of the menu.  Staniford left Dallas to become executive chef at Grace.  Staniford is following the trajectory of celebrity chef with appearances on Good Morning America and the Rachel Ray Show.  Formerly at the trendy Dallas eateries of Fuse and Scene, Staniford now brings his culinary cache to Fort Worth.

The menu sounds promising.  Starters include a Carpaccio of Beef Tenderloin ($13) and Crispy Fried Oysters ($11) and a Terrine of Hudson Valley Foie Gras ($24).  The Seafood Tower features Jumbo Shrimp, Oysters, Crab Gratin, Oysters Rockefeller, and Tuna Tartare ($44).  The addition of Maine Lobster and Florida Stone Crab Claws provide some decadence to the Grace Seafood Tower ($72).  I can’t wait to try the Lobster and Roasted Pumpkin Bisque with pumkin seed crusted marshmallow ($9).  Other items include Colorado Rack of Lamb ($35) and Prosciutto Wrapped Tuna ($31).  Sides include my beloved Ricotta Dumplings ($7), Fusilli Mac n Cheese ($8), and Sea Salt Baked Potato ($7).  Heirloom Squash and Pear ($7), Micro Brew Onion Rings ($6), and Eggplant Leek Gratin ($8) are a few of the Vegetable offerings.

Grace is an exciting addition to the fine dining options in Fort Worth.  I look forward to celebrating a special occasion there or maybe just stopping by the expansive bar area to sip some wine and people watch.

The Vibe:

Killer sushi, killer vibe. From the moment you walk into Piranha’s there’s a martini fueled buzzing energy.

This undeniably popular Fort Worth sushi hot spot (try getting in on a Saturday night with no reservations) has all the trappings of a trendy eatery but manages to escape with little pretension. Warm colors and slight retro touches keep the place from going overboard with the whole sleek and modern thing.

The seats surrounding the sushi bar give you a peek at the sushi chefs at work and apparently if you hang out there long enough you’ll get a roll named after you (Dr. Fran roll anyone?). The sushi bar seats also give you a primo spot for watching all the beautiful people of the Fort.

Tables are available, but they are crammed in just tight enough to make you nervous that you’ll knock down your food or somebody else’s should you have to get up. Although, honestly, if you have enough martinis this could be the scenario at any restaurant. The close quarters give you a chance to check out what goodies your fellow diners have ordered and you get to overhear juicy gossip… umm not that I’m listening.

The Food:
I’m utterly seduced by their signature rolls. I’ve proclaimed “Marry me! Marry me roll” more than once. The selection of rolls is impressive, as is the creative combination of ingredients. I also love the quirky names for some of the rolls. The Sexy Roll combines coconut shrimp tempura, ginger cream and cilantro topped with avocado, crawfish & mango – it’s like having a coconut oil rubdown while eating tacos on a beach. Yup, that’s sexy.

The rolls manage to combine the familiar with the exotic and it all works. The servers usually are helpful in guiding you if you need recommendations. If you’re new to Piranha’s, there is a learning curve to finding the roll that’s right for you but once you’ve found your roll(s) you’re in for addictive, tasty treats.

I usually supplement my rolls with a few selections of sushi. As a sushi noob I can’t make a whole meal out of just sushi. Eventually I’m sure I’ll be downing conch and eel like nobody’s business (hmmm, is it just me or does that sound naughty). In the meantime I’ve enjoyed Pirhana’s tuna and snapper selections.

Not a fan of the raw stuff? No worries. There are plenty of cooked dishes to choose from. Lightly battered tempura dishes, tempting teriyaki dishes, and several beef options are available for the non-sushi fans.

The Drinks:
The bar area is small and usually crowded with people waiting for their tables. There is a limited wine by the glass selection and a variety of sakes available.

Jump start your evening by trying one of their wryly named signature martini’s, such as the Naughty Asian. Some are a bit too sweet for my taste, but don’t let that stop you from sampling. You can always ask the hottie standing next to you what their favorite drink is if you’re looking for an ice breaker.

The Service:
I find the service hit or miss. On my first few visits I found the servers to be so busy keeping up with other diners that they were neglecting me (say it ain’t so!). This is unfortunate because there have been times where I’d be a prime candidate for an upsell in the form of another glass of wine or another cocktail – if only my server was anywhere to be found.

Then again Piranha’s has some servers that just have “the goods”. They never let you see them sweat, they give great recommendations, and they totally add to your experience. So I can’t diss on the service completely.

The Crowd:
This is why I love Fort Worth – come one, come all, y’all. You’ll see every type of person and age group here. I’ve even seen families here. It’s not exactly family friendly, just not family unfriendly. Likewise, the dress code (not that there is one) is pretty much come as you are (which is why I also love Fort Worth!): dressed up diners mix in easily with the shorts and flip-flopped crowd. On the weekends it skews more on the dress to impress side.

Overall, this is a great place for hanging with a significant other, meeting friends, dining solo (at the sushi bar), or even a for a girls night out (martini sampling anyone?).

Not so much first date or romantic material as it can get loud and hard to hear, but who knows? You could cram in tightly into a table, order a Sexy Roll, and enjoy a few Naughty Asians. You might be in business – but no making out at the tables (I’ve seen this and it ain’t pretty – there’s no room to groove).

Price $$
The signature rolls range from $7.95-$13.95
Entrees range from $9.95-$42.95
Sushi/Sashimi $1.50-$9.95
Lunch Menu $7.95-$13.95

Reservations not required but recommended especially on the weekend

Eat This: Yes, four out of five panthers-grrr…if service were more consistent a five

I Eat This: Marry Me Roll, Crunchy Tuna Roll, Tri-Color Sashimi Roll

Piranha Killer Sushi
335 W. 3rd Street
Fort Worth TX 76102
(817) 348-0200