My email inbox and social media messages last week were filled with restaurant updates both happy and sad. There were the usual bright spots, namely new brunch and breakfast options, and bittersweet commentary from Fort Worth foodies still reeling from Maiden Fine Plants & Spirits’ closing earlier this month.
This week’s column includes doses of both sentiments. As always, reach out if you spot any restaurant updates we should know about.
Limited-time French toast and cold brew at Urban Egg
Urban Egg in Alliance is offering two limited-time menu items Aug. 7-31. Their crispy French toast features a cornflake-coated crust with lemon puree, berries and maple syrup, according to a press release. They’re also offering a boozy Back to Bed cold brew made with vodka, tequila, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, simple syrup and cinnamon.
Their regular menu has lots of savory and sweet breakfast and brunch options, from shareable cinnamon rolls and a pancake flight –– which includes strawberry, blueberry, buttermilk and chocolate chip varieties –– to Creole-style shrimp and grits, and sandwiches. The Alliance location is open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. weekends. There are veggie and gluten-free options, including pancakes and English muffins.
2828 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth; 682-285-3447
There are new dishes on the dinner menu at Toro Toro, the Pan-Latin restaurant in The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth hotel. Meat lovers can now order a rib-eye chicharron, served with guacamole, salsa verde, tortilla chips and pico de gallo. For veggie fans, there’s now an heirloom tomato and burrata salad, which sees baby arugula and heart of palm mixed with watermelon and pepita pesto, all with a balsamic glaze.
For the uninitiated, like me, heart of palm is apparently the core of a palm tree. According to cookbook author Alyse Whitney, it’s often used as a meat-free protein replacement for fish and poultry –– I learn something new every day.
200 Main St., Fort Worth; 817-975-9895
Vegan dining options in Fort Worth shrink with Maiden closure
Fans of the vegan fine dining restaurant Maiden Fine Plants & Spirits are still mourning its sudden closure in early July. Staff announced the closure July 7 on the restaurant’s website and socials, saying shuttering was the result of a slow dining season, difficult economy and increasing operating costs. Maiden had fallen behind on rent and was unable to renegotiate its lease, according to the statement. The restaurant enjoyed a two-year run.
Diner Natalie Young said finding vegan-specific menus around Fort Worth is increasingly difficult, with other vegan spots like taco shop Mariachi’s Dine-In and the pizzeria Pizza Verde also recently closed. She said it’s important to have restaurants run on vegan principles and called the closures “heartbreaking.”
Fort Worth foodie Lauren Chiong enjoyed Maiden’s eight-course summer tasting menu, wine pairings and atmosphere and said the restaurant will be missed.
“It was an extremely elegant setting with highly skilled service,” Chiong said. “It was everything you look for in a fine dining experience.”
We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to erin.ratigan@fortworthreport.org.
Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.
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