Already polished off the Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge? I hope so, because it’s time to move on to the next feast. Winter menus have blown into town, meaning the sudden cold temps are now accompanied by soups, gumbo and a bunch of other flavors.
There are many spots across Tarrant County where foodies can tap into their holiday spirit, so keep an eye out for more seasonal specials in next week’s column.
Comfort food at Café Modern
Café Modern, helmed by executive chef Jett Mora, is getting diners through the winter with comfort food. Regular readers may recall that Mora teased a return of the eatery’s chicken pot pie back in October. Well, it’s back on the menu, as is short rib eggs Benedict, according to a PR email.
“The new menu leans into comfort food with global influences, rooted in Texas ingredients,” according to the email.
Grilled shrimp, sliders, braised beef short rib and chicken salad make up some of the meat and seafood options, while a house salad, autumn kale salad, crispy Brussels sprouts and candied orange peels, and charred caulilini are among the vegetarian-friendly options. The latter is gluten free and has paneer cheese, tamarind chutney and smoked curry aioli.
🏘️ Support journalism rooted in community
Your donation helps us tell the full story of Tarrant County by uplifting every voice and connecting neighbors through shared understanding. With your help, we can reach our $400,000 goal and ensure community-focused reporting thrives into 2026.
3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth; 817-840-2157
Soup and public service at Taste Community Restaurant
Customers can dine for a good cause at Taste Community Restaurant, a pay-what-you-can full-service restaurant that serves diners no matter their ability to pay. Their winter menu launches Dec. 9 in Fort Worth and Dec. 10 in Arlington, featuring dishes like celery and green apple soup, miso-glazed cod, a beet Reuben, farro salad and a blue cheese burger. The latter are made using corn tortillas and a citrus slaw and spicy creme fraiche topping.
They’re also hosting a supper club dinner at the Arlington location 6-8 p.m. Dec. 13. The BYOB dinner will see chefs presenting each course, showcasing meals like roasted pear salad with caramelized pears and baby lettuce in hazelnut vinaigrette. Steak tagliata with rosemary butter will also appear, as will a flourless almond chocolate torte with amaretto caramel, Chantilly cream and Florentine brittle.
Taste Project, the 501(c)3-designated nonprofit behind the program, opened its first dining spot in Fort Worth in 2017 and added their Arlington location this spring.
The organization’s website describes dining at Taste Community Restaurant as a charitable act.
“When you visit our restaurants or donate online, you become the bridge that fills the gaps left by government programs,” according to the website. “You allow us to provide our community with healthy and nutritious food, all served with love and dignity.”
Tickets for the supper club dinner can be purchased online.
1200 S. Main St., Fort Worth;
200 N. Cooper St., Suite 150, Arlington
Ellerbe Fine Foods adds wintery desserts to its menu
Ellerbe Fine Foods unveiled two new winter menu desserts this past weekend, posting photos and descriptions of the sweets on their social media pages.
The chocolate grasshopper mousse cake pairs dark chocolate mousse with creme de menthe sauce, festively accented by a candy cane garnish. The pumpkin molasses pot de creme is equally seasonal, plated under a snowflake shaped gingerbread cookie and cranberry clove coulis. Bread pudding and ice cream are also on the table.
Six savory starters range from the garden flavors of chopped and roasted beet salads to blue crab croquette, and turkey and andouille gumbo. Surf and turf entrees are a cornmeal crusted redfish, salmon, mussels, stracotto, risotto al coniglio, roasted airline chicken and pecan wood grilled baseball cut steak.
Also, the December iteration of Ellerbe’s monthly Around the World dinner series is coming up Dec. 18. Tickets are $58 per person and there’s an optional $22 wine pairing. The three-course meal will explore German cuisine, specifically kartoffelkloesse, sauerbraten and bienenstich.
1501 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth; 817-926-3663
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.
Exactly what your weekend needs
Find out what’s “Weekend Worthy” with our arts & culture newsletter. Sign up for essential Fort Worth-area events and news — free.
Related
Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.
Republish This Story
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.