Specials and new menus appear in my inbox every day, and I’m always grateful for that, as it means I get to see when fresh restaurants are coming to town. This week, we’re checking out some spots that have either just opened their doors or are completing finishing touches.
Our first eatery is an establishment coming soon to dish out global and South African dishes in Keller. Next up on my list is a Fort Worth joint with a rather unique theme — Italy meets Western cinema — and an American restaurant now open for business in Arlington.
Wine and South African cuisine at Umzi Vine & Vibe
It’s not unusual for restaurants to keep their opening date under wraps for a bit, but Umzi Vine & Vibe in Keller turned the mystery into a promotion opportunity. Staff posted on the eatery’s Facebook page July 22 that “the wait is almost over,” and noted that the person who comes closest to guessing the grand opening date will win a wine and cheese tasting experience worth $1,000. The official opening date is still not public, but staff told me the most likely timeline will be late September to early October.
The menu shows a few regional cuisines, but South African food is arguably the spot’s biggest draw. Flavorful dishes such as cherry bacon oepsies, chicken and peri peri pepper sosaties — a kebab — and bobotie, a casserole dish, join boerewors sausage bites with smoor gravy, and steak pie appear along with braai flat-grilled chicken.
They will also have filet mignon, Thai curry, chicken schnitzel, ribeye and vegan summer rolls.
Umzi is the Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele word for village, according to the Dictionary of South African English.
444 Keller Parkway, Keller; 817-380-8530
La Pistola to combine Italian hospitality with Western design
There’s a new Italian restaurant coming to the Cultural District in September. La Pistola Kitchen + Saloon is described as a “fun-fine-dining restaurant, cocktail bar and wine destination” in a news release, with an aesthetic that blends 1970s Rome with the cinematography of spaghetti Westerns of the era. The concept will take root in the space formerly occupied by Taco Heads and comes from restaurateurs Jeffrey Yarbrough and Camille McDonald, the minds behind Teddy Wong’s.
Among the dishes diners can expect to find on the table are housemade pastas, chef-driven gourmet sandwiches, and surf and turf. Veal Parmesan will appear on the menu, as will steaks, roasted chicken, fish and coastal-Mediterranean sides.
Drinks will include seasonal beverages, craft cocktails, a curated beer selection and an all-day $5 rosé special. Among the specialty drinks is the She’s a Pistol whiskey sour, a spicy take on the classic drink prepared with hot honey.
“Jeffrey and I both believe successful restaurants start with understanding the city, the street, and the people,” McDonald said in a news release. “This project is about building something that belongs in Fort Worth.”
For anybody wondering where the blend of cowboy culture and Italian cuisine comes from, it’s actually pretty cohesive. Spaghetti Westerns carried the name because they originated in Italy, were made by Italian directors and were wildly popular with Italian filmgoers. Italy basically created Clint Eastwood’s cowboy persona.
Didn’t expect a little cinema history in this food column, huh? Me neither, but I bet my film-buff brother is reading this and nodding his head right now, which I’ll consider a win.
1812 Montgomery St., Fort Worth
Oysters and Americana at The Vandy
Located in the Caravan Court hotel in Arlington, The Vandy features a menu and atmosphere that celebrates “classic Americana,” according to the website.
Oysters on the half shell were among the dishes highlighted on Instagram recently, and the dinner and lunch menus feature quite a bit of surf and turf. Lunch mains of fried chicken, salmon and steak frites are added into the mix on the dinner side along with lobster thermidor, beef Wellington and ribeye. Dinner mains also include a double-patty smash burger and cauliflower steak for $16.
Of course, appetizers, soups, salads and sides are on the table, as are sweets of small batch ice cream, cheesecake, apple pie, cookies and chocolate cake.
Those looking to start the day in the dining room can find classics like biscuits and gravy, pancakes, omelettes, avocado toast, and eggs with bacon or sausage and hashbrowns.
Happy hour is Monday-Thursday 5-7 p.m., offering $2 off beers, glasses of wine and $12 signature cocktails.
205 N. Collins St., Arlington; 682-217-1800
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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