Before their decades-long runs in the fickle restaurant industry and before they served generations of Fort Worth diners, each of these restaurants blazed a trail in terms of their unique locations and cuisines. Just like Tim Love’s celebration of 25 years at his Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, there are other local icons to celebrate. From landmark locations to watermark cuisines, these are the major anniversaries and restaurant milestones in Fort Worth this year.
Forty Years of Saint Emilion
Famed restaurateur Bernard Tronche opened Saint-Emilion on March 8, 1985, just five years after moving to Texas from his native France. With its arrival, he introduced Fort Worth to classic French cuisine and transported diners to the French countryside of his youth. Saint-Emilion takes its name from the centuries-old village of Saint-Emilion in the Bordeaux region of France, where Tronche grew up.
Located in a storybook, vine-covered A-frame, the intimate restaurant was originally an existing home where the commercial end of West Seventh Street slowly dissolves into a residential neighborhood. Tronche transformed the space with French country details, including his famous chalkboard specials, and traditional touches like table-side preparations. Saint-Emilion is an experience not to be missed.
Bernard Tronche has never veered from his vision. That’s why it’s remained on ‘best of’ lists for four decades. His Saint-Emilion has become one of Fort Worth’s crowning jewels ― providing his guests with an authentic and consistent escape, and guests return time and again for a menu of duck breast, escargot, and lamb chop specials, not to mention its esteemed wine list.
Major Restaurant Milestone – Japanese Palace at 50
Located on Camp Bowie West Boulevard, the Japanese Palace remains a bit of a time capsule along this unlikely stretch of road. But the parking lot proves its staying power. It is packed nearly every day of the week, because one of Fort Worth’s oldest Japanese restaurants still puts on quite a show with its authentic teppanyaki cooking.
At half a century, and showing no signs of slowing down, this is one of the major anniversaries and restaurant milestones in Fort Worth this year.
With the show-stopping hibachi-grills, a tatami room, and kimono-clad waitresses maneuvering the dining room in geta wooden sandals, Japanese Palace was made for special occasion dining, but it’s also a favorite on weeknights. The bar is a flash from the past with its never-updated styling from 1975. It’s your first stop as you wait for your table.
Pro tip: If you don’t want to wait in line, you can wander to the back and seat yourself at the tiny sushi bar for some of the best sushi and sashimi in town. Japanese Palace was one of the first to introduce the joys of sushi and sashimi to Fort Worth diners. The indulgent sashimi sampler has thick cuts of the freshest fish — an array of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and octopus — that the sushi chef chooses nightly. It’s not to be missed.
North Side Legend ― Joe T. Garcia’s Big Anniversary
Fort Worth’s most enduring and famous restaurant still remains in the family after 90 years. Joe T. Garcia’s began in the small family home with 16 seats and has grown to accommodate 1,600 spread among layers of lovely gardens, with both interior and patio dining added over the decades ― attracting locals and visiting celebrities and dignitaries over the past nine decades.
“In 1935, my great-grandparents opened our doors with a small dining room, a dream, and recipes passed down through generations,” Kelly Lancarte, Director of PR & Marketing, said in a recent post. “Today, we continue their legacy, serving the same beloved menu in a space that has grown, yet still holds the heart of where it all began. Some of the original artifacts they used remain, reminding us that while time moves forward, our roots stay strong.”
What a story! It’s time to order a pitcher and raise a glass to Joe T’s. And so many birthdays, reunions, weddings, and celebrations of all kinds have been held on these hallowed grounds. Plus, it’s simply one of the best patios in Fort Worth.
Joe T. Garcia’s has become a part of our collective memory in Fort Worth, a place we love to share with friends, family, and visitors alike. They serve more than memories, though. The Family Meal is a communal style featuring their famous cheese nachos, hand-rolled cheese enchiladas, crispy beef tacos, plus rice, and the creamiest guacamole and refried beans that you’ve ever tasted.
Congratulations to Saint-Emilion, Japanese Palace, and Joe T. Garcia’s for being at the forefront of Fort Worth’s culinary trailblazers. Thanks for the memories and thanks for leading the way.