Where to eat on Easter in Fort Worth: big buffets, patios and a new gospel brunch

Bud Kennedy
·3 min read

Easter Sunday brunch starts early.

Many families dine out after early church, meaning Easter crowds arrive earlier and in larger groups than on most holidays.

As usual, the prime steakhouses and hotels will be open, along with most restaurants.

One exception: Don’t plan on Joe T. García’s patio for Easter. It’s closed for the day, so instead try nearby Los Vaqueros’ patio.

Here are a few early Easter eye-openers, and some interesting Easter brunches:

New and eggs-cellent

Three of the most striking and different new restaurants are open early for brunch crowds:

▪ Hearsay Arlington, 1711 E. Randol Mill Road, is the lavish new place on the south side of Choctaw Stadium.

Brunch starts at 10 a.m. and features crepes, omelets and eggs Benedict; 817-591-1700, hearsayarlington.com.

The jazz lounge at Hearsay inside Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, March 5,2023.
The jazz lounge at Hearsay inside Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, March 5,2023.

▪ Quince, new on the riverbank at 1701 River Run, doesn’t open until 11 a.m. But Easter reservations just opened at resy.com, so tables are probably available.

The general menu of sushi, seafood, steaks, burgers and bakery desserts has expanded since it opened last week. Quince is now open for lunch and dinner daily; 682-385-9073, quincesma.com.

The “Frida roll” with yellowail, serrano and sriracha at Quince in Fort Worth March 27, 2023.
The “Frida roll” with yellowail, serrano and sriracha at Quince in Fort Worth March 27, 2023.

▪ 61 Osteria, 500 W. Seventh St., the heralded new Italian restaurant on Burnett Park, opens at 10 a.m. Easter.

Brunch features dishes such as a semolina “Dutch baby” lemon pancake ($18), granola with honey or a fried mozzarella sandwich with eggs, plus the popular arancini, meatballs and desserts; 817-953-3271, 61osteria.com.

Corporate cousins Grace and Little Red Wasp are also open.

▪ Tannahill’s Tavern, 122 E. Exchange Ave., opens at noon Easter and debuts a weekly $49 gospel brunch buffet offering smoked ham, leg of lamb, brunch dishes and desserts.

Music begins at 12:30 p.m.; 817-900-9300, tannahills.com.

More 10 a.m. brunches

▪ Blue Mesa Grill, 612 Carroll St., usually has the alphabetical good fortune to lead this list.

But it beats everyone on Easter, opening at 9 a.m. and serving its all-you-can-eat Southwestern buffet ($35).

The buffet includes ham, brisket and salmon, along with fajitas, enchiladas and tacos; 817-332-6372, bluemesagrill.com.

▪ Cafe Modern, inside an art museum at 3200 Darnell St., opens at 10 a.m. and will serve its first holiday buffet, featuring quiche, pancakes, an omelet station and regular Modern favorites.

The price is $62; 817-840-2186, themodern.org.

The birria chilaquiles at Cafe Modern feature guajillo chile-braised beef, poached eggs, queso fresco and black beans.
The birria chilaquiles at Cafe Modern feature guajillo chile-braised beef, poached eggs, queso fresco and black beans.

▪ The Capital Grille prime steakhouse, 800 Main St., and corporate cousin Eddie V’s, 3100 W. Seventh St., both open at 10 a.m.; 817-348-9200, thecapitalgrille.com, and 817-336-8000, eddiev.com.

Also open downtown at 10 a.m. downtown: Del Frisco’s Grille, 154 E. Third St. on Sundance Square Plaza, 817-887-9900, delfriscosgrille.com; and il Modo, always a brunch favorite at 714 Main St., 817-415-0144, ilmodorestaurant.com.

▪ Clay Pigeon, 2731 White Settlement Road, is usually closed Sundays but will open for a rare Sunday brunch.

The menu features a $50 four-course menu with a choice of shrimp-and-grits, smoked-brisket hash or the popular burger; 817-882-8065, claypigeonfd.com.

Clay Pigeon’s burger is back on the menu, this time six nights a week. (It’s $18. But you get fries with that.)
Clay Pigeon’s burger is back on the menu, this time six nights a week. (It’s $18. But you get fries with that.)

▪ Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, 3268 W. Seventh St., opens at 10 a.m. and has a more traditional brunch menu with duck or chicken chilaquiles, steak-and-eggs, quesadillas and more; 817-470-1439, donartemio.com.

More interior-Mexico restaurants open at 10 a.m.: Maria’s Mexican Kitchen, 1712 S. University Drive, and Mesero, 4955 Gage Ave.

▪ North Tarrant County’s standout brunch starts at 10 a.m. at Towne Grill, 9365 Rain Lily Trail; townegrilltx.com.

It has basically the same menu but more availability than Fort Worth corporate cousin The Tavern. Also open at 10 a.m.: cousins Cork & Pig Tavern in Southlake and Pacific Table.

▪ More 10 a.m. brunches: Fitzgerald, 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd.; Gemelle, 4400 White Settlement Road; and Mac’s Bar & Grill, known for a moderate-price brunch and old-school chicken-fried steaks, 6077 Interstate 20 West, Arlington.