BBQ News

Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ ships off hot coals to new Arlington location

The hot coals made quite an entrance.

Lockhart Smokehouse

The barbecue is coming, the barbecue is coming: Lockhart Smokehouse, the acclaimed local barbecue restaurant from Jill and Jeff Bergus, will open its third location at Texas Live, in the Arlington entertainment district, on August 9.

Lockhart specializes in smoked meats in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Jill Bergus is the granddaughter of the legendary Edgar "Smitty" Schmidt who ran Kreuz Market for over 40 years in Lockhart. For this restaurant, she collaborated with her cousin and now-owner of Kreuz Market, Keith Schmidt, to bring that central Texas flavor to Dallas.

They opened their first location in Oak Cliff in 2011, and a second location in Plano in 2014.

Lockhart is the only place in DFW that sells Kreuz Market Sausage; just like in Lockhart, the meat is served on butcher paper.

Texas standards will include brisket, ribs, and specials such as prime rib, beef ribs, and burnt ends. Southern sides include beans, slaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, and deviled eggs.

Following a tradition that dates back to the early 1900s, the owners transferred actual coals from Oak Cliff to Arlington in a ceremonial procession where they were escorted by Arlington police and fire department vehicles. Those coals must be something else. Arlington staffers caught the moment on film, which they've posted to YouTube.

The grand opening for Texas Live takes place August 9-12, kicking off with a performance by Toadies, and continuing throughout the weekend with live music, entertainment, events, and activities. The full schedule of events can be found on Texas Live’s website at www.texas-live.com/grandopening.

barbecue

Steakhouse News

Al Biernat's takes its legendary Dallas steakhouse to Fort Worth

Steak at Al Biernat's restaurant in Dallas

Al Biernat's Facebook

undefined

One of Dallas' top steakhouses is expanding west: Al Biernat's, the acclaimed steakhouse with two locations in Dallas, is taking its magical ambiance, old-world elegance, celebrity cachet, doting service, and impeccably-prepared food to Fort Worth.

The restaurant - which will be the third location for the local chain - will open at 913 Houston St., across from where Fort Worth's new Convention Center ballroom is being built.

Restaurant co-owner Brad Fuller confirms the opening, noting that they are in the very very early stages of the process, with an opening date still TBD.

"We just signed the lease and are in space planning and design, but hope to share more information with details and renderings once we have them," he says.

Fuller says that Fort Worth had always been on their radar.

"This opportunity arose last summer, and [co-owner] Jeannie [Biernat] and I both love the building and its potential," he says.

Al Biernat's has been serving Dallas the highest quality steaks and seafood since 1998, when founder Al Biernat opened the first location at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, marriage proposals, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town including Conan O'Brien, Tom Brady, Brooke Shields, Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell, and more.

They went on to open a second location, Al Biernat's North at 5251 Spring Valley Rd., in 2017, successfully recreating the same formula as the original in Oak Lawn.

Signature dishes include a 30-ounce porterhouse, filet mignon with lobster thermidor — featuring Prime aged beef — along with Chilean sea bass and their legendary coconut cream pie. Like most steakhouses, they possess a well-stocked wine list, and also frequently host spectacular wine dinners.

They've earned countless nods and awards, from Open Table's Icon Awards to consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence honors, and have been home to many acclaimed chefs over the years.

They've also been one of the most nimble steakhouses in DFW, embracing changing trends such as alcohol-free mocktails. They were the first (and only?) steakhouse to offer a standalone vegan menu with dishes such as grilled portabella mushroom enchiladas. Biernat always wanted to be with the times, not behind the times.

Tragically, he passed away in 2024 after being diagnosed with ALS — but the restaurant has continued to thrive under the watch of Brad Fuller, the director of operations and Biernat's nephew; with Biernat's wife, Jeannie, his daughter Kaitlin Biernat Connell, son Jess Biernat, and Jess' wife, Erin.

And it's just possible that Al is still very much with us in spirit.

"Today is Al's 71st heavenly birthday, and my Aunt Jeannie and I feel it's 'very Al' that this news would be breaking today," Fuller says.

downtown openings steakhouse steakhouses