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.
