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    Restaurant Week Rundown

    DFW Restaurant Week menus reveal shocking trends

    Teresa Gubbins
    Aug 12, 2013 | 11:49 am

    The 2013 rendition of Dallas-Fort Worth's Restaurant Week begins August 12, with 116 restaurants participating (not counting duplicate branches). Some have said this year's event lacks some of the bigger names in our local dining scene. Actually, that was us; we said that. But with more than 100 participants, there's plenty of options for a hungry diner.

    Or are there? Curious about what's being served, we combed through the menus being offered, analyzing each course, dish by dish. We put those menus under the microscope, conducting a Madame Curie-like analysis. And we came up with some conclusions. Among them: If you like corn soup, gazpacho or Caesar salad, you're in luck.

    Putting aside predictable staples such as house salad, salmon, pork and steak, we studied the menus meticulously to see if we could find some trends. These are some of the recurring items we noted:

    • Corn soup
    • Gazpacho
    • Chowder
    • Melon soup or melon salad
    • Peach salad
    • Steak tartare
    • Escargot
    • Caesars and wedges
    • Hanger and flat-iron steak

    It should be said that Restaurant Week is a fundraising event that helps fill restaurants during the slow month of August. With a few years under its belt, it's not going to be the most creative culinary event.

    Below is a full list with each restaurant's menu, summarized succinctly. If you click on the restaurant name, it will take you to a link of its Restaurant Week menu.

    We bolded the restaurants whose menus we found most interesting or expansive. We focused only on courses No. 1 (before the semi-colon) and No. 2 (after the semi-colon), skipping the dessert course unless there was something notable beyond the typical bread pudding or creme brûlée.

    Some menus were not available online, including Fearing's, Hibiscus, Del Frisco's, Kenichi, Kenny's, Kirby's, Morton's, Nonna, Ruth's Chris, Stampede 66 and Suze.

    To the menus!

    III Forks takes a basic steakhouse approach: 1. salad, wedge or crab soup; 2. filet, trout or pork chop.

    Abacus has one of the broader menus with 1. pot stickers, ravioli, scallop, calamari, gazpacho, wedge or baby greens salad; 2. cod, salmon, pork chop, duck breast, hanger steak or beef tenderloin.

    Al Biernat's has a pretty good selection with 1. gazpacho, Caesar, arugula, escargot or steak tartare; 2. Wagyu steak, rigatoni with chicken and sausage, beef tenderloin, pork chop, redfish, short ribs or chicken.

    Arcodoro feels fresh with 1. carpaccio salad, fried ravioli or bruschetta; 2. spaghetti with wild boar, polenta with sausage, risotto with mussels or chicken.

    Arthur's has an old-school vibe with 1. soup, salad or crab cake; 2. snapper, salmon, pork chop, pasta primavera, rib-eye or tenderloin.

    Asador has some key rends with 1. gazpacho, peach salad or tartare; 2. cobia, BBQ ribs, or veal cheek with pasta.

    Belly & Trumpet has some foodie treats including 1. scallop, lamb carpaccio or eggplant; 2. hanger steak, halibut cheek or vegetable plate. Extra points for vegetarian option.

    Bijoux has nice starters with 1. corn soup, arugula salad, butter lettuce wedge; 2. salmon, steak or risotto. Extra points for vegetarian option.

    Bonnell's has limited choices with 1. salad or Caesar; 2. pork, quail or scallops.

    Cadot travels to the beat of a different drum with 1. watermelon salad, escargot or Bibb lettuce; 2. chicken, tilapia, seafood crepes or flat-iron steak.

    Cafe Pacific has some notably thoughtful items with 1. chilled zucchini soup (like gazpacho!), salad or baked goat cheese; 2. flat-iron steak, barramundi or scallops. Desserts include a black plum tart.

    Canary By Gorji has a unique touch with 1. feta and pomegranates, scallops or escargot; 2. filet, lamb or Arctic char and shrimp. Desserts include a date and Turkish kefir butterfly.

    Capital Grille goes classic steakhouse with 1. Caesar, field greens or clam chowder; 2. filet, sirloin, chicken, salmon or steak tournedos.

    Central 214 has an abbreviated version of its regular menu with 1. Scotch egg, arugula salad, kale salad, melon salad or steak tartare; 2. pasta, redfish, chicken, hanger steak salad, bavette steak or goat ribs.

    Chamberlain's Fish adds a dash of intrigue with 1. chowder, peach salad or sushi rolls; 2. filet mignon, shrimp, trout or pork chops.

    Chamberlain's Steakhouse has intrigue, too, with 1. cantaloupe soup, tuna tacos, duck spring roll or a grilled romaine salad; 2. prime rib, flounder, pork chop or filet mignon. Desserts include a salted caramel chocolate lava cake.

    Cook Hall has an unusual grazing menu with deviled eggs, snap peas or nachos; gnocchi, spicy shrimp or a duck taco; cauliflower, potato, or pimiento mac and cheese.

    Culpepper Steakhouse surprises in a good way with 1. corn soup, brisket quesadilla or tomato salad; 2. filet mignon, pork loin, mahi mahi or smoked chicken leg. Desserts include a butterscotch pudding parfait.

    Dakota's has a small menu with 1. field greens, Caesar or soup; 2. scallops, tenderloin or pork chop. Desserts include a butterscotch crème brûlée.

    Dallas Chop House has at least two trends including 1. melon soup, steak tartare, Bibb lettuce or lobster agnolotti; 2. rib eye, surf and turf, sea bass or chicken.

    Dallas Fish Market has some novelty with 1. Thai mussel soup, tuna carpaccio, frog legs or Caesar; 2. striped bass, halibut, hake or duck leg.

    Del Frisco's Grille has an offbeat lineup with 1. tomato bisque, salad or wedge; 2. chicken schnitzel, veal meatloaf, sole or NY strip.

    Dish has an abbreviated menu with 1. shishito peppers, lamb lollipops or crab dip; 2. skirt steak, scallops or chicken. Desserts include a salted caramel pudding.

    Dragonfly shows its trendy savvy with 1. corn soup, Caesar or Asian green salad; 2. tenderloin, salmon, chicken or shrimp.

    Eddie V's is simple and good with 1. wedge, Caesar or chowder; 2. sole, scallops or swordfish. No beef whatsoever! Desserts include butterscotch panna cotta.

    Ferrari's has brisk action in the starters with 1. Caprese salad, Caesar, lamb ragu and burrata; 2. scallops, pasta with sausage, filet mignon and sea bass.

    Five Sixty is exotic with 1. corn soup, lamb samosa, prawn dumplings or pork pot stickers; 2. salmon, pork kontaksu, short rib tagine or quail.

    French Room combines trendiness with classicism with 1. corn soup, smoked salmon, pork belly or crab cake; 2. salmon, snapper, chicken or beef tenderloin. Desserts include Manjari chocolate dome.

    Grace goes short and sweet with 1. fried oysters, tomato soup or peach salad; 2. filet mignon or branzini.

    The Grape has basically its menu: mushroom soup, fried green tomatoes, charcuterie sampler and more. No burger though.

    Grill on the Alley is right in line with the trends, with 1. a choice of gazpacho or wedge; 2. filet mignon, pork chop or salmon.

    The Grotto has signatures including 1. potato soup or tomato salad; 2. lamb osso buco, strip steak or salmon.

    Hannah's Off the Square is admirably edgy with 1. arugula salad, crab toast or soup; 2. scallops, duck or polenta with truffled cauliflower and fried eggplant Napoleon.

    India West is definitely not run-of-the-mill with 1. lamb, tandoori bacon prawns or spinach chaat; and 2. chicken tikka masala, leg of lamb, or eggplant stuffed with cheese.

    Jasper's has a whole bunch of shtuff to choose from: 1. crab cake, pork belly, corn soup (called "masa" soup), Caesar or greens; 2. trout, salmon, pork, chicken, ribs, flat-iron steak or filet.

    Javier's has 1. a sampler, black bean soup, salad or cheese panela; 2. beef tenderloin, snapper or chicken.

    Komali's goes understated with 1. soup, salad or croquettes; 2. chicken, flank steak or salmon.

    Lawry's relies on its signatures including 1. spinning salad or tomato basil soup; 2. prime rib, salmon or pork ribs.

    Lazaranda Mexican Kitchen has hefty options including 1. ceviche, osso buco or shrimp; 2. snapper, beef tenderloin or sea bass. Desserts include corn flan and chocolate-mango souffle.

    Lonesome Dove has some standouts including 1. vegetable salad or peach salad; 2. duck, beef tenderloin or baked cod.

    The Mansion on Turtle Creek has class with 1. gazpacho, sturgeon or tomato and eggplant; 2. chicken, Arctic char or pork shoulder.

    Max's Wine Dive has an abbreviated version of its regular menu with many options, including its signature mac and cheese, chicken, oysters, and more.

    Media Bar at the Anatole has 1. tomato salad, wedge or soup; 2. short ribs, chicken, or catch of the day.

    Melting Pot has no choices, just a fixed-price menu with Caesar and a surf-and-turf fondue.

    Meso Maya wins hearts with an extra pre-course of guacamole or queso poblano, then 1. a salad; 2. is carne asada, chicken mole, salmon or pork chop.

    Mercury Chophouse has 1. three salads including Caesar; 2. NY strip, beef tips, chicken, salmon and pork chop.

    Mi Piaci has for 1. most of its appetizers; for 2. there is salmon, osso buco, chicken, tortellini and veal.

    Nobu has 1. tomato ceviche, spinach salad or tempura; and 2. chicken, squid or sea bass. Dessert menu includes rhubarb brown butter yuzu cake.

    Nick & Sam's limits the choices to 1. watermelon salad or soup; 2. salmon or filet.

    Nosh has gazpacho, meatballs, Mother's Salad or watermelon salad; shrimp, short ribs, mushroom pasta, or fish of the day.

    Ocean Prime has just a few classics: 1. salad or lobster bisque; 2. chicken, sirloin or striped bass.

    The Oceanaire Seafood Room has grandeur with 1. clam chowder, seafood gumbo, Bibb salad or Caesar salad; 2. and sole salmon, barramundi, or filet mignon.

    The Palm has grandeur, too, with 1. lobster bisque or one of three salads: beet and goat cheese, tomato or Caesar; 2. and chicken Parmigiana, crab cakes, filet mignon, veal chop or salmon.

    Pappas Bros Steakhouse goes basic steakhouse with 1. house salad or Caesar; 3. shrimp, lobster, NY strip or salmon.

    Perry's goes basic, too, with 1. wedge or Caesar; 2. filet, pork chop or chicken Oscar.

    Place at Perry's has a little flair with 1. wedge, Caesar, house, tomato bisque or tortilla soup; 2. filet, rib-eye, pork chop, salmon or chicken.

    Pyramid has an inventive and extensive menu with 1. beet and goat cheese salad, soup, chicken liver mousse, or crab cakes; 2. beef shank, salmon and shrimp, chicken breast stuffed with baby back ribs or crispy caraway potato, and summer squash roll. Wild!

    Queenie's has personality with 1. romaine salad, butter lettuce salad, or the excellent bucatini with sausage; 2. beef tenderloin, chicken thigh or shrimp.

    The Ranch at Las Colinas has distinctive items including 1. house salad, romaine wedge or crab dip; 3. meatloaf, flat-iron steak, chicken-fried steak or crawfish fettuccine.

    Randy's Steakhouse has good choices with 1. soup or salad; 2, filet, chicken marsala or crab cakes.

    Blue Plate Kitchen goes hearty with 1. gazpacho, tomato salad or greens; 2. bone-in steak, fried chicken, pork loin, or fish of the day.

    Ray's Steakhouse steps outside the box with 1. Caesar, chopped or arugula salad; 2. salmon, scallops, surf and turf, or chicken cordon bleu.

    Reata goes extra-simple, with 1. a green salad for a starter and 2. choice of tenderloin, pork shank or redfish.

    Salum has much to choose from with 1. field greens, melon gazpacho (two trends in one!), tomato salad or baked goat cheese; 2. mahi, chicken breast, pork porterhouse or squid ink fettuccine with clams, mussels and shrimp.

    Sambuca has a humble vibe with 1. tortilla soup, house salad or Gorgonzola salad; 2. pork chop, shrimp, flat-iron steak, Mediterranean lasagna and chicken.

    Second Floor has some aspirations with 1. tomato salad, crab bisque, deviled eggs; 2. pork chop, salmon and smoked chicken.

    Ser at the Anatole has a small menu with 1. wedge salad or mushroom bisque; 2. chicken, filet or pork chop.

    Silver Fox has the expected 1. house salad, wedge or asparagus soup; 2. filet, salmon or pork chop.

    Sissy's has a set meal for the table, with deviled eggs, fried oysters and crab cakes; fried chicken with mac and cheese and fried okra.

    St. Martin's Bistro has an extensive selection of dishes from its regular menu.

    Steel has neat choices including 1. a shrimp roll, pot sticker or crab shu mai; 2. mussels, roast duck, beef or salmon.

    Stephan Pyles has lots of appeal with 1. corn soup, melon salad (two trends in a row!) or a carnitas tamale; 2. salmon, beef short rib or chicken.

    Steve Field's does it up big with 1. Caesar, wedge, spinach salad, or crab-corn chowder (two trends in one); 2. filet, sea bass, salmon, prime rib, crab cake, pork chop or lobster tail.

    Tei An has lots of noodles with 1. edamame, seaweed salad, shishito peppers or enoki mushroom; 2. short green soba, soba with spicy shrimp and scallop, ramen, or pressed sushi.

    Texas has a limited menu with 1. sweet potato soup, house salad, and 2. choice of filet or salmon.

    Truluck's has surprises including 1. green salad or Caesar; 2. churrasco beef, crab mac and cheese, striped bass, or cioppino.

    Tillman's Roadhouse has a different take with 1. lobster bisque or greens; 2. scallops, pork or corn gnocchi, which is novel.

    Wild Mushroom has style with 1. French onion soup, roasted pear with blue cheese, or porcini flan with crab; 2. salmon, beef tournedos or coq au vin.

    Wild Salsa has a big ambitious spread with 1. beef tartare, coconut shrimp ceviche or stuffed gordita; 2. chile relleno, swordfish with a shrimp tamale, or vegetable tasting: black-eyed pea and Oaxaca cheese tamale with rainbow chard tostada, grilled mushroom medley and goat cheese.

    Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse has few nifty sounding items including 1. corn and sweet potato chowder, oysters, prosciutto-wrapped scallops or house salad; 2. chicken fried lobster, elk tenderloin, rib-eye, buffalo filet mignon, salmon or filet mignon.

    The full list of restaurants is here.

    Belly & Trumpet has one of the more intriguing Restaurant Week menus.

    Interior of Belly & Trumpet restaurant in Dallas
    Photo by Joy Zhang
    Belly & Trumpet has one of the more intriguing Restaurant Week menus.
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    Farm to fairground

    The ultimate guide to Texas food festivals for summer and fall 2026

    Shilo Urban
    Jun 11, 2026 | 2:50 pm
    Caldwell Kolache Festival
    Photo courtesy of Caldwell Kolache Festival
    Caldwell Kolache Festival takes place September 12 near College Station.

    Only in Texas can an entire weekend revolve around watermelon seed-spitting, pickle juice drinking, or a championship goat cookoff. Across the state, summer and fall bring a packed calendar of food festivals celebrating everything from peaches and peanuts to black-eyed peas and barbacoa. These beloved events pair hometown traditions with live entertainment, quirky contests, and enough local flavor to fill a cooler.

    Here's a calendar guide to Texas' best food festivals to visit in 2026:

    Caldwell Kolache Festival

    Photo courtesy of Caldwell Kolache Festival

    Caldwell Kolache Festival takes place September 12 near College Station.

    Tomato Festival in Jacksonville – June 13
    Can you peel a tomato with your teeth? Pack tomatoes at lightning speed? Gobble them down faster than anyone you know? There’s a competition for you at this East Texas shindig, which is famous for setting the Guinness World Record for the biggest bowl of salsa. Hit up the street dance and the classic car show while you indulge in all the fried green tomatoes and savory tomato tarts you can eat.

    Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches – June 13
    Blueberry pie, blueberry cupcakes, and thousands of blueberry pancakes take over this East Texas town with a sea of blue. People pile onto the sidewalk to cheer at the costumed pet parade and gleefully get messy at the no-hands blueberry pie eating contests. The music is bluegrass, naturally, and free shuttles carry people to nearby pick-your-own blueberry farms.

    Luling Watermelon Thump – June 25-28
    Can you hear that thumping sound now? Home of the World Championship Seed-Spitting Contest, this juicy jamboree takes place just east of New Braunfels. Bid on champion-sized melons at the auction, wave hello to the Watermelon Queen, and see adorable tots wheeling in watermelons in wagons for the Lil Growers competition. Texans love our watermelon: You’ll also find the McDade Watermelon Festival (July 11), Hempstead Watermelon Festival (July 17-18), and the Naples Watermelon Festival (July 23-25).

     Luling Watermelon Thump Wave hello to the Watermelon Queen in the big Luling Watermelon Thump.Photo courtesy of Luling Watermelon Thump

    Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford – July 11
    Stroll around Weatherford’s historic courthouse square and shop for fresh peaches galore from local growers. Browse 200+ arts and crafts vendors and sample treats like fried peach pies, peach ice cream, and peach wine. Slam down your winning tiles at the 42 domino tournament (the national game of Texas) and shop for just-picked peaches. Many people leave with several bushels! Peachapaloozas also erupt at Stonewall’s Peach JAMboree & Rodeo (June 19-21) near Fredericksburg and Fairfield’s Fuzzy Peach Festival (July 17-18).

    Cheeseburger Festival in Friona – July 18
    Just 35 miles from the New Mexico border, Friona is surrounded by cattle ranches, wheat fields, and dairy farms — which provide three of the essential ingredients for cheeseburgers. Saturday, July 18 is the big cookoff, where teams must make 200 cheeseburgers each, and the week leading up to it includes daily diversions like kite flying, archery lessons, Loteria games, and movie nights at the city pool.

    World Championship Goat Cookoff in Brady – September 4-5
    Labor Day weekend brings more than 200 teams of goat chefs to this tiny town that’s smack in the middle of the state. But it’s not just about shining a light on an underappreciated meat; showmanship is also key. Cooking teams try to outdo each other with elaborate themed camps, giving the event a family-reunion-meets-tailgate-party atmosphere.

    Texas Banana Pudding Festival in Slaton – September 5
    The Banana Pudding Capital of Texas is way out west near Lubbock, and every autumn a local bakery hosts a ‘nanner puddin’ blowout in the historic town square. The street festival oozes small-town charm (think vintage tractor displays and pinewood derby races) with fantastic b-pudding flavors like Key lime pie and peanut butter.

    Caldwell Kolache Festival – September 12
    With tens of thousands of kolaches, nonstop polka music, and a parade with colorful folk costumes, this celebration honors Czech culture and heritage. Found close to College Station, Caldwell is called the Czech Capital of Texas, and its signature festival also features the Beseda (the national dance of the Czech Republic) and kolache baking and eating contests.

    In a Pickle Festival in Helotes – September 19
    Does the idea of dogs dressed like pickles tickle your fancy? The pickled pet parade is a highlight of this Hill Country brou-ha-ha, and so is the pickle juice drinking competition. Chug! Chug! Chug! Hungry now? Try pickle pizza, pickle ice cream, and freeze-dried pickles — and if you still haven’t had enough, there’s a second In a Pickle Festival in Mercedes each spring, and Garland hosts its Pickle Party on the Square with a Pickle University every June.

    Bertram Oatmeal Festival – September 26
    Head to this Hill Country hamlet to meet Oatie, the festival mascot (a container of 3-Minute Oats) and his masked arch-nemesis, the Grits Guzzler (a corny cornmeal-pushing villain). Watch their shenanigans unfold down the street before you sign up for silly games like the tortilla toss and cow chip kick. Children can get ooey-gooey searching for prizes in the popular oatmeal dig, a kiddie pool filled with oats.

    Bertram Oatmeal Festival Meet Oatie, the mascot of the Bertram Oatmeal Festival. Photo courtesy of Bertram Oatmeal Festival

    Floresville Peanut Festival – October 6-10
    The enticing aroma of roasting peanuts fills the air at this South Texas fest, which dates all the way back to 1938. It kicks off with Goober Games for children (like sack races and peanut tossing) and a Kiddie Parade with pint-sized floats. Then the serious fun begins: a grand parade, barbecue cookoff, and washer tournament — plus a panoply of peanutty treats, from old-school peanut brittle to newfangled inventions like fried peanut butter sandwiches.

    Barbacoa and Big Red Festival in San Antonio – October 10-11
    Inspired by a Mexican American weekend lunch ritual, this giant fair celebrates the uber-Texas combo of ice-cold Big Red soda and slow-cooked barbacoa. Thousands of fans flock to the Freeman Coliseum grounds and Expo Hall for this full-blown cultural festival with carnival rides and multiple stages of Tejano and country music.

    Jamburgeree in Athens – October 16-17
    Turtle races? Check. Mooing competition? Check. Hamburger-building contest? Of course! This Piney Woods party is two food festivals in one: the Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree and the Uncle Fletch Hamburger Festival — because Athens is the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World AND the Birthplace of the Hamburger. Vegetarians and carnivores can walk hand-in-hand through the food fest and enjoy the eats along with a black-eyed pea spitting contest, a farmer’s market, and a cornhole tournament.

    Seguin Pecan Fest – October 24
    Snap a selfie with the world’s largest pecan in this picturesque town along the Guadalupe River, the Pecan Capital of Texas and one of the state’s leading producers of our favorite nuts. Pecan-themed festivities include a Food Truck Throwdown with pecan-inspired dishes and a Get Crackin’ Contest for masochists who like to shell pecans. Last year’s bash also had llamas.

    Pecan Fest Of course there's a Pecan Fest in Texas.Photo courtesy of Pecan Fest

    Crystal City Spinach Festival – October 29-November 1
    Celebrate Popeye’s favorite food for four whole days in Crystal City, located about 100 miles southwest of San Antonio in Zavala County — Texas’ top spinach-producing county for more than a century. Naturally, there’s a spinach cookoff, as well as a parade, carnival rides, and the crowning of the Spinach Festival Queen. Don’t forget to pay your regards to the statue of Popeye, who popularized spinach during the Great Depression — transforming Crystal City’s economy and spurring the founding of the Spinach Festival in 1936.

    Heritage Syrup Festival – November 14 in Henderson
    Watch ribbon cane syrup as it’s made with antique, mule-powered equipment at this Easy Texas folk life festival. You’ll also see demonstrations of lace making, blacksmithing, rope making, quilting, spinning, and wood carving. Hayrides and square dancing complete the old-fashioned fun.

    Poteet Strawberry Festival – Second weekend of April 2027 (date TBA)
    Last but certainly not least, this massive event near San Antonio attracts over 100,000 fruit fanatics to the Strawberry Capital of Texas every spring. It has it all: fireworks, rodeo thrills, marching bands, carnival rides, and more than a dozen stages of entertainment from folklorico dancers to dueling pianos. But the star of the show is the sweet South Texas strawberry, a ruby-red gem that gets gobbled by the truckload.

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