Why Mother’s Day is our busiest dining day, and where to find a table in Fort Worth

Bud Kennedy
·4 min read

Yes, you can take Mom to Hudson House for Mother’s Day.

But not until late afternoon.

That is, unless she’s the type of Mom who’ll sit at the bar.

Fort Worth’s busiest restaurants — some new, some old favorites — still have a few tables available for May 12, the single busiest dining day of the year.

Once, the No. 2 busiest was Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate silk pie at Hudson House’s Fort Worth location, as seen Dec. 21, 2023.
Chocolate silk pie at Hudson House’s Fort Worth location, as seen Dec. 21, 2023.

But now, the runner-up busiest day in restaurants is actually the Saturday before Mother’s Day, partly because it’s also a college graduation night.

One-third of moms will go out twice on a weekend when restaurants will put on their best show, according to the OpenTable reservation service.

Never is it more important to book a reservation.

Compare the restaurants on OpenTable.com, Resy.com, Tock.com and by searching “reservations” on Yelp.com.

Here’s a look at some restaurants with tables available at midweek:

One of two bars at the Fort Worth location of Hudson House, built in an old icemaking plant, as seen Dec. 21, 2023.
One of two bars at the Fort Worth location of Hudson House, built in an old icemaking plant, as seen Dec. 21, 2023.

The newbies: Hudson House, Teddy Wong’s

The two most talked-about new restaurants are also two of the toughest tables May 11-12.

But Hudson House, 4600 Dexter Ave., has tables available in late afternoon both days.

Hudson House welcomes diners anytime to sit at one of the two bars. But there’s often a wait. Sometimes, it’s easier to get a table at the Irving location.

Let Mom see the oysters or lobster rolls in this Hudson Valley-themed restaurant, but recommend the French beurre-blanc chicken; 682-207-4220, hudsonhousehp.com.

▪ Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & WIne, 812 W. Rosedale St., has more space than usual.

Maybe Mom’s not interested in Peking duck or soup dumplings, but that’s just because she hasn’t tried Teddy Wong’s; 817-349-8965, teddywongs.com.

The Miso Salmon with broccoli at Pacific Table on University Dr. in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday, August 22, 2013. (Star-Telegram/Ron T. Ennis)
The Miso Salmon with broccoli at Pacific Table on University Dr. in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday, August 22, 2013. (Star-Telegram/Ron T. Ennis)

The most-Googled: Pacific Table, Walloon’s

Two restaurants seem to rise to the top in online searches, including an old favorite.

Pacific Table, 1600 S. University Drive, is a dinner favorite but should also be known for its weekend brunch.

The brunch features lemon-ricotta pancakes, chilaquiles, a ham-and-cheese frittata and breakfast burgers or sandwiches; 817-887-9995, pacifictable.com.

Also check its cousin restaurants by celebrity chef Graham Elliot, including Le Margot and the new Press Cafe in Aledo; farouthospitality.com.

▪ Walloon’s, 701 W. Magnolia Ave., is new and beautiful and has excellent availability both Saturday and Sunday.

The flavor is seafood and the style is New Orleans, but Walloon’s also has burgers, avocado toast, Italian beef and a panini of the day; 682-224-3230, walloonsrestaurant.com.

One of Fort Worth’s best high-end chicken-fried steaks is served at Lucile’s Stateside Bistro.
One of Fort Worth’s best high-end chicken-fried steaks is served at Lucile’s Stateside Bistro.

Sunday standbys: Cat City Grill, Lucile’s

Two mid-price family restaurants seem to draw busy crowds of all ages any weekend:

Cat City Grill, a dinner steakhouse at 1208 W. Magnolia Ave., opens for brunch on weekends and serves egg dishes, omelets and chicken-fried steak-and-eggs; 817-916-5333, catcitygrill.com.

▪ Lucile’s, an all-around lunch and dinner restaurant at 4700 Camp Bowie Blvd., serves breakfast from 10 a.m. weekends with egg dishes, waffles, lemon-ricotta pancakes and one of the city’s favorite chicken-fried steaks; 817-738-4761, lucilesstatesidebistro.com.

French toast with a goat-milk caramel sauce at Don Artemio.
French toast with a goat-milk caramel sauce at Don Artemio.

Nice: Cafe Modern, Don Artemio Mexican Cuisine

Cafe Modern, 3200 Darnell St. inside The Modern, is always one of the city’s favorite brunches and will serve a Mother’s Day buffet.

It’s $65, and tables are available. If that doesn’t fit your artistic taste, try the Cafe for dinner Friday night or brunch Saturday; 817-840-2157, themodern.org.

Don Artemio Mexican Cuisine, 3268 W. Seventh St., a prime steakhouse and tequila bar from Mexico, has tables available for its distinctive brunch menu featuring lighter dishes; 817-470-1439, donartemio.us.

Maiden offfers a vegan afternoon tea service with plant-based tea sandwiches and sweets.
Maiden offfers a vegan afternoon tea service with plant-based tea sandwiches and sweets.

Cowboys and culture

A few odds and ends:

▪ Caterina’s, chef Tim Love’s Italian restaurant at 128 E. Exchange Ave., has good availability along with his flagship steakhouse, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, 2406 N. Main St. 682-267-0812, caterinasftx.com, and 817-740-8810, lonesomedovefortworth.com.

▪ Maiden, 1216 Sixth Ave., is a plant-based fine dining restaurant with space both weekend days for its family-friendly tea service. The platters include a series of sweet and savory scones, finger sandwiches and chef’s tastings; 817-953-8327, maidenvegan.com.

▪ Blue Mesa Grill, always a busy Sunday buffet, expands the buffet to Saturday, May 11, beginning at 10 a.m.

In all, Blue Mesa will serve 13 hours of Southwestern buffet brunch over the weekend, featuring tenderloin, enchiladas, build-your-own tacos, waffles, eggs and desserts. It’s $40; 817-332-6372, bluemesagrill.com.

▪ The chain “better brunch” restaurants don’t take reservations. But Mom might want to wait in line for Snooze, 2150 W. Seventh St., or Yolk, 305 Main St.

▪ The fancy Western hotel restaurants, Bricks & Horses in the Bowie House Auberge and 97 West in the Drover, are booked.

But all the prime steakhouses and churrascarias are open and have plenty of room. If Mom wants steak, try Capital Grille or somewhere like Texas de Brazil.