The Dish: Tarrant County gets new Japanese restaurant and more menu choices

Have you ever seen the TV show “Seinfeld”? You know how the whole plot of the show was that there wasn’t a plot? That’s this week’s column.

First, though, I’d like to apologize for now leading two articles with out-of-date television references. I just barely got away with talking about Nick Offerman’s moustache in my fine dining article two weeks ago and the adrenaline hasn’t quite settled yet.

There are multiple themes I could pick this week, but regular readers should know by now that I like having options. So, today I’m opening the proverbial lost and found box of restaurant news and letting you rummage around. Have at it, you kooky kids. 

Wabi House coming to Keller

The city of Keller recently announced on Facebook that Wabi House is opening a location in Old Town Keller on West Vine Street. The post said this location will have a patio with TVs and will open in fall. The Japanese restaurant’s website doesn’t have their Keller menu up yet, but their Fort Worth menu shows ramen, yakitori, small plates and desserts as well as cocktails, wine, drafts and sake. A Fort Worth staffer said menu items such as desserts and small plates differ slightly by location.

Ramen offerings include some pork-centric tonkotsu, made with chashu pork, ajitama egg and wood ear mushrooms; and the tsukemen –– only available after 5 p.m. –– with chashu, applewood bacon and chili strips with a pork dipping broth. Those who like it hot could try the spicy miso with minced pork, poached egg, bamboo and spicy rayu and chili threads.

There’s a vegan ramen option, too, with vegan noodles, shiitake mushrooms, snap peas, bok choy and a proprietary broth. The broth recipe is kept hush-hush, but word on the street is it includes mushrooms, onion and garlic powders. 111 W. Vine St., Keller; 1229 8th Ave., Suite 227, Fort Worth; 817-662-0744

Stewart’s serves cocktails and croquet

Restaurateur and chef Tim Love is tapping into a Great Gatsby aesthetic in his latest venture. Stewart’s opened May 12 and is based on the concept of spending a day at an English country club, according to a press release. The location features a 15,000-square-foot lawn and two croquet courts. The menu focuses on cocktails with “elevated bar food” served in custom glassware and under cloches.

You can’t have a fancy restaurant without caviar, so Stewart’s offers both black and platinum Royal Ossetra. The menu also has hors d’oeuvres like zucchini carpaccio, salads and sandwiches. Dishes include Texas blue crab cakes, a flat bun burger with proprietary sauce, and a BLT.

The cocktails are Stewart’s primary focus, including a martini cart where bartenders prepare custom drinks tableside. There are, of course, several signature cocktails. 4424 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth; 817-214-4500

Playa Bowl opens in Southlake

The acai bowl franchise Playa Bowls just opened a location in Southlake May 17. The menu features smoothies, juices and cold brew on top of the primary product, which is, obviously, acai bowls. 

The brand’s founders are passionate surfers, so Playa Bowls’ menu leans heavily into the tropical, beachy vibes with acai, coconut, pitaya, mango and banana bowls. They also have a kale-based “green” blend and a “booster” blend. The latter is made from banana, peanut butter, vanilla protein, flax oil, cashew milk and spirulina.

Their juices include kale-centric, fruity options like their “green room” –– made from kale, apple, cucumber, mint and lemon –– a beet juice with cucumber and spinach, and three carrot-based drinks. 1151 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake; 817-416-9409

We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to [email protected].

Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.

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