Fine Dining in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Whether it’s a special occasion or you’re simply in the mood for a gourmet meal, we know the best places to go. So, don your best duds and get ready for a memorable experience with our guide to the top fine dining restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Bella Italia West

Bella Italia West serves delicious Northern Italian classics, yet this restaurant is best known for its menu of wild game meats. Discover exotic new flavors with one of Chef Carlo Croci’s specialties featuring buffalo, antelope, ostrich, venison, caribou, pheasant, or duck within this pick’s upscale Elks lodge-like ambiance. Think hand-painted murals, mounted game heads, and tables with red tablecloths and white overlays.

There’s also a variety of appetizers and salads, plus quintessential Italian fare on the menu for the less adventurous diners in your group. Browse the menu for dishes such as linguine a la Bolognese and entrees made with roasted chicken and savory veal in wine sauce. You’ll want to examine Bella Italia’s impressive wine list, including a few from Croci’s native Argentina. Call for reservations and dress appropriately, then look for this restaurant’s iconic red, green, and white-striped awnings. You can’t miss it.

• Location: 5139 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.
• Lunch hours: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
• Dinner hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Lonesome Dove Western Bistro

Located in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro is the perfect locale for fine dining. Whether you’re planning a private, romantic dinner for two or an elegant affair for the whole family, its rustic-chic style and an incredible selection of sophisticated cowboy cuisine will satisfy the most discerning guest.

Owner and celebrity chef Tim Love has received numerous awards for his inventive menu since he opened the restaurant more than two decades ago. The cultures of the West heavily influence the menu. Sample one of his signature dishes, such as the famous rabbit and rattlesnake sausage on the starter’s menu or the classic chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes. This premiere dining establishment also offers a mouthwatering selection of steaks and seafood. Then, sip a genuine Texas whiskey after your meal, like the Balcones Baby Blue from Waco.

• Location: 2406 N. Main St., Fort Worth.
• Lunch hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Dinner hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Piola Restaurant and Garden

Chef Bobby Albanese of Piola Restaurant and Garden uses treasured family recipes handed down for generations to create his delicious, authentic Italian dishes. You’ll love the comfortable, homey vibe and the charming setting inside the quaint 1940s bungalow, or you can have a seat in the jewel of this pick: the large, lush garden patio. It’s the ideal place to go back in time, eat, drink, and socialize with friends and family.

Everything on the rich, diverse menu is packed with flavor, such as Grandma’s lasagna, Chicken Involtini with ricotta, spinach, and a lemon caper artichoke sauce. Finish your meal with a classic Italian dessert. Choose from mini cannolis, tiramisu, or the scrumptious chocolate ganache cake. Piola is also just a short walk from local museums, so feel free to add some culture to the experience.

• Location: 3700 Mattison Ave., Fort Worth.
• Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Saint-Emilion Restaurant

If you love classic French dishes in a cozy, unpretentious setting, head to Saint-Emilion Restaurant. Chef Pascal Paviani is dedicated to caring for his longtime patrons and new guests with some of the finest cuisines in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Most Wednesdays are reserved for special events and wine-tasting diners for a limited number of guests. Check the website for more information and remember to make your reservations online before you head over.

Sit down for a three-course meal of classic Parisian bistro favorites. Start with Hors d’œuvres, including sautéd calamari or snails in garlic and parsley butter, then move on to the main dish. We recommend Chef Pascal’s special pasta or the duck leg shepherd’s pie. Of course, it wouldn’t be a French meal without dessert. Pick from traditional options such as mousse au chocolat and crème brulée. Saint-Emilion also offers a reasonably priced wine list with an ever-changing selection of varietals by the glass.

• Location: 3617 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth.
• Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine

Get to know a world-class contender in the local fine dining scene at Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine. Its award-winning farm-to-table philosophy, combined with Chef Jon Bonnell’s training, results in a locally sourced wild game, wagyu beef, and seafood menu. Bonnell shops farmers markets for cheese, herbs, fruits, and vegetables fresh off the vine to create his dishes. He’s a true culinary classic in Fort Worth, and his attention to detail has won him critical acclaim.

You’ll love browsing the menu. You’ll notice a fusion of Southwestern, Creole, and Mexican influences across the board. Try the pepper-crusted buffalo with truffle pommes frites or quail with wild Texas mushrooms and black truffles served on a bed of penne pasta. Enjoy a glass of wine, a cocktail, or something from the bar menu. You’ll love its extensive list of options, from whiskey and scotch to bourbon and beer. Don’t hesitate to ask him for the recipe if you want to recreate your meal at home, and follow our tips for hand safety in the kitchen.

• Location: 4259 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth.
• Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

There you go. The staff at The Hand and Wrist Institute brought you this guide to the best places for fine dining in Dallas-Fort Worth. What do you think of our suggestions? Let us know if we missed any of the area’s top spots for a gourmet meal. We’d love to add your ideas to our growing guide.

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Dr. John Knight

Dr. Knight is a renowned hand, wrist and upper extremity surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more.