The Great Restaurant Bust of 2025 is part headlines and part hype.
Fort Worth saw just as many good new restaurants opening in 2025 as closing — maybe more.
Yes, the quadruple whammy of high food costs, a severe immigrant labor shortage, spiraling rents and shrinking waistlines drove some restaurants to close. But that didn’t stop new competitors from launching startups.
For every Cat City Grill that closed, a Fort Redemption neighborhood steakhouse opened.
For every Fitzgerald seafood restaurant that closed, a Hudson House opened.
For every Lili’s Bistro that closed, a Margie’s Italian Gardens opened.
For every Taco Heads artisan taco bar that closed, a dozen taquerias opened, along with super-cute coffee and taco sensation Cafecito.
Yes, at times the restaurant business seemed dire. But that was easy to forget on a sunny day in the beer garden at Crystal Springs Hideaway, an all-new hamburger patio and bar that felt as comfortable as an old Fort Worth dive.
In fact, 2025 was a great year for Fort Worth-area restaurants. We gained:
—Ko Thai, 725 W. Magnolia Ave., a flashy new Thai restaurant and bar with the decor of an upscale Asian dinner house.
—Hudson House, 4600 Dexter Ave., a New England-style grill and oyster bar that officially opened in January and quickly became one of the most-booked restaurants in Fort Worth.
—Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails, 4424 White Settlement Road, an intimate bar, restaurant and croquet club with country-club-style service, by restaurateur Tim Love.
—Dan’s Bagels, 2430 Forest Park Blvd., a Connecticut-style sourdough bagel sandwich shop and deli with a regional following at its original location in Trophy Club.
—Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen, 5209 Rufe Snow Drive, a well-spiced and near-perfect casual Cajun restaurant that feels as comfortable as an old bait shack.
—Nikuya Rooftop, on the 17th floor at 512 Main St., a glassed-in sushi bar with a 360-degree view of Fort Worth from atop the Sinclair Hotel.
—Cattlemen’s Steak House, 2458 N. Main St., now with a patio and private club added to the remodeled and updated 1947 Stockyards landmark seen in “Landman.”
—Margie’s Italian Gardens, 9805 Camp Bowie West Blvd., a restored and updated revival of a 1953 Italian favorite.
—Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza, 628 Harrold St. and 2828 North Tarrant Parkway, Texas locations for a Michelin-recommended pizzeria from Miami.
—Ichirō Izakaya Yakitori Diner and Bar, 401 Bryan Ave., a stylish Japanese cafe serving a wide selection of small plates and cocktails.
—Dos Mares, 3260 W. Seventh St., an upscale interior Mexico-style seafood restaurant from the noted steak and cabrito chef behind Don Artemio.
—The Mont, 4729 Saint Amand Circle, an ambitious and luxurious fine-dining restaurant with a bustling bar, a busy patio and a reasonable weekend brunch.
—Fort Redemption, 5724 Locke Ave., a prime steakhouse and bar with a casual setting and bargain prices, tucked into a neighborhood shopping center.
—Crystal Springs Hideaway, 113 Roberts Cut Off Road, a burger grill and patio beer garden combined with a wine and charcuterie shop in a remodeled 1920s home.
—Polanco Fine Cuisine, 570 Throckmorton St., an elaborate Mexico City-style fine-dining steak and seafood restaurant
—Little Tavern, 517 University Drive, a smaller version of the Tavern on South Hulen Street with the same high-quality meats, burgers, salads and weekend brunch.
—Cafecito, 401 W. Magnolia Ave., a brightly decorated and high-spirited breakfast and lunch cafe known for “pink” tinted tacos and chilaquiles along with lunch and weekend dinner plates such as chicken in mole sauce, plus coffees and pastries.
—NADC Burger, 604 Main St., a Los Angeles Michelin chef’s smashburger stand with a pro skateboarder for a partner and a nationwide cult following.
—Hideaway Pizza, 9800 North Freeway, an Oklahoma legend bringing generously loaded old-school pizzas to a giant, two-story Texas location.
And those aren’t all. Just look around.
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 4:27 AM.
Bud Kennedy
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