Flying Fish

For too many years, Flying Fish has sat collecting dust in the "Is it a hole" department.  Something about it seemed chainy.  It fit so well into its environment that it confused the department's editors.  After a recent visit, I pulled it out of the department.  It is in fact a small chain with about five or six other locations.  However, because of the character of the Fort Worth location, the cool flying fish logo, my continued support, and my need to write more reviews I think it qualifies under this blog's charter.

If you haven't been, Flying Fish is a casual cajun/southeast Texas/bayou type joint.  You order off a big menu board and the items range from salads with grilled fish, to po-boys, catfish, gumbo, crawfish, and shrimp dishes.  They've also got big schooners of your adult beverage of choice.  Most of the fish is fried and most of the sides are on the fried side, but they also serve grilled fish dishes with grilled veggie sides for those of you looking to  live longer than the rest of us.

Because I've h ad a lot of different items, I let you in on my favorites.  I get the fried grouper po-boy in the summer and when its cold, I'll get the gumbo.

The gumbo is chock full of fresh and tasty ingredients and is flavorful.  You can actually feel bites of the vegetables and meats as opposed to just tasting them.  Plus, with the free crackers, you can make a meal pretty easily.  In the winter, there isn't a better dish than a warm stew/gumbo/soup and the Flying Fish gumbo works for me.  The deliciousness has been verified by a gumbo expert. 

My summer favorite dish is the fried grouper po-boy and I get it snappy.  Ordering something snappy gets it spicy but its fun because you can say it with sass.  Each time the grouper po-boy comes out, the fish is twice the size of the bread.  I like that although it makes it cumbersome to eat.  Nobody cares since you're at such a casual place, but I judge people that eat sloppily and assume they're judging me. 

By the way, a few years ago I took a trip down to Biloxi for three or four days and tried a different po-boy every day.  The po-boy at Flying Fish would be about above average for what I had in the Mississippi coastal area.

If you haven't been to Flying Fish try it out on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday after church.  Grab a beer and a basket of food and sit on the patio.  You'll enjoy the vibe and the food. 

Let me know if you've been and if you've got other opinions.

Flying Fish is located at 2913 Montgomery Street across from the Railhead.

Format Changes

I've updated the format and layout of the blog for the first time in three years. At some point, I'll also be removing many of the tags that seem useless in order to make them more streamlined. This way you'll just see a list of basic restaurant types, with a few tabs for "patio" and a few other useful things.

If you've got any suggestions or comments, feel free to share.

Here is the link to the Fort Worth Hole In The Wall Map of restaurants.  I'm still updating it and will post the map once I can get it to fit.  The link will be added to the side (---> that way).


Thanks,
FWHITW

Wild Rooster Bar

Did you hear that Fort Worth will be hosting ESPN for Super Bowl week? dallas is pissed (according to the Observer website). Turns out, nobody in dallas really knows whats going on over here. So I'm going to extend an informal invitation to the people of the Near East to come and enjoy our town. To entice them, here is a hole in the wall bar review.


Have you noticed the new bars and restaurants opening up along West 7th Street? Have you complained to your friends about the high prices of some of the new places? Here's some relief.

The Wild Rooster Bar has opened in the old Asel Art Supply location in the strip center with Great Outdoors. Its on the north end of the building at 7th Street. The developer has redone the space into a bar with a stage, pool tables, and an outdoor patio. According to a random sample of people (and the large crowd there on a recent night), the bar is a hit. Some may like the music, some may like the open, casual interior, and but all like the cheap beer.

Cheap beer, you say? Actually, I wrote it, but yes - cheap beer. According to my resident expert waitress, there is a constant happy hour price for PBR, Lone Star Light and Tecate.

These three beers are available for $1.50 at all times....

Six quarters for PBR. You can't park that cheaply in dallas.

I'm going to let that sink in for a second.

[continue reading when ready]

If you look at the Rooster Bar website, you will think this is an overly country bar with too much kitsch. Luckily for us, its not. They weren't playing country music when I was there and the only indication that there is any country connection are the themes of some beer signs and the fact that many dudes are in boots.

Check it out and let me know what you think. My time was short on the recent visit so a later visit will provide more insight.

The intertron doesn't give an address for the bar and their facebook page says the location is on Camp Bowie. I know many of you complain about no addresses (despite my thorough review including visual cues: "under the cloud shaped like a boat"), so I'm going to give exact directions.

At the big intersection of University, 7th, Bailey, Camp Bowie, University, 7th, Moncrief, ESPN and Eddie V's, go west on 7th just past the flat iron building. If you go past the bar, you've gone too far.

The Rooster Bar receives a 2 hole rating because its safe and fun for everybody, but its in a cool old building which adds some character.

Absence

Sorry for the absence folks. It's been a hectic month around the FWHITW offices. Our staff is back up and running and reviews should be forthcoming soon!

For all of you who have left comments, I will be responding to them soon.

Here are a few teasers:

After initial debate, popular seafood restaurant has been moved to the Hole in the Wall Category.

What did we lose when we lost Palermo's?

AND....drum roll....

Does Paco & John have a new rival in town?

-FWHITW