Piola

Have you heard the good news? The little house with the amazing Italian food has opened up a few months after a fire gutted the house housing the restaurant. Obviously the immense response from my post a few months back told Piola that Fort Worth would not buy some excuse like "my restaurant is on fire." So, in response to you, loyal readers, Piola opened back up with a new interior but the same delicious food.

For those that don't know, Piola is at Mattison and Haskell, and right on the edge of the UNT Health Science Center. The restaurant is in an old house which they hae completely remodeled thanks to the fire. They have also kept the great patio out back.

Pursuant to a restraining order I'm not allowed in the front of the restaurant so I took the opportunity to dine al fresco. Al fresco, in Italian means, "sexy". So as I sat outside, dining al frescoly, I reviewed the menu and narrowed my selection down to six options which I then grilled the knowledgeable waiter about. Previously, I ate the veal involtini (literally, "al fresco cow") so this time I decided to go with a pasta dish. I had the Smoked Chicken Fettucini. It was a form of fettucini with a garlic cream sauce, mushrooms, chicken and some truffle stuff.

I started a new paragraph to emphasize this next point. You should sell a close cousin for this dish. Keep the brothers and sisters around for extra kidneys but this dish is worth at least a first cousin. It is creamy, chickeny and smokey. Which you would not have picked up from the name of the dish. My waiter even said it was one of his favorites. Probably because he has learned not to say bad things about what he's selling.

The chicken parmigiana also got good reviews and looked like they cooked up the breast of some giant 5 foot tall Indian Chicken. I know they exist because a man whom I have no reason to doubt told me about them. He said Campbell's uses them for their soups. Well Piola also uses them for their "parm". It's was reported as delicious and "get your fork off my plate, freak".

If you need a unique place to go with good food and great atmosphere check out the new and improved Piola. Let me know if you've been since they opened back up.

Piola is located at 3700 Mattison Avenue on the corner with Haskell. Park on the street or in the parking lot to the south.

Piola Fire - Sad News

According to the Star-Telegram, Cafe Piola has suffered massive damage in an overnight fire.

You can read the article here.

If you'll remember, I went to Piola last fall and loved it. Hopefully they can get things going again although the owner doesn't appear too optimistic for a quick return. Good luck Piola.

Note:  Since this post was made, Piola has rebuilt the restaurant and is back in business.  See this review for addtional information.

Holidays, Friends, Family, Food

The holiday season is fast approaching and that means one thing - visitors. But what do you do when your home is filled with family and friends from out-of-town and they get hungry? You take them out to one of the many fine Fort Worth establishments. As part of my required community service I am going to provide you with an exhaustive schedule of restaurants to take your visitors to, so that they get the full Fort Worth Experience (patent pending).

Below are three "weekends of food", which takes into account that some restaurants are not open on certain days. I have also provided options, based on price.

Option 1 - Jobless College Friends Come to Town/Family You Don't Like Enough To Spend Money On

Friday Dinner: Fred's. Get a burger and sit and watch a concert. Or walk down the street to any number of bars. In a year, you'll be able to walk to all the big new developments on West 7th.

Saturday Breakfast: Paul's for Doughnuts. They're cheap, its in a cool building, and for the family you don't like, its a great place to leave them. The drive to Paul's will give everybody something to talk about as you pass through the area just south of Downtown and the revitalized Magnolia area.

Saturday Lunch: Carshons. A greasy sandwich will hit the spot for most of your college friends who had a good time Friday night. For your family, there is pie. Pie brings families together.

Saturday Post-Lunch or Lunch Replacement:  Go to the Rahr Brewery.  They always have food on Saturday afternoons from 1-3 and you can get in and drink for only $7. 
Saturday Dinner: Fuzzy's. Queso, Tacos, Beer - $10. Kids will enjoy watching their mom and dad get drunk. Friends will enjoy the cheap food and drinks. Wear a purple shirt and you can pretend you're a TCU student.

Sunday Breakfast: Ol' South. There will be a crowd, but wait through it. Make all of your friends get the German Pancakes. Half of them wont like it but you never liked them anyways.

Sunday Lunch: Mama's Pizza. Send your guests off with a great pizza and get yourself a beer to celebrate a weekend accomplished.

Option 2 - You and your Yuppie friends who have some money but aren't the $30K Millionaires from east of here.

Friday Dinner: Joe T's. Get a pitcher of margaritas and a stack of cups and wait in line patiently. Weather permitting, sit outside and get the fajitas. I know many of you dislike the food but the fajitas wont kill you. Besides, its the atmosphere that you're going for. After you're done, have the designated driver take you to downtown and have a good time.

Saturday Breakfast: You're a yuppie, admit it. Go to Taverna for brunch. It's good.

Saturday Late Lunch: Kincaid's. Saddle up to the old deli counter and everybody should order a bacon cheeseburger but then split fries or onion rings. Save some room for dinner.

Saturday Dinner: Cafe Piola. It's disgustingly cute in its old house. Order a bottle of wine and enjoy your lengthy dinner. If you try to find Piola and get lost, just go back to Camp Bowie and head down to Winslow's Wine Cafe.

Sunday Breakfast: Ol' South. I know, I mentioned this one earlier, but this works for all kinds. Don't turn your nose up at the coffee...you snob.

Sunday Lunch: Spiral Diner. "Oh look how adventurous we are!" Who needs meat, right?

Option 3 - Your Wealthy Parents or In-laws

Friday Dinner: Lili's Bistro - Great dinner menu with fancy selections, wine, and dessert for your dearly beloved family to pay for. Plus its got a cool interior.

Saturday Breakfast: Vidalia's - Malt Vanilla pancakes, sweet potatoes with gravy, etc. They need your business and you need their southern charm in the morning.

Saturday Lunch: Cooper's.  It's BBQ in the Stockyards.  It's pricey, and you can kill many hours of mindless questions all while drinking a cold beer and eating some delicious BBQ.  Plus, afterwards you can walk around the stockyards and amaze your family with all the touristy stuff they really wanted to see.
Saturday Dinner: Reata. Its probably cliche, but you have to go to Reata. It's not the most expensive place in town but its a classic. You can talk about James Dean and explain how Reata used to be at the top of the Tower before the Tornado attacked Fort Worth. Try to do dinner on the rooftop if you can. They'll love it and you more.

Sunday Brunch: The Modern. Skip breakfast and go for brunch. The food here is fantastic and her parents will think you're a classy upstanding citizen. Until you take them here, they assume you're a dolt who is wasting their daughter's time. Trust me.


There you go. Some of my favorites have been left off, but I tried to give a variety of options. Let me know if you've got any changes you would make.

Cafe Piola

Are you in the cultural district and reading this on your iphone? Are you hungry? Are you having trouble deciding whether to go to a restaurant or going into somebody's home to eat? Problem solved.

Cafe Piola is at the corner of Mattison and Haskell and actually takes up the space of an old house, as well as its back yard. I'm not sure what the inside looks like, but the patio is terrific. Its a large open space, partially covered by a pergola. There is also a bar in the back and a fountain on one side. Among all of this, are tables spread out just enough to have some privacy but close enough to make the place look packed when people are there.

Mrs. FWHITW and I ventured over to Cafe Piola one night last month when we were fortunate enough to have a cool evening. We were unfortunately joined by a gang of bugs that initiated a war on our legs.

The restaurant is italian, but with a grown up menu. They have chicken parmigiana and a form of fettuccine but its all updated. The fettuccine has seafood and the chicken parmigiana no longer comes with a red solo cup (get it...? No? You're too old).

The wife got seafood fettuccine and said it was terrific. Fettuccine is one of her favorite dishes and she really enjoyed the twist. But then again, she likes me so there's no guarantee on her tastes.

I had the veal involtini on a recommendation of our waitress. The veal is wrapped around asparagus and mozzarella, cooked, and then served with a lemon type sauce. I was a bit skeptical about the mixture of lemon and veal because I watch a lot of top chef. But I was pleasantly surprised. The veal was a bit tougher than I expected but the flavors were delicious. Also, the wine told me I loved it.

We also had salads and they were good, but I don't remember much about them. I think there was some greenery and maybe a nut or crouton. They were good though.

This seems like a really good place to go with friends and have a glass of wine and some appetizers. It could also be good for taking out of towners, or dates. Don't take kids. Not because they wouldn't like it but because I wouldn't like them there. Just kidding. Sort of.

But seriously, the unique style of eating in a restaurant right in the middle of a residential area, that also has a great patio and great food is really cool. I'll go to Winslow's Wine Cafe soon and let you know which one you should go too.

If you've been, let me know what you think.