Try these standout Fort Worth Stockyards restaurants during your next visit

The Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is one of the most popular attractions in Texas for good reason. Twice daily cattle drives, a year-round rodeo, live music and one-of-a-kind shops make it one of the most unique destinations in the Lone Star State. 

If that wasn't enough, the Stockyards is brimming with incredible restaurants. As one might expect for a place nicknamed Cowtown, you'll find plenty of steaks—but the Fort Worth Stockyards culinary world doesn't stop there. You'll also find dishes featuring a sausage made from rabbit and rattlesnake, an eatery centered around biscuits and tater tots, and an upscale Italian restaurant.

This diversity is part of what makes dining in this charming locale so exciting. To help you plan where to eat on your next visit, keep reading for our favorite restaurants in the Fort Worth Stockyards. 

97 West Kitchen & Bar 

Since opening in 2021, 97 West Kitchen & Bar has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Located within Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, chefs at 97 West Kitchen & Bar prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-concept kitchen, adding dramatic flare to the dining experience. Outdoor seating is also available on the patio overlooking the lush landscape of The Backyard at the hotel.

The menu ranges from casual fare like burgers to signature entrees like a smoke-fried half pheasant and a 34-ounce tomahawk steak so tender you can cut it with a butter knife. If you're celebrating something special, the chef's table can be reserved in advance for a custom, multi-course tasting menu complete with beverage pairings. The experience is available inside in front of the kitchen, or outdoors in the garden. Reservations are recommended. 

Find it: 97 West Kitchen & Bar, 200 Mule Alley Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 682-255-6497 

Ático

Chef Tim Love's Ático was inspired by his travels to Barcelona. The menu focuses on flavorful flatbreads, spreads, and dishes like grilled sardines or wood-roasted whole branzino. Ático is also known for its generous selection of smoked and cured meats.

Located on the rooftop of Springhill Suites Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, dazzling views of the Fort Worth skyline accompany every bite. The restaurant's garage door-style windows can be opened on pleasant days and closed during inclement weather. 

Find it: Ático, 2315 N. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76164, 682-255-5112 

Caterina's 

There are two things you should know before you enjoy a meal at Caterina's. First: Men are required to wear a jacket for dinner. Second: The restaurant has a no-cell-phones-allowed policy, and you'll be asked to put your phone into a locked bag.

Celebrity chef Tim Love created the intimate ambiance in this space, where people connect with food and each other instead of their electronics. The menu focuses on Italian classics sourced with the freshest ingredients, so the natural flavors of each dish burst through. Don't miss the chance to try the rigatoni alla vodka. The pork chop alla piccata and escolar crudo are also outstanding.

Caterina's is open for dinner every day of the week. Reservations are recommended. They also serve a no-jacket-required lunch on Fridays. 

Find it: Caterina's, 128 E. Exchange Ave., Suite 620, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 682-267-0812

H3 Ranch

Located onsite at the historic Stockyards Hotel, H3 Ranch oozes cowboy culture from every corner. Taxidermy adorns the walls, bar stool seats are fashioned from saddles and an antler chandelier dangles from the ceiling. The menu is distinctively Texas, with an emphasis on steaks, ribs, rainbow trout and spit-roasted pig. Sides include classics like loaded baked potatoes and corn on the cob. They also offer complimentary valet parking to guests. After dinner, be sure to stop off for a spicy serrano pepper Anita-Rita Margarita at Booger Red's Saloon. 

Find it: H3 Ranch, 105 East Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-624-1246 

Lonesome Dove Western Bistro

The aforementioned celebrity chef Tim Love owns nine restaurants in Fort Worth and the Stockyards, the most famous of which is Lonesome Dove Western Bistro. Situated above Marine Creek, the cuisine at Lonesome Dove is creative, yet faithful to Texas traditions, with an emphasis on wild game and fresh seafood.

Dishes include a wild game fettine with duck and rabbit-rattlesnake sausage, elk foie gras sliders with blueberry jam and a Wagyu tomahawk rib-eye served with grilled langostinos and a wild mushroom-truffle orzo. Lunch is served only on Fridays and Saturdays. Lonesome Dove Western Bistro deserves a spot on your restaurant bucket list. Reservations are recommended. 

Find it: Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, 2406 N. Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-740-8810

Love Shack 

It's possible to have a meal from one of Tim Love's restaurants for under $10. The prime brisket/tenderloin burgers at Love Shack start at under $6. The menu also features casual options like hot dogs and nachos. Whatever you order, be sure to accompany it with the Crazy Good onion rings, which come thinly battered so that the onions themselves shine through. In addition to the delicious, reasonable food, Love Shack has a fun atmosphere with decks at various elevations and live music every day. 

Find it: Love Shack, 110 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-624-8273

Paloma Suerte

Another Tim Love establishment, Paloma Suerte focuses on Tex-Mex dishes with fresh, local ingredients. This is the place for margaritas and cocktails, which can be ordered by the glass or the pitcher. Perhaps the most beloved item on the menu is the fresh-made queso, which can be personalized at your tableside with additions like duck birria, king crab or avocado. Entrees include crab-stuffed grilled shrimp along with traditional options like fajitas and enchiladas.

The tables on the outdoor patio overlooking Marine Creek are one of the hottest lunch spots in the Stockyards. Paloma Suerte is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late nights and serves breakfast at its bar on weekends. 

Find it: Paloma Suerte, 122 E. Exchange Ave., Suite 280, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 682-267-0414 

Provender Hall

Open for breakfast and lunch, the menu at Provender Hall centers around comfort foods with a Texas twist. The food is prepared in an open kitchen with a smoker and a wood-burning grill. Popular dishes include pimento cheese with Southern crackers, oysters on the half shell, grilled romaine salad with smoked chicken breast, and chicken fried steak with peppered cream gravy, mashed potatoes and braised collard greens. The atmosphere is upscale yet casual, with a two-story lofted interior including elements of brick and wood. Try to save room for dessert; the banana pudding is delicious. 

Find it: Provender Hall, 122 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-782-9170 

Second Rodeo Brewing 

It's hard to walk past Second Rodeo Brewing without wandering inside. The indoor-outdoor space is large, open and inviting. The seating is mostly colorful retro patio chairs, injecting an element of whimsy and fun. At the far edge of the property, you'll find tables cleverly styled on top of pickup truck beds.

Second Rodeo Brewing features live music throughout the day, starting at noon. Arrive early if you want to beat the crowds on Friday and Saturday nights. The food menu is simple, focusing primarily on creative flavors of chicken wings (think flavors like cherry cola or peanut butter, bacon and jalapeno). It's the ideal pairing for live music and a cold pint of freshly brewed beer. 

Find it: Second Rodeo Brewing, 122 E. Exchange Ave., Suite 340, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-240-4959 

The Biscuit Bar 

Located in Mule Alley, The Biscuit Bar elevates basic sides like biscuits and tater tots into entree-worthy dishes. To be fair, The Biscuit Bar offers salads, too, but the tater tots and biscuits are the real stars of the establishment. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late nights on weekends, the sweet Southern-style biscuits are made from scratch every day and should not be missed.

Inspired offerings include a pan-fried, French toast-inspired biscuit dipped in vanilla custard, a steak and egg biscuit and a Nashville hot chicken biscuit. Meanwhile, crispy tater tots are topped with selections like bacon and sunny side up eggs or freshly prepared taco fixings. It's best to bring a friend so you'll have an excuse to try a little of everything. 

Find it: The Biscuit Bar, 128 E. Exchange Ave., Suite 640, Fort Worth, TX 76164; 817-912-5922 

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.