Cowtown’s restaurant and bar scene is constantly changing, with new hotspots and family-owned eateries opening nearly every week.
With the start of a new month, we’re taking a breather from the ever-evolving dining scene and taking a look back at the city’s longest-running restaurants.
Paris Coffee Shop | Est. 1926
Known to be Fort Worth’s oldest restaurant, Paris Coffee Shop was opened by Vic Paris. He sold it within the first year to Grigonis Smith who moved the restaurant to West Magnolia Avenue a few decades later, taking the place of the Safeway grocery store. Fort Worth businessmen Lou Lambert, Mark Harris, and Chris Reale took over in 2021 and renovated it to include a new kitchen, bathrooms, and those classic swivel chairs at the bar.
Riscky’s | Est. 1927
Founded by Polish immigrants Joe and Mary Riscky, the barbecue joint started as a grocery store on Azle Avenue. During the Great Depression, the restaurant sold beef sandwiches for just five cents. The original building was demolished and rebuilt in the 1950s. The brand has since expanded to eight restaurants, including Trailboss Burgers and Riscky’s Steakhouse.
Carshon’s Delicatessen | Est. 1928
Known as the oldest deli in Fort Worth, the family-owned cafe was established by Jewish immigrant David Carshon. Originally located downtown, it moved to Berry Street near TCU in the 1950s before settling down at its current location at 3133 Cleburne Rd. Owned by Mary Swift since 1982, Carshon’s remains a “kosher-style” restaurant and serves deli classics like bagels and lox and corned beef sandwiches.
Bailey’s BBQ | Est. 1931
Despite its small size, this barbecue shack has been a longtime barbecue staple downtown. Navy Cook J.T. Bailey opened the restaurant in a former shop where mechanics worked on Model Ts and Studebakers. Over the decades, regulars included Amon Carter, Jr. and Roger Staubach, who would order slow-roasted brisket on a sandwich with pickles, jalapeño, and onions.
Fort Worth is filled with historic restaurants, let us know which ones you want to see featured next.
