Chapps Cafe ~ Keller, Texas

Chapps currently maintains 7 locations, all in the Fort Worth area.

Latest visit: Feb 2017 (Keller)

First visit: 2003 (Keller)

We feel that Chapps has the perfect recipe for burgers. Excellent seasoning, on the salty side, with plenty of fresh ingredients as toppings (which you can choose from). I tend to break from the norm, and ask for raw onions over grilled, but otherwise I stick to the usual cheese, lettuce, pickles, and mustard. The fresh baked buns are also quite good. A single cheeseburger is more than enough, and I don't even think they offer a double (believe me, that would be way too much). They have a smaller burger called a Baby Chapps, and naturally Mrs. RJG goes for that, plus the Baby Chapps comes with fries as part of the price (otherwise it's extra). I usually eschew fries in general, and eat a handful from the spouse's plate - and they are hand cut, fried to perfection, and very tasty. They also have very good hot dogs and chicken sandwiches that we've tried in the past. They keep the menu simple, always a plus as far as we're concerned.

The restaurant itself is a throwback to the 1960s diners, with vinyl booths and checkered floors, and is quite pleasant. It's quick service, so order up, grab a drink, take a seat, and they'll bring it out usually in about 5 minutes. You can hear them grilling your burgers!

Chapps first opened in downtown Arlington in 1984 (back when the RJG was still a college lad!). They currently operate 7 locations, mostly in Tarrant County. 

5/27/08 (new entry); 2/22/17

Lupe's Tex Mex Grill ~ Keller, Texas

3 locations (Keller; Bedford; Arlington)

Latest visit: Feb 2017 (Keller)

First visit: Jun 2012 (Bedford)

Back to our own grazing range, it was time to try the latest Mexican restaurant entry in our area. We'd been to the Bedford location once last summer, and it was definitely good, but we weren't really wowed by it. And since Bedford is a bit of a haul for us, and the 183/121 construction is a bit daunting, we just let the restaurant fall through the cracks of the RJG dining agenda. But now they've moved up our way, right near our own ranch land, in nearby Keller. The competition is stiff around here, with Anamia's (Southlake), Mi Pueblo (NRH), El Paseo (Keller), Fresco's (Watauga), and the Baja Grill mini chain (based in Grapevine) all nearby and all excellent.

So how did the new Lupe's, opened only a month ago, stack up? Quite well actually. Very well indeed... as in we need to go back shortly.

The restaurant setting is very nice, featuring a well decorated interior and a full bar. It sits in a newish strip mall on the west side of Rufe Snow, nearby to the Neighborhood Market.

We started, of course, with the excellent corn chips, which comes with a nicely spiced red salsa. At the same time we were munching on the chips, out came my frozen margarita. What a great flavor - and it packed a wallop too. They're pretty small, so I went for a second one. Weeeeee. I can't even remember the last time I had two frozen margaritas in the same setting. For the main course, Mrs. RJG  had the Mexico City Tacos and I had the Pollo Bravo. These dishes are variations on the same theme: They are both charbroiled white meat chicken slathered in what they call an "Atomic Sauce". While certainly they were spicy, the word "atomic" didn't necessarily come to mind. But most importantly they had a great flavor. I love the charbroiled chicken, just by itself. The Pollo Bravo is a large chicken breast and is buried in the sauce. Whereas the tacos lightly apply the same sauce. The rice and charro beans were excellent as well.

Lupe's makes a fine addition to the Mexican restaurant landscape in these parts of NE Tarrant. Give them a try and let us know what you think!

6/9/12; 8/24/13 (new entry); 2/17/17

Back Forty Smokehouse Barbecue ~ North Richland Hills, Texas

Latest visit: Feb 2017

First visit: Jun 2015

Reader Michael had suggested this place on our Riscky's feature, and coincidentally Mrs. RJG had requested to go not long after. So here we are for the first time in nearly a year. We had stopped eating barbecue for awhile, but we're back, and this remains our favorite in NE Tarrant. But we haven't tried them all either. That's a disclaimer meaning... we need to go out and eat more BBQ!

As alluded to above, the barbecue here is excellent, and not a side show for the entertainment. We've tried many cuts of meat here, and almost without exception, we have come away pleased. The favorite remains the smoked chicken, and it is because of here that it became my test dish for barbecue as opposed to the traditional sliced brisket. In past visits we were quite enamored with the jalapeno cheese and German sausages, Carolina pulled pork, sliced brisket, pork ribs, and the country ham. Only the turkey has disappointed us - but again that was two years ago. As for sides, the mac and cheese continues to wow, and they even make corn on the cob interesting by leaving it vertical in a pile of sweet butter. Mrs. RJG did express some displeasure with the pinto beans stating they were a bit too much on the lard side. And the potato salad wasn't a hit either as she claimed it was too sour. Back to the positive, both the BBQ sauce and the hot pepper sauce are excellent condiments. Though they aren't needed to make the barbecue taste good.

They do have a full bar for wine and beer, but nothing on tap that is worthy (sure, I like Shiner Bock, but c'mon, they can have more than that). They do have a few craft brews in bottles though, but nothing too exotic. Also worth noting is they carry a full line of Dublin Bottling Works cane sugar sodas. But Mrs. RJG wouldn't let me have one. I'll have to sneak one in on a separate visit. (Shhh.....). So we had Coke Zero from the fountain. That's what we drink at lunch when at home (read: boring).

For the location, as the owner said to the Star-Telegram "The building just screams barbecue!" It's an old dry goods warehouse, smack dab in the middle of old town Smithfield. It sits prominently on the NW corner of Davis Blvd and Main. Across the street is the Cotton Belt passenger railroad line (which I presume will eventually be a stop if light rail ever surfaces in this area). Smithfield was eventually incorporated by NRH in 1960, but the old town has remained intact and includes historical markers dating back to 1872. In addition to the large indoor space, there's also a nice patio where live country music and other entertainment is performed on weekend evenings. Oh, and plenty of flat screens around to watch sports if so desired.

Back Forty is the 3rd barbecue restaurant to occupy this space. The prior two - Cotton Belt and Big Barn, each had a few years run before petering out. We tried them both over the years, and neither made much of a mark. Also worth noting that Back Forty is directly related to Fort Worth BBQ royalty: Cousins.

6/19/15 (new entry); 2/12/17