
Cheers to sourcing from local farmers and growers! (Harvest at the Masonic)
With an abundance of fresh ingredients—sometimes right from their own backyard—these farm-to-table restaurants in DFW are absolutely worth a visit.
In the wake of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banning Red No. 3 dye from food, drinks, and medicine, people are re-examining what they eat. One good rule to follow is to reduce overprocessed foods; dining at farm-to-table restaurants is a sound way to make that happen. These restaurants support local farms and growers, resulting in fresher and better-quality ingredients while stimulating the local economy.
Here are 11 farm-to-table restaurants across DFW that are worth checking out, what makes them unique, and a few recommendations for your next visit.
1. Ellerbe Fine Foods
1501 Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104
Ellerbe Fine Foods won a 2013 poll in Fort Worth Weekly as a favorite restaurant for residents, and it’s only gotten better over time. Executive chef and co-owner Molly McCook grew up with a garden that was a key component of her family’s cooking. She brought those fresh vibes with her to Ellerbe, purchasing produce, dairy, and meats from local partner farmers. The regular menu is full of goodness, but the monthly “Around the World” dinner series is a bonus treat, with themes like Piedmont, Italy, and Spanish Tapas.
2. The Market Cafe at Bonton Farms
6911 Bexar St, Dallas, TX 75215
Evolving from a small garden lot to two flourishing farms, a farmer’s market, a café, and a coffeehouse, Bonton Farms is working to bring health and opportunity throughout all of Dallas. The café is where you can grab a hearty meal, like the Prime Wagyu Cheeseburger or the Cornbread Crusted Catfish, all made with fresh ingredients from the farm. There are also cooking classes and grocery essentials at the market, giving visitors a wonderful opportunity to become home chefs.
3. Harvest at the Masonic
215 N Kentucky St, McKinney, TX 75069
Harvest at the Masonic was created with the idea of community in mind, and this “community-to-table” approach is evident throughout the restaurant. Harvest has built a network of farmers, ranchers, artists, and artisans within the greater DFW area, including its own organic Water Boy Farms. Stunning artwork hangs on the walls, while local bands provide a soundtrack that’ll brighten your mood. And the historic Masonic Lodge, built in 1899, plays the perfect host for a wonderful meal—like the grass-fed filet above.

The first bite of this filet may cause you to involuntary shout about how good it tastes. (Harvest at the Masonic)
4. Righteous
3405 West 7th St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
With a motto promising to offer “a healthy dose of friggin’ awesome,” Righteous absolutely delivers for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The Avocado Pizza is a smorgasbord of flavors, combining organic eggs, guacamole, toasted pistachios, kale, goat cheese, and parmesan on grilled naan. If you’re visiting in the evening, grab one of the grinders, like the Cubano or the “Cochinita Pibil” Pork Tacos, both made with succulent Niman Ranch pork.
5. Parigi
3311 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Parigi has been a staple of Oak Lawn for over 40 years, with an eclectic and stylish vibe reminiscent of the bistros and streets of Paris and New York. Luckily, you don’t have to travel to either city to have a friendly neighborhood spot to dine at. Parigi sources its produce from local farmers, its cheeses from small-batch cheese makers, and its seafood from sustainable fishers. The restaurant also runs several events around community and culinary education. The proof is in the pudding (or the chocolate mousse, in this case), with delectable plates everywhere you look.
6. Lyla
3309 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
Inspired by places like Capri and Santorini, Lyla embraces the flavors of Italy and the Mediterranean in a gorgeous setting that you can experience either inside or out on the veranda. The farm-to-table quality really shines on the salads across the menu. For a main course, the Lobster Cannelloni is an excellent choice (particularly during the brief Texas winter). Though every dessert is of high quality, the Hazelnut Heaven will have you pointing upwards in appreciation.

The Lobster Cannelloni is a creamy dish from Lyla that will warm your belly and your spirits. (Joey Held)
7. Café Modern
3200 Darnell St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Executive Chef Jett Mora creates a terrific Texas comfort-food-meets-global-cuisine adventure with Café Modern. Located inside the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, you can experience a culinary work of art before moving through the galleries adorning the walls. The Autumn Grilled Cheese Sandwich—a combination of apple maple bacon jam, fontina, and brie—is thankfully available year-round, while the Chicken Pot Pie is a bounty of farmed chicken and vegetables.
8. Prime
5810 Long Prairie Rd #200, Flower Mound, TX 75028
Prime’s full name is “Prime Farm to Table Restaurant,” so it would be pretty silly if they didn’t get their ingredients from local and sustainable areas nearby. The menu even highlights the farms you’re supporting with each meal. The house-made Baked Mac & Cheese is a phenomenal appetizer, and the Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops are a marvelous main. Or, forget all about picking an option and try the four-course prix fixe menu with chef selects. With events like half-off cocktails and glasses of wine on certain days of the week, you can swirl your glass while enjoying good company.
9. Mirador
1608 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75201
Sitting atop the Forty Five Ten luxury boutique, Mirador offers a picturesque view of downtown Dallas. Thoughtfully sourced progressive cuisine like the Winter Squash—made with local Texas honey—and the Chicken Paillard provide a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the shopping below (or energy for you to join those shoppers after your meal). If you stop by later in the day, you can partake in the afternoon tea experience with champagne and an accouterment of small bites.

The interior of Mirador is a gorgeous setting for a hearty meal. (PS Swoon)
10. Gemelle
4400 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76114
Visiting Gemelle—which means “twins” in Italian, in honor of owner Tim Love’s daughters—is like taking a scenic trip down Italy. However, you don’t have to travel farther than the Hotel Otto shipping container micro-resort in Forth Worth. It’s a gorgeous space with incredible cuisine you can order with or without hand gestures. The lively music and spirit also add to the ambiance. And with regular specials, like BOGO half-priced pizza on Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays, and Aperol Spritz Thursdays, you’ll be smiling faster than Tony Soprano can down a plate of gabagool.
11. Heirloom @ Archie’s
6700 Z Boaz Pl, Fort Worth, TX 76116
Technically, this is more garden-to-table than farm-to-table because the Heirloom food truck is nestled inside Archie’s Gardenland. Nonetheless, you’re getting incredibly fresh ingredients for everything on the menu. And that menu rotates monthly, giving you ample reason to return again and again. Archie’s provides a gorgeous backdrop of scenery no matter the occasion, but the Greenhouse Gatherings pair a special tasting menu with intimate lush greenery and cozy company.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.