Reata

I love this place! The ambiance is great, the food is tasty and unique. The lunch prices are a fantastic value. I had the molasses quail and jalapeno cheese grits which were out of this world. I also had the fish tacos from here. The fish was very flavorful and the corn salsa was different and inspiring. I came here because my co-workers loved the tortilla soup. It was really good, but I would say skip the soup unless you have a huge appetite, because the main courses are very hearty and filling. You definitely will get your money's worth. Pros: Great value. Unique menu with great flavor Cons: A little pricey for dinner. Stick to lunch. And parking stinks. more

I have been going to Reata for about 10 years. It has just gone down hill. The food is nothing like it use to be and since it left the bank tower, it has never been Reata. Ok...maybe I am set in my ways. It does have a nice rooftop. Go to Bonnells or Lonesome Dove, the food is a lot better. Pros: Nice place to have a drink Cons: Food has gone to the birds. more

We expected a lot from Reata, especially from their grilled meats. The buffalo tenderloin was done perfectly and was one of the best steaks I have ever had. My wife ordered the special: a beef rib eye with shrimp medium rare. The steak came out clearly medium well, too cooked to eat so we sent it back. The second steak came out very rare/raw and bloody, again unfit to eat. Third time it was ok but all the sides were cold. They did the right thing and comped her meal but really--two returns in a fine dining establishment? On top of that it was our anniversary, we had to eat our meals separately. Too bad. more

We came for my wife's birthday. We were seated promptly (absolutely get reservations -- there was a 90 minute wait at 6:20!) and got a table on the rooftop. The rooftop was very comfortable in the evening, despite the 95 degree day (assuming you like it warm). Service was good, consistently prompt, not overbearing, and good recommendations.\r \r Food:\r -tenderloin tamales. huge portion (3 big tamales, and could only eat 2). very tasty -- they were moist and filled with flavor. great appetizer, and enough for 4 people.\r -special tenderloin and shrimp in a cilantro sauce. Good steak, but more done than ordered (medium rare came with just a fair amount of pink). In fairness, they ask us to check and probably would have redone it if asked. The sauce went well with the shrimp, but I wouldn't recommend it with the steak.\r -cowboy rib-eye. This was a very good steak, well aged, tender, and a perfect medium rare with terrific grill marks. When the juices mixed with the butter on top and the mashed potatoes, it was terrific.\r -chocolate tamale cake with pecan ice cream. wonderful! this was the best part of dinner. Most of the other desserts look like things you can get anywhere in town, but this was different, and a terrific mix of salty nuts with super moist chocolate corn cake. Highly recommended.\r \r We got a good recommendation on wine -- fitting the description of what we wanted.\r \r Overall, this is one of the best high-dollar dining experiences we've had in the area.\r Pros: Nice outdoor rooftop, terrific southwestern food Cons: Consistency of steak doneness more

The menu doesn't offer very many options and the food is gross.\r The service was great... but that's about it. more

My business partner and I ate at Reata last night after following our hotel clerk's advice. I'm glad we listened. Although it was crowded and we had to wait a while for a table, I found the service and the food to be wonderful. We had a delighful waitress that recommended a bottle of wine the went perfect with the Buffalo Ribeye that she suggested as well. Save room for dessert. I don't know if I liked mine or my associates better. Great place and I'll be back everytime I'm in town. Pros: Food, Service, Wine List more

As a restaurant manager myself, my views are always biased. Usually however, this is reserved for the service and food. I enjoyed both at the Reata. What irritated me was a disrespectful little nuance put forth by a member of the management staff. While dining in for lunch recently, I noticed one manager in particular putting forth much effort to bus the tables. I could not put my finger on what he was doing wrong until I had watched him clean a few tables. HE WAS OPENING READING THE SERVER'S CHECKS! I can only assume that this would be to find out what the server was tipped. In the middle of the dining room! In front of other guests. Surely he can find this information out elsewhere. When I paid my server I handed my signed credit card reciept back to him. Servers at every restaurant I have worked at know this to be a dumb move. You do not rush to the table to find out what you were tipped. Ever. Bad move, Reata. Is this guy new? more

Reata used to be such a fine experience and now it has been reduced to a mediocre one. Where the food used to be exquisite it is now simply big. The quality of food and the quality of service now range anywhere from the great to terrible. There's no consistency and some of the food tastes as though it comes frozen and they simply thaw it out. Has Reata just gone commercial and gotten money hungry? That's the way it seems. Pros: Service can be great, rooftop bar is nice for drinks Cons: Food can taste cheap, inconsistent more

Without a doubt, one of my favorite places to dine. My hubby and I eat here once a month and while its easy to order the same thing over and over again - there are so many amazing treats on the menu that we try to sample them all. I highly recommend the Bacon-Wrapped shrimp, tenderloin tamales, the wedge salad, the jalapeno cheddar grits (making my mouth water just thinking about them!!!), the chicken fried steak and the char broiled ribeye - medium rare. Also, for the 21+ crowd - try the Reata Lemonade w/ chambord. YUM!! \r \r Service here is always fantastic, right down to the the little pen-lights the servers carry to make sure your steak is cooked properly. (It always is!) The atmosphere is warm and inviting and is suitable to family/friends night out or a romantic dinner for two. Highly recommend!!!\r more

Reata has the best steak and the best chicken fried steak out there. Actually all the food is really amazing. They're famous for their tamales too. I love the atmosphere, its a big restaurant but still feels intimate and the bars - both inside and out are great. My girlfriend just had one of their new champage mixed drinks, and loves them. The service is great, the waiters all know the menu really well and you get your food fast, but not so much that you feel rushed. If you're looking for a place where you're sure to have a great experience this is it. Pros: The trifecta, great food, great service, great ambiance. Cons: You'll want to go back every night. more

If you have an evening and extra money to waste....by all means make a trip to Reata!!!!! They say they have a ""romantic atmosphere"".........I've had more romantic evenings in a Waffle House at 3am Sunday mornings. The food is nothing special (except to them) and the prices are way out of line for what you get. I don't mind spending money for fine dining, but this place makes one wonder if the owners really know the definition of fine dining.\r Their Tenderloin Tamales were bone dry. I was advised by my waiter that the tamales were rated by the newspaper as one of the ten dishes one should eat before they die. Evidently, the newspaper gets a deal on the food there......:(\r My steak, ordered medium rare, came out almost raw and had to be returned. By the time they managed to get it back to the table, my wife was almost finished with her dinner. The noise level was similar to an airport bar. Don't waste your time or money at this place. There are some great restaurants in the area......sadly, this isn't one of them. Pros: Fast seating Cons: Everything that happened after being seated more

I just moved to downtown Fort Worth after spending the last three years in San Francisco, and came across this place about a month ago. I grew up in South Texas and the decor of the place reminds me a hunting lodge that my dad used to take my brother and I to. It's a great ""Texas"" experience to bring guests. I've had several friends come visit, and Reata is always thier favorite spot. The tamales are out of this world, the pepper crusted tenderloin is great and their wine list gives plenty of options. Check out the rooftop after dinner for some drinks. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Great Wine Cons: It's usually pretty crowded more

As long as you order drink after drink, the wait staff will cater to you. Considering the burger-joint level of service, their high prices are unreasonable. Although the surroundings are unique and pleasant at Reata, we felt that they were doing us a favor by allowing us to have a drink and dinner in their establishment. We complained to the manager, but after several days, no one followed up! We decided to tell everyone we know about this circus and to make sure they forgot it ever existed. There are plenty of restaurants in the DFW area to choose from. It is interesting that hard-working folks in lesser-known restaurants know how to give better service. They know they need a friendly attitude and a welcoming smile to get good tips. The wait staff at the bar area should spend some training time at McDonald?s. It will save Reata some money and also teach these ignoramuses some basic customer service. It is time to get out of Dodge, partner! Pros: As long as you order drink after drink, the wait staff will cater to you. Cons: Considering the burger-joint level of service, their high prices are unreasonable. more

My wife and I frequent Reata often, and we always have a great time. We usually begin our evening with a cocktail or glass of wine at their rooftop bar which offers a great view of downtown, and then head downstairs for dinner. They are known for the Tenderloin Tamales which are great, but my favorite appetizer is the Smoked Quail served on Jalapeno Cheddar Grits. My wife usually goes with whatever fish feature they are running that night, and I get either the Pepper-crusted Tenderloin or the Buffalo Ribeye. All of their desserts are awesome and we usually just go with our server recommendation. In fact, last time we went, we let our server choose every course for us, and it turned out to be the best meal we've had! It's our favorite place in town and we always look forward to a great evening when we go there! Pros: Great private dining areas for large groups, Great wine list, Wonderful service more

Time was when Reata was a great restaurant. However, in the last three months I have recognized a decline that is alarming, disappointing, and will preclude my spending my dollars there in the future. Same great atmosphere, same items on the menu, but the issues now reside with execution. Service is often inattentive, inexperienced, and rushed, almost what I'd expect at On the Border. The food has shifted from outstanding to average and inconsistent. The chili relleno is now heavy and cold; the buffalo ribeye greasy(?), the pork chop cold and tough. I think the issue is management in both the front and back rooms, so hopefully, Reata will fix itself. Pros: Tenderloin tamale, tenderloin Cons: quail, shrimp enchilada, sloppy service more