Whether you are a fan of the crazy roller coaster that is Texas weather or not, it’s hard to deny that our weather brings some insanely gorgeous opportunities for a Saturday afternoon on the patio. Now that I have kids, my patio criteria has changed just a tad, and we have discovered some excellent restaurants where we can ALL be happy!
Top 10 Family-Friendly Patio Restaurants
- Woodshed Smokehouse Fort Worth
Located right along the Trinity Trail, every member of your family will be happy dining here, including your four-legged children! Woodshed may be one of chef Tim Love’s best concepts to date, offering everything from burgers to sandwiches to a 16-hour smoked beef shin for the whole family to share. The patio is huge, they have misters going to keep you cool, and live music to keep spirits high. Although there is not a kid-specific menu, there are plenty of choices to keep the littles happy. Don’t forget to bring your dog hungry; there is a menu just for them! - Press Cafe Fort Worth
Located in the new Clearfork area of Fort Worth, Press Cafe is the perfect place to stop after riding or walking the trails with your family. There is plenty of green space for the kids to run around while you sip on a tasty beverage, too! - Wild Salsa Fort Worth
One of Sundance Square’s newest restaurants, Wild Salsa offers authentic Mexico City cuisine with locally sourced ingredients and the best margaritas in town! Its patio is relatively small, but the kiddos will love the high-top tables with glass protected table-top fire pits. While you are waiting on your food, the kids can play a game of corn hole. Bonus? The cooler of complimentary bite-sized popsicles to satisfy your sweet tooth as you leave! - Joe T Garcias Fort Worth
We couldn’t write a patio guide without including Fort Worth’s historical Mexican food joint. (Visit its website to read about the rich family history!) From the beautiful vegetation to the vintage pool and fountain, everything about Joe T’s patio will wow you. If you are lucky, you might even be serenaded with an authentic Mariachi Band! Don’t forget to stop by the bank before you arrive; they only accept cash or check. - Rodeo Goat Fort Worth
Rodeo Goat’s gourmet twists on the classic burger will please even the pickiest eaters! Your family will love the low-key, graveled patio filled with picnic tables to dine on, and the kids will stay busy playing one of its ring toss games. Be sure to order some cheese fries, too. One order should be enough for a few people to split!
- Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar Euless
Designed to mimic a mountainside lodge, Lazy Dog hits the nail on the head with their effort to make you feel like a “lazy dog” just laying by the fire after a long day playing outside. Whether you have the entire family or out on a date with your honey, try to grab a spot by the fire pit for the ultimate experience! Finish off your experience with a cup of rich hot chocolate. The kids will be begging to go back! - Clearfork Food Park Fort Worth
Heading to the Fort Worth Zoo? This will be the perfect stop for dinner when you head home. Located right along the Trinity Trail, enjoy waterfront dining with plenty of space for the kids and pets to run around! Everyone in the family can eat whatever fits their fancy as the park offers five food trucks along with a cantina to grab your beverage of choice. The participating food trucks rotate every day, so check the schedule to see if your favorite will be there. - The Point on Lake Worth Fort Worth
Although The Point is a bit off the beaten path, you won’t regret your choice to enjoy dinner on the patio as you watch the sunset over Lake Worth. Whether you arrive by car or by boat, you can enjoy live music, phenomenal fish and chips, and a good ol’ game of horseshoes. - Central Market Fort Worth and Southlake
While most people think “grocery store” when they think of Central Market, it makes our Top 10 Patio list as well! Everyone in your family will find something they like from the Café, and mom and dad can pick out a bottle of wine to enjoy while the kids play! The playground is one way in, one way out, which makes everyone breathe a little easier. If you decide to go on a Friday or Saturday evening, you will get the added bonus of live music to entertain you! P.S. Don’t forget to pop back in for an after-dinner gelato treat! - Fixture Fort Worth
Located in the Near Southside district off of Magnolia, Fixture Restaurant offers American food with an eclectic twist. Rising star chef Ben Merritt supports the local economy by sourcing ingredients locally, and you literally simply taste the freshness. You will have a blast playing a life-sized game of Connect-4 while you wait for your classic plate of Chicken and Waffles. If you are interested in sipping on a cocktail as you wait, try to make it during Happy Hour and enjoy one of their Five at 5 appetizers or beverages!
Did we miss your favorite family-friendly patio restaurant? Share it with everyone down in the comments!
Love this list and can’t wait to try some of the new to us places!!
Shady Oak! Is one of our favorites They have music outdoors on the weekends and the kids can play in the yard before sunset. Great food and lots of fun.
Dallas Craft Co. in Colleyville is our favorite since they have a good sized patio. You can play life sized connect 4, baggo (also known as corn hole), or choose from one of many games such as Uno. It’s a scratch kitchen so the food is fantastic!
HG Sply Co! Great area and a beautiful large outdoor patio along the Trinity River.
How about Taco Diner at Waterside? The Grove behind Whole Foods is amazing! This shopping center is a well guarded secret. Check out other offerings there: Piatello , Steel City Pops, Blaze Pizza, Zoe’s, not to mention REI, Sur La Table and CycleBar!
Can’t wait to try Fixture and Wild Salsa!