The Dish: October kicks off in Tarrant County with wine dinners, specials

We’re only about a week into October, but already there are lots of crisp seasonal menus to look forward to as restaurants across Tarrant County get into the autumnal spirit. Chef Jett Mora of Café Modern said they will start serving fall fare on Oct. 14. Their chicken pot pie is making a comeback this year, but we’ll have to wait a little longer for the full menu reveal. 

In the meantime, there’s a time and place for both elevated dining and quick bites during your lunch break, so here are some options from a few fancy restaurants and one inexpensive restaurant chain. 

Side note, I would love to do a Halloween-themed column later this month, so if you eagle-eyed readers know of any spots around Tarrant County that will have spooky specials or spirits this month, please let me know. I have a ‘ghouls night out’ pun I’m dying to use.

Wine dinner at Magdalena’s is a savory and sweet salute to seasonal flavors

Magdalena’s five-course seasonal wine dinner dates are set for Oct. 16 and 23. The prix-fixe menu explores Mexican flavors and spirits, starting hot with Aguachile Negro de Callos made with morita chile, chile de arbol and clamato sauce. The second course focuses on lamb seasoned with Lebanese spices, hoja santa pistou, spiced labneh, smashed yukon and ’nduja.

The seafood-centered third course features fried oysters and linguine with kaffir lime cream and shrimp broth, followed by pork belly and butternut sage foam in the fourth course. Dinner ends on a sweet note with a brown sugar pumpkin empanada and hoja santa custard.

Reservations and prepayment of $123 per person required. Seating is limited. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. 

502 Grand Ave., Fort Worth; 817-740-8085

Halloween-themed special through October at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

If you want to jump straight into the Halloween vibes, there are some not-so-spooky specials at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. The Draco Taco has grilled steak, cheese, guacamole, garlic aioli, lime, feta and red tortilla strips topped with spicy sauce. 

There’s also a Draco Taco Combo, which pairs the taco with spicy queso and red tortilla chips for $6.99. Each combo order earns guests a collectible card that they can redeem for “a surprise free item,” according to the press release, and guests who collect all three card types will get a free Draco Taco T-shirt.

For a vampiric cocktail, Fuzzy’s is pouring a frozen Drac A ’Rita with Bacardi, strawberry puree and rimmed with black salt. The drink is garnished with a pair of vampire teeth. The Halloween-themed specials are available at all Fuzzy’s locations. 

2917 W. Berry St., Fort Worth; 817-924-7943

Seasonal seafood, small plates and desserts at The Mont

The Mont has a variety of dishes for fall. Among the starters are seafood options like shrimp risotto, beet cured salmon, and a seafood platter with shrimp, oysters, ceviche and smoked fish, according to a press release. There are also deviled eggs with caviar, a wedge salad and chicken liver pate. 

For mains, there’s braised wagyu short rib, venison schnitzel, black grouper and tagliatelle with parsnip veloute. If you’re really hungry, you could order their fried half chicken with sorghum molasses and poblano cornbread sauce. 

Desserts include a buttermilk tarte; cinnamon-sugar, maple glaze and dulce de leche doughnuts; an ice cream sandwich; and The Chocolate One, which features orange blossom sponge cake, spiced mousse, candied pepitas and pomegranate sorbet. 

3729 Saint Amand Circle, Fort Worth; 817-502-3400

We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to erin.ratigan@fortworthreport.org. 

Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.