Salsa Archives - From Texas to Beyond

One of the iconic eateries in Fort Worth located near the Fort Worth Stockyards is Joe T Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant, or as locals call it, Joe T’s. When I moved to Fort Worth a couple of years ago, this was one of the places that everyone said I had to go visit. But I had heard about the wretched long lines and I decided to stay away. On the weekend, it is common knowledge that you will wait in line at least 1-2 hours to get a seat. But when we had some guests in town, they wanted to go…so as good hosts, we went. It was ok. I left a little disappointed thinking, why is this place such an icon?

Meandering Path

We visited again for a rehearsal dinner. We bypassed the line and walked right in. After a server pointed us in the right direction, we walked for a surprisingly long time. We meandered through lush greenery and fountains to the back of the property . As we continued down the path, I started to understand why people love this place. We arrived at the location of the dinner, a gorgeous outdoor patio. It was magical and a bit of an oasis. I felt like I had left Fort Worth, and emerged in a beautiful courtyard in Mexico. Just fantastic.

Atmosphere: 5!! Go to Joe T’s to experience the patio. It is magical and breathtaking. Just build the wait time in your evening plans and have a great time!

Chips and Salsa: 3 People have strong feelings for the salsa; you can even purchase it in jars in local grocery stores. But for me…it is okay. The texture is good and chunky, but just doesn’t have the flavor and umph I need in a salsa. Don’t get me wrong, your table will devour the salsa because you have waited in line so long and are so hungry! Haha

At Mariposa’s Latin Kitchen, flavorful Latin food served in a comfortable environment is the standard. Mariposa’s menu is less extensive than other Mexican food restaurants, focusing instead on the quality of each dish. Their food is light and fresh, and most importantly, tasty!

Atmosphere: 4 The restaurant is welcoming, with bright butterfly cookies on the counter and a vibrantly-painted butterfly on the wall. Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish. The rustic furniture integrates well with the modern interior design. The atmosphere does not make you think you are eating in old Mexico, but that is OK. They are serving contemporary Latin food in a contemporary atmosphere. The relatively small size of the restaurant helps keep noise to a minimum, making Mariposa’s a great place to have a quiet conversation.