Eats Beat: Dinner by the river? Press Cafe has it

Felipe Armenta set out to build a “little cafe by the river.”

Two weeks after opening, Press Cafe is packed at lunch and brunch and building crowds at dinner and breakfast.

That’s partly because of the scenic setting by the Trinity Trail at the Clearfork trailhead on Edwards Ranch Road.

But it’s also because of Armenta’s successful track record at The Tavern and Pacific Table, and because customers know that his restaurants deliver good food and value.

The Press is no exception. A steak salad ($17) wasn’t a salad with beef slices — it was a filet with a side salad.

There’s a huge burger and a choice of sandwiches or salads, or six entrees, including a Beeman Ranch strip or a Kurobuta pork chop.

The desserts one day this week included a family-sized slice of carrot cake with walnuts.

Breakfasts are simple, but that crowd is picking up.

“It’s really beautiful here when the sun comes up,” Armenta said this week.

“The other day, it was 38 degrees outside and people were here when we opened, coming from walking or workout and wanting coffee.”

Press Cafe opens at 7 daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch starts at 11 a.m. now, but Armenta soon will add weekend brunch dishes.

The cafe also has a choice of affordable wines under $10 a glass, cocktails under $10 and craft beers.

It’s at 4801 Edwards Ranch Road, off Clearfork Main Street (some mapping services have the location wrong); 817-570-6002, presscafeftworth.com.

Valentine alert

After that foul-up on New Year’s, you made a Valentine’s reservation early, right?

No? Better hustle. The prime steakhouses are starting to book up on that Sunday night, and the French and Italian restaurants will be close behind.

Cafe Modern, usually open only Friday nights, will open Saturday and Sunday nights on Valentine’s weekend and serve a special $65 menu; at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 817-840-2157, themodern.org.

Lili’s Bistro will open for a rare Sunday dinner and serve a menu of $20-$30 entrees, with the Johnny Case Trio playing; 1310 W. Magnolia Ave., 817-877-0700, lilisbistro.com.

One interesting deal is at Max’s Wine Dive, offering a choice of sea bass, prime sirloin or veggie lasagna with redfish eggrolls and a dark chocolate pot de crème, $65 per person all weekend; 2421 W. Seventh St. (actually on Matisse Drive), 817-870-1100, maxswinedive.com.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Eats Beat: Dinner by the river? Press Cafe has it."