Eats Beat: Waffles for your sweetie, or craft cocktails

Nothing says “valentine” like being scattered, smothered and covered.

That’s the way Waffle House serves hash browns, and 12 of the iconic Southern diners are serving a special Valentine’s dinner.

For that night only, and only at some locations, the eternally bright lights will dim and the plastic booths will have tablecloths and bouquets.

The menu is everything you want from Waffle House: T-bone steaks, sirloins, pork chops or grilled chicken, all in “Meat Lovers” sizes with Bert’s Chili or salad, hash browns, Texas toast and a “sweetheart” waffle for $25 per couple.

Afterward, diners leave with red-velvet cupcakes and cake balls to go.

The Valentine’s special is served 5-9 p.m. Sunday at 6250 Lake Worth Blvd. (Texas 199), Lake Worth, 817-237-4091. (A second location offering the dinner is mostly booked: 8505 Benbrook Blvd. [U.S. 377], Benbrook, 817-249-3458.)

The special is also offered at Waffle House locations on Northwest Highway in Dallas, plus in Carrollton, Denton, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Irving, Lewisville and Terrell; wafflehouse.com/valentine.

Love and buñuelos

Missed in the Valentine’s roundups in recent columns: Magdalena’s Cocina, the catering hall and future restaurant by former Reata chef Juan Rodriguez, will serve dinner Sunday in the Thompson Book Store cocktail lounge downtown.

The menu: foie gras, lime-vinaigrette salad, red-wine beef short rib bourguignon and a pineapple-confit mousse dessert with buñuelos. The price is $106.49 per person with craft cocktails (including a service charge).

Watch for Magdalena’s pop-up dinners at 502 Grand Ave.; magdalenastx.com.

Old Papa moves in

A former all-night steakhouse in north Fort Worth will become Old Papa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Q and serve barbecue, burgers and Tex-Mex.

Martin Cardona of Tortilla Flats Mexican Grill in Joshua, part of the Cardona Foods family, took over the former Sammy’s, an iconic old all-night white-tablecloth steakhouse owned for decades by the late Sammy Pantoja.

“This place has been here a long time and I want to bring it back,” Cardona said.

He’s been smoking briskets over mesquite for years for his restaurant and catering, and will add pulled pork, ribs and sausage, along with Cardona’s Tex-Mex.

Old Papa’s will open at 300 W. Central Ave. by March, he said.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Eats Beat: Waffles for your sweetie, or craft cocktails."