Fort Worth heads to Campisi’s for steaks, seafood, wine (and pizza)

Steakhouses rarely close in Fort Worth, so I asked a west-side friend why one didn’t make it on Camp Bowie Boulevard.

The reply: “We all just go to Campisi’s.”

Campisi’s Italian-style strip was always an insiders’ favorite in Dallas. The iconic pizzeria also serves salmon, seafood, chicken and salads for $10-$20. (Even the steak platter is less than $30.)

“The nice people of Fort Worth have embraced us,” David Campisi said this week.

“We’ve become the ‘neighborhood Italian joint.’ I see people who bring their kids for pizza on the weekend, then come back Monday or Tuesday at dinner for the half-price wine.”

The wrapround patio was packed with pizza customers last Sunday, but even at the end of a long weekend, the crew turned out a perfect blackened salmon fillet with sauteed vegetables.

“People know we still use the same recipes and everything’s homemade, handmade,” Campisi said.

And this might be a surprise, or not: The Fort Worth Campisi’s outsells the other locations for beer and wine, even ahead of Dallas. Campisi credits a busy happy hour.

Popular Campisi’s host Austin Underwood, recently a guest again on the NBC Today show, has added a line of specialty mustards and sauces to his “Austin’s Underdawgs” charity food truck, Campisi said.

Campisi’s just opened a new, larger restaurant and bar in Plano at 4709 W. Parker Road, replacing a small store.

The next Campisi’s will be far from home — Lubbock: “Fort Worth showed us we can go west,” Campisi said.

Campisi’s is open for lunch and dinner daily; 6150 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-916-4561,

The entire menu is also available for home delivery: campisis.us.

Sweet mornings

Yolk, the fabled breakfast-lunch cafe from Chicago, is open in Sundance Square.

Look for red velvet-strawberry French toast, banana-blueberry pancakes and a variety of sandwiches and wraps.

When Yolk first opened in Dallas, Texans wanted biscuits. They’re now on the menu, although the house specialty is cinnamon-roll French toast or breads such as banana-nut, strawberry-orange or lemon-poppyseed.

Go with the fresh raspberry lemonade. It’s open daily for breakfast and lunch till 3 p.m.; 305 Main St., 817-730-4000, eatyolk.com.

Home plate

Did your favorite Arlington restaurant discontinue its free game-day parking?

Then you need a new favorite restaurant.

Gino’s East, another Chicago favorite, welcomes diners to park there as long as you dine first.

Gino’s deep-dish pizza is incredible and authentic, but it also takes a while, so leave extra time — or take it with you for a post-game tailgate.

Gino’s is open daily for lunch and dinner; 1350 E. Copeland Road, 817-809-7437, www.ginoseast.com

Nearby Texas Land & Cattle also allows pre-game diners to leave cars there. (But Lincoln Square no longer allows game parking.)

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Fort Worth heads to Campisi’s for steaks, seafood, wine (and pizza)."