In Fort Worth, golf week tees off with German pancakes, bacon

We talk a lot about golf-week hangouts in Fort Worth: Del Frisco’s, the Railhead Smokehouse, the Woodshed Smokehouse.

But one much older restaurant is an annual stop for fans, caddies and, occasionally, golfers: the Ol’ South Pancake House.

The Benson family’s 24-hour restaurant opened 54 years ago and only rarely closes.

During golf week, Ol’ South typically sells 30 percent more orders of the restaurant’s signature lemon-and-powdered-sugar German pancakes, owner Rex Benson said.

“We get lots of the caddies, and an occasional professional over the weekend if they didn’t make the cut,” Benson said this week.

“Lot of fans tell us their tradition is to meet up for German pancakes and coffee.”

A recent addition is an an “appetizer” sampler of the mini-German pancakes nicknamed “Dutch babies” (actually Deutsch).

The newest Ol’ South item: “bacon dippers,” bacon dipped in pancake batter, fried and served with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

(They’re like beignets with bacon inside.)

Ol’ South is also known for its hand-breaded chicken tenders, either as a dinner platter with vegetables or on a breakfast with waffles. The chicken-fried steak might be Texas’ best sold all night.

The restaurant is also an off-site ticket outlet for the newly renamed Dean & DeLuca Invitational.

It’s always open: 1509 S. University Drive, 817-336-0311, olsouthpancakehouse.com.

Mariposa mornings

Always slow-paced and charming, Mariposa’s Latin Kitchen has added a relaxed Sunday brunch.

The mother-daughter team of Irma Gamez and Crystal Padilla are best known for catering and for tamales in various flavors and sizes, but they’ve expanded their restaurant menu.

The new Sunday brunch offers a cactus-spinach frittata, stacked huevos rancheros with chorizo on a sope, candied-plantain pancakes and a regular selection of quiches, tamales grandes and tacos.

The items cost about $9-$12. For another $12, add unlimited mimosas or bloody marys.

Everything’s handmade at Mariposa’s, so don’t get in a hurry. (And stay for the plantain pudding or pineapple cake dessert.)

Mariposa’s is now open daily for lunch or brunch and Wednesday through Saturday for dinner in the Crossing shopping center, 5724 Locke Ave. south of Interstate 30 near Camp Bowie Boulevard; 817-570-9555, mariposaslatinkitchen.com.

Monday brunch

At least two Fort Worth restaurants will extend their weekend brunch menu through Memorial Day on Monday.

Little Red Wasp in downtown Fort Worth will serve its weekend menu with chicken cheddar biscuits, Mrs. Renfro’s jalapeño salsa chilaquiles, house-made granola plus burgers, soups and salads; 808 Main St., 817-877-3111, littleredwasp.com.

Max’s Wine Dive serves brunch every Monday, offering fried chicken, chilaquiles, blueberry pancakes and tiramisu French toast to anyone extending the weekend; 2421 W. Seventh St., 817-870-1100, maxswinedive.com.

(Most restaurants will have regular Monday hours. It’s a good day to try a restaurant that’s usually crowded.)

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 10:22 AM with the headline "In Fort Worth, golf week tees off with German pancakes, bacon."