Eats Beat

When will Mariano’s margaritas make a comeback? (Maybe in time for Mother’s Day?)

Margaritas (strawberry, Mariano’s Texas Frozen and Mariano’s House at Mariano’s Hacienda
Margaritas (strawberry, Mariano’s Texas Frozen and Mariano’s House at Mariano’s Hacienda STAR-TELEGRAM archives

Mariano’s makes a comeback

Hey, Bud! Is Mariano’s in Arlington ever going to reopen?

—Starved for a margarita

Mariano’s Hacienda, the Arlington spinoff of the Dallas restaurant that invented the frozen margarita, is expected to reopen in early May, maybe by Cinco de Mayo. Be watching 2614 Majesty Drive, off Texas 360 near Interstate 30 and Six Flags Over Texas.

The first frozen margarita machine was invented by Mariano Martinez of Mariano’s Hacienda in Dallas and Arlington.
The first frozen margarita machine was invented by Mariano Martinez of Mariano’s Hacienda in Dallas and Arlington. \ Star-Telegram archives


Don’t forget Mom

Hey, Bud! Where do we go Mother’s Day?

—Calvin, Arlington

Some restaurants that never open Sundays, such as Lili’s Bistro, Ellerbe. Grace or the NM Cafe at Neiman’s, will operate May 9 just for Mom. Or, if everybody’s vaccinated, try one of the hotel brunches that we’ve all missed, like at 97 West Kitchen in the Hotel Drover, Baccchus Kitchen in the Hotel Vin in Grapevine or LAW in the Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas. (Book quickly for Capital Grille or Reata — they’re filling up.)

Drivers who park in downtown Fort Worth can feed their meters via mobile phone with the FW Park app.
Drivers who park in downtown Fort Worth can feed their meters via mobile phone with the FW Park app. Max Faulkner Star-Telegram

Park and walk, or pay the valet

Hey, Bud! We went to lunch downtown and got charged $21 for parking. What the—?

—Sherry, Fort Worth

Sundance Square parking is still free nights and weekends and free for 2 hours weekdays, but only if you park the car yourself in a Sundance lot or garage. If you use valet parking, plan to pay $7 per half-hour up to $21. (Too many people were using the free valet but not spending much shopping or dining.) Meters are plentiful; use the Parkmobile.com app.

This story was originally published April 22, 2021 at 5:45 AM.

Bud Kennedy’s Eats Beat
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
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