There’s a new chicken-fried steak in town at a bar-and-grill near TCU
Just when Fort Worth needed a new hangout, the nautical gods have brought us the Poop Deck Bar & Grill.
For most of its 52 years, the Poop Deck has been a well-worn cocktail lounge and drinkery south of TCU.
Now, it’s come top deck.
The new location at 3509 Blue Bonnet Circle adds a full casual grill menu with burgers, chicken-fried steaks, seafood, salads, brunch and — I’m not kidding — a prime filet mignon.
“We want this to be a neighborhood restaurant — there wasn’t anyplace right around here to get a prime steak or a really good burger,” said Bert Adams, a construction executive and 20-year owner of the Poop Deck, originally on Granbury Road.
The old Deck was known for mixed drinks, pool tables and karaoke.
“But I’ve always had this dream,” Adams said.
“This is my dream.”
The Deck is ready to become a neighborhood hangout, post-game stop, golfers’ 19th hole and maybe a new iconic cafe for Fort Worth.
It’s already busy, so give it time to settle down.
But in a city that judges cafes by chicken-fried steak, the Poop Deck’s ($16, dinner only) is one of the very best. It compares well to those at other steakhouses, with near-perfect pepper gravy.
Lunch and dinner menus offer the expected ample servings of bar food, from nachos and chili cheese fries to an old-time cafe favorite, fried frog legs.
(It’s OK, TCU fans — they’re not that kind of frogs.)
Adams hired cooks with steakhouse and hotel experience. He’d been in the bar-and-grill business before as part owner of Eagle’s Point in Saginaw.
Besides the prime filet ($42), the surprisingly well-rounded dinner menu includes a short rib dinner in red wine-mushroom sauce ($24), chicken or shrimp pasta Alfredo ($15) and salmon ($16).
The burgers and chicken sandwiches cost $9-$12 with fries, or rry catfish, cod or shrimp platters for $14-$15.
There’s a choice of four salads including a Caesar ($7) and desserts including the Swiss Pastry Shop’s Swedish-style almond-dacquoise Black Forest cake ($7.50).
The Poop Deck becomes at least the second local restaurant to serve the beloved Swiss Pastry dessert, along with Michaels Cuisine.
There’s also a Sunday brunch menu of pancakes, waffles, biscuits and breakfast platters.
Yes, Adams knows you want to ask about the location.
The Poop Deck takes over a landmark space that for 50 years was home to the Oui Lounge bar, then briefly to a Love Shack Burger and lately to a Fred’s Texas Cafe.
“I don’t want this to be known as just a bar,” he said. The landlord stored an old Oui Lounge sign, he said.
The Deck joins fellow Blue Bonnet Circle newcomers Lettuce Cook, a grab-and-go shop and sandwich deli, and Belenty’s Love, a vegan taqueria.
The Poop Deck serves lunch and dinner daily, brunch from 10 a.m. Sundays; 817-921-4861.
This story was originally published April 27, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
