Here’s a preview of Cork & Pig Tavern, a Texas favorite opening soon in Southlake
The newest Cork & PIg Tavern is close to opening in Southlake, the eighth area restaurant from chefs also connected with Fort Worth restaurants such as Maria’s, Pacific Table and Press Cafe.
The name Cork & Pig isn’t new.
The original location opened in 2010 in San Angelo, one of the original West Texas concepts for chefs Felipe Armenta, Virginia Dalbeck of TV’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and John Nestor.
But this new rendition of Cork & Pig, next door to the new Mesero in the Shops of Southlake at 1431 E. Southlake Blvd., updates the pizza-bar-and-grill formula that has been a hit in Las Colinas and cities across West Texas.
Cork & Pig features wood-fired pizzas. It also offers a general menu, but the pizzas make it different from Armenta’s other restaurants.
“The Pig” is the best-known pizza, made with sausage, pepperoni and pancetta.
But the menu offers a broader selection of grill items such as pork ribs or a short rib in mole, burgers, sandwiches and salads, all in large portions the way Armenta, Dalbeck and Nestor learned in their days with the Houston’s/Hillstone restaurants.
The Irving location, 5224 N. O’Connor Blvd., is known for Cork & Pig’s deviled eggs, the double-cut pork chop and a brunch signature, French toast with Fruity Pebbles.
“It’s an American grill with American favorites,” Armenta said as the restaurant neared a mid-March opening.
Cork & Pig will have a prominent bar and a large patio, he said.
It will share the Shops with anchor Central Market, next door to Mesero on the east end near Central Avenue.
“Next door to Mesero is a great place to be,” Armenta said.
A Fort Worth version operated in Crockett Row from 2016 to 2020, before that development turned mainly into a bar district.
Armenta also operates other Fort Worth restaurants with a variety of partners. They include Towne Grill and the Tavern (serving grilled meats and general menu items), Maria’s Mexican Cuisine (serving interior Mexico dishes and West-Tex-Mex), Pacific Table (a Pacific Northwest bar-and-grill with an Irving location, too) and Press Cafe (an all-day riverbank grill and patio in Clearfork).
He plans a yet-unnamed Italian restaurant in the Montserrat neighborhood off Interstate 20 in southwest Fort Worth, and has plans for another concept in the Cultural District.
A Cork & Pig is also opening in Abilene, joining locations in Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
