Lucile's Stateside Bistro in Fort Worth, Texas: Restaurant Review

Lucile's Stateside Bistro, at 4700 Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas, is on corner with a nice-sized outdoor patio. There is ample parking and a nice bar. Lucile's was recommended by friends who enjoy going there frequently and one of the first things I noticed was that there was a sprinkling of "regulars" amongst the clientele on the day of my first visit. According to their menu, they serve American Food Classics but they also feature a fair amount of Italian food offerings, among them wood roasted pizza and several pasta dishes. The menu also includes standard steak and burger fare, seafood, a couple of "heart healthy" items and specials of the day are posted on a blackboard. Everything is served ala carte' and the entrees' range from $12 to $27.

My first visit to Lucile's was for an early dinner on a Wednesday in July. We didn't have a reservation. There was a light rain, so we sat in the dining room which is attractively decorated like a bistro with tablecloths and well lit, windows surround the room. The decor includes a colorful mural depicting the history of Fort Worth. Our server was very friendly and helpful. The bread was delicious! They were having a "Crab Fest" so in addition to the regular menu there was a separate one with the crab specialties. Noticing my New York accent, our server cautioned me against the crab cakes and recommended the crab fondue. We also ordered an appetizer of Calamari Friti, Lobster Bisque, a Chicken Caesar Salad, New York Strip Sirloin and the Atlantic Salmon special topped with crab meat. We were hungry!

The crab fondue was served with toasted french bread instead of sticks and bread squares and it was well worth ordering, filled with crab pieces and artichokes plus several different cheeses. Yummy! The fried calamari was equally good and the marinara sauce perfectly spicy. The lobster bisque which was highly recommended was tasty but there were no little pieces of lobster in it. The Chicken Caesar Salad was good but the homemade foccacia makes it a stand out dish. My date's sirloin was tender and juicy just as promised and it was an ample serving cooked to perfection. The only disappointment was the salmon, it was a little dry for my taste and not as fresh as it could be. The sauce accompanying it was a little too salty.

Lucile's has a special dessert menu and it is wise to save room to enjoy coffee and dessert. They offer several different chocolate desserts and other varieties. We ordered Bananas Forrester and Lucile's version of Key Lime pie, both were really good and the servings generous.

On a subsequent visit, also without a reservation, I had the Fried Green Tomatoes for an appetizer, the house specialty served with sour cream, the heart healthy Angel Hair Pasta which was tossed with tomatoes, basil pesto, garlic, Parmesan cheese and olive oil, and my date had the heart healthy Wood Roasted Chicken with wood roasted vegetables. We shared a Personalized Wood Roasted Pizza with pepperoni, roasted garlic and jalapeno peppers. I would highly recommend any of those dishes. Instead of dessert since we had eaten so much, we sat at the bar for a drink. The bartender makes an excellent vodka martini.

Lucile's is a friendly place, the service is great - both times our server checked on us several times and there was no trouble getting refills on the delicious bread basket - and the food is very good. It's a nice change from all the Mexican food that Fort Worth has to offer. It is also a nice place to go after a movie for a burger and a great place for a coffee and dessert date. In early September Lucile's has a Lobster Fest, I'll be there.