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Lifestyle – Foodie

Delight in Every Bite!

Foodies, rejoice! You don’t have to travel to the Metroplex in order to get your quality cuisine fix in the great state of Texas. We’ve got you covered right here in Wichita Falls! 

I would say we specialize in new American food, food that’s very familiar to us but served in a new progressive take

— Chef Kyle Dalka, Progress & Provisions Craft Kitchen

Our hand-cut steaks start out as black Angus choice loins and are cut daily and grilled to your specifications to ensure the perfect steak every time

— Chef Erik Scott, Highlander Public House

Our Maple Leaf Farms Duck Leg Quarter is quite possibly the signature entree on the menu

— Chef Anand Chaturvedula, Fox Hill Restaurant

WARNING! Do not read the following hungry!

Wichita Falls is proud to be home to some top-quality locally sourced, farm-to-table restaurants such as Fox Hill Restaurant & Gardens. Located in a beautifully restored home from the 1920s and sitting on eight acres of land, this restaurant uses food grown in its very own terraced gardens and raised beds. Chef Anand Chaturvedula welcomes foodies to come and taste their unique, mouthwatering offerings. We had a chance to speak with Chef Anand to see what cooking at Fox Hill. “Our Maple Leaf Farms Duck Leg Quarter is quite possibly the signature entree on the menu,” he said. “We start with prefabricated leg quarters that we receive from our purveyor. The leg quarters begin with a brine of equal parts kosher salt and granulated sugar for up to 36 hours. The duck is then removed from the brine and allowed to dry for 24 hours. On day three, we pull the skin of the leg quarter tight around the bone and cover it with rendered duck fat. The ducks cook in their own fat for 6 hours and are cooled overnight before being ready for their final cooking process, which is a quick two-minute deep-fry.” They serve the crispy confit duck quarter atop garden wilted garden greens, sweet potato puree, and a “redeye” gravy which they procure in-house daily.
He also highly encourages diners to try The Pakoras, which exemplifies their mission at Fox Hill: utilizing their very own garden to provide elevated, seasonal cuisine that is locally sourced. “The majority of the ingredients in this dish (peppers, spinach, kale, and cabbage) come from our garden,” he said. “The Pakoras utilize any produce that is available to us from our garden. The chickpea batter we use to dredge the vegetables is gluten and dairy-free. So is the black mustard seed tomato chutney that we make in-house to serve with the pakoras. The Pakoras reflect the daily changes that we experience with the yields from our garden making it a very dynamic item on our menu.” 
Another unique restaurant duo that serves food grown on local farms is Karat Bar & Bistro and Morris Supper Club, both housed in the original Zales jewelry store downtown. Karat and MSC aim to bring fresh ingredients and high-quality food to its menu, choose from many dishes that are handcrafted from scratch. Like the name, everything about the restaurants pays homage to visionary Morris Zales and the old jewelry store. Enjoy classic prohibition-style cocktails, and an international wine list.
Progress and Provisions Craft Kitchen, with its two locations and food truck, also offers food crafted with quality local ingredients. “I would say we specialize in new American food, food that’s very familiar to us but served in a new progressive take,” said Kyle Dalka, chef and owner of Progress and Provisions. 
Their fresh menu, featuring such favorites as the Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich with sweet and spicy chili chicken, cilantro, pickled cucumber, lettuce, roasted jalapeño, and lime aioli, or the Wagyu skirt steak taco with rosewood ranch wagyu, caramelized onions, green chiles, salsa verde, and yellow cheddar, rotates with the seasons. Dalka said that inspiration for his dishes comes in so many forms: “One way is definitely the seasons. We can see what’s growing from our favorite local partners and start to conceptualize new ideas from that. The next way would be what we enjoy eating at that time and how we can make it our own.”  Patrons also really love how fresh their products are. “They love knowing that when they come in, they may be getting something they’ve never had,” he said. One visit and it is clear to see why Progress and Provisions Craft Kitchen is one of Wichita Falls foodies favorites!

Local Specialties

A number of restaurants are among the ranks of the local specialties of Wichita Falls. Casa Manana is one such beloved place. In business since 1947, this Mexican food restaurant located downtown is home to the unique and delicious “red taco.”
Gypsy Uncorked serves a unique and eclectic menu fitting of the name “Gypsy.” Be sure to try their famous Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Tacos when you visit their location on 8th Street. You can’t go wrong with the Cali, served with black bean corn relish, lime sour cream, and sriracha mayo, or the Oki with kimchi bacon sauce, and cilantro.
You don’t have to travel the world to experience intercontinental cuisine. You can taste the flavors of the world right here in Wichita Falls. Salt and Pepper serves Mediterranean cuisine designed by a master chef. Their standards, small plates, wine, and desserts are all served in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.
Wichita Falls offers authentic German cuisine at Opa’s Schnitzel Haus. Family-owned with Old World ambiance, Opa’s friendly staff serves great food such as a variety of types of schnitzel, sauerkraut, spaetzle, and more.
For a taste of India, try Namaste. Known for its modern interpretation of classic Indian dishes, they insist on using only the best fresh ingredients. Another Indian restaurant offering fine Indian and American cuisine is Curry Garden.

From best bar bites to surf and turf!

Looking for the best bar bites? Wichita Falls has some delicious options. Back Porch Draft House has a massive tasty menu featuring craft burgers such as their custom “Route 66” smash-style patty with flat-top onions on a brioche bun. They also offer snackable food, salads, brunch items, and more.
Wichita Falls Brewing Co has partnered up with Progress & Provisions to serve flavorful meals to enjoy with their tasty craft beer. Enjoy offerings from their street food menu like the Bahn Mi Taco with chinese five-spice pork belly, pickled carrot & cucumber, cilantro, and sriracha mayo, or from their Detroit-style pizza menu, like the Mean Green with a house cheese blend, basil pesto, garlic, prosciutto, parmesan, and arugula.
When surf and turf is what you are craving head to Pelicans Surf Club. On the menu, you will find starters like the Seared Ahi Tuna with sashimi-grade seared tuna with wasabi & pickled ginger. Scotty P. takes pride in serving 21-day aged, choice steaks that are cut in-house, and grilled to perfection.  The fresh fish and other seafood are top-notch and prepared with utmost care. Wines, upscale vodkas, and cocktails are Pelican’s specialty.
For steaks so good you won’t need sauce, McBrides Steakhouse, is another local favorite since 1992. They grill all of their steaks with 100% mesquite coals. You know you are in Texas upon entering this casual dining restaurant, with the many saddles hanging from the wood beams.

Texas and Celtic food fusion perfection

The Highlander Public House is a local pub that serves a fusion of Texas and Celtic food. Located in the heart of historic downtown Wichita Falls, this comfortable restaurant with a big-city feel is a great place to hang out with friends and eat some excellent cuisine. Erik Scott, the owner, and executive chef recommends a number of their dishes, including their Fish and Chips. He said their Fish and Chips are so close to what’s available in the UK that he has had many visiting citizens of Europe say it’s the best that they’ve had since they were back at home.
“We start with fresh cod fillets and batter them in our house-made Guinness batter,” he said. “Fried to a golden brown and served with our hand-cut fries, this dish also comes with one of our famous fried pickle spears.” In addition to Fish and Chips, their Mac and Cheese, Chicken Fried Steaks, burgers, and steaks are also popular choices. 
“Our hand-cut steaks start out as black Angus choice loins and are cut daily and grilled to your specifications to ensure the perfect steak every time,” he said.
The Highlander is also child-friendly, and the staff loves to have the whole family around, including the kiddos! For those who enjoy sitting outside, they also have a large covered patio for outdoor dining. There’s something for everybody at this Wichita Falls treasure!

Culinary events you don't want to miss!

Morath Orchard Farm to Table Dinners

Farm to Table Dinners at the Morath Orchard started in 2014. Their goal for the evening is to share their passion for fresh food, fellowship, and the beauty of wide-open spaces with you. Dinners are held in April, May, and June (and potentially in September and October). The evening starts off with a farm tour then dinner includes a starter, main entree with sides, and dessert. Everything is home-cooked utilizing local ingredients as available!

Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls involves local artists, restaurants, and community volunteers working together to fill empty bowls in their communities. Guests are invited to a meal of soups, bread, and desserts from an array of local chefs (stick to one or indulge in as many as you would like!). In exchange for their ticket stub, guests may pick out a handcrafted bowl, made by a local artist, as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, where it will be used to feed hungry people right here in our community.

The Long Table

The Long Table is a culinary highlight of the year where careful attention is given to finding the best, freshest, and most locally-available ingredients to create a meal grown or produced within the Red River Valley. They partner with various local chefs each season to bring new ideas and tastes to the table. Event-goers dine together at the long table under the stars and along the charming, brick-lined 8th Street at the downtown farmers’ market.

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