Fast-casualbrrestaurants are having a major moment. You order at the counter, grab a seatbrand await your food. They simplify the ordering process by eliminating abrwaiter. While Black Walnut Café fits this concept, it shatters the mold. ThebrColleyville restaurant is anything but typical, from the sophisticated ambiencebrto the sheer size of the menu (it boasts more than 100 items). Everything is takenbrup a notch to make the eatery, as proclaimed on its website, “a true home awaybrfrom home.”
Black WalnutbrCafé indeed has a comfort-driven atmosphere with luxurious high-back chairs andbrdark-wood paneling. When we stepped into the foyer, we noticed a lounge area, almostbrlike a parlor in a grand Southern estate, to one side and a traditional diningbrroom on the other side. It made us pause. Is this place fancy? Is it relaxed? Well,brit's a little of both. It's a casual dining experience with an upscale vibe.
The orderingbrprocess is similar to Café Express. You're given a pager that goes off whenbryour meal is ready, and you fill your own drink and grab your own silverware. Thenbryou're free to settle wherever looks comfortable. You're not limited to a boothbror table; you can mix it up by enjoying your meal in a living room-stylebrarrangement. Think cushy chairs and a side table. And if you want to keep yourbreye on the game or the news ticker, there are several high-definition TVsbrgracing the walls.
As for the cuisine,brit's classified as contemporary American, and dishes span the culinary spectrumbrfrom healthy to decadent. You can order everything from build-your-own omeletsbrand gourmet salads to rustic grilled cheese and chicken fried steak. Webrparticularly enjoyed the chicken taquitos, which were perfectly crispy andbrstuffed with juicy, nicely marinated chicken. Although they're listed under thebr“Munchies” part of the menu, they're filling enough to be the main course. Bebrsure to leave room for dessert, though. Confections such as cakes, pastries andbrgelato are on display behind a glass counter for all to see.
The café alsobroffers weekday happy hours: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Stopbrby from 7 to 10:30 a.m. to enjoy sips such as a Frozen Peach Bellini or WhitebrWine Sangria. We only wish they were offered on weekends.
When you facebrthe inevitable conundrum of not knowing what you'd like to eat, let BlackbrWalnut Café solve your dilemma. It's a place that truly offers something forbreveryone. And it's all served up in a setting so comfortable you won't mindbrtaking your time.
Black Walnut Cafe
1205 Church St. Colleyville
682.235.5100