Openings
Jazz Cafe: If you crave a Greek salad for lunch, you’re in luck. Breakfast? Not so much.
On our daily drives through Arlington Heights, we notice a lot of things: a front door painted a new color; a new house on a previously empty lot; the same gray cat always sitting on a stone fence. So when bright orange umbrellas appeared on the patio of Jazz Cafe, we noticed. Honestly, part of the cafe’s charm has always been its disheveled appearance, but things looked tidier than when its doors closed more than a year ago. We immediately thought of an out-of-town friend who always inquires about the cafe’s status when he’s in Fort Worth. To him we say, yes, it is open but only for lunch. The staff was friendly; our server kept apologizing for what she considered delays, but that, to us, made for a nice, leisurely pace. We spotted owner Nick Kithas in the kitchen, and he was busy. The lunch menu is unchanged, and they might be out of a few things on any given day. And remember, it’s cash or personal check only.
2504 Montgomery St., 817-737-0043, facebook.com/daddiosjazzcafe
The perfectly seasoned lamb gyro comes on a warm, puffy pita. Photos by Meda Kessler
The strong coffee tastes even better in a real cup. Enjoy a slice of cake, muffins or cupcakes from the bakery case.
Blue Butterfly Cafe rolls out slowly in Ridglea
This combination health-conscious bakery, lunch spot and espresso bar has taken over the long-vacant Olivella’s location, and we’re pretty pleased with the sugar-free, keto-friendly, gluten-free focused and organic offerings that range from crustless quiche to noodle-free lasagne to sandwiches. There are chocolate and frappuccino cupcakes, too, along with frosted and unfrosted muffins and a fan-favorite pumpkin roll, perfect with a stout cup of coffee. The first cafe and retail franchise for the Trim Healthy line of products (founded as Trim Healthy Mama by sisters in Tennessee) also sells cosmetics, coffee beans and pantry staples such as flour and sweetener alternatives. In the near future, expect to find artisan sourdough bread (boasting a 16-hour fermentation) and sourdough-crust pizzas as well as gluten-free pizza “salads.” Franchise co-owners Corinne Cavanaugh and Renae Graves worked hard to win the franchise rights from the nationally known juggernaut. They are staffed up and delighted with how things are unfolding. As Graves says of the shop, which opened in early June, “There’s more to come, but currently we want to do the things we do with excellence.” Follow on social media for updates.
The Village at Camp Bowie, 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd., 682-385-9293, facebook.com/BlueButterflyCafe.FW and instagram.com/bluebutterflycafeftworth