7 minute read
Discover Downtown in the Falls!
Feature photo: Peruvian Tenderloin Kebabs on the new Summer Seasonal Menu at Karat Bar & Bistro!
KARAT BAR & BISTRO
Karat Bar & Bistro, Morris Supper Club, and Ganache-To-Go are housed in the first Zales jewelry store. Like the name, everything about the restaurants pays homage to visionary Morris Zales and the old jewelry store.
Karat Bar & Bistro focuses on serving fresh, whole foods and are pleased to offer vegetarian meal options. Enjoy locally sourced dishes that are handmade from scratch, as well as classic prohibition-style cocktails and an international wine list!
Morris Zale was known for his innovative ideas. He always made customer service his priority. At The Morris Supper Club, they aim to do the same with fine dining.
Ganache To Go offers fresh, handmade bakery items like delicious cupcakes, cookies, macarons, artisan bread, and more! Enjoy excellent service and sumptuous cuisine at any of these Wichita Falls treasures!
Interview with Karat owner, Amber Schacter:
What are some of the current favorite dishes with guests?
Brunch is our most popular time. I would say my favorite item is our take on chicken and waffles. The waffle has fresh corn, jalapeno, cheddar cheese, and a wonderful cornmeal batter, so it has a natural sweetness to it but also a balance. Then on top is fresh hand battered chicken. I like Nashville hot because I like the combination of the spicy cayenne and the sweetness from the maple syrup over the top, and, of course, we also have to put gravy on it because we are in North Texas. For dinner, I would say that we are really known for our steaks. I have a particular but simple process. The steak needs to be good quality meat, handled very little, and cooked to the proper temperature. Our process has given us a great reputation. I often hear from guests how our filet mignon is their favorite steak. We’ve become known as a steak house in the evenings, but, we have lots of different options.
Your menus are seasonal and rotating. What can you tell me about the menus for summer?
I’m really excited about our summer menu. I love to travel, that’s where my inspiration comes from and from the seasons. Izzy and I sat down, and we felt like since COVID, we had really been playing it safe, but this year we decided, “You know what? Let’s go big, It’s summer.” I love summer. The sun is coming back. It’s warm. Everyone is getting outside. We made a menu we are excited about, so it’s super eclectic. You’ll see we have lots of different seafood options. There’s even a South American ceviche I’m excited to share. The summer menu has an international feel to it.
Your website mentions your international wine list. Tell me a bit about how you have curated your wine selections.
I had always enjoyed drinking wine, had been to Napa Valley and done a few courses, but didn’t have in-depth knowledge, so I took the sommelier classes and am in the guild of sommeliers. The wines that I choose are often ones that I tasted overseas. My husband is a paraglider, so we do a lot of international travel in the mountains, and regions that are often wine regions. It’s been wonderful to go to places I’ve read about to taste wine, and see where the grapes are grown. You get a deep understanding of the wine. I try to find wines that are going to be affordable and attainable to the pocketbook and a general palette. We have everything from bold, fruit-forward California cabernets to a more balanced, kind of acidic Bordeaux region France red wine. We also carry local wines as well. My philosophy of wine and everything else is “do what feels good to you.” That’s how our menu was curated. You’re going to find something for everyone and at every price point. I love our house wines. They are from Italy and are actually in kegs, so they are protected from the air. They have no added sulfites, so they are really clean wine at a great price point. It’s easy for our guests to drink them without the inexpensive wine holdbacks.
Is there anything else that you would like potential guests to know?
I would say the number one thing is come as you are. We are a welcoming place for everyone, whether it’s your family that is coming out for dinner or you have a special date or you are celebrating a special occasion. We are really here to give you a great experience, to have you enjoy your meal, and we want you to come as you are. I really say that Karat is an elevated experience, but we are never pretentious. We are just happy to be here, to be open, and still able to serve our guests, so come as you are, and if you ever need anything, just ask.
MORE GREAT DOWNTOWN LOCATION TO DISCOVER
HALF PINT TAPROOM & RESTORATION HALL
Half Pint is a unique bar in historic downtown Wichita Falls featuring craft beer, craft cocktails, wines on tap and authentic brick oven pizza. Try one of their signature crafted pizzas like “Texas Heat” or “Pistachio Pesto.” Enjoy the chill atmosphere inside the bar or hang out and play games on the patio. Check their Facebook page often for events like Dueling Pianos or Smore’s & Pours! 21+ Only.
WICHITA FALLS BREWING CO.
You may come for the suds, but Wichita Falls Brewing Co. is more than a great place to grab a beer with a friend. Patrons of the establishment rave over the fun, family-friendly atmosphere. WFBC stands as the perfect place for a gathering with its big, comfortable tables, or if you need something more exclusive, they have a loft area for private parties. The establishment frequently hosts live trivia and DJs. One step inside and you won’t want to leave.
WFBC have partnered with Progress & Provisions Craft Kitchen. WFBC brews up tasty craft beer while P&P serves flavorful meals. Enjoy choices from the street food menu like the P&P burger, chicken & pecan pesto from the baked pasta menu, or try one of many detroit style pizzas like the mean green with house cheese, basil pesto, garlic, prosciutto, parmesan and arugula.
HOOK & LADDER COFFEES AND WINE CO.
H&L is a popular downtown artisan roastery, urban winery, and cafe with a fantastic selection of unique wines, single-origin coffee, artisan flatbreads, charcuterie boards, and desserts.
Why the name Hook & Ladder, you might ask? Co-owner Jon is the retired Fire Chief of the Wichita Falls Fire Department with 30+ years of service, and Co-owner Bill is the retired Assistant Fire Chief and served the community for 30+ years.
Their delicious coffee and wine are firefighter-themed, like Flashover Red Wine, or Nozzleman Honduran Estrella Lenca Coffee.
PROGRESS & PROVISIONS CRAFT KITCHEN
Having quickly become a local favorite, the restaurant offers madefrom-scratch options for everyone from beefeaters to vegans, sourcing ingredients locally when possible. The bread is made from scratch, too.
Even though they serve up things like burgers, sandwiches, soup, and salad, among many other choices, it’s still not your typical American style food. From cheeseburgers to Korean chicken sandwiches, you can find a little bit of everything.
Chef Dalka uses the highest quality of ingredients and makes everything in-house, to give you the best quality product.
Like the name, Progress and Provisions, Dalka hopes to be serving up delectable dishes, contributing to the growth and progress of the downtown area for many years to come.
