Success Secrets in Fort Worth

A newer, yet increasingly popular restaurant in Fort Worth is Woodshed Smokehouse. The two-year-old restaurant has already proved itself to be a staple on the Fort Worth food scene. From its opening in January 2012, Woodshed has only continued to gain popularity. The brainchild of Chef Tim Love, who is no stranger to the Fort Worth scene, Woodshed has gained its popularity with great food and fun atmosphere for people of all ages. According to manager David Lace, Love is considered to be “the pseudo-mayor of Fort Worth,” meaning whatever he wants to do, people will pay attention. Love owns several restaurants in Fort Worth, and is known for putting his own spin on the classics. Growing up, Love said he always enjoyed the process of cooking and breaking down food, so becoming a chef was a natural progression. What sets Woodshed apart from other barbeque restaurants is how the meat and food is cooked. “We are experimenting with wood as a flavoring agent and exploring the brilliant depth and range of flavor that exists within different woods,” Love said. Love also points out Woodshed’s fun and relaxed atmosphere as one of its important qualities. “It’s a place when everyone from families to young professionals can come, sit by the river and enjoy a killer cocktail and badass food,” Love said. Woodshed is located on the Trinity River, five minutes away from TCU and a mere ten minutes away from West 7th Street and Downtown. Woodshed is able to cater to a variety of people. According to Lace, Woodshed has the vibe of a chef’s backyard, which to him, is very relaxing and fun. Having managed restaurants his whole life, Lace is familiar with what it takes to become successful in the food industry. For Lace, Woodshed is a completely different restaurant than anything else in Fort Worth. “I love Woodshed so much because it’s just like a big, outdoor grilling party,” Lace said. No matter what time of the day you go to Woodshed, there are always people there. Its most busy times are on the weekends, either during the day or at night. With a wide selection of wine and rare beers on tap, as well as an eclectic menu, nothing about Woodshed is ordinary. Chef Love is known for putting his own twist to the classics in the other restaurants he owns, and Woodshed is no different. Madolin Rosenthal is a teacher at Arlington Heights High School and is Fort Worth born and bred. She and her husband started coming to Woodshed soon after its opening, and it has now become a weekend ritual with their friends and family. “Yeah, Fort Worth has its fun outdoor restaurants, but what we love the most about Woodshed is that it has continuously provided us with entertainment that we couldn’t get anywhere else,” Rosenthal said. Although it is still a newer restaurant, Lace believes that with the help of his management skills combined with Love’s desire for the ever changing, Woodshed will remain one of Fort Worth’s top restaurants for years to come.