Gloria's

Gloria’s

Architects and designers took a novel approach in redesigning Montgomery Plaza in the downtown cultural district of Fort Worth. Cut a walkway right smack down the middle, string some festive lights across, and strategically open restaurants on either side. Viola, instant urban appeal. With café tables, brick and stone patterned walkways, and twinkling lights this hot spot has a reminiscent European flair.


Gloria’s is nestled on a corner of this plaza, with their own wicker chairs and intimate patio seating. The décor is rich with dark colors and a modern look, fueled by a curvaceous wrap around bar, verdant green glass tiles, and dark mahogany woodwork, all in all, extremely nice ambiance. The food is a delicious blend of Mexican and Salvadorian.


On Saturday nights the restaurant offers beautiful salsa dancing and live music. A $10 cover charge is in affect on Saturday’s after 10 pm. There is a specific dress code for the live performances with a stress on dressy chic. (Shoes in particular must be dressy, with no athletic shoes permitted)


I visited Gloria’s with a friend during a weekday lunch hour. The restaurant was bustling and it took a few minutes before we were seated. The hostess offered us a spot at the bar or a comfortable chair by the entrance for our short 5-10 minute wait. We opted to sit on a comfortable bar stool placed strategically facing the bustling plaza and visit for a bit while waiting for our table to open up. After seating us at a cozy white tablecloth covered table we were greeted promptly by our server who took our drink orders and handed us the lunch menu to peruse. We also received a basket of crisp tortilla chips, spicy salsa, and a bowl of warm bean dip. I ordered a soft drink and began the difficult task of deciding what to order for my entrée. So many choices and everything looked delicious.


I decided on “Glenda’s Favorite: A Salvadoran Sampler. The entrée proved delicious and something out of the ordinary, very unique and appealing. Small round “papusas”, a cross between a traditional tortilla and a thicker and more bread-like pastry, were filled with a choice of cheese, chicken, and/or pork. I opted for a combination. Rice and beans mixed with small slivers of vegetables made up the side dish and were served on the same platter. I enjoyed dipping the “papusas” into the warm bean sauce. Yummy!


The restaurant was clean and organized, something you would expect from the urban, chic Montgomery Plaza. Service was prompt and although I was surprised to find a wait on a mid-week lunch, the delay was minimal. During the week the dress code is casual dress. Some parking is available in the front of the restaurant but it might be easier to park behind the plaza and walk on through the middle entrance. Cocktails and mixed drinks are served at the bar and of course soft drinks and ice tea are available.


Photos courtesy of: http://www.gloriasrestaurants.com/index.php