Note: In an update provided to What Now Dallas, general manager Burciaga says they “are working hard to get ready to open in mid March.”
A much talked about culinary space that will pay tribute to the Mexican heritage of its founders is expected to open soon in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.
Led by acclaimed Mexican chef Juan Ramón Cárdenas and general manager Adrian Burciaga, Don Artemio is coming to 3268 W 7th St.
The location, which was previously home to a Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, has undergone a complete transformation and now features a natural color palette with the addition of tiles, handmade clay bricks and other décor that was brought from Mexico. 360 West Magazine reported that large planters, also brought from Mexico, will be added to the restaurant’s patio space to provide a lush outdoor dining experience. The restaurant has been periodically posting updates of the construction and design process on social media.
Fort Worth will be home to the second location of Don Artemio and the first in the U.S. The original location, which achieved international fame from Netflix’s “Taco Chronicles” docuseries, is in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.
The forthcoming restaurant has been years in the making. It is not only a dream come true for Cárdenas, but also for his late father who had always wanted to open a restaurant in Texas. “Sometimes, parents’ dreams are passed on,” Cárdenas told The Dallas Morning News in a December 2021 feature.
And while the restaurant will honor the legacy of Cárdenas’s father, its name pays tribute to Artemio de Valle Arizpe, a writer, lawyer and diplomat who was born in Saltillo. A big fan of food and drink, Arizpe often described the dishes of his time in great detail in his short stories.
“He loved to drink and eat,” Cárdenas said. “We named it after him because he really was a bon vivant.”
Burciaga, also a Saltillo native, brings plenty of experience and an extensive knowledge of food and wine to the restaurant. He previously served as general manager at Café Modern of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. From the menu to the art, he wants everything about his new venture with Cárdenas “to emphasize the Mexican heritage.”
Food-wise, guests can expect to enjoy a variety of authentic dishes served in an upscale Mexican experience. There will be cabrito confit (roasted kid goat); deep-fried nopalitos (cactus); homemade traditional chorizo; unique tacos; and homemade mole sauce.
Drink-wise, a selection of Mexican wines, mezcal and tequila will be offered.
