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Fort Worth Date Night: Daddy Mac...or is it Mac Daddy?

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

I'm happy.  I can't wipe this smile off my face.  While it doesn't take much to make me grin, it is nice when a restaurant is the cause of my joy.  I'm a simple guy.  I don't need much and don't require much.  I like the same in my restaurants.  Simple, to-the-point, great food, and comfortable.

At a recent birthday celebration at Mac's on 7th (2600 W. Seventh, Suite 153), I discovered why I love this place so much.  In this day and age of being rushed in and rushed out, I was greeted by two very nice people who were engaging, pleasant and helpful in that they directed me to the party being formed on the patio.

As our party came together, it was time to herd our group of 20-plus to our tables.  With a party that large, there was never a time that we were without a drink or without enough staff to attend to us.  From the time you walk in, Mac's on 7th just makes you feel at home.

Much of this comes from the staff, but, the decor and finish out has a lot to do with this, as well.  Mac's is just comfortable.  I can't really pinpoint why.  But, after being there for a couple of hours, laughing, eating and being engrossed in each other, it hit me that the calm and coolness of the interior is soothing, much like a spa or a resort.  I must tell you this, that as a guy, one of the highlights of the evening was a trip to the "facilities."  Yes, people, the restroom.

Many of the guys that night were interested in the college football scores. Checking our phones, moseying to the bar and asking anyone who might know.  Had I known what I came across in the Men's Room, keeping up with the scores would have been a lot easier.  As it turns out, they have flat panel tv's in "there."  With the game on.  With a ticker running across the screen of ALL the games that day.  At this point, I'm quickly developing a big crush on Mac's on 7th.

But, we came to eat. And, eat we did. They have a great choice of selections.  Salads, chicken, beef, seafood and so on and so on.  One of my favorites is the Shrimp Paesano. This is a dish of shrimp basking in a lemony, garlicky, buttery pool of greatness.  But, something happened while watching college football.  I got in touch with my masculine side.  In making my dinner choice, my testosterone took over and I went with the chicken fried steak.  And, it did not disappoint.  All of the Mac's restaurants have been known to have great chicken fried steak.  Mac's on 7th raised the bar and, perhaps, was a major contributing factor in this smile on my face.

Since we were celebrating a birthday that night (and no one brought a cake for the guest of honor), our little section decided on several desserts in honor of our friend.  And, the fact that she vetoed 32 spankings and opted for dessert.  Good call!

As a dessert officianado, and also that I had to weigh in on the decision even though the evening was not all about me, I quickly spotted Red Velvet cake on the menu.  Done! Get it!  But, I kept reading.  Mac's gives full disclosure and this cake comes from, perhaps, one of the all-time greatest Red Velvet locales...the Red Oven Bakery in Pantego (Arlington).  This cake, along with it's cream cheese icing, is so incredibly good that I'm writing this column at 6:45 in the morning and my mouth is watering.  Even better, Mac's is not shy about sharing.  This one slice should have been brought out on a forklift. 

The reason Mac's on 7th works is that you don't have to think while you are there.  The place is comfortable where you and your date won't want to leave or, even better, just get lost in time.  The service is great where you never have to take your attention off whomever you are with and the food is so good that you really don't want to be anywhere else.  And, should you need to use the "facilities," you can totally get caught up on the day's games and get back to your table without being the typical guy who would rather watch football than being out on a Date Night.  Mac's is brilliant.  No detail has been left out; no stone unturned. 

Mike Bloomberg, owner of The Romance CEO, is a romance and marriage proposal consultant. He can be reached at www.theromanceceo.com

Fort Worth Business Press,  May 13, 2009

Restaurant Roundup: Mac’s, an American Grill 

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Owner Mike McMahan brings 25 years of restaurant experience to Montgomery Plaza with this sleek steak and seafood house, complete with glass walls to observe the pedestrian traffic. We’d been advised of the existence of a large and outstanding chicken-fried steak, but we could not resist the char-broiled halibut served with wild rice and the zippy blackened orange roughy with étouffée, a generous serving of fish and shrimp that proved to be not too spicy, just well-supplied with creole oomph.

Texas Monthly, March 2009

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Grilling with Style
[ at Mac’s on 7th  ]
by Katie Martinez

Nestled on the ground floor in Montgomery Plaza, Mac’s on 7th (817.332.6227) is a happening place for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch. The menu includes traditional grilled favorites and a variety of seafood and steak. One of Mac’s most popular dishes is the Filet Mignon Oscar, a tender cut of beef served with crabmeat and béarnaise on a bed of asparagus with your choice of wild rice or a baked potato. The contemporary bar at Mac’s boasts an impressive wine list and more than 50 single malt scotches and small batch bourbons. For just under $13, guests can sample scotches from four different Scottish distilleries. Although the name may sound casual, Mac’s offers Fort Worth patrons an elegant dining experience with plenty of style.

Fort Worth Texas Magazine, March, 2009

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Mike McMahan, owner of Mac’s, wanted a restaurant that you could come to in blue jeans or a tuxedo and be comfortable either way. He has succeeded in this at all three locations of Mac’s, Arlington, Colleyville and Fort Worth.

Fort Worth’s Montgomery Plaza location is close enough for us to pop into, see friends and neighbors, and have some of the best file gumbo in the city.  (For those of you who don’t know, Renie’s a Louisiana girl and knows her gumbo!)  It’s thick but not gluey, full of flavor, and not spicy hot. Tabasco’s available if you want a burning sensation. Order Mac’s house salad with blue cheese and you’ve got a meal.

Don’t miss the blue crabfingers sauteed in butter with garlic and basil. One-fourth pound is plenty as an appetizer. With warm bread that is crusty on the outside and soft inside, you can soak up every drop of sauce. Yum.....

We had two of the 12 seafood offerings, a special of flounder stuffed with crab cake, and the seafood  relleno. But there are at least eight beef dishes plus prime rib on the menu for the carnivore.   Sandwiches, pastas, and chicken dishes offer plenty of homespun variety.  Side dishes of asparagus, wilted spinach, and even sweet potato fries with cream gravy are large enough to share.

Desserts are killer good with everything from red velvet cake, key lime pie, and bread pudding that is custard kissed croissants laced with bourbon, apples, and raisins. A GoldBrick sundae is the signature way to end the meal.

Fort Worth Business Press,  May 13, 2009

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Patrons:

Mike, 

We all very much enjoyed the party. The staff has commented several times that they loved the prime rib and how excellent the service was during the party. I think we are all in agreement that we would like to have the party at your restaurant in the future.  Thank you for being there and for your attentive staff!

 

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I was in your restaurant on Sunday afternoon and had the most refreshing experience there! Your bartender was very knowledgeable and made excellent martinis, not to mention the great happy hour prices! Mac let us sample different scotches and even gave us a lesson in how the flavors of each one evolve (Lagavulin was the favorite). I enjoyed meeting Mac, who compelled me to write this email- we truly enjoyed our experience @ Mac's on 7th and will definitely be back. I wish there was one in Austin!!  

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My family highly recommends brunch at Mac's on 7th. The Eggs Benedict are wonderful. We had Easter brunch there and every thing was superb, food, service, reservations. Thanks!

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Mac's on 7th is a great destinaton at Montgomery Plaza in Fort Worth, Texas. While my first few visits there were for a work day lunch, the best part about Mac's on 7th is the after work happy hour. Offering a long list of martini's, wine, and beer, there's always something to fit your mood. I'll admit it, I'm a big fan of the $4.00 martinis!!

The food is great--I'd call it modern American homestyle. For me the biggest test of a restaurant is what they do with vegetables and crab cakes. Mac's on 7th has a great selection of veggies and they know how to treat them right! Entrees include a selection of burgers, steaks and seafood. There are a couple of pasta selections as well.

Favorite appetizers: Crab cakes, shrimp tamale, grilled sea scallops
Favorite burger: guacomole
Favorite entree: cilantro chicken with roast corn cream sauce
Favorite maritnis: Pomegranate, French

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"Excellent! Mac's is our new favorite. The menu is diverse and everything you try is so good. the Mac's on 7th has a modern decor that is very fitting for Fort Worth and we love it. The service was great - it was an overall wonderful experience."

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 'Mac's was a great place to have a nice romantic dinner. The interior was very sleek. It was great!"

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"I had a great time at Mac's on 7th. The service was phenominal and the atmosphere was impecible. The crowd seemed to be very trendy. I will be making further reservations at this location in the future. People from Fort Worth should really try this spot."

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"Everything was excellent and the prices were very reasonable. We had an excellent waitress, the gumbo was outstanding and the entrees were superb."

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"One of the nicest Valentine's ever - first rate - food - service - everything!"

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"Excellent choice for our Valentine's Day outing. The food was suberb, we were seated promptly and the service outstanding. Mac's on 7th is absolutely one of our new favorites. Glad we chose to dine there on a special occasion. We will most assuredly return."

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"Really nice atmosphere, great service and excellent food. It was a really busy night, but the service and food did not suffer at all. They were attentive, but not overly so and kept our champagne glasses filled. our steaks were cooked as we requested (medium rare and medium well). despite being Valentine's and the restaurant being booked, we did not feel rushed at all. We were a little late for our reservation and they were very nice about it when I called. we both really enjoyed it and will be going back."

 

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