Fort Worth’s River District just gained a fantastic new addition to its food scene. Burgers and beer are just the beginning at Crystal Springs Hideaway. The name is pretty spot on because any other title would be disingenuous. Crystal Springs certainly is a hideaway. Tucked away just off of White Settlement Road, it lies in the heart of the neighborhood. Surrounded by houses and apartments, it could easily be passed by somebody not looking for it, but next time you’re in the area don’t make that mistake.
The whole place is divided into three separate sections: an indoor bar/seating area, a large patio section, and a separate bar outside in the back. Walking in, you immediately see a large selection of wine lining the walls. Now, I’m no wine connoisseur, but I can appreciate the options. In the same room is a menu for charcuterie boards, and if you didn’t like the menu then you have the ability to make your own with the available ingredients.
My group ordered one featuring duck and an assortment of different cheeses. The duck was fantastic and came with other proteins like salami and ham slices. I can’t remember exactly what the cheeses were, but trust me they were great. We ate our board outside on the patio as it was a nice day. It was a bit on the colder side, but their numerous heaters kept us comfortable. While eating, my group decided to get drinks as well.
The girls got two different glasses of wine, both of which they enjoyed, and I ordered a Coors Light (real creative, I know). Don’t let my basic selection fool you though. Their drink menu is large, offering 25 draft beers and an assortment of cocktails. I figured I’d stick with a classic and venture out into Texas craft beers next time. We sat and had a couple of drinks before deciding to try out their food.
BigKat Burgers is the one serving up the dishes here, and if you’re a Fort Worth local you already know how good they are. I got a bacon cheeseburger and loved it. I know what you may be thinking, I have no sense of adventure considering they have burgers with all sorts of interesting and yummy toppings like bacon jam infused cream cheese and even peanut butter. Trust me, I am adventurous. I just wanted to have a bacon cheeseburger that day. Sue me.
The patio is pretty large, with plenty of seating. Heaters, fire pits, and string lights adorn the place giving it a real cozy atmosphere. There’s even a stage outside for when they have live music so we’ll have to come back for that. If you want to come by and just get a drink then the bar out back is perfect, although I didn’t hang out there since we were already drinking at our table. The bar was originally a carriage house that was built in 1901 and renovated into what it is now. It’s always cool to keep the history of Fort Worth around so cheers to that.
Everything seemed very accommodating for customers. From the numerous seating arrangements, heaters, and even extra restrooms outside. It’s a very well put together place. One could easily come here on a date night and have wine and split a charcuterie board. Or you could come with friends or family and have a meal. You could even come alone and catch a game on the big TV they have outside. With three distinct areas, there really is something for everybody. All things considered I think Crystal Springs Hideaway is a great spot and I will definitely be coming back. Oh and did I mention it’s a dog-friendly patio?! Good food, good drinks, and good vibes—what more can I say? Swing on by, y’all.
