{"id":12849,"date":"2026-08-19T22:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T22:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/restaurants\/12849\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T22:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T22:01:12","slug":"peachtree-cafe-brings-kansas-city-soul-food-to-fort-worth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningandcooking.com\/restaurants\/12849\/","title":{"rendered":"Peachtree Cafe brings Kansas City soul food to Fort Worth"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORT WORTH<\/p>\n

The Peachtree Cafe comes to Fort Worth from Kansas City, where it\u2019s known for serving that city\u2019s best soul food and comfort food.<\/p>\n

But it also moved into the same east Fort Worth neighborhood with Nana\u2019s Kitchen, DJay\u2019s Soul Food and more good restaurants, so now, the Eastchase Parkway area has even more choices.<\/p>\n

In Kansas City, the Peachtree restaurants are a local legend. Founder Vera Willis\u2019 fried chicken, catfish, pork chops and peach cobbler have drawn music stars, major league athletes and even Chiefs star Travis Kelce\u2019s chef.<\/p>\n

In Fort Worth, a mini-Peachtree is devoutly true to the tradition, serving picture-perfect Southern food cooked to order in a tiny take-out stand at 8651 John T. White Road.<\/p>\n

The catfish was the star at a recent lunch. The fillets \u2014 fried or baked with generous lemon and butter \u2014 are as large as you\u2019d usually find at a better steakhouse, full of the pure flavor you find in genuine Mississippi Delta-style catfish like Willis grew up with in Tallulah, Louisiana, near Vicksburg.<\/p>\n

The baked fish alone makes baked fish interesting again. The fried catfish is coated in a soft, light seasoned flour.<\/p>\n

\"A A combo plate with a fried catfish fillet, a fried chicken breast, yams and collard greens with peach cobbler at the Peachtree Cafe location in Fort Worth, Texas, seen Aug. 18, 2026. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com <\/p>\n

To show that it is serious about catfish, the Peachtree serves a choice of tartar sauces: the traditional smooth version or an upgraded sauce with green onion that really complements the fried fillet.<\/p>\n

Louisiana fried chicken comes with a reputation. The Peachtree\u2019s doesn\u2019t try to out-pepper anyone.<\/p>\n

Chicken is floured with paprika and garlic powder, served mild with a choice of cayenne-based seasoning or hot sauce on the side. It\u2019s a similar flavor to the mild version at the Memphis-based Gus\u2019s chain, but made fresh.<\/p>\n

If it all sounds good, there are combination plates with two or three helpings of chicken, catfish, meat loaf and\/or a pork chop for about $14-$23.<\/p>\n

The full platters cost about $15 up to about $19 for a seafood combo or a pork chop dinner.<\/p>\n

\"Peach Peach cobbler is one of the most popular dishes at PeachTree in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad Kansas City Star archives <\/p>\n

A vegetable plate is about $10. For example, collards are seasoned with smoked turkey, not pork or sugar like at some restaurants. The yams are fresh and come with plenty of sweet syrup.<\/p>\n

Peachtree is known for Willis\u2019 peach cobbler, and the Fort Worth location does not disappoint in any way.<\/p>\n

The cobbler is spiced with the cinnamon and nutmeg flavors missing in food-service cobblers, and the peaches still have snap.<\/p>\n

The restaurant is tiny, with four tables. If you want to dine in. But all the dinners are meticulously packed to go, complete with spices and sauces.<\/p>\n

The Peachtree is open from lunch until 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, so I can imagine some large chicken orders going out for Cowboys games; 817-583-6062, instagram.com\/peachtreeoftexas\/.<\/p>\n

\"PeachTree PeachTree Cafeteria owner Vera Willis built her Kansas City restaurant on her mother\u2019s Southern soul food recipes, wishing to replicate the exact warm atmosphere of her childhood home. Rachel Schlueter Kansas City Star archives <\/p>\n

This story was originally published August 19, 2026 at 4:37 AM.<\/p>\n