Made in Fort Worth: West Side Cafe

Since 1996, West Side Cafe has been serving up down home goodness to happy patrons.

One of the few “old time diners” left in town, the folks at West Side Cafe insist on doing things by hand, be it cutting the steaks and pork chops or writing the tickets. Everything, including the amazing desserts, is made from scratch. This year, longtime manager Joel Hancock and his son Brian took over ownership of this Fort Worth classic. Madeworthy talked with Joel about ensuring that this West Side tradition continues long into the future.

Brian Hancock, Bourke Harvey, Gigi Howell, Joel Hancock and Stacy Phillips
Photo credit: Jill Johnson

Madeworthy: Tell us about the early days of West Side Cafe and your experiences there.

Joel Hancock: I started at West Side Cafe in 2003… We have literally watched some of our guests grow up and now bring their children here. It’s definitely a special place. We pride ourselves on more than “a place to get great food”.

MW: What do you think former owner Tracey Sanford did to make the restaurant so successful and loved by locals for decades?

JH: Tracey was more than a boss and a mentor. He was one of my closest friends for over thirty years… He had a unique approach to the business… He was big on creating an environment for employees to grow and take pride and ownership in the cafe… He strived for perfection. Whether it was food quality or service, he wanted to be number two to no one. He insisted that West Side Cafe be the best!

MW: When Tracey passed away [in 2021], was it then your goal to assume ownership?

JH: Tracey and I had numerous conversations about passing the torch to me at some point. No one saw it unfolding the way it did. I think it’s safe to say that neither of us were ready. It was total devastation for many of us… but with the help of Bourke Harvey and Gigi Howell, two longtime customers, and my son Brian, we were able to keep the West Side family together!

MW: The look and feel of restaurants have changed greatly with millennial influence; how does that affect “country cookin'” cafes?

JH: West Side Cafe is one of the few remaining old-time diners. We pride ourselves on doing things the “old fashioned way.” We still hand write tickets. We prepare our food daily from scratch… None of this would be possible without our amazing staff… If you look in the dictionary under “old school,” there’s a picture of us. We’re not fancy. We’re not pretentious. But we’re genuine. And we honestly appreciate everyone that walks through the door.

Joel Hancock and Stacy Phillips
Photo credit: Jill Johnson

MW: If it’s someone’s first time to the West Side Cafe, what do you suggest they order?

JH: I always suggest our ultimate burrito. It has eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, cheese, and hash browns. Plus, we have a house made salsa with fire roasted tomatoes and peppers to die for. There’s even a rumor that we may have a secret “light you up” hot sauce. I can neither confirm nor deny that fact. If someone is looking for lunch, our staple item is the chicken fried steak. We also offer an amazing grilled chicken salad as a lighter option. But remember – PIE.

MW: How many eggs do you go through a week?

JH: We go through approximately 30 cases of eggs. At 30 dozen per case, that’s 10,800 eggs.

MW: What is one thing that you will never change at West Side Cafe?

JH: Our culture. Building relationships with our guests is not only our passion, but I believe it’s a vital part of life. In my humble opinion, personal interaction is a healthy thing. To us, our guests are family. We can’t wait to see them and catch up on the latest.

MW: For our readers who are not long-time locals, what do you love most about Fort Worth that you can’t find in other places?

JH: For anyone new to the area, breathe in the city. Enjoy the friendly people and the extensive history around us. There’s a reason Fort Worth is becoming a movie-making hub. “Where the West Begins” is not just a hard-earned nickname. Plus, we have great museums, gardens, and concerts. We even have Concerts in the Garden – mind blowing, right? Fort Worth has great high school and college sports. We’re driving distance to all major pro sports. Dallas is a short drive AND you get to come home to Fort Worth. (My apologies. I had to take the obligatory jab at Big D. It’s what we do.)