Karat Bar and Bistro opened in December 2017. I was intrigued by the addition of the restaurant to downtown Wichita Falls.
This place had a lot of windows, much like 8th street coffee house. On an atypically cold day, the temperature inside was perfect.
I entered from Ohio Avenue and made my way to the bar/hostess stand. The bar was to the back.
I was informed that I could sit anywhere and that the waitress would soon be with me. I could not help but notice the old jewelry store mural.
Menus were soon provided.
After a short wait, my drink order was taken. I ordered a diamond old fashioned and water. The old fashioned was ok.
As I was finishing my old fashioned, the waitress, came back to take my shared plate order. I went with the duck confit tamale. 😮
The massa was dry and flavorless, but the duck and peach purée were delicious! The peach salsa was a little spicy, but not overbearing. For my main, I ordered the shrimp and grits. It was ok. The collard greens flavor overwhelmed the entire the dish. To make matters worse, the shrimp were bland, almost as if they were recently thawed.
I HAD to order a Forbidden Apple to try to wash it down…it did not help.
My friend ordered the steak au poivre and Caesars salad. The salad was not good at all. The lettuce was not fresh. I encouraged my friend to send it back. To make matters worse, the waitress grabbed the whole plate of salad and did not ask why it was not finished. The steak was good, although over cooked, but my friend enjoyed it.
Final Word
My first visit to Karat was underwhelming. The duck and peach purée were the highlights of my visit. The Caesars salad and shrimp and grits left a lot to be desired. I want to give the place another try, but I do not know if it is worth it.
