We recently connected with Kelly Lancarte and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Our story started when our family matriarch, Mamasuez, immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico, to Fort Worth in 1911. She brought little else besides a tireless work ethic and love for her family, but she was determined to build a life for herself and the people she loved. Alongside her husband and restaurant namesake Joe T., she started a small café with her own recipes and home cooked meals. Little did she know that this humble beginning would become the foundation of our family legacy and an iconic Fort Worth restaurant!
I am the great granddaughter of Mamasuez and Joe T. Garcia, so for me, Joe T’s is home. My siblings and I grew up in the restaurant, surrounded by their love and legacy. We were infected by my parents and grandparents’ love for food and a passion for hard work, and as I hostessed and waited tables, I learned confidence, self-worth, and a determination to never settle. It is because of Mamasuez that I believe women do not only deserve a seat at the table, we deserve the seat at the head of the table.
Over the years, we’ve watched Joe T.’s evolve and grow. Every generation has added its stamp to our restaurant, but Mamasuez’s legacy of love has never wavered– and we still gather for our traditional family dinner on Sunday nights!
While the original café building is still in use, we’ve slowly added multiple seating areas and a beautiful outdoor patio with hundreds of trees, bushes, and flowers. In a world that can sometimes feel gray and bleak, our oasis has become a welcome escape for our friends and guests.
Today, we offer Fort Worth the same amazing experience our family has been providing for almost a century – a family table where, in between bites, friends can share stories and laugh until their sides hurt, gather to celebrate life’s special moments, and enjoy some good company over a pitcher of margaritas. There’s so much that’s special here, and we hope you can see, feel, and taste the love here at Joe T. Garcia’s!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
After four generations, Joe T. Garcia’s is still an anomaly. We like to say that according to all the rules for restaurant success, we should be closed! With no dinner menu, no credit cards, and only two dishes to choose from, it might be hard to understand how our audacious family restaurant has lasted almost a century. But once you’ve experienced our family table, it all makes sense!.
This is more than a restaurant. It is an extension of our family legacy, our traditions, and our table. Mamasuez and Joe T.’s started this restaurant for their family, and today, Joe T. Garcia’s is led by us, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Over the years, we’ve gradually expanded the dining room and the fiesta gardens, making our home one of the most popular go-to experiences in Fort Worth. Still, we’ve never wavered from our commitment to simplicity, authenticity, and an unmatched experience. Our family’s same original recipes are the heart and soul of our menu, and our meals are made with love.
Joe T.’s is your place; the kind that visitors, celebrities, and generations of Fort Worth locals have been frequenting for almost 100 years.You come to Joe T.’s for the memories, not just a plate of food. Our tables and gardens are an opportunity to leave the chaos of life behind and be present with your loved ones.
Our little restaurant has come a long way since we first opened our doors. As this enchanting space has grown, so have our lines! We are honored that our community loves our legacy as much as we do, and what started as a tiny space with a handful of place settings has grown into a bustling eatery beloved by our community. Night after night, our tables are filled with hungry diners enjoying delicious Mexican food and margaritas. Even while we prepare your table, you don’t have to wait to start the party– We encourage you to start the fun and dive into a pitcher of margaritas while waiting!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2018, I experienced a life changing divorce and near-tragic stroke. The utter shock of it all almost overwhelmed me– but when I resurfaced, I had a revelation.
My life had started with purpose, a calling, and four generations of strong Fort Worth women behind me, but somewhere along the road of life, I had tabled my dreams. I handed away my power and gave my potential a backseat.
I can still remember my early years at Joe T’s: Waiting tables, hostessing, learning to work the cash register, and helping my family build something meaningful. And at the heart of every week, the formative Sunday night family dinners – a tradition of love, togetherness, and good food that carries on to this day.
Here at the restaurant, my mother and grandmother taught me confidence, determination, and self-worth in the face of a male dominated industry, while my dad taught me sacrifice and infected me with the determination to never settle.
In the face of devastating loss, that confidence and resilience resurfaced within me and I started rebuilding my future.
As I recovered my health, I committed to reclaiming my life. I took a new job, dreamed big, and started over. Today, I’m telling the world my family’s story and I’m committed to ensuring the powerful women of Fort Worth don’t have to wait another day to achieve their dreams.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey
Joe T’s is designed to focus on what’s important– you. Pause the grind and take time to savor the little things! Our family designed Joe T. Garcia’s to be your go-to escape, where you know what you can expect every time and understand that you will be cared for like family.
Whether serving a state senator, rock stars, or our local neighbors, we give our guests a break from what’s typical. We surround them with an experience that challenges the culinary status quo and celebrates our roots.
We’re cash only—life is simpler without the hassle of credit card machines; We don’t have menus (except during lunch)—Mamasuez never had them, so neither do we. Our staff knows the age-old, made-daily-from-scratch family recipes by heart. Choose from two of Mamasuez’s fresh, authentic recipes, just like we did at our family gatherings. And of course, our famous margaritas are always on call!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Joe T’s is designed to focus on what’s important– you. Pause the grind and take time to savor the little things! Our family designed Joe T. Garcia’s to be your go-to escape, where you know what you can expect every time and understand that you will be cared for like family.
Whether serving a state senator, rock stars, or our local neighbors, we give our guests a break from what’s typical. We surround them with an experience that challenges the culinary status quo and celebrates our roots.
We’re cash only—life is simpler without the hassle of credit card machines; We don’t have menus (except during lunch)—Mamasuez never had them, so neither do we. Our staff knows the age-old, made-daily-from-scratch family recipes by heart. Choose from two of Mamasuez’s fresh, authentic recipes, just like we did at our family gatherings. And of course, our famous margaritas are always on call!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joetgarcias.com
- Instagram: kellylancarte
- Linkedin: kellylancarte
Image Credits
Sydney Liska Photography