In recent years, Frisco has welcomed a multitude of new businesses, developments, residents, experiences and restaurants. It has continued the unprecedented growth that’s allowed it to truly become a destination city. From multiple professional sports teams to some of the top developments in the metroplex, Frisco’s name has been on the map as city leaders have expertly guided its growth and development while still holding tight to its small-town feel. Change is necessary for growth and sometimes something that can’t be avoided as businesses grow, adapt and overcome challenges. Changes and challenges are exactly why Frisco recently welcomed a Dallas staple, III Forks Prime Steakhouse, with open arms and excitement. Admittedly, my husband Zach and I don’t eat out at “fine dining” establishments too often. But imagine my surprise when he suggested we check out III Forks at its new Frisco location one date night as we were contemplating where to go!
III Forks spent 23 years at 17776 North Dallas Parkway and adapted incredibly quickly to change as it has taken over space in Frisco, formerly occupied by Silver Fox after the company and the landlord couldn’t come up with a mutually acceptable plan to go forward regarding the building’s lease. Both restaurant chains are owned by Dallas-based Consolidated Restaurant Operations. The new III Forks location is at 1303 Legacy Drive at the 121 and Legacy interchange on the southwest corner of Frisco.
We arrived on a cool Saturday evening to a bustling valet line and headed inside through the main entrance on the south side of the building. Upon entering III Forks, diners are immediately enveloped to an upscale, modern yet classic, romantically sophisticated atmosphere that invites guests to indulge. As patrons enter, they walk straight into the host stand that lies in front of the restaurant’s glass-enclosed wine cellar, and to the right is a gorgeous and open half-moon shaped bar area with booth seating around the perimeter and tables throughout. The wall behind the bar is essentially a grandiose display of all the bar has to offer and adds to the luxurious feel of the space. The mahogany finishes and marble floors throughout the restaurant only add to the ambiance and experience that exuded old-world class with modern touches.
Given that we did go on a Saturday night, we made sure to reserve a table and were seated promptly in the restaurant’s Legend’s Room, which is adjacent to the Golf Room – two rooms that can be made into one large dining area for large groups or parties. While I didn’t get a chance to peek into the Golf Room, the Legend’s Room’s walls were solid gallery walls of tons of black and white pictures of celebrities and legends, which we loved looking at. Upon moving to the new location, a subtly dropped ceiling of thin planks of vertical and horizontal wood was installed with large black modern dome lights. These elements in the room really added a modern touch to the old-world feel of the room.
Having settled in at our romantic table in the Legend’s Room, we were greeted by our server and given menus but also had the opportunity to peruse an online menu through a QR code on the table. As we read through the wine and cocktail menus, our server suggested the ‘Perfect Patrón Margarita’ that features Patrón Silver Tequila, Tito’s handmade martini which features Tito’s vodka, hand-pressed olive juice and a bacon and blue cheese stuffed olive, and the ‘Blackberry Smash’ that boasts Jameson black barrel whisky, lime juice, blackberry puree and Topo Chico. The wine and cocktail menu also features a wide variety of red, white and rosé wines by the glass as well as wines to be purchased by the bottle. Now, I’m not one to pass up a margarita, let alone a “perfect” one, so I went with the Perfect Patrón Margarita, which is comprised of Patrón Silver Tequila, Patrón Citrónge Liqueur, fresh sweet and sour and orange juice. Zach, ever the Texas boy, started with Tito’s vodka and Sprite.
III Forks’ appetizers, or Beginnings, are all classic steakhouse starters and each is as popular as the next, according to our server. Beginnings at III Forks include shrimp cocktail, crab cake, spinach dip, wedge salad, III Forks salad (a fan favorite) and a Caesar salad. As we were already filling up on fresh warm bread and butter, we opted to split a classic Caesar salad and were not disappointed. The salad came out split between two plates, which was a nice touch, and it hit the spot with crisp romaine greens, light yet crunchy, buttery croutons, shredded parmesan and a tangy Caesar dressing, seasoned and dressed well.
Having made a fantastic start with stellar menu options and choices, our server once again guided us through the main course menu that offers many options: local favorites, steaks, steakhouse burgers and sides. Steaks range from their filet mignon, a prime bone-in ribeye, a prime New York strip, a prime 42-day dry-age New York strip, to a Durham Ranch Wagyu Tomahawk ribeye among other enticing choices. III Forks’ steaks are served with whipped potatoes, sugar snap peas, off-the-cob cream corn and a dish of ripe tomatoes and spring onions. The steakhouse burgers looked equally as appetizing as the ‘Truffled Mushroom Burger’ and the ‘Bacon Gouda Melt’ sparked our interest, too! In addition to steaks and burgers, III Forks offers local favorites that include a variety of seafood including Atlantic salmon, fish of the day, cold water lobster tail, as well as a prime double-cut pork chop, a chicken fried filet mignon and a charred cauliflower steak.
Ultimately, Zach chose the 16-ounce New York strip which was cooked perfectly and looked amazing. He reported that his steak was tender and had an incredible sear on each side, which he loves. Ever the meat and potatoes kind of guy he is, he enjoyed that it was served with the whipped potatoes and sides as they were the perfect complement to the main dishes. They were velvety, creamy and a wonderful addition to his main course!
I chose the six-ounce filet mignon and my steak, too, was perfectly cooked to a medium-well temperature, as I had ordered it. I’m usually very much a meat and potatoes kind of girl as well, but the cream corn was the star of the sides for me. It was incredibly rich and so well-seasoned that I found myself eating more of it than anything else on my plate! The entire dish was a wonderfully cohesive mix of textures, seasonings and variety. III Forks has an abundance of sides to order to accompany your main dish that includes lobster macaroni and cheese, fried Brussel sprouts, fresh asparagus and more.
As we finished up dinner, our server buzzed back by to check-in and to see if we wanted to hear about any dessert options and of course we did! She let us know that they had a decadent six-layer chocolate cake, bread pudding, crème brûlée, as well as a couple of other options, but I didn’t need to hear anything past six-layer chocolate! After our table was cleared, our server returned with a majestic slice of pure chocolate magnificence. The cake featured six layers of chocolate cake each separated by a chocolate ganache, which only added to the richness of the dish. It was topped with chocolate shavings and the outside of the cake was coated with crunchy toasted coconut that added a perfect little bit of crunch. We barely put a dent in the piece we were served, but it was definitely a wonderfully sweet and equally indulgent way to end the meal.
Regardless of a quick and unexpected move, III Forks is still the absolute embodiment of a great American steakhouse as it’s intimate, classic, inviting and upscale atmosphere invites patrons to enjoy some of its most delectable dishes and drinks. Whether visiting for a drink at the bar, an intimate special occasion, a large gathering or a corporate event, III Forks leaves no detail untouched and it’s easy to see the staff is excited and ready to serve. They’ve proven that no matter their geographic location, they remain true to both who and what they are and who they’ve been for 23 years serving the metroplex. Welcome to Frisco, III Forks! We’re sure glad you’re here!
