I have an upcoming overnight at DFW for an early morning flight the following day. I'm splurging so I will be staying at the Grand Hyatt. I get in early enough to DFW that I thought I should venture off airport for dinner.

I was thinking that finding an interesting place to eat somewhere long the Orange line could be fun. Obviously BBQ comes to mind but I'll eat just about anything that is tasty .

Thanks in advance for suggestions!

As a regular rider of the Orange Line I can assure you there are no good dining options until you get downtown in about 50 minutes You could change to Green Line and find something up north, but that would be an even bigger pain.

Terminal A, OTOH, has some very nice dining options @:-)

Unless you arrive on int'l flight of course.

How long a ride would you consider?

Many of the Orange Line stations don't have too much around them. And many BBQ places may be open only at lunchtime.

If you ride as far as the southwestern medical district/parkland station, there are some good hole-in-the-wall places within a half mile or so: Maple & Motor for burgers, Avila's for Mexican.

My usual recommendation for BBQ near the airport is Hard Eight, but there's no public transit, and even though it's a 5 minute drive from the airport, a cab there has a $22 minimum airport fare.

A better bet might be the Grapevine shuttle. Picks up right at the Hyatt, runs till 10/11pm, $5 for a day pass. Ride it to Historic Downtown Grapevine, and there are lots of choices there.
http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/shu...es-and-routes/
http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/sho...dine/downtown/

Personally I would not consider either of these hole-in-the-wall place, but we probably have different definitions.

It's a 42 minute ride to Parkland station, and 10 minute walk to M & M, and almost another 10 minutes to Avila's. And I walk faster than most people.

Thanks for the information about the orange line. My flight gets in around 4pm but I really don't want to spend nearly two hours on transit. My other idea was Pappadeaux's. I've walked by it so many times but my connection times never allowed me to try it.

As I'm coming from Tucson I don't feel the need for Mexican food...

The Grapevine shuttle may be an interesting option.

I'm sure this might be too late for the OP, but just for others - This area is a little sketchy to say the least. Many homeless & vagrants on the streets in the area around the hospitals. I don't want to sound heartless, but I don't walk in those neighborhoods. (I have family who work there.)

Well, most people don't walk around there because they just drive.

Yes, there's a Salvation Army shelter right across the street from UT Southwestern, but I've been walking to work for over five years, and walking back, sometimes after seven in the evening.

But to address OP, there is no good way to get to any of the places in the area from Orange line anyway.

Downtown Fort Worth is revitalized and walking friendly and a good choice on a nice night. Used to be a shuttle from the airport to several downtown hotels and back when I commuted in before moving here, but I have not tried to ride it in years. Suppose it still exists.

There is public transit, but not that frequent and would involve transfer between buses and train. Not an especially challenging drive down 121 if you can find a navigator.

Pappadeauxs. I actually get my driver to drop me off at Terminal A now and then I take the Skylink over to wherever I am departing from.

That works as long as you have carry-on only or are flying AA.

I, too, have been using the low A gates security when flying anywhere out of A, and sometimes C or E during peak times -- especially with all the TRIP construction impacts.

Probably too late for the OP, but in case others are interested:

I had a nice meal at that Pappadeaux in Terminal A a couple of weeks ago. Pricier than their restaurants off airport, and a more limited menu selection, but it is still probably your best choice. It is airside though, which may be a factor for some, and a benefit for others.

I agree that there is nothing on the Orange Line until you get to downtown. And the trip is right at an hour once the train starts moving. Not sure I would do that. But if someone decides to try it, consider going to the West End station where you can find several nicer restaurants.

I would not recommend anyone walk anywhere at night from the Parkland Station. The other posters are correct that the neighborhood is a little sketchy over there -- ok to drive through and park at a destination, which I do all the time but it is not anyplace a stranger would want to wander through on foot.