Emilee Prado
In the early 1990s, Roanoke didn’t offer much in terms of dining options. Locals had their choice of Dairy Queen and Babe’s Chicken Dinner House. Home to fewer than 2,000 people at the time, the sleepy suburb hadn’t yet earned its title as the “Unique Dining Capital of Texas.” Back then, if you wanted to dine in a white-tablecloth-worthy restaurant, you could drive to Grapevine or venture into Fort Worth or Dallas.
That changed in 1993 when brothers Chris and Curtis Wells opened the doors of The Classic Café. They chose a charming blue cottage on North Oak Street that had previously been a casual establishment known for its inspired Mexican and barbecue dishes.
“Chris and I spent months doing renovations ourselves,” Curtis says. “We did everything but lay the carpet. Our family helped paint and spruce things up.”
Why a quiet street in small-town Roanoke instead of the hustle and bustle of Fort Worth or Dallas? The answer is simple — the brothers wanted to provide a world-class dining experience and build a community around great food right in their backyard.
“We wanted to offer what we coined as ‘casual fine dining,’” Curtis says.
Chris’ experience as a commercial real estate appraiser told him what he needed to know about Roanoke — that it was a high-growth area with huge potential. His early instincts back then proved to be spot on. Today, Roanoke is among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, with its population surging more than 200% since 2000.
Curtis’ experience as a restaurant manager at the Four Seasons Resort and Club inspired him to open a restaurant with his brother. Food was always a focus in their family, and they still gather every Sunday for a meal together.
“Our mother, especially, was a huge force in our lives,” he says. “One of our favorite meals she made was roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. It was on the menu the day we opened.”
With hospitality being such a longstanding part of their heritage, going into the restaurant business together made perfect sense. This year, The Classic Café is celebrating 30 years in business — a long time in the life of any restaurant.
High-End Meals Close To Home
The Classic Café is known for its sophisticated yet approachable dishes packed with flavor and heart. A seasonally rotating menu delivers a different experience with the same hospitality time after time.
Curtis and Chris provide the general direction, then let the culinary team work their magic. They need only meander through the restaurant’s lush on-site garden to take their pick from a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. The garden’s bounty of fresh okra, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs fuel beautifully composed dishes such as gazpacho and shrimp and okra fritter.
The Classic Café’s wine list has garnered the restaurant national acclaim, including an Award of Excellence from “Wine Spectator” magazine.
“We put a lot of thought and effort into our wine selections,” Curtis says. “We like to look for boutique wines and pull from different regions. We have some wonderful wines from California and Oregon, and some amazing French, Spanish and Italian wines.”
An Exceptional Experience Every Time
Chris and Curtis attend to every detail ensuring every guest has the best possible experience. The service staff completes an extensive training program that the brothers have spent the last 30 years perfecting.
“It’s a lengthy process, and they don’t go out on their own until they’re ready,” Curtis says.
They also live by a specific rule of thumb — they haven’t done their jobs if a guest leaves unsatisfied.
“Even if we make a mistake, it’s all in how we handle it,” he says.
Like all restaurants, The Classic Café was forced to adjust during the pandemic. Curtis says they had previously dabbled in takeout, but only because guests asked. Now, delivery and curbside are regular offerings. The culinary team learned to package proteins in separate vessels so everything maintains its own flavor. Guests can order delivery from all major platforms, including GrubHub and DoorDash.
“We quickly restructured and learned how to offer to-go dishes well,” Curtis says. “The quality of our food didn’t change. Guests learned they could enjoy fine dining at home and not have to cook it.”
Delicious Dishes And Memorable Moments
The Classic Café has long been the perfect place for date nights, birthdays, engagements and family-friendly fêtes of all sorts. The restaurant is also an art gallery, where their aunt, the award-winning artist Carolyn Riegelman, shares her artwork for enjoyment and for sale.
“She has been the only artist on the walls of The Classic Café since 1993,” Chris says.
When it comes to celebrations, many family milestones have been commemorated at The Classic Café. Chris and Curtis’ parents celebrated their 40th and 50th anniversary at the restaurant, and Chris’ daughter got married in the garden.
Many of the guests who come in have a similar relationship with the restaurant. Chris recalls when one couple recently told him they had their first date at The Classic Café, then their engagement dinner, followed by their first-anniversary dinner and every anniversary dinner after that.
“That was an awesome thing for me to wrap my head around,” he says. “This is a special place not just for our extended family, but the whole community.”
Now that Chris and Curtis’ own children are grown and raising their own families, the brothers have more time to focus on the restaurant.
“What’s most fulfilling for me is the customer interaction and the employee growth,” Chris says. “It’s all about the people inside the restaurant, from guests to staff. They’re all family to us.”
Serving Up Support
The Classic Café has been community-driven since the very beginning, working with organizations including Metroport Meals on Wheels, GRACE and Community Storehouse. The restaurant also participates in the annual DFW Restaurant Week, which helps support area nonprofits Lena Pope and the North Texas Food Bank.
“Our parents taught us that community is what you make it,” Chris says. “We enjoy what we’re doing in this community, and we’re proud to call it home.”
Three Decades Of Dining Excellence
No matter what your palate craves or what occasion you’re celebrating, The Classic Café is sure to delight, just as it has for the past 30 years.
“Our goals today are the same as they were in the beginning — provide world-class food, a casual atmosphere and a family-friendly environment,” Curtis says. “We’re grateful that the community has repaid us with loyal support, trust and love for three decades.”
Not many restaurants make it to the milestone of 30 years. But once you visit, you’ll understand why The Classic Café has become a beloved neighborhood gem. It’s not just a place to enjoy food and celebrate life — the restaurant itself is a love letter to the community.