Chef Point Colleyville Restaurant: From Gas Station Gourmet to Local Icon

The five-star restaurant that started in Watauga Conoco and became Colleyville's most talked-about dining destination.

Some of the best things in life happen by accident. For Franson Nwaeze, that accident happened in a dish pit in Tulsa, Oklahoma — and it changed everything.

Franson grew up in Nigeria, where the kitchen was considered off-limits for men. When he came to the United States, his plan was straightforward: study aviation, become a pilot, build a life. To pay for flight school, he took a job washing dishes. His classmates — fellow student pilots who eyed his silk shirts and gold jewelry — figured he'd last a week. They lost that bet. Because the moment Franson stepped inside a kitchen and watched the line cooks work, something clicked. The precision it took to balance a perfect sauce was the same precision it took to fly a plane. He was hooked, and he never looked back.

By 2003, Franson and his wife Paula were ready to build something of their own. Gas stations were everywhere — reliable, low-risk, a proven path to business ownership. So they bought a Conoco station in Watauga, Texas. But while every other gas station on the block was stocking beef jerky and hot dogs, Franson built a five-star scratch kitchen inside his. Duck à l'orange next to the lottery tickets. Lobster bisque near the fuel pumps. Escargot a few steps from the air machine. Their slogan became Texas folklore: "Come for food and leave with gas."

The Restaurant That Stopped Traffic — Literally

Word spread fast. Within four months of opening, Chef Point had become an open secret across the Metroplex. Guests were driving in from Southlake, Keller, Grapevine, Bedford, Hurst, and Fort Worth just to see if the rumors were true — and leaving as regulars. The layout had to be redesigned to fit more diners. Then redesigned again. Eventually, the gas pumps disappeared entirely. The restaurant had outgrown them.

The national media took notice. The New York Times called it the "escargot gas station" and the "calamari Conoco." CNN, CNBC, and NPR all covered the story. Then came Food Network.

Guy Fieri brought his crew to Watauga for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2011. He ordered the duck bread pudding and the stuffed pork chop — and called the experience unforgettable. He wasn't wrong. In 2025 he came back for a second feature, this time digging into the Better Than Sex Fried Chicken and the oxtails, making Chef Point one of the rare restaurants in the show's history to earn a return visit. And Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives isn't the only Food Network appearance on the books — Chef Point was also featured on Guilty Pleasures for its legendary Bloody Mary, a from-scratch creation that has become one of the most talked-about drinks in the DFW brunch scene.

The 2005 Fort Worth Mayor's Award and multiple TasteFest honors followed. But the greatest validation has always been simpler than any award: the regulars who have been coming back, week after week, for over two decades.

The Colleyville Era

In September 2019, after nearly two decades in Watauga, Chef Point opened its flagship location in Colleyville at 5220 Highway 121 — a setting finally worthy of the food. The Watauga location closed in January 2023 after 20 years of serving that community. Today, Chef Point operates exclusively from Colleyville, and guests make the drive from Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving, Euless, Watauga, Coppell, and across the entire DFW Metroplex to eat here.

The same values that Franson's mother instilled in him — hard work, faith, treating every person who walks through the door like they matter — are still the foundation. This isn't a corporate restaurant following a playbook. It's a family business, and you feel that the moment you sit down.

The Food

Chef Point's menu is the kind that makes first-time guests do a double take. This is not what people expect when they pull off Highway 121 — and that surprise has never gotten old.

The lobster bisque is rich, deeply flavored, and finished with the kind of care you'd expect from a white-tablecloth kitchen in a major city. The duck à l'orange is classic French technique executed with confidence. The escargot — the dish that made the New York Times stop and pay attention — is still on the menu, still extraordinary. The Italian Nachos have become a signature that regulars order every single visit, layered and bold in a way that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner. And the Better Than Sex Fried Chicken lives up to every bit of its name — juicy, perfectly seasoned, the kind of dish that ends arguments about where to go for dinner.

Save room for the bread pudding with cognac sauce. It has been ending meals at Chef Point since the beginning, and there's a reason it's the dessert people mention by name when they tell their friends about this place.

Every dish is made from scratch. No shortcuts, no compromises — the same standard that earned national recognition out of a gas station is the standard in the Colleyville kitchen today.

Ready to experience it for yourself? Reserve your table here.

Brunch at Chef Point — Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM to 3 PM

If you haven't had brunch at Chef Point, you're missing one of the best-kept secrets in DFW. Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM, the kitchen turns out a scratch brunch menu that takes everything you expect from a weekend brunch and elevates it into something genuinely special.

The French toast bread pudding is the kind of dish that makes the table go quiet. The blackened salmon and grits are rich, perfectly spiced, and deeply satisfying in the way only a scratch kitchen can pull off. The fried green tomatoes are crispy, bright, and a reminder that Southern ingredients in the right hands become something extraordinary. And the Bloody Mary — the one that caught the attention of Food Network's Guilty Pleasures — is a from-scratch creation that has become legendary in its own right. It's bold, balanced, and built the same way everything here is built: with no shortcuts and no apologies.

This is brunch elevated. Come hungry.

View the Brunch Menu | Reserve a Brunch Table

Perfect for Every Occasion

Chef Point has become the go-to dining destination across the northern DFW Metroplex for a reason. Whether you're planning a date night, celebrating a birthday, or just want a remarkable Tuesday lunch, the atmosphere here elevates the experience. Reservations are recommended for weekends and special occasions.

For larger gatherings, Chef Point's private dining rooms accommodate groups of 10 to 60 guests — ideal for corporate dinners, holiday parties, anniversary celebrations, wedding rehearsals, and milestone events of any kind.

Chef Point also hosts Jazz Monsters, a live big band dinner experience featuring a 20-piece jazz ensemble one Sunday per month — one of the most popular and unique dining events in the DFW area. And every year, Easter Sunday at Chef Point has become a Metroplex tradition, with families returning year after year for the special holiday menu.

Catering — From Backyard Gatherings to Major Events

Chef Point's catering brings the full five-star scratch kitchen experience to your location — and Chef Franson's background gives the program a range that few caterers in the DFW area can match.

For general events, Chef Point handles everything from intimate private dinners to large corporate gatherings, holiday parties, wedding receptions, and banquets. The Better Than Sex Fried Chicken and bread pudding travel exceptionally well, and guests at catered events never let you forget it.

Chef Franson also specializes in authentic African cuisine catering, drawing on his Nigerian roots to create menus for weddings, cultural celebrations, conventions, and community banquets. If you're planning an African wedding or cultural event in the DFW area and want food that honors the tradition with the same commitment to quality that built Chef Point's reputation, this is the team to call.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chef Point known for? Chef Point in Colleyville is known for being a five-star scratch kitchen with one of the most remarkable origin stories in American dining — starting as a gourmet restaurant inside a Watauga gas station before becoming a Colleyville landmark. The restaurant is especially known for its Better Than Sex Fried Chicken, lobster bisque, escargot, duck à l'orange, bread pudding with cognac sauce, and its legendary from-scratch Bloody Mary.

Did Guy Fieri visit Chef Point? Yes — twice. Guy Fieri featured Chef Point on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2011, ordering the duck bread pudding and stuffed pork chop. He returned in 2025 for a second feature, this time trying the Better Than Sex Fried Chicken and oxtails, making Chef Point one of the rare restaurants to earn two visits from the show. Chef Point was also featured on Food Network's Guilty Pleasures for its famous Bloody Mary.

Is Chef Point worth it? Consistently, yes — and the reviews back it up. Chef Point delivers a fine dining experience at a level that surprises first-time guests and keeps regulars coming back for decades. The scratch kitchen, the story behind the restaurant, and the quality of every dish make it one of the most distinctive dining experiences in the DFW area.

What should I order at Chef Point Colleyville? First-timers should try the lobster bisque, the Better Than Sex Fried Chicken, and the Italian Nachos. If duck à l'orange or escargot are on the menu, order them. For brunch, don't miss the French toast bread pudding, blackened salmon and grits, and the Bloody Mary. And no matter what — finish with the bread pudding and cognac sauce.

Does Chef Point serve brunch? Yes. Chef Point serves brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. The scratch brunch menu includes dishes like French toast bread pudding, blackened salmon and grits, fried green tomatoes, and the famous from-scratch Bloody Mary featured on Food Network's Guilty Pleasures.

Where is Chef Point located? Chef Point Bar & Restaurant is located at 5220 Highway 121 in Colleyville, TX, just minutes from DFW Airport. The restaurant is easily accessible from Southlake, Keller, Grapevine, Euless, Bedford, Hurst, Watauga, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Irving, and Coppell.

Does Chef Point have private dining? Yes. Chef Point offers private dining rooms for groups of 10 to 60 guests, ideal for corporate events, rehearsal dinners, birthday celebrations, and holiday parties.

Does Chef Point offer catering? Yes. Chef Point caters events of all sizes, from private dinners to large corporate gatherings and weddings. Chef Franson also specializes in authentic African cuisine catering for cultural weddings, banquets, and conventions across the DFW area.

What events does Chef Point host? Chef Point hosts Jazz Monsters, a monthly live big band dinner experience featuring a 20-piece jazz ensemble, as well as annual holiday dining events including Easter Sunday service and other seasonal celebrations.

Come Taste the Legend

The pilots who bet against Franson in that Tulsa dish pit are probably still flying planes. Franson Nwaeze built a culinary landmark — first in a gas station, now in the heart of Colleyville — and in doing so created something rare: a restaurant where the story is as unforgettable as the food.

Come see what all the fuss is about.

📍 5220 Highway 121, Colleyville, TX 📞 (817) 826-9664

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Looking for the best restaurant in Colleyville? Whether you're a longtime local or new to the area, Chef Point offers an unforgettable dining experience rooted in an extraordinary story. Come taste the legend.