Texas Tastemakers

These are the best restaurants and bars in Texas for 2017

Each year, we hold a Texas-sized celebration of two of the things we love most: food and drink. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards honors the top restaurant and bar talent in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

The program started in Austin in 2012 and has expanded to include every city we cover. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on the people making the restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity. Here's how it works. First, we collaborated with industry experts to determine a list of nominees in each city. Our local panels then selected winners in every category, except Best New Restaurant, which was determined by you, our savvy readers.

The winners were revealed at our swanky tasting events and awards ceremonies, held April 18-20 in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. (See highlights from the Dallas party here.)

Meet the winners below, and join us in toasting the best of Texas dining right now.

Austin

Restaurant of the Year: Emmer & Rye
Chef of the Year: Todd Duplechan, Lenoir
Rising Star Chef of the Year: James Dumapit and David Baek, Old Thousand
Pastry Chef of the Year: Abby Love, Dai Due
Bar of the Year: King Bee Lounge
Bartender of the Year: Josh Loving, Small Victory
Brewery of the Year: Hops & Grain
Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: June's All Day
Best Burger: Contigo
Best New Restaurant: Sophia's

Dallas

Restaurant of the Year: Lucia
Chef of the Year: Julian Barsotti, Nonna, Carbone's, Sprezza
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Josh Sutcliff, Mirador
Pastry Chef of the Year: Sarah Green, The Joule
Bar of the Year: Armoury D.E.
Bartender of the Year: Charlie Papaceno, Industry Alley Bar
Wine Program of the Year: Gemma
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Bbbop Seoul Kitchen
Best Fried Chicken: The Slow Bone
Best New Restaurant: Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar

Fort Worth

Restaurant of the Year: Tokyo Cafe
Chef of the Year: Jesus Garcia, Oni Ramen
Best New Restaurant: Tortaco

Houston

Restaurant of the Year: Coltivare Pizza & Garden
Chef of the Year: Ryan Pera, Coltivare Pizza & Garden
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Martha de Leon, Pax Americana
Pastry Chef of the Year: Victoria Dearmond, One Fifth/Underbelly
Bar of the Year: Eight Row Flint
Bartender of the Year: Leslie Ross Krockenberger, Reserve 101
Wine Program of the Year: Pappas Bros Steakhouse
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: State of Grace
Favorite Taco: Tacos Tierra Caliente
Best New Restaurant: State Fare

San Antonio

Restaurant of the Year: The Bin Tapas Bar
Chef of the Year: Stefan Bowers, Feast
Best New Restaurant: Sangria on the Burg

Ryan Pera, Houston Chef of the Year.

Coltivare/Facebook

Ryan Pera, Houston Chef of the Year.

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LOADS OF FUN

Chicks member Emily Strayer opens laundromat coffee cafe in Texas

Photo courtesy of\u00a0SOAP Laundry Lounge

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The Chicks' Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Emily Strayer is opening an unusual coffee bar concept: Called SOAP Laundry Lounge, it'll be a swanky laundromat and coffee bar opening in San Antonio.

According to a release, it'll open on December 4.

Strayer grew up in Dallas. She and her husband, musician Martin Strayer, are often on the road, but they purchased the building as a long-term investment in their adopted hometown. She envisioned the spot as both a neighborhood amenity and a community hub.

“SOAP was born from the idea that everyday tasks can be enjoyable,” Emily says in a statement. “I wanted to create a space that’s not just functional but inspiring, a place that brings people together and helps elevate how we live, even in the simplest moments, like laundry.”

The laundromat portion of the 5,500-square-foot building will feature 64 slow water, energy-saving machines — 28 washers and 36 dryers — outfitted with the Aquawing Ozone Laundry System, a hospital-grade sanitization technology that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to self-service, SOAP offers a wash-and-fold option starting at $4 per wash. The laundromat uses a card-based payment system, which allows customers to load funds via cash, card, or EBT. The cards can be used throughout the concept, including the coffee bar.

The menu includes espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and pastries alongside a few seasonal favorites like a Mexican mocha and a peppermint cold brew. With the complimentary WiFi, the concept almost functions like a coworking space.

Dallas is no stranger to laundromat-combination businesses: In the 90s, it was home to a beloved lounge in Exposition Park called Bar of Soap, which was a combination laundromat and punk rock bar, hosting both local and national name-brand touring bands.

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