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    Tastemakers Time

    16 best new restaurants in Dallas compete for Tastemaker top title

    Teresa Gubbins
    Apr 4, 2017 | 6:19 pm
    Pie Tap
    Cast your vote for the best new restaurant in Dallas.
    Photo courtesy of Pie Tap

    Our 2017 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards honors the best in local food and drink. We've elected nominees in all categories of food and beverage, from best chefs to the best restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth.

    But the very very best category is Best New Restaurants, and here's why: You decide who wins.

    It begins with our Tastemaker tournament, powered by Whole Foods Market, where 16 new restaurants go head to head. You can vote daily for your favorite in our bracket-style elimination challenge. After four rounds, two finalists emerge. We'll announce the winner at our party on April 20.

    You'd best get voting, since the first bracket ends on April 7. Click here to vote.

    Here are the nominees:

    Dot's Hop House & Cocktail Courtyard
    Craft beer, cocktails, and eats in the heart of Deep Ellum with an expansive outdoor patio and beer garden. Atmosphere is a cross between casual and classy, with gravel flooring beneath a stunning glittering chandelier.

    Flora Street Cafe
    Chef Stephan Pyles' latest concept, Flora Street Cafe represents a surprising pivot away from fast-casual burger joints and into fine dining, filtered through Pyles' Southwestern POV. Flora Street also dabbles in molecular gastronomy, with amusing tricks such as the seafood carpaccio starter that emits dry-ice smoke when it comes to the table. Centrally located in the Arts District, this is special-occasion dining — it's expensive.

    Grayson Social
    Downtown Dallas restaurant and social club serves tall drinks and Southern food in an unusual space in the lobby of the historic LTV Towers. Menu highlights include white chocolate croissant bread pudding, chicken-fried quail and waffles, pulled chicken poutine, and mushroom-dusted baby trout. The design features white marble tabletops and natural wood floors.

    Independent Bar & Kitchen
    Deep Ellum restaurant-bar in the former Pepe's Ranch space comes from the team behind Club Dada, City Tavern, and Off the Record. Chef Andrew Dilda (Barter, Reata) is doing old-school European pub food such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and mussels with frites.

    Lounge Here
    Casual-chic bar-restaurant has rock star heritage in owners Julie Doyle, singer and manager of Polyphonic Spree, and Tony Barsotti, artist, musician, and furniture designer. The subtly Southern menu consists mostly of food you can eat while you drink some of their spectacular cocktails, with plenty of snacky options such as hummus and deviled eggs. The design, somewhere between Palm Springs and a '60s airport lobby, is stunning.

    Mirador
    Downtown Dallas restaurant located on the top floor of Forty Five Ten and across from The Joule hotel boasts 11-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around terrace overlooking Tony Tasset’s outdoor sculpture, Eye. Cuisine is American and executed by chef Josh Sutcliff, in collaboration with Junior Borges, executive chef of The Joule.

    Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar
    Pizzeria concept from Mooyah co-founder Rich Hicks has the makings of a chain, and there are already two branches, one on Henderson Avenue and one in the Design District. But don't worry about that: It serves excellent pizza, pasta, beer, and wine, in a brisk, cosmopolitan setting. Everything is available on-site or via delivery to your door — meaning you can get a complete meal with wine or beer included, even a six-pack if you like, a delivery option that's unique.

    Sixty Vines
    Pizza concept from the owners of Mexican Sugar and Whiskey Cake does pizzas such as margherita, squash blossom, and spicy sausage, in an expansive environment. Everything can be ordered to go including not only pizza but wine and beer. The commitment to wine is big with more than 40 wines on tap and 60 wines by-the-glass.

    Smoky Rose
    Smoky Rose is a smokehouse in East Dallas across from the Dallas Arboretum, with a chef-driven kitchen whose menu includes smoked meat and seasonal dishes. Location includes patio and garden, cocktails, wine, and local beer.

    Sprezza
    Restaurant in the Maple Avenue Dining District from chef Julian Barsotti (Nonna, Carbone's) has pizza by the slice, done al taglio style — baked in large rectangular trays with a thick, bready crust and topped with sauce and mozzarella. There are also house-made pastas and an Italian-centric beverage program, with an all-Italian wine list, Italian beers, and Italian-style cocktails.

    Stirr
    Deep Ellum bar-restaurant is from hospitality veterans Imran Sheikh and Asim Sheikh, who also own the Uptown bar Citizen. Menu features American classics infused with new age spices and flavors. Choices range from small plates to sophisticated entrées such as Texas quail with sage stuffing, green beans, and cranberry gastrique. Cocktails include Babe’s old fashioned with bacon fat-infused Rittenhouse Rye and chocolate liqueur.

    Town Hearth
    Chef Nick Badovinus brings over-the-top opulence to the Design District with this grand steakhouse. There are $75 steaks, whole roasted fish, and a raw bar featuring oysters and seafood cocktail. Decor is a mind-blower with 64 glowing chandeliers, a fish tank, a vintage 1950s yellow submarine, a Ducati motorcycle over the bar, and a 1961 silver MG parked just outside the door.

    Tortaco
    Concept from restaurateur Mike Karns (El Fenix, Meso Maya) combines tacos, tortas, and bowls with fillers and toppings like tamarind pork and diablo shrimp. The bar list is loaded with mezcal, crafted into cocktails like the one with orange peel, bitters, and simple syrup. Former Samar/San Salvaje space has been transformed into a gritty rock-and-roll bar with chains propped over the bar and a motorcycle parked inside.

    V-Eats Modern Vegan
    Eclectic vegan restaurant specializes in plant-based cuisine. It's located at Trinity Groves, the restaurant incubator complex in West Dallas. Executive chef Troy Gardner is joined by chef de cuisine John Mercer and sous chef Evita Tezeno in devising a menu with vegan versions of Salisbury steak, sushi, and more. Their clever use of cruelty-free ingredients creates the texture and flavors of meat with compassion.

    Water Grill
    Seafood restaurant is part of a California-based hospitality group called King's Seafood Company. It operates six restaurant concepts, including King's Fish House which has 11 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona; 555 East in Long Beach; Lou & Mickey's in San Diego; Pier Burger on the Santa Monica Pier; and Fish Camp in Huntington Beach.

    Whistle Britches
    It's chicken, biscuits, and beer here, along with fresh pies and custard. But before you think it's too casual, check out the modern vibe with the decor and try a surprisingly sophisticated cocktail from the drink menu.

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    Texas Tastemakers

    Best restaurants and chefs in Texas honored with 2025 Tastemaker Awards

    Amber Heckler
    May 13, 2025 | 1:40 pm
    the porch
    The Porch
    The Porch is back open, new and improved.

    CultureMap has finally completed its statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with the 2025 Tastemaker Awards.

    The series kicked off April 3 with our Houston Tastemaker Awards at Silver Street Studios, then we moved south to San Antonio on April 10 for our biggest party there yet, at the Briscoe Museum.

    We then headed to North Texas for our Fort Worth celebration at 4 Eleven on April 23, followed by our Dallas celebration at Astoria Event Venue on May 1.

    Last, but certainly not least, our Texas culinary tour finished strong with our Austin fête at Fair Market on May 8.

    The 2025 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' brilliant and diverse culinary landscape and honored those who've made the biggest impact in the past year. Our nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their flavorful bites and treats during each of the celebrations, and winners were revealed in an onstage ceremony.

    Guests dined on chef-created dishes and sipped on a variety of creative batched cocktails. But nothing could take away the focus from our acclaimed nominees and winners, who are the main reason we bring these celebrations to life year after year.

    Nominees were, as always, determined by a panel of local industry experts, including previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap staff. They voted on winners in categories such as Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, and more. The champion in the Best New Restaurant category was determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament.

    Our 2025 “wild card” category was a competition for Best Coffee Shop in each of our cities; the ones that keep us caffeinated and happy day after day.

    Readers in each city got to know all the nominees through a special editorial series for weeks leading up to the events.

    Now without further delay, let’s meet our 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Award winners all across Texas, listed by city:

    Dallas:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Mister Charles
    • Chef of the Year: Jeff Bekavac, Goodwins
    • Bar of the Year: Columbian Country Club
    • Best New Restaurant: Nikki Greek Bistro & Lounge
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Roman Murphy, Perch Bistro
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Ryan Stipp, Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Porch
    • Best Eatertainment: Chicken N Pickle
    • Best Coffee Shop: Merit Coffee

    Houston:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Baso
    • Chef of the Year: Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
    • Bar of the Year: Johnny’s Gold Brick
    • Best New Restaurant: Leo’s River Oaks
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Jacques Varon and Max Lappe, Baso
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Stephanie Velasquez, Ema/Papalo
    • Bartender of the Year: Aaron Lara, Kira
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
    • Best Pop-Up/Startup: Suu Khin, Burmalicious
    • Best Coffee Shop: Blacksmith

    San Antonio:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Ladino
    • Chef of the Year: John Russ, Clementine
    • Best New Restaurant: Freight Fried Chicken
    • Bar of the Year: Gimme Gimme
    • Brewery of the Year: Roadmap Brewing Co.
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cullum’s Attagirl
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Alessia Benavides, Chocolatl
    • Best Coffee Shop: Folklores Coffee House

    Fort Worth:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Teddy Wongs
    • Chef of the Year: Alessandro Salvatore, Bocca Osteria Romana
    • Bar of the Year: The Rabbit Hole Pub
    • Best New Restaurant: Whiskey Cake
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Steve Hoogeboom, 61 Osteria
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Lindsey Lawing, Sweet Lucy's Pies
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Bodega South Main
    • Best Barbecue: Panther City BBQ
    • Best Coffee Shop: Avoca Coffee Roasters

    Austin:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Este
    • Chef of the Year: Peter Klein, Holiday
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Heejae Galluccio, Birdie’s
    • Pastry Chef of the Year: Abby Love, Abby Jane Bakeshop
    • Bar of the Year: Equipment Room
    • Best New Restaurant: Tancho Sushi
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: The Little Darlin’
    • Brewery of the Year: St. Elmo Brewing Co.
    • Best Coffee Shop: Desnudo Coffee

    the porch
      
    The Porch

    The Porch is Dallas' Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year.

    The Dallas Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by The Yuengling Company, Brioche Gourmet, Still Austin Whiskey, Hornitos, Whataburger, Reyka Vodka, Silent Pool Gin, Saratoga Spring Water, Alive & Well Kombucha, and PicMe Events. A portion of the proceeds benefited our nonprofit partner, Harvest Project Food Rescue.

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