Each spring, CultureMap tours Texas with our annual Tastemaker Awards, celebrating the top restaurant and bar talent in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. These events have become some of the most popular food affairs of the season, with almost 3,000 folks across Texas joining us in 2019.
This year, the party started in Houston on March 27, stopped in Austin on April 10, and wrapped with a Dallas finale on April 25. At each party, we noshed on savory and sweet bites from top restaurants and chefs, sipped specialty drinks, and mingled with local culinary talent. And, most importantly, we celebrated all of the nominees and toasted the winners during our coveted awards ceremony.
So, how did we determine the best of the best? CultureMap editors collaborated with expert panels, including previous Tastemaker winners, to select the nominees in each city. The panels then selected winners in every category, except Best New Restaurant, which was determined by our readers in a heated bracket-style tournament.
The result is this list of the best of Texas dining for 2019. Savor it, and join us in raising a glass to all of the winners.
- Restaurant of the Year: Olamaie
- Chef of the Year: Michael Fojtasek, Olamaie
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Amanda Turner, Juniper
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
- Best New Restaurant: Discada
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Laura Sawicki, Launderette
- Bar of the Year: The Roosevelt Room
- Bartender of the Year: Caer Ferguson, The Roosevelt Room
- Brewery of the Year: Vista Brewing
- Wine Program of the Year: June's All Day
- Favorite Taco: Vaquero Taco
- Restaurant of the Year: Bullion
- Chef of the Year: Misti Norris, Petra & the Beast
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eric Freidline, Sevy's
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Mot Hai Ba
- Best New Restaurant: Taco Y Vino
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Andrea Meyer, Bisous Bisous
- Bar of the Year: Shoals
- Bartender of the Year: Chris Unruh, Tiny Victories
- Wine Program of the Year: Al Biernat's
- Best Pizza: Zoli's
- Restaurant of the Year: Clay Pigeon
- Chef of the Year: Juan Rodriguez, Magdalena's
- Best New Restaurant: Four Sisters
- Bar of the Year: Twilite Lounge
- Restaurant of the Year: Nancy's Hustle
- Chef of the Year: Manabu Horiuchi, Kata Robata
- Rising Star Chef of the Year: Ian Levy, Better Luck Tomorrow
- Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Giacomo’s cibo e vino
- Best New Restaurant: Blood Bros. BBQ
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Ruben Ortega, H-Town Restaurant Group
- Bar of the Year: Anvil Bar & Refuge
- Bartender of the Year: Sarah Troxell, Nobie’s
- Brewery of the Year: Saint Arnold Brewing Company
- Wine Program of the Year: Coltivare
- Favorite Burger: Bernie’s Burger Bus
- Restaurant of the Year: The Cookhouse
- Chef of the Year: Diego Galicia & Rico Torres, Mixtli
- Best New Restaurant: The Jerk Shack
- Bar of the Year: The Modernist
- Favorite Taco: Carnitas Lonja, Carnitas
Olamaie, Austin Restaurant of the Year.
