Awards News

Michelin Guide to name new batch of restaurants for Texas

Sushi from Tatsu

Tatsu

The Michelin Guide will reveal a new batch of restaurants for its Texas-centric guide on October 28. This will be the second round of restaurants for Texas, following the guide's Texas debut in 2024.

Since Michelin designations must be maintained annually, the ceremony will show both new entries to the guide and whether any restaurants have been either demoted or removed entirely. The 2024 guide had 100-plus entries, with 15 restaurants that earned a Michelin star.

Michelin supposedly employs anonymous inspectors to evaluate restaurants on criteria such as product quality, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, the personality of the chef, and consistency. Based on that, they may recognize restaurants with one of four designations:

Michelin stars, rated at one, two, or three for restaurants that offer exceptional experiences
Bib Gourmand, described as “restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices”
Green stars for “restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy
Recommended for good restaurants that don’t quite meet the level of either a star or Bib Gourmand

However, the Texas guide's credibility was not helped in its debut when it listed a Dallas restaurant incorrectly, getting both the name and address wrong. The first guide was also heavily weighted towards barbecue, with more than 25 barbecue restaurants making the list.

In DFW, more than two dozen restaurants earned a nod but only one won a star: Tatsu Dallas, an edomae-style restaurant from acclaimed chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi which opened in Deep Ellum in 2022. The rest of the Dallas restaurants earned Bib Gourmand awards or Recommended.

The big reveal will take place in Houston at a ceremony held at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, with an invitation-only list that includes media and restaurants due to receive recognition — giving nominated restaurants notice that they'll be receiving some kind of nod.

“Last year marked a milestone for the Texas restaurant industry, and we’re excited to continue celebrating the state’s exceptional culinary talent at this year’s ceremony,” says Michelin Guide international director Gwendal Poullennec in a statement. “Texas’ culinary scene boasts a rich heritage, defined by its diverse flavors, unique cuisines, and remarkable talent — qualities that make it distinctly Texan. It offers something for every kind of traveler, and we look forward to unveiling our Inspectors’ findings in the coming months.”
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Eric Sandler contributed to this story.

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Opening News

Dallas diner & music venue will open in former Ferris Wheeler space

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Pancakes

A new restaurant has been unveiled that will take over the former Ferris Wheeler space near Dallas' Design District at 1950 Market Center Blvd.: Called AM/FM, it'll be an all-day diner and lounge with a big backyard and a stage for live music, and it's from Spune Productions, the music and event production company.

According to a release, it'll open in early January initially with evening hours, cocktails, and a few afternoon soccer matches. Music acts are already booked beginning January 8. More hours will be added down the road.

Ferris Wheelers BBQ, which was also a restaurant with a big backyard and a stage for live music, closed in November after eight years. Spune had already been involved since 2023 to help ramp up the live music side. Now they'll take it over with a fresh new personality and long hours.

They were famous for having a Ferris wheel on-site; an inquiry on its status went unanswered.

The diner will open daily at 7 am, serving "musicians coming off late nights, workers heading into morning shifts, and neighbors who want a place that remembers their name," says the release very poetically.

They've redecorated the interior with a new bar and banquettes that wrap the room. Alongside the renovations inside, the set-up outdoors will evolve over the coming weeks, with extra care given to the concert experience,

Menu
The food at AM/FM will be rooted in elevated Diner classics, with a menu overseen by chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) that's influenced by Mexican-American kitchens and Nuevo Southern traditions.

Breakfast offerings include huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, breakfast empanadas, French toast, avocado toast, pork belly toast, and an intriguing twist on pancakes called masa pancakes, made using masa harina AKA corn flour.

Lunch includes a chicken Milanesa Caesar salad, Sonoran hot dog, fried catfish po'boy, kale salad, Cobb salad, and a Mexican twist on chicken noodle soup with fideo noodles.

Entree plates include pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, and a weekly pot pie.

The beverage program will aim for accessibility with coffee, cocktails, and craft beer, says Victor Rojas, Quinones-Pittman's partner at Oh, Hi! Hospitality.

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