The countdown is on for CultureMap Dallas' 2024 Tastemaker Awards, our annual awards event honoring the best in Dallas food and drink.

Restaurant industry stars have been nominated for awards in 10 categories, spotlighted in a special editorial series. We've already celebrated candidates for Rising Star Chef, Pastry Chef, Neighborhood Restaurant, Patios, Bars, and Bartender of the Year, as voted by our panel of esteemed judges.

But Best New Restaurants is different from the rest. It's the only category where the winner gets decided not by judges but instead by readers, in a bracket-style tournament where nominees go head to head.

Voting is open now at this link. People may vote once per round, through four rounds of competition, with the schedule as follows:

• Round 1: April 22 - April 26
• Round 2: April 27 - May 1
• Semi-finals: May 2 - May 6
• Finals: May 7 - May 11

One winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 16 at the Fashion Industry Gallery, where we'll toast the nominees while indulging in bites and sips. Tickets are on sale now.

These are the 16 nominees for Best New Restaurant in Dallas:

Black Agave. Mexican restaurant at Mercer Boardwalk in Farmers Branch serves upscale Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican such as ahi tuna tostadas, plus cocktails with a dedicated tequila and mezcal program.

Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar. Chic Knox Street seafood spot from brothers Nik and Greg Katz (Beverley's, Clifton Club) is open lunch, brunch, and dinner with oysters, lobster roll, clam chowder, and crafty cocktails.

Joey. Fancy mall restaurant at NorthPark Center with sushi, salads, burgers, and steaks is part of a Canadian chain with 30 locations across Canada, Seattle, California, and Texas.

Komodo Dallas. Second location of Groot Hospitality’s renowned Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant in Miami is both a dining and nightlife destination, serving sushi, tacos, and cute cocktails, along with an intimate lounge.

Lyla. Gorgeous Italian restaurant with a coastal theme serves pasta, pizza, chicken, and steak, plus weekend brunch, with primo seating on the stunning patio facing McKinney Avenue.

Maison Chinoise. Chinese fusion restaurant with dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, etc., is from restaurateur Alberto Lombardi (Taverna, Bistro 31), featuring his prototypical glossy interior plus an adjoining speakeasy.

Mayor's House By Selda. Mom-and-pop Turkish restaurant in Oak Cliff occupies a historic home, where it's serving amazingly authentic and affordable kebabs, veggie dishes, flatbreads, and pistachio desserts.

McRae's American Bistro. Casual bistro from restaurateur Mike McRae (Table 13, Stan's Blue Note) is a godsend for East Dallas with craft cocktails and an eclectic menu: deviled eggs, lemon caper chicken, and a buzzy new brunch.

Nando's Peri Peri. Famed South African chain known for its flame-grilled chicken marinated in a distinctive Portuguese-inspired peri-peri chile sauce with lemon and garlic opened its first DFW location in Addison.

Pearl Sushi. Sushi and sashimi restaurant in the Knox Street District is from former Nobu chef Shine Tamaoki, whose spin on Japanese traditions includes steak, oysters, and "Japanese" fish & chips.

Sanjh. Upscale Indian restaurant in Las Colinas features a menu from international chef Balpreet Singh Chadha with Dehli street foods, veggie items, and shareable dishes like a whole fish steamed in banana leaf.

Stillwell's. Restaurant at Hôtel Swexan in Dallas' Harwood District is a bold Texas steakhouse with shellfish, caviar, steak tartare, lobster corn dogs, beef tallow fries, and a 32-oz tomahawk steak.

The Saint. Italian-inspired steakhouse near downtown Dallas has roots in Las Vegas, with a menu of mega-steaks like the Texas Wagyu tomahawk chop, plus enhancements such as gorgonzola raviolo and poached egg.

UnaVida. Mexican restaurant at Dallas' West Village from Local Favorite Restaurants (El Fenix, Meso Maya) stars chef Matt McCallister, whose menu includes ultra-creative bowls, tacos, salads, and breakfast.

Via Triozzi. Italian restaurant on Greenville Avenue from first-timer Leigh Hutchinson features house-made pastas, fresh pulled mozzarella, antipasti, and salads that change with the seasons.

Wagamama. Cosmopolitan chain founded in London in 1992 celebrating Asian food comes to Dallas with duck ramen, crispy cauliflower in firecracker sauce, Korean barbecue beef bao, and miso cod with green tea soba noodles.