culinary all stars

Texas' best restaurants and bars celebrated at 2024 Tastemaker Awards

We've only barely recovered: CultureMap's statewide journey to honor the best chefs, restaurants, and more with 2024 Tastemaker Awards has finally come to an end.

The series kicked off March 27 with our sold-out Houston Tastemakers at Silver Street Studios, then we moved south to San Antonio for our third-ever fiesta at the Briscoe Museum on April 4.

We stuck around in Central Texas for the festivities at Distribution Hall in Austin on April 11, then headed north to Fort Worth for our biggest celebration there yet on May 2. The Texas culinary tour concluded with our North Texas neighbors in Dallas at the Fashion Industry Gallery on May 16.

The 2024 Tastemaker Awards celebrated Texas' most innovative culinary pioneers, as nominated chefs and restaurants showcased their talents for guests with delicious bites and treats before our emcees announced the winners during the live ceremony.

Guests dined on our venerated chefs’ specialty hors d'oeuvres, sipped on a variety of creative batched cocktails, and stayed hydrated with a chilled Topo Chico in hand. 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 are, as always, produced by a panel of previous Tastemaker winners and CultureMap staff. While our judges vote on most of the winners, the champion in the Best New Restaurant category is determined by our readers in an online, bracket-style tournament. New to the 2024 categories in each city was a competition for the best patio.

Without further ado, let’s meet our 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners all across Texas, listed by city:

Dallas:

Restaurant of the Year: Petra & The Beast
Chef of the Year: Noah Hester, Hamm's Meat & Market
Bar of the Year: Whiskeys Dallas
Best New Restaurant: McRae's American Bistro
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Will Salisbury, Carbone
Pastry Chef of the Year: Tida Pichakron, Haute Sweets Patisserie
Bartender of the Year: Fernanda Rossano, Kaiyo
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Terilli's
Wine Program of the Year: Sister
Best Patio: Taco Y Vino

Houston:

Restaurant of the Year: Tatemó
Chef of the Year: Luis Mercardo and Paolo Justo, Neo
Bar of the Year: Refuge
Best New Restaurant: Andiron
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Lucas McKinney, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
Pastry Chef of the Year: Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
Bartender of the Year: Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Burger Bodega
Wine Program of the Year: March
Best Pop-Up/Startup: Jane Wild
Best Patio: Better Luck Tomorrow

San Antonio:

Restaurant of the Year: Leche de Tigre
Chef of the Year: Nicola Blaque, The Jerk Shack
Best New Restaurant: Thai Bird
Bar of the Year: Bar Loretta
Brewery of the Year: Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Clementine
Pastry Chef of the Year: Jenn Riesman, Rooster Crow Bakery
Best Patio: The Good Kind Southtown

Austin:

Restaurant of the Year: Canje
Chef of the Year: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie's
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eli Rodriguez, Bufalina Due
Pastry Chef of the Year: Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
Bar of the Year: Holiday
Bartender of the Year: Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
Best New Restaurant: Poeta
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Birdie's
Brewery of the Year: Jester King Brewery
Best Patio: Jester King Brewery

Fort Worth:

Restaurant of the Year: 61 Osteria
Chef of the Year: Preston Paine, Emilia's, The Blue Room
Bar of the Year: Thompson's Bookstore
Best New Restaurant: Plank Seafood Provisions
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Michael Rios, Pantry on Magnolia
Pastry Chef of the Year: Tareka Lofton, Loft22 Cakes
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Los Asaderos
Best Patio: Joe T. Garcia's

Photo by Jessica Attie Photography & Case Daniel

Poeta is Austin's Best New Restaurant of 2024.

restaurants bars tastemaker awards

Seafood News

Dallas chef brings seafood to Trinity Groves via Pesca restaurant

Pesca

Pesca Trinity Groves

A veteran Dallas restaurateur has a new seafood restaurant at Trinity Groves: Called Pesca Coastal Cuisine and Cocktails, it’s in a space with seafood history, in the former Amberjax Fish Market space at 3011 Gulden Ln. #107. According to a release, it opened on December 13.

Pesca comes from Jesus Carmona, owner of the taqueria Milagro Tacos and Argentinian restaurant Chimichurri. Carmona is among the lucky restaurateurs in Dallas who've been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and he was also on Good Morning America’s taco cook-off.

The menu includes fish grilled or a la plancha, plus spicy shrimp shooters, oysters Rockefeller, tuna crudo, crab croquettes, chowder, shrimp enchiladas, linguini frutti di mare, and lobster rolls.

They also offer desserts, such as Florida Key lime pie and coconut cream tarts, plus cocktails and a selection of beer and wine. Prices range from $6 for a cup of soup to $29 for salmon succotash.

The design features natural wood tones, ocean-inspired hues, and nautical accents, plus bold elements, pops of color, and playful twists.

“I designed this space and menu to invite people to experience my variations of delicious coastal dishes,” says Carmona in a statement. “Pesca will provide new food options for West Dallas, a community very close to my heart.”

Carmona, originally from Mexico City, began his career at the age of 12, working in the family business. Carmona earned his food and beverage degree from Miami Dade College and he attended the San Francisco Culinary Academy. He has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

“Jesus has provided Dallas communities with quality restaurants and food experiences, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Trinity Groves,” says West Dallas Investments partner Sam Romano in a statement. “Pesca allows him to show us his talents with coastal cuisine - something that is not currently being offered in West Dallas.”

downtown closings