txmo best new restaurants

3 Houston favorites land on Texas Monthly's best new restaurants list

Texas Monthly food editor Pat Sharpe has delivered her annual assessment of the state's best new restaurants. Published this morning on the magazine's website, the article, titled "The Best New Restaurants in Texas for 2020," ranks 10 establishments as well as honorable mentions.

To be eligible for the list, establishments must have opened between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019, and it must be a restaurant's first Texas location. Sharpe notes that this year's list has an international feel with eateries that take their inspiration from places such as Italy, Japan, Goa, and Spain. She finds another tie that binds most of her choices.

"I've noticed a trend that has been growing growing since since the craft cocktail movement began a couple of decades ago; restaurants are becoming more like bars," Sharpe writes. "That is, more casual and (sigh) noisier than ever."

Houston and Dallas lead the way with three entries each, but give a slight edge to the Bayou City — all of its entries rank in the top five: Squable (two), Davis St. at Hermann Park (three), and MAD (five). One Fifth Gulf Coast and Rosie Cannonball earn honorable mentions.

Sharpe praises Squable owners Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel for "wisely staying out of the way" of the creative dishes being served by chefs Mark Clayton and Drew Gimma. Davis St. earns a spot for chef Mark Holley's seafood-oriented menu. The critic seems utterly delighted by MAD's whimsical cuisine and decor, writing that chef Luis Roger is "having the time of his life" with the modern tapas that are the restaurant's standout dishes.

Homewood (four), Salaryman (six), and Khao Noodle Shop (eight) represent Dallas, with Ka-Tip Thai Street Food and Beverley's making the honorable mentions section. Fort Worth's sole spot on the list belongs to Gemelle, the Italian restaurant from celebrity chef Tim Love.

Austin's Comedor takes the top spot, marking the second year in a row that one of the city's Mexican restaurants made a strong impression on the critic (Suerte took second last year). Sharpe raves about the modern Mexican restaurant, comparing it to James Beard Award-winner Hugo Ortega's three Mexican restaurants as well as Pujol, the Mexico City restaurant ranked 12th in the world.

"Be advised that the Texas Mexican Food Timeline does have a significant new date: 2019," she writes. "In other words, there's Before Comedor (BC) and After Comedor (AC). It's just that simple."

No surprise to see Vixen's Wedding on the list in eighth place; Sharpe's had her eyes on it since she authored a rare preview of the Goan restaurant from chefs Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher. Honorable mentions go to Nixta Taqueria and DipDipDip Tatsu-ya.

Savor, the restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America, provides San Antonio with its lone entry in the top 10, but both Evo and Kindling Texas Kitchen (in the suburb of Cibolo) earn honorable mentions for the Alamo City.

Squable takes second.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Squable takes second.

lists awards

Best dining hall ever

Boutique Houston market brings stellar sandwiches to Rice University

Photo by Julie Soefer

Local Foods Market is opening its second location on the Rice University campus.

A new chapter in Houston’s dining scene unfolds as Local Foods Market opens its doors at Rice University’s Brochstein Pavilion on Wednesday, November 20. Building upon the success of the Rice Village market, which opened in 2021, the new eatery offers an expansive menu and beverage program alongside artisan goods.

“This feels like a homecoming for me. I’ve spent a lot of time at Rice with my family, enjoying the tree-lined pathways, attending football games, and even taking some special courses there as a middle schooler,” Benjy Levit, Local Foods Group founder, said in a statement. “I hope Local Foods Market at Rice University will serve as a backdrop for others to make great memories.”

This newest concept, open to the public as well as Rice students, faculty, and staff, will feature Local Foods’ signature dishes, such as the 'crunchy' chicken sandwich ($16.25), made with oven-roasted chicken breast, nut-seed crumble, and crushed chips on a pretzel bun. Staying true to its ethos, the restaurant sources ingredients from local purveyors like Atkinson Farms, Swift Hill Farms, and Blue Horizon Seafood, while also catering to diners with gluten-free and vegan options.

Fellow Local Foods Group restaurants will also contribute to the expanded menu, including fresh pasta from the newly-opened Milton’s and breakfast tacos from Maximo — made with tortillas that use nixtamalized heirloom corn. The culinary team is led by chef-partner Dylan Murray and executive chef Geoff Hundt, with guidance from culinary and creative director Seth Siegel-Gardner.

“When selecting a food vendor to rejuvenate the Brochstein Pavilion, we sought one that values thoughtful ingredient sourcing, sustainable practices, and awareness of the varied dietary needs of our students and employees,” said Beth Leaver, Rice's senior executive director and chief hospitality officer.

No campus eatery would be complete without espresso, and the restaurant continues its partnership with Greenway Coffee to craft espresso-based drinks including Local Foods’ signature Honey Iced Coffee.

The market will also boast a curated beer and wine list, including offerings from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, helmed by Rice alum Brock Wagner. Guests will be able to sip on a custom Cabernet-forward blend, a Local Foods Group and William Chris Vineyards collaboration, before it expands to the hospitality group’s other concepts.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Local Foods Market is opening its second location on the Rice University campus.

Ben Rosenblum Studio reimagined the 6,000-square-foot space while honoring the original structure by Thomas Phifer and Partners. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase freshly landscaped grounds, while museum-inspired lighting and a striking black quartzite order counter create a cozier, more inviting atmosphere. Garnish Design advised on the renovation and contributed furniture selections to complete the space.

Local Foods Market at Rice University will operate Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. The venue, which can host private events for up to 300 guests, is now accepting bookings.