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    Tastemakers Neighborhood Restaurants

    Check out Tastemakers Neighborhood Restaurants, a varied group with common character

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 15, 2016 | 9:29 am

    The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year nominees may vary in cuisine and location, but they have certain things in common.

     

    They are casual, comfortable places that people go for an affordable meal. The sort of restaurants a diner might visit once a week or more, where the staff greets regulars by name.

     

    Their menus are built around staple dishes that are simply prepared and well-executed. Additionally, they're more or less always open. Our panel of industry insiders selected only restaurants that serve both lunch and dinner and are open at least six days per week.

     

    When a restaurateur succeeds in opening a new neighborhood restaurant, the business could stay open for 10 years or even longer, as multiple generations of customers make them their second homes, and this year's five outstanding finalists are no exception. By serving dishes people want to eat at an affordable price with friendly service, they seem poised to have tenures.

     

     Bernie's Burger Bus
    I've often argued that one sign a newcomer is becoming comfortable with Houston is when he or she gets into a passionate argument about where to find the best burger in town. While that question will never have one definitive answer, many people choose Bernie's Burger Bus. Although chef/owner Justin Turner has traded his three school buses for two brick and mortar restaurants in Bellaire and Katy (with a third coming this fall to The Heights), the Chopped champion's commitment to freshly ground beef, creative toppings, and crispy fries remains stronger than ever. The basic principal burger remains a solid option, but Turner's monthly field trip specials keep things interesting for repeat guests.

     

     Good Dog Houston
    Speaking of restaurants that started out as food trucks, this Heights hot dog joint from co-owners Amalia Pferd and Daniel Caballero has developed a passionate following for its Houston-inspired hot dog toppings. Sure, the classic Chicago-style or chili dog are solid options, but those feeling slightly more adventurous should give the Guac-A-Dog or the signature Ol'Zapata a try. Sandwiches, salads, and one of Houston's best versions of fish and chips round out the menu. A rotating selection of Texas craft beer is hard to resist, but the milkshakes, made with Fat Cat Creamery ice cream, are pretty hard to resist, too. An upcoming expansion will allow Montrose residents to share in the experience.

     

     Paulie's
    Stop by this Montrose-area restaurant at lunch on any random weekday and find some of the city's most prominent chefs and bartenders chowing down on the fresh salads and housemade pastas. The affordable prices are a big draw — almost nothing costs more than $15 — as is the friendly service, the well-chosen selection of beer and wine, and the carefully-prepared, locally roasted espresso drinks. Of course, no visit to Paulie's is complete without an iced shortbread cookie.

     

    Even beyond the food, Paulie's supports its community. Owner Paul Petronella allows up-and-coming chefs to hold pop-ups at the restaurant and regularly donates to worthy causes. Those efforts build the sort of loyalty that explains the restaurant's consistently full dining room.

     

     Pondicheri
    ​Open every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this Upper Kirby restaurant defines the utility that marks a great neighborhood restaurant. Its ambitious menu of Indian-inspired fare offers something for vegetarians, gluten-free diners, and old fashioned omnivores. Picking a favorite dish is tricky, which is what makes the signature thails so appealing; they offer a sampler of different tastes for a reasonable price and are easy to split between a couple of people.

     

    The upstairs Bake Lab provides a wide array of sweets as well as to-go items. While New Yorkers will soon get the chance to learn what Houstonians already know, the original will remain a destination for years to come.

     

     Weights + Measures
    If one of a neighborhood restaurant's signature qualities is its timelessness, then perhaps it's fitting that only one restaurant that opened in 2015 earned a spot as a finalist. Open for lunch (or brunch) every day and dinner six nights per week, Weights + Measures's eclectic menu starts with classic dishes likes meatballs, chicken liver mousse, and a range of pizzas, but the cuisine is also fresh and innovative. Just consider the roast carrot pizza with Egyptian spices that helped define dining in Houston in 2015.

     

    A lack of demand may have scuttled the restaurant's weekday breakfast service, the companion Slow Dough bake shop still offers fresh baked pastries, doughnuts, breads, and more every morning starting at 6 am. Any restaurant that's willing to serve its patrons that early in the morning deserves extra credit.

     

    Bernie's Burger Bus has traded buses for restaurants.

    Justin Turner Bernie's Burger Bus
      
    Photo by Kimberly Park
    Bernie's Burger Bus has traded buses for restaurants.
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    The Best in Texas

    The unequivocal list of the best restaurants and bars in Texas 2016

    Jennifer Chininis
    May 24, 2016 | 11:30 am
    The unequivocal list of the best restaurants and bars in Texas 2016
    Mixtli/Facebook
    San Antonio Restaurant of the Year Mixtli.

    Whether at home or traveling, one question we Texans always want answered is where to eat. Our annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards provides plenty of answers. The program started in Austin in 2012, as a way to honor the top talent in the restaurant and bar communities, and has since expanded to include every city we serve: Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

     

    What makes Tastemakers unique is that we not only rely on the intelligence of our staff and contributors on the ground in those cities to help identify the nominees, but we also enlist industry experts to offer advice and, ultimately, decide who wins — except in the category of Best New Restaurant, which is determined by our readers.

     

    The Tastemaker Awards, the largest and most comprehensive culinary tribute of its kind, truly represents the best restaurants, chefs, bars, and bartenders in the state, those who innovate and inspire not only local diners, but also their peers. The 2016 winners represent the best in Texas dining right now.

     

    Below we have listed those who took home prizes in myriad categories, presented during celebratory events May 17-19 in Austin, Houston, and Dallas. If you are hungry to read more about the people and places mentioned here, click on the city name to read why they deserve the Tastemaker title.

     

     AUSTIN

     
       
    •  Restaurant of the Year: Dai Due
    •  
    •  Chef of the Year: Michael Fojtasek and Grae Nonas, Olamaie
    •  
    •  Rising Star Chef of the Year: Nicholas Yanes, Juniper
    •  
    •  Pastry Chef of the Year: Janina O'Leary
    •  
    •  Bar of the Year: The Townsend
    •  
    •  Bartender of the Year: Justin Elliott, The Townsend
    •  
    •  Brewery of the Year: Jester King
    •  
    •  Sommelier of the Year: June Rodil, McGuire Moorman Hospitality
    •  
    •  Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Evangeline Cafe
    •  
    •  Best New Restaurant: Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar
    •  
     

     DALLAS

     
       
    •  Restaurant of the Year: Tei-An
    •  
    •  Chef of the Year: John Tesar, Knife
    •  
    •  Rising Star Chef of the Year: Kirstyn Brewer, Victor Tangos
    •  
    •  Pastry Chef of the Year (tie): Marlene Duke, The Theodore, and Alison Morse, Front Room Tavern
    •  
    •  Bar of the Year: Midnight Rambler
    •  
    •  Bartender of the Year: Kyle Hilla, The Theodore
    •  
    •  Brewery of the Year: On Rotation
    •  
    •  Sommelier of the Year: Jeff Gregory, FT33
    •  
    •  Best Sushi Restaurant: Tei Tei Robata Bar
    •  
    •  Best New Restaurant: Resident Taqueria
    •  
     

     FORT WORTH

     
       
    •  Restaurant of the Year: Revolver Taco Lounge
    •  
    •  Chef of the Year: Tim Love, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Love Shack, Woodshed Smokehouse
    •  
    •  Best New Restaurant: The Dive Oyster Bar
    •  
     

     HOUSTON

     
       
    •  Restaurant of the Year: Pax Americana
    •  
    •  Chef of the Year: Adam Dorris, Pax Americana
    •  
    •  Rising Star Chef of the Year: Graham Laborde, Bernadine's
    •  
    •  Pastry Chef of the Year: Rebecca Masson, Fluff Bake Bar
    •  
    •  Bar of the Year: Public Services Wine & Whisky
    •  
    •  Bartender of the Year: Terry Williams, Anvil Bar & Refuge
    •  
    •  Brewery of the Year: Saint Arnold Brewing Company
    •  
    •  Sommelier of the Year: Evan Turner, Helen Greek Food & Wine
    •  
    •  Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Weights + Measures
    •  
    •  Best New Restaurant: State of Grace
    •  
     

     SAN ANTONIO

     
       
    •  Restaurant of the Year: Mixtli
    •  
    •  Chef of the Year: Jason Dady, Tre Trattoria and Shuck Shack
    •  
    •  Best New Restaurant: Mezcaleria Mixtli
    •  

    San Antonio Restaurant of the Year Mixtli.

    Mixtli
      
    Mixtli/Facebook
    San Antonio Restaurant of the Year Mixtli.
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