Cheers to the Tastemakers

Tastemaker Awards toasts the best Texas restaurants and bars right now

The mission of our annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards is to shine a spotlight on the top restaurant and bar talent in Texas. This summer, we honored the best of the industry and celebrated their resilience with our first-ever virtual Tastemakers.

In true 2020 fashion, the Tastemakers transformed from an in-person party to an in-home tasting experience.

We kicked things off with the Austin and San Antonio awards on July 23, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth on July 30. We wrapped up in on August 6 with our Houston program, sponsored by Dripping Springs Vodka, Cigar City Brewing, Grandes Vinos, Topo Chico, H-E-B, and Houston Insider by Visit Houston.

Each event featured a streamed awards show hosted by the legendary Bun B, who first guided guests through the makings of the at-home party. Then, with the help of some special guests, he announced the local 2020 Tastemaker Awards winners. (If you missed the Houston show, you can watch it here.)

Nominees for each city were selected earlier this year by CultureMap editors and local panels of industry experts, including past winners. The panels then selected the winner in each category, except for Best New Restaurant, which was chosen by readers in our bracket-style tournament. This year, we also added a special Hero Award to honor individuals in the industry who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

Below, meet all of our 2020 Tastemaker winners, and join us in toasting them once again.

Austin

Restaurant of the Year: Comedor
Chef of the Year: Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley, Foreign & Domestic
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Edgar Ulysses Rico, Nixta Taqueria
Pastry Chef of the Year: Jules Stoddart, Olamaie
Best New Restaurant: Rebel Cheese
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Foreign & Domestic
Best Queso: Eldorado Cafe
Bar of the Year: Kinda Tropical
Bartender of the Year: Laura Maddox, Small Victory
Wine Program of the Year: Bufalina
Brewery of the Year: Jester King
Hero Award: Derrick Chubbs, Central Texas Food Bank

San Antonio

Restaurant of the Year: Meadow
Chef of the Year: Esaul Ramos, 2M Smokehouse
Best New Restaurant: 225 Urban Smoke
Best Queso: Tlahco Mexican Kitchen
Bar of the Year: Little Death
Hero Award: Jason Dady, Jason Dady Restaurants

Dallas

Restaurant of the Year: The Charles Dallas
Chef of the Year: Justin Holt, Salaryman
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Toby Archibald, Georgie by Curtis Stone
Pastry Chef of the Year: Diana Zamora, Lockwood Distilling
Best New Restaurant: Georgie by Curtis Stone
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Parigi Restaurant
Best Queso: E-Bar Tex Mex
Bar of the Year: Black Swan Saloon
Bartender of the Year: Josh Hendrix, Las Almas Rotas
Wine Program of the Year: Macellaio
Brewery of the Year: 3 Nations Brewing
Hero Award: Jacob Tindall, 5G Studio Collaborative

Fort Worth

Restaurant of the Year: Ellerbe Fine Foods
Chef of the Year: Tim Love, Lonesome Dove, Love Shack, Gemelle
Best New Restaurant: Hot Box Biscuit Club
Bar of the Year: Blackland Distillery
Hero Award: Mike Hoque, Hoque Global

Houston

Restaurant of the Year: Himalaya
Chef of the Year: Jason Vaughan, Nancy’s Hustle
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Felipe Riccio, Rosie Cannonball
Pastry Chef of the Year: Julia Doran, Nancy’s Hustle
Best New Restaurant: MAD
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Les Ba’get
Best Pizza: Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana
Bar of the Year: Monkey’s Tail
Bartender of the Year: Lindsay Rae, Two Headed Dog
Wine Program of the Year: Public Services Wine & Whisky
Brewery of the Year: Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company
Hero Award: Chris Shepherd, Southern Smoke Foundation

The Charles Dallas, Dallas Restaurant of the Year.

The Charles

The Charles Dallas, Dallas Restaurant of the Year.

tastemakers

2 staples shuttered

Downtown Italian restaurant and Upper Kirby wine bar suddenly close

Cru, seen here in happier times.

Inevitably, the end of the year brings a surprise closure or two, and 2024 is no exception. Both a staple downtown Italian restaurant and an Upper Kirby wine bar have quietly closed this week.

Sambuca closed after service on December 16, owner Kim Forsythe shared on Facebook. Open for 22 years in downtown’s The Rice apartment building, the restaurant was well known for its live music and lively atmosphere. While the restaurant had long been a staple for both downtown office workers and residents, it never fully recovered from the lingering economic changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In recent years, we've faced challenges that have tested our resilience,” Forsythe writes. “The changing climate of our city, with rising homelessness and crime, coupled with the lingering impacts of COVID and the resulting empty office spaces, has created a perfect storm that we could not weather. Though we fought with everything we had to keep our doors open, we're choosing to close this chapter with gratitude, carrying countless memories over the past 22 years.”

Crú Food & Wine Bar has closed its location in Upper Kirby’s Shops at Arrive development, according to a post former managing partner Annette Amaya on Instagram. In addition to the post about the closure, it is no longer accepting reservations via Open Table.

First opened in 2011, Crú earned a following for its eclectic wine list and a food menu that focused on familiar fare such as cheese and charcuterie boards and pizzas. Its location in The Woodlands remains open.

The Shops at Arrive have been busy this year with new openings. Staples such as Eddie V’s and Pondicheri have been joined by PostScript, a female-focused restaurant inspired by Dallas’ XOXO Dining Room, and Kira, an intimate hand roll bar from the team behind upscale omakase counter Neo.

closings news-you-can-eat