Foodie News

Hot Houston spot makes America's Best New Restaurants Top 10 — H-Town namedTexas' best food city

Photo by Barbara Kuntz
Oxheart's Justin Yu and Karen Man
The dining room
Oxheart, located at 1302 Nance in the Warehouse District
Photo by Barbara Kuntz

Since opening in March, the pocket-sized, 31-seat Oxheart, a casual slip of a restaurant located in the relative food desert of downtown's warehouse district, has taken local and national press by storm. Now it has yet another accolade as the only Texas restaurant to be named to Bon Appetit's Hot 10 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.

Andrew Knowlton ranks Oxheart at No. 8, between D.C,'s Little Serow and Baco Mercat in Los Angeles, with State Bird Provisions in San Francisco named the 2012 restaurant of the year.

Looking for cutting edge dining in 2012? Oxheart pretty much defines it, according to Bon Appetit.

Knowlton happily busts through Texas food stereotypes, naming Houston "Texas' best and most diverse food city (you heard me, Austin)" and raving about Oxheart's famous way with vegetables, from heirloom potatoes with vegetable ash to beet salad with savory granola and bitter almonds by chef/owners Justin Yu and Karen Man.

But Oxheart also earned plaudits for its relatively affordable $49 four-course menu, leaving Knowlton to break out one last cliché: "This level of food and that kind of price? Houston, we do not have a problem."

Unsurprisingly, Oxheart also had almost all of the characteristics that trended across the Top 50 restaurant list: No tablecloths, tweezers in the kitchen, counterside seating around an open kitchen, a husband/wife owner team, under 30 seats (well, close enough I guess), a prix fixe menu under $50, a record player and an animal in the restaurant name.

Or, as Knowlton says, "What kind of restaurants stand out to me in 2012? Well, to start, they're usually scrappy and personal, guided by chefs with a passion to create independently owned places they would want to eat at on their day off."

Looking for cutting edge dining in 2012? Oxheart pretty much defines it, according to Bon Appetit.

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dine by the vines

Exclusive Texas Hill Country winery restaurant named best in the world

Stout's Signature restaurant at Grape Creek Vineyards in Fredericksburg

Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's Signature is Grape Creek's members-only restaurant, but a small number of reservations will be offered to non-members.

The Hill Country has no shortage of vineyards and wineries that serve bites with their vintages, but only one Fredericksburg vineyard boasts a restaurant that measures up against the best in the world.

The industry experts at Wine Enthusiast have declared Stout's Signature at Grape Creek Vineyards one of the 57 best destination restaurants in the world. It's the only Texas restaurant to make the cut.

The new honor also elevates Grape Creek Vineyards' reputation as one of the best wineries in the Hill Country region, and its tasting tours are also recognized among the best in the country.

Stout's is a hidden gem restaurant where patrons can enjoy Hill Country-inspired cuisine with their wine tastings, from light bites to a hearty meal, all while the sprawling Grape Creek vineyard beckons from beyond the tables.

Signature dinner dishes like the tenderloin bolognese and meatballs made with veal, pork, and ground beef are must-try picks, but Wine Enthusiast reserves the most praise for its weekend brunch.

"[Stout's] boasts the region’s best Sunday brunch, with tables laden with dishes like Bourbon shrimp and grits with homemade andouille sausage and a breakfast burger with egg, bacon, and avocado," Wine Enthusiast wrote. "A mini pancake stack for the table is a must. Pair it with their Cabernet Trois, a bold blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Ruby Cabernet."

Wine tasting at Grape Creek Vineyards Pair a pour with an app or an entree.Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's has traditionally been a members-only institution for the Grape Creek Wine Club, but non-members now have a chance to dine at the exclusive restaurant. A limited number of Friday and Saturday evening dinner reservations will be offered to the public after the winery's regular closing at 5:30 pm.

"Stout's Signature has always felt like one of our best-kept secrets, and we wanted to give more people the chance to experience it, especially after being named one of the best winery restaurants in the world by Wine Enthusiast this summer," said Heath Family Brands CEO and founder Brian Heath.

Stout's Signature is located at 10587 US-290 in Fredericksburg. Non-member reservation availability is limited, and can be booked by calling 830-644-2710, opt. 3, or online via heathfamilybrands.com.

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