With everyone returning to restaurants en masse, there are a plethora of new, beautiful ones to try, as well as favorites to try again, according to our savvy eatery devotees, Rob Giardinelli (Austin), Cynthia Smoot (Dallas), Jake Gaines (Houston) and Alexandra del Lago (San Antonio).
AUSTIN
SEIZING THE DAY
Maie Day is the newest dining establishment in the always happening South Congress Hotel. A classic chophouse with plenty of seafood and salad offerings means there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy as well as indoor and outdoor seating.
At MaieDay.com.
RAISE THE BAR
This new restaurant located downton, Diner Bar, offers an Austin vibe meets Southern style cuisine with the highlight being a delectable oyster bar. Also, not to be missed are their delicious vodka flights…perfect to start…or end your meal.
FRESH & CASUAL
The popular Ft. Worth eatery, Salsa Limón, has opened it’s first location outside of DFW on the northern edge of UT Campus. Offering fresh, fast casual Mexican food, it is the perfect stop for UT alumns and those visiting their children on the UT campus.
At SalsaLimón.com.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
WHEN NOT IN ROME
Recently opened in Uptown’s West Village, Fiatto is a casual chef-driven American-Italian restaurant featuring a menu rooted in seasonality. Enjoy a menu of Italian favorites where almost everything is made from scratch including breads, pastas, mozzarella, burrata, all sauces and stocks.
At FiattoDFW.com.
LUCKY YOU
Back on the menu at Truluck’s after an extended absence is the delicious Lobster Mac and Cheese side dish served with chunks of Maine lobster and pasta in a gooey cheese sauce topped with fresh herbs and toasted breadcrumbs. Available without the lobster as well, but why?
At Trulucks.com.
INTERIOR FLAIR
In the Design District you’ll find The Mexican offering discerning diners an upscale, authentic Northern Mexican-inspired cuisine. The Mexican spares no details with an eclectic tequila wall and tasting table, an eccentric cigar lounge equipped with state-of-the-art ventilation, and multi-level, and picturesque outdoor patios.
At TheMexican.com.
HOUSTON
EVERYTHING IS AT STEAK
The much-anticipated modern Italian chophouse, Marmo, is in the stylish new Montrose Collective mixed-use development in the heart of Houston. The menu puts steaks into the spotlight with an array of premium hand-cuts from local, domestic, and international purveyors. The 22-page wine list primarily focuses on Italian varietals by the glass and a cellar’s collection with back vintage gems.
At MarmoItalian.com.
SHARE & SHARE ALIKE
Opened in June, Postino La Centerra provides a unique dining addition to the upscale shopping district, featuring a spacious 3900-square-foot mid-century modern, open-air layout. It includes rollaway glass walls and an expansive patio to indulge in a menu chock-full of shareables, with a selection of beer and the menu’s 30-plus wines.
BE A GOOD CITIZEN
Citizen, the 6,000-square-foot space located in a mid-century modern space will soon morph into a sophisticated bar and glossy lounge destined to draw power players, celebrities, pro athletes, business moguls, media titans and social stars in equal measure.
At CitizenHTX.com.
SAN ANTONIO
TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS
Inspired by the open-air markets in Rome, Arrosta at the Pearl is a cafe that brings the seasoned flavors of Italian street food to Texas for the first time. Experience the bohemian charm, fiery attitude and Italian-style rotisserie café and bakery.
At ArrostaPearl.com.
MIDDLE EASTERN FARE
Located at the Hotel Emma, Ladino is the new eatery brought by the folks at Emmer & Rye in Austin, who created the wildly successful TLV. When it opens this summer, Ladino will pay homage to the creator’s Sephardic roots with a menu centered around the charcoal grill, which plays a lead role in the Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines.
At LadinoSATX.com.
WELL, HOLA YOU
Located at the entrance of the arts districts Southtown and King William, with Hola’s romantic patio offering the best view of the city’s landmark Tower of the Americas, this Mexican cuisine destination uses only the freshest ingredients on an ever-changing menu.
At HolaTapas.com.