How to cool things down this winter? Our editors Lesa Rossick in Austin, Cynthia Smoot in Dallas, Jennifer Roosth in Houston, and Eleanora Morrison in San Antonio share their favorite statewide recommendations that are must-dines as the season becomes merrier.
AUSTIN
ROSEDALE RENDEZVOUS
Two words. Simply Genius. Executive Chef Janelle Reynolds takes fresh ingredients and makes elevated healthy forward dishes. Combined with some of the best service in the city, this brainchild of owner Stuart Thomajan will quickly become an Austin institution.
Photo courtesy of Rosedale Kitchen
LOVE ON THE HILL
Chef Page Pressley takes the helm at Swedish Hill, the newly renovated restaurant that offers everything from fresh pastries and customized cakes to Rotisserie Chicken. It’s a pure delight to experience this Austin tradition that’s been so reinvigorated.
Photo courtesy of Swedish Hill
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
Portuguese-infused creativity combined with a Texas flare is a match made in heaven at Vixens Wedding. From the creators of Lenoir, this new spot in the ARRIVE East Austin Hotel serves delicious small plates and shareable dishes along with creative cocktails in a charming, bright spot in the city.
Photo courtesy of Vixen Wedding
DALLAS / FORT WORTH
LOCAL LOVE
Deep Ellum hotspot, LOCAL, was conceptualized in 1998 by owner Chef Tracy Miller in the historic century-old Boyd Hotel. In fact, this popular eatery is the closest thing to a NYC bistro this side of the Mason-Dixon line. It continues to be a favorite amongst Dallas foodies by serving a modern American menu with the vision to create beautiful, delicious dishes while using the simplest, most honest ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Local
YO QUIERO TE DESEO
Te Deseo features Latin American-inspired (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru) cuisine and cocktails in a stunning environment of multiple social and dining spaces, each with differing personalities and design. With a series of unique dining rooms, tiled courtyard, and four bars, it also provides a stunning rooftop view overlooking the city. The new venue also offers over 100 specialty tequilas and mezcals along with inspired cocktails that highlight Latin American spirits.
Photo by Rob Underwood
BEYOND CORNY
Brothers Neil and Carl Fletcher started this country’s obsession with fried foods when they invented the corny dog in Dallas in 1938. It was introduced at the State Fair of Texas in 1942 and has become an iconic part of the State Fair-attending experience. The secret to the famous Fletcher’s Corny Dog crunch is not only the trademarked batter, but also the water temperature and how the batter is mixed. The Fletcher family recently purchased a food trailer to allow them to cater off-site events throughout Texas.
Photo courtesy of Fletchers
HOUSTON
HOTEL REDUX
Baldwin, the latest and coolest addition to Houston’s downtown hotel scene, has opened its doors wide open to both locals and the city’s visitors. Named for Charlotte Baldwin Allen, who in 1836, helped fund the Allen Brothers real estate opportunities that affect the city to this day. Rosalie is just one of the many restaurants, salon, and retail offerings in this sleek hotel.
Photo courtesy of C. Baldwin Hotel
G-FORCE
New to the Allen Center development, Guard and Grace is a modern American steakhouse that features everything from prime, certified Angus and local grass-fed cuts of beef to fresh seafood, charcuterie, artisanal cheeses and vegetarian selections in a bright, airy atmosphere. It even boasts a temperature-controlled wine cellar complete with wine lockers where guests can store some of their own “reserve” bottles.
Photo courtesy of Guard And Grace
POSITIVELY ITALIAN
Located in the heart of Montrose, Postino Wine Café offers an all-day wine program best described as sophisticated-meets-approachable. Coupled with its crave-able bruschetta offerings, shareable charcuterie and cheese boards, hand-pressed paninis, mix-and-match sandwiches, salads, and scratch soup combinations, it’s becoming a new favorite.
Photo courtesy of Postino
SAN ANTONIO
BAKERY’S BEST
Founded in Brooklyn by Lauren O’Connor, Cake Thieves is a vegan pop-up bakery and caterer that has been serving up sweets to San Antonio dessert lovers since 2009. Amassing a devoted social media following on Instagram that scrolls for their fans’ sweet tooth, Cake Thieves’ imaginative flavors change seasonally and are available for custom orders if you can’t catch one of their popular pop-up appearances around town.
Photo courtesy of Cake Theives
SOUTHERN FLAIR
For foodies who have flocked to favorite eatery Southerleigh inside of Hotel Emma at Pearl, devotees are abuzz about the restaurant group’s newest concept, Bird & Biscuit, opening at the RIM in early 2020. A fine casual restaurant concept that will provide brunch, lunch, dinner, take-out and delivery, Bird & Biscuit will feature a menu based on southern style food including fried chicken, biscuits, and an oyster bar, paired with local Southerleigh micro-brew beers. Plus, the restaurant will also feature a full bar.
Photo courtesy of Southerleigh
BURGER HEAVEN
A favorite burger spot for San Antonio locals since 1977, Chris Madrids has now reopened after nearly two years of renovations due to a fire that damaged the historic building. The iconic restaurant, nestled in the Alta Vista neighborhood, is just north of downtown. It has welcomed generations of San Antonians to gather, feast, play, and make cherished family memories. Now with a new party room and patio, the hotspot hopes to host greater gatherings than ever before.
Photo courtesy of Chris Madrids