To keep tabs on every Texas restaurant and bar opening is folly. But to keep tabs on the most worthy? Yeoman’s work, and we’re proud to do it. Thus we present Table Stakes, a rundown of five must-know spots that have swung wide their doors over the past month.
Another month, another spate of restaurant openings worthy of your attention. This July has produced modern Vietnamese, French-Cajun, a house of burrata, pizza and other compelling ways to spend your time. And because it’s too damn hot outside to do much of anything else besides eat indoors, you might as well check all these places off your list.
Here are five of the most exciting new restaurants in Texas.
Stepchild
Dallas
The Exchange, that multi-concept food emporium at the AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas, has introduced a new rotating kitchen concept called Attalie, wherein a different chef will put their stamp on the menu each season. First up is Stepchild by Misti Norris, the celebrated chef behind Petra and the Beast. The French-Cajun menu celebrates her heritage and features dishes like confit frog legs in cognac butter, a bone-in pork chop that’s cooked over embers, and a five-day aged, koji-brined fried chicken that must be ordered 72 hours in advance. Do yourself a favor and plan ahead.
211 S Akard Street, Dallas (map)
Dinette
Houston
The long-awaited and just-opened Dinette comes from the team behind sushi joint Hando and its neighboring cocktail bar Kanpai Club. This time around, they’re serving Vietnamese small plates and shareable family-style dishes ranging from tamarind-glazed wings and summer rolls to brisket with pho noodles and pan-seared cod with vermicelli noodles. The menu blends traditional and modern, as evidenced by the Vietnamese pizza topped with pork belly and pineapple, as well as the bar’s unique cocktails, which merge rum with ingredients like pandan and jackfruit.
1018 N Shepherd Drive, Houston (map)
Burrata House
Austin
Burrata House hails from Los Angeles, where it specializes in Italian cuisine and has a real affinity for burrata, that soft white cheese made from mozzarella and cream. The casual concept expanded into Austin’s Mueller area recently, where it’s peddling pastas, paninis, bowls and other vehicles for showcasing cheese. Start with a cold plate of cured meat or smoked salmon, then move onto bresaola-laced sandwiches and fresh pastas. Each dish stays on theme, featuring a topper of burrata.
1201 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, suite 1280, Austin (map)
Brentwood
Dallas
Brentwood is the latest concept from Vandelay Hospitality group, which is quickly taking over the city and counts Hudson House, East Hampton, Drake’s and D.L. Mack’s among its concepts. The latest is a spacious American restaurant in the old Houston’s spot that’s dotted with black leather booths and equestrian artwork. The menu is centered on salads, burgers and sandwiches, plus larger plates like slow-roasted prime rib, wood-grilled trout and a San Francisco ribeye. Fans of Hudson House wll be happy to see a couple of ice-cold Martinis on the menu — get the classic with olives, or the Bond-in-Casino Royale version with vodka, gin and Lillet.
5318 Belt Line Road, Dallas, (map)
Side Eye Pie
Austin
Side Eye Pie is a new pizza trailer from Tony Curet, a cofounder of Dough Boys, the dearly departed Neapolitan pizza food truck. His new operation is slinging wood-fired pies at Meanwhile Brewery, so you can score a pizza on the patio or head inside for beers and shade. Each pizza begins with cold-fermented dough made from local flour and native yeast, and ingredients are all of the fresh, slow, handcrafted variety. A smart move is to begin with the eponymous Side Eye, which combines pepperoni and Italian sausage with red bell peppers, red onion, Castelvetrano olives, red sauce and fresh mozzarella. Throw in a side of crispy soppressata salami chips and a Caesar salad (you know, for health) and call it a day.
3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin (map)
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