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.
In much of the country, summer means getting outside and enjoying all that nature has to offer. Texans can do that, too, but outdoor excursions must be carefully interspersed with bracing doses of A/C. If food and drinks are involved, even better.
That’s where these five new restaurants can help. They’re serving a range of must-try dishes, from perfect sushi and wagyu steaks to lamb kebabs and casual pizzas, all of which are worthy diversions from the summer heat. Head for the great indoors and try them all.
Tatsu
Dallas
Tatsuya Sekiguchi’s long-awaited omakase spot is finally here. The chef, who formerly worked at Omakase by Tatsu and the Michelin-starred Sushi Yasuda, both in New York, is serving traditional Edomae-style sushi in a handsome, 10-seat space located inside Deep Ellum’s Continental Gin Building. Expect 15 to 18 courses, starting with a couple light appetizers, followed by a hits parade of perfect nigiri, a cup of housemade miso soup, a hand roll and a light dessert. Supplement your meal with a few à la carte options and a thoughtful selection of sakes, beers and wines.
3309 Elm Street, Suite 120, Dallas (map)
Dean’s Italian Steakhouse
Austin
Downtown Austin, meet your new favorite splurge. It’s called Dean’s Italian Steakhouse, and it’s an Italian-American hybrid serving prime cuts of wagyu beef, pastas, fresh oysters and seafood. Get the 50-ounce tomahawk ribeye if you’ve got an expense account and good cholesterol, then pair it with a bottle from the well-stocked wine cellar. If you want to have a more casual evening, the open-air veranda sports an ivy-lined bar, downtown views and a generous happy hour menu with $9 small plates like meatballs and burrata toast.
110 E 2nd Street, Austin (map)
Hamsa
Houston
The team behind the fine-dining Doris Metropolitan steakhouse are now putting out Middle Eastern dishes and plates from their native Israel. The spacious restaurant has a wine wall and a patio (remember that come fall), and the menu features fresh brick-oven pitas and charcoal-grilled meats. When in doubt, get a skewer laced with chicken, lamb or beef, try the grilled branzino, or opt for vegetarian dishes like cauliflower couscous with labneh, cranberries, almonds and mint.
5555 Morningside Drive, Suite 100, Houston (map)
Hugo’s Invitados
Dallas
Bad news: The Mi Cocina in West Village closed, leaving a Tex-Mex-shaped hole in your heart. Good news: It’s already been replaced — and the new guy brought tacos. Hugo’s Invitados is a Mexican spot with a thing for organic ingredients. It comes from the people behind Honest Tacos, and the menu includes Veracruz-style tuna tartare, ancho-marinated wood-grilled octopus, ribeye al pastor, seafood enchiladas and smoked brisket tacos.
3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 200 (map)
WonderSlice
San Antonio
Sometimes you just need a great slice of pizza. WonderSlice at the Bottling Department Food Hall in San Antonio understands this, hence their just-opened operation that’s hawking pizzas and not much else. Sure, you can (and should) try the small menu of Italian and meatball subs, salads and soft-serve ice cream, but you’re here for the pizza. It’s available by the slice or whole pie, and classics like margherita and pepperoni are joined by a couple more creative options, including the Green Monster, with garlic parmesan cream, shredded zucchini and pesto.
312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6 (map)
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