San Antonio’s conception of what makes a neighborhood is ever-shifting, so why shouldn’t neighborhood restaurants do the same? While affordable price points and amiable staff are hallmarks of the genre, newcomers become regulars at eateries because they feel personal to them.

These are the Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year nominees for the CultureMap Tastemakers Awards, selected by a panel of judges including last year's winners — and they seem very different. Some are charmingly shaggy; others are decked to the nines. Somewhere in this list is your new home away from home.

Meet them all below, then join us at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting event April 4 at the Briscoe Museum.

You can see all of the Tastemaker Award nominees here and learn more about them in our special editorial series leading up to the big event.

A limited number of Early Bird tickets are on sale now at discounted rates of $60 for general admission and $99 for VIP (includes early access to the event, valet, and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase March 1. Grab your tickets now, because this party will sell out — just like it does every year.

Bar Loretta
Although the elegant dining room of this Southtown haunt sets the scene for a romantic date or birthday celebration, the best seat in the house is at the bar. There, the charming staff will share a laugh while explaining the inspiration behind their latest cocktail. Still, the menu is just as good wherever one perches. Thoughtfully approachable fare like lobster risotto and whiskey braised short ribs make Loretta a weekly habit.

Barbaro
Happy hours are a lost art these days, tossing out one-and-one cocktails best left to crowded nightclubs. The cocktails at this Monte Vista favorite call for cancelling all thosepesky late afternoon calls. A scant six bucks gets guests a stiff Old Fashioned or a frozen strawberry daiquiri. Paired with a pizza and a plate of house-fried mozzarella, it’s the best way to vent about a colleague’s iffy work ethic — or celebrate a stellar performance review.

The Box Street Social
Defying the conventions that a neighborhood restaurant has to be filled with checked tablecloths and bentwood chairs, this Hemisfair hot spot defines the term for a new generation. Diners munch on cereal milk waffles and juicy smash burgers atop terrazzo tables, pausing only momentarily to take a selfie in the pink-tiled bathrooms. Neon lights or not, this spot still has the feel of a bustling café — a trick duplicated in its new La Cantera Heights sibling.

Clementine
Neighborhood eateries are usually come-and-go joints, but we recommend making a reservation at Clementine. Its Castle Hills regulars fill up the books to get their fix of chefs John and Elise Russ’ globally inspired cuisine. Although a little more upscale than some of the restaurants on this list, it never feels overly starched. The Yukon Gold aligote and dry aged Niman Ranch steak make feel fancy, but it’s still meat and potatoes.

Comfort Café
This recovery-minded diner now has three locations, but it’s difficult to beat the Los Patios outpost. Stuffed French toast just tastes sweeter when enjoyed on the lush garden patio. Before San Antonio’s weather returns to its hostile norm, enjoy it as many times as you can.

Con Huevos Tacos
The breakfast taco, humble though it may be, still inspires the city’s most passionate debates. To some, the tortilla makes or breaks the dish. For others, it's the fluffiness of the eggs or the zap of a good sauce. Con Huevos makes a case for unity. The unassuming Dignowity Hill joint nails all the details — from the puff of its wraps to crunch of the papas. All that care goes into every taco, and there’s still energy left to create the best fideo in town.

Cullum’s Attaboy
Contemporary dining culture has a lot to answer for, from the bowlification of global cuisines to the preciousness of New American. Chef Chris Cullum offers a friendly rebuke. Just off the St. Mary’s Strip — and miles away from its nighttime thump — he relishes in the elegance of bygone fare. It’s a reminder that there’s pleasure in a braised leek and joy in the Gruyere bubble of a French toast.

Full Goods Diner
Full Goods comes from an Austin restaurateur but carries no trace of that city’s lean towards style over substance. Yes, it’s found in the tony Pearl district, and one might pick up a few design ideas while slumping in the booths. But there’s nothing but substance in the shatter-crisp breading of a chicken biscuit or the laminated layers of a chocolate hazelnut cruffin.

Reese Bros BBQ
Let the barbecue cultists obsess about the complexity of the bark or the necessity of sauce. This East Side joint wins before a single slab of brisket or rib hits the plate. The ace in the hole is the poblano mac and cheese, a velvety, earthy side that deserves top billing. It just tastes like Texas is supposed to taste.

Thai Dee
Haphazardly hung twinkle lights canopy the dining room. The seats don’t have a stitch of cushion. But only the most churlish folks would be pressed about the ambience. The rest are too busy with the zip of makrut lime, the peppery bite of galangal, and the fragrant punch of coriander. Thai Dee makes some of Alamo City’s best take-out, but patrons know the curries are best enjoyed straight out of the kitchen.