A few years back, it would be difficult to imagine that the nominees for Restaurant of the Year in CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards would include a forward-thinking dessert bar, a contemporary Mediterranean sensation, and a charming bistro making Korean-European cuisine. Long-cherished by locals, San Antonio's dining scene has now entered the global stage.
This year's contenders for the coveted trophy are more diverse than ever, reflecting the Alamo City's increasingly adventurous palate and a deep love for the traditions that have always defined home. It's definitely a wild ride, but one that reflects a rapidly changing city.
Our special Tastemakers editorial series that highlights the nominees is a snapshot of some of the city's most dynamic culinary minds. But why stop at just reading? Many of this year's hopefuls will pass out bites during our annual tasting event and awards ceremony on April 10 at the Briscoe Museum. A handful of tickets to the can't-miss event are still up for grabs online.
Until then, join us in saluting the eight nominees for Restaurant of the Year:
Bar Loretta
Like many of San Antonio's best restaurants, this Southtown hot spot achieves timeless elegance through its classic decor. The menu is more contemporary, mixing bistro standbys like peppered beef tenderloin with Southwestern-tinged dishes like foie gras buñuelos and tequila-grilled shrimp. The bar is no slouch, either. Cocktails like 'Til the End — using golden turmeric and nopal-infused tequila — are among the most wildly inventive in town.
Best Quality Daughter
Few local dining options have put so much thought behind their concept as this Pearl beauty. A razor-sharp homage to Asian-American women, the restaurant draws that thread through chinoiserie wallpaper and dishes that pay little mind to outdated notions of authenticity. Try the bang bang japchae salad, a Chinese-Korean bowl loaded with local vegetables.
Clementine
This Castle Hills haunt is the epitome of less is more. Most of the oomph from the interior comes from oversized citrus graphics and a zippy cerulean wash on the walls. The fare also lets individual components shine. Simple celery anchors Littleneck clams and broccoli tops make a surprising pesto. The superlative wine list brings complexity to every bite.
Burnt Bean Co.
Few barbecue joints have had such a meteoric rise as this Seguin spot. That the brisket, ribs, and sausage are so luxuriantly tender is no accident. Both owners are barbecue competition circuit champs. The more surprising jolt comes from sides such as Hot Cheeto queso mac and Cowboy Beans that incorporate Mexican-American culinary traditions.
Isidore
Like many Emmer & Rye restaurants, this Pullman Market rookie feels cosmopolitan, accenting Eames-era clean lines with natural decor. That doesn't mean that the menu is all gloss. The kitchen transforms humble ingredients like heritage chicken or cauliflower into showstoppers, making great use of its live fire equipment. Start the meal with a few "snacks," featuring playful nibbles like a buttermilk pie with mustard seeds and fennel.
Ladino
Named after a language, a stir of Castellano, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Hebrew, this Pearl restaurant relishes regionality. Traditional Mediterranean dishes like Medjool date cake and shawarma, updated with mushrooms and peanut salsa, are contemporary without losing their tether to an ancient past. Whatever else is on the table, make sure there's an order of hummus — a spreadable masterpiece that only bears a passing resemblance to the grocery store stuff.
Mixtli
Texas' current obsession with innovative Mexican cuisine owes a debt to this Southtown standard-bearer. The visionary restaurant imagines food through the lens of history, geography, and identity, bucking back against notions that the nation's cuisine is fixed in time. The warm, minimalist interior doesn't distract from each dish's gorgeously plated array of technique-savvy dishes made with indigenous ingredients.
Nicosi
This Pullman Market dessert bar launched with an air of mystery, only revealing that its prix fixe menus would explore various unexpected flavor profiles. Now, the newcomer is being more forthcoming. With standouts like a nitro lollipop made with three types of apple and an olive oil cake with pecan mousseline and honeycomb candy, it's safe to say it still has a few bombshell revelations.
The Magpie
Dining experts might warn you never to fill up on bread, but this Dignowity Hill bistro's signature milk bread is so sumptuous that no one should skip the starchy prelude. Forge ahead to dishes like the coffee-cured smoked duck, rice lager-battered fish and chips, and scallop risotto. The hodgepodge might not make academic sense, but it masterfully engages the palate.
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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by The Yuengling Company, Jim Beam Black, Hornitos, H-E-B, PicMe Events, and more to be announced soon. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Culinaria.
