Eat Birria Soup Dumplings, Tomahawks and Oysters at Texas’s Finest New Eating places

Summer season used to imply three months of freedom. Now it’s simply three months of scorching days, still-hot nights and all the identical obligations you had earlier than. It’s somewhat arduous to reconcile. Perhaps that’s why half of Texas appears to move elsewhere throughout the summer time, whether or not it’s to Colorado, New Mexico, authentic Mexico or wherever else that temperatures are measured in two digits.
However for individuals who’ve remained, there’s some comfort: The previous couple months have ushered in a spate of extremely anticipated eating places which might be right here to assuage our collective woes with steaks, seafood, pasta and sufficient cocktails and wine to remedy our collective malaise. These are 5 of probably the most thrilling new eating places in Texas.
Elementary is a playful tackle wonderful eating.
Chad Wadsworth
Austin
What to know: Opened by associates Chris Arial, Allan Bautista and chef Colter Peck, who’s labored at prime Portland eating places Le Pigeon and Proud Mary, Elementary is a playful tackle wonderful eating with a seasonal menu that highlights Central Texas farmers. The ethereal eating room pulls from trendy Bauhaus inspiration, with plenty of main colours — assume purple flooring and a shiny blue accent wall.
What to eat: It might be silly to cross on the birria soup dumplings, so begin there after which work in direction of a banh mi eclair, al pastor tortellini, brief rib pappardelle and the half hen with saffron honey, chorizo, potatoes and pickled fennel. Arial’s beverage program features a smoking Paper Aircraft (there’s fireplace!), a Kool-Help Cosmo and an espresso martini riff made with vodka, espresso, chocolate bitters, cereal mil and Eggo waffle syrup. You should have enjoyable right here — and likewise subsequent door, as a result of the identical trio has additionally opened Hopscotch, a small bar serving pure wines, cocktails, tinned fish and different snacks within the adjoining constructing.
2026 S Lamar Boulevard, Austin (map)

The menu leans into French and Italian cuisines.
Douglas Friedman
Dallas
What to know: The Duro Hospitality prepare retains on chugging, and the workforce behind Sister, El Carlos Elegante and The Charles not too long ago debuted a brand new challenge, the decidedly upscale Mister Charles. It’s inhabiting the long-lasting Highland Park Soda Fountain constructing, which has anchored the Knox Road location for greater than 100 years. Duro’s founders describe the restaurant as The Charles’ refined and well-traveled relative, who has spent a lifetime savoring wonderful continental cuisines and luxuriating in Europe’s most elegant lodges, eating places and bars.
What to eat: The menu leans into French and Italian cuisines, evident proper off the bat in a canapes part that includes a mini egg salad sandwich with caviar, a cured salmon tart and a foie gras croquette. Bigger plates embrace seared diver scallops, entire Dover sole with sauce meunière and lobster thermidor, plus a wagyu New York strip and lamb loin Wellington for 2.
3219 Knox Road, Dallas (map)

Pastore has seafood — and many it.
Duc Hoang
Houston
What to know: Underbelly Hospitality has already given Houston a number of nice locations to eat, together with Georgia James steakhouse, Wild Oats and Underbelly Burger. Now it’s right here with Pastore, a coastal Italian idea. The garden-like area has floor-to-ceiling home windows, assertion murals, vintage brass accents and different adornments to set the scene, and the eating room will quickly be joined by a rooftop terrace, so you may partake in pasta and spritzes al fresco.
What to eat: Seafood, and many it. We’re speaking beneficiant seafood towers, oysters, scallop crudo, crispy anchovies with sage and hearth-roasted branzino puttanesca. However don’t miss the flatbreads — one has mission figs, lemon ricotta and lardo — or the handmade pastas, just like the squid ink linguine and swordfish amatriciana.
1180 Dunlavy Road, Houston (map)

Trick Rider pays homage to Texas rodeo tradition.
Omni PGA Resort/werner segarra pictures inc
Frisco
What to know: The Dallas suburbs want one other steakhouse like they want one other strip mall — however then you definately discover Trick Rider and understand it may be the street trip-worthy steakhouse you had been lacking all alongside. Located inside the brand new Omni PGA Resort, the good-looking eating room is anchored by a horseshoe bar, above which sits a 16-foot-long crystal chandelier within the form of a horse. You’re in all probability noticing a theme, and also you’re proper — this place pays homage to Texas rodeo tradition.
What to eat: The menu contains chilled seafood dishes like shrimp cocktail and oysters, plus salads, salmon, a complete branzino and Australian lobster tail. Pink meat picks vary from prime filets and New York strips to a handful of shareable steaks served tableside, like a tomahawk and a wagyu beef tasting. Trick Rider will not be reinventing any wheels right here, however they’re nailing the classics. And whenever you desire a steak, whipped potatoes and asparagus, it would as effectively be actually good steak, whipped potatoes and asparagus.
4341 PGA Parkway, Frisco (map)

You received’t go mistaken with oysters on the halfshell.
Josephine’s
Houston
What to know: This new Midtown restaurant embraces all issues Gulf Coast and likewise highlights Southern dishes that govt chef and Mississippi native Lucas McKinney grew up consuming. Opened contained in the departed Izakaya area, the restaurant — which is called each for McKinney’s grandmother and an outdated steamship that sank within the Gulf of Mexico — was redesigned to characteristic a uncooked bar for oysters and different chilled seafood.
What to eat: Amberjack crudo, smoked redfish dip and oysters on the halfshell are all nice concepts. From there, transfer into hushpuppies with pickled jalapeño tartar sauce, biscuits and onion gravy, barbecue shrimp, po’boys, blue crab rice bowls and Mississippi scorching catfish nuggets. Drinks embrace a pair frozen cocktails and different refreshing choices, just like the Joyful Little Accidents, with strawberry-infused Suze, vermouth and bubbles.
318 Grey Road, Houston (map)
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