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And the Award Goes to...

East Austin gem honored as one of the 10 best new restaurants in America

Drumroll, please: On Tuesday, epicurean expert Bon Appétit released its annual list, “The Hot 10: America’s Best New Restaurants 2015,” and one of our very own made the exclusive cut.

Dai Due, the highly touted restaurant concept from Chef-Owner Jesse Griffiths, ranks No. 6 on the list. The charming East Austin spot received the ultimate praise from Bon Appétit for its myriad meat dishes, sourcing of local and organic fare, and skillfully prepared menu that aims to utilize every last ingredient that enters the kitchen.

“The cooking was honest and resourceful — just like its red-bearded hunter-gatherer chef,” writes Bon Appétit’s Andrew Knowlton of his first encounter with Dai Due in 2010, when it appeared at farmers markets and occasional pop-up supper clubs.

Now in its beautiful brick-and-mortar space on Manor Road, Dai Due continues its resourcefulness by using seasonal ingredients with almost every last one sourced from within 200 miles. To stretch these farm-to-table offerings, Griffiths preserves, pickles, dries, cans, freezes and smokes anything he can to keep the exquisite ingredients in the rotation.

An enormous open-flame wood grill centers the restaurant, where patrons can watch Griffiths and the other cooks craft mind-blowing menu items that you won’t soon forget, like the biscuits and gravy with venison breakfast sausage or the roasted half chicken.

Dai Due was one of 50 finalists announced by Bon Appétitearlier this month. Griffiths' local gem joins past Austin winners including Thai Kun, Jeffrey's and Josephine House.

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